Hi there. After reading a bunch and seeing a lot of photos, I would like to ask this. I see lots of people starting in small square type pots. Then from there to a small clear glass. It then seems they then go from there to the traditional Solo type cup. Am I missing something. I am new to all this and would like to succeed. I have just went from seed to 4" pots. Am I missing something, or am I doing anything wrong. Is there a reason many do it that way? Thank you.
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- Thread starter obchili
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Its all personal preference and space constraint orientated usually (especially while starting indoors). .... Look at someone like pepper guru who goes from his smaller pots straight to his big planter bags ... And his results are impressive ... I do a 2-3 stage pot up because of space from jiffy pellets to 1 litre pots then sometimes to 2 litre pots and then onto 9lite or 4.5 litre pots ... It all depends how many plants I need to fit and shuffle ...remember the less root disturbance the better (I know I should practice what I preach 
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There's no set way to do it. A lot of people use grid style seed trays or square pots b/c they don't waste space compared to the round ones. Some don't use a tray at all and just line up a bunch of peat pellets then toss those into a solo cup with extra soil. Still some only use solo cups to start with.
I started with plastic cups but have recently found i could get cheap grid trays and cut those up. As mentioned, so long as you pot up before getting root bound you are okay, though even if the plant were root bound you would still be okay.
I started with plastic cups but have recently found i could get cheap grid trays and cut those up. As mentioned, so long as you pot up before getting root bound you are okay, though even if the plant were root bound you would still be okay.
I use trays first (72 cell square), I keep them in there until they get to about 3 inches tall, once they get to that I take them out, cut about 1/2 an inch of the roots off and then pot them in 4 inch square pots. They stay there until I put them in the ground around 1-2 months later!
Water them on a regular schedule and ferts on a regular schedule. I usually stick to 1/4th what the ferts say for proper dosage for the seedlings, and never start using ferts on them until they are around 1 to 2 months old.
Water them on a regular schedule and ferts on a regular schedule. I usually stick to 1/4th what the ferts say for proper dosage for the seedlings, and never start using ferts on them until they are around 1 to 2 months old.
I like 72 trays because you can mass plant with little space. Cull all the weak ones and forget about the slow ones. You also have more control with water. They dry out quick. I move them to solo cups. If I'm using pots, I go a few sizes up to have more control with water. It rains a ton here during the season, so I have no idea how anyone goes from a small pot to a huge pot right away.
I don't cut them all off just a bit of them so that I can have more space for them to grow in the pots.
obchili said:
Two years ago I germed my seeds in paper towels and then planted them in small cells, then into 4" square pots. Last year I germed them the same, then planted them into 2.5" (I think) coir pots, then into 4" square pots. This year I'm germing them in towels and going straight into 4" square pots. So far my results are FAR better than in years past.
I think this year's success is due, in part, to the higher heat capacity of the 4" pots. My house is 55-60 F, and I think the extra soil retains the heat from my lights longer - keeping the roots warmer. Also, they don't dry out nearly as fast as cells or coir pots. After I water, the top dries out in a day or two, reducing the chances of damping off and fungus gnats. But the deeper areas of the pot stay moist much longer, drawing the roots deeper and encouraging a strong root system.
There's no one "right" way to do this. Just try to use everything you have to create the best environment for pepper growth, while doing your best to give their enemies a hard time. Good luck, and keep reading and thinking!
Do it how it is easiest for you to do.