15 Pack 3-Inch Round Fiber Pots (Bonus Pack) # FR312B

This is a classic case of "concept vs. reality". The concept is so alluring:"no damage to roots during transplant; just place in soil". Here is what really happens. I have a "seed starting" set-up that is proven and has unfailingly produced seedlings of quality over the years. I tried this because the older I get the more problems I have with "old shaky hands" messing up the removal and transplant stage. When I received these pots; (I have never tried "peat pellets" and therefor have no knowledge of these) they were as dry as a piece of paper. I knew they were too dry so I soaked them for 24 hours since I had heard they have a tendency to "wick" away moisture from the soil they contain. They were soft and seemed ok; I filled them and placed my seeds. That's when all the problems began. It was amazing how quickly they dried out and returned to their dry "paper state", and quickly began wicking the moisture out of my seedlings soil. It was a battle to fight it. I lost 75% of my garden. I just recently planted the survivors. I cut the tops off the pots to let roots form above them. Also I cut the bottoms out of the pots to let the roots go down. I am still fighting a battle to get the seedlings outside.All have a poor root system, I have kept them as moist as possible but checking I have found no degradation of the pots..they sit in the soil, impenetrable barriers to root development. My advice: don't get near these things. Just use small "dixie" cups and before transplanting make sure the cup has roots throughout so the "root-ball" will stay together and not fall apart during transplant. These abominations cost me most of my spring garden...don't let do the same to you...

It's hard to say bad things about these pots. You plant your seeds in them, water them, and when you see the roots start to poke through the bottom, you transplant the whole thing into your garden (or a larger pot, if you'd like). You can start plants with even the most delicate roots indoors, and transplant them out without killing them by breaking the roots when tapping them out of the pot.The big problem is that the pot material wicks moisture out of the soil. I have to water seedlings in these pots two or three times as often as ones in reusable plastic pots. The best solution i've found is to buy plastic pots that are exactly the same size as these, and nest the peat pot inside the plastic one. That way the moisture stays in, but i can still transplant the seedling without disturbing its roots.

I plant seeds early in Jiffy pellets & then put the seedlings in larger biodegradable pots at they grow. Been doing it this way for years, seeding about 150-175 each season. These pots degraded, i.e., fell apart much faster than others I've used. If weather or other circumstances delay getting the plants into the garden, you may loose plants as the pots crumble.

Works much better for me than the peat pellets. I've got a few fescue seeds sprouting now. I'll be interested to see if the pots decompose when I transplant.

CONS: These are not peat pots, but are made of Coconut fiber -- not nearly as biodegradable, almost impossible for the tender roots of seedlings to penetrate, and they wick away moisture too readily. I recommend removing them or cutting away most of them before planting them. Disappointed with Amazon for allowing such obviously deceptive practices by the vendor to be posted on their site.PROS: If you need very durable seedling pots that can help cool the seedlings (moisture evaporation from the outside is comparable or better than clay pots), if you are not worried about keeping the seeds and seedlings moist, and plan on removing them before planting, they may work well for you.

Great little biodegradable pots to start seedlings or cuttings in. I really like these because when it's time to plant in a bigger pot, you don't need to remove the seedling and disturb the roots. I carefully cut down the side of the pot to the bottom around the edge before planting. I don't think that's necessary, I just like to do it. Disappointed these have been discontinued so I well have to look for another brand.

I would probably go with plastic next time. They are a little weird when they get wet and some of them kinda sunk down to an odd angle after a little while. I also think these provide a better habitat for those little annoying flies than the plastic ones would.

These work very well with seeds or seedlings.