Dollar store cake pans saved my pepper plants

I kept losing pepper seedlings to damping off because my regular pots held too much moisture. Tried using those shallow aluminum cake pans from the dollar store as tray liners underneath. Just poke a few holes in the bottom and they drain perfectly without waterlogging. Now my bell peppers are finally getting past the 2 inch stage without dying on me. Anyone else use weird containers for seed starting?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_cora12d ago

Have you tried using a layer of fine sand or vermiculite on top of your seed starting mix inside those pans? I ask because I've had trouble with algae growing on my soil surface when I use shallow containers, even with good drainage holes. The moisture wicks up from the bottom but the top stays damp too long for my liking. A buddy of mine swears by using old takeout containers with clear lids as mini greenhouses, says the humidity control is better than anything store bought. Just curious if you've experimented with any top dressing or if you just let them drain freely.

grant.margaret11d ago

I've been using a thin layer of coarse sand on top of my seed trays for about two years now. It cut down the algae about 80 percent. The thing is, I think it's the same reason people put a layer of gravel on their windowsill plant pots. You see it everywhere, even in landscaping. People always try to put a barrier between the wet soil and the air, but they forget that wet soil needs air to breathe too. The sand lets the top dry out faster than the soil underneath. It's like putting a lid on a pot of soup to keep it from boiling over. The moisture still comes up, but the sand keeps the surface from staying soaked. My neighbor uses old takeout containers too. He swears by the clear lids for his cactus starts. Says they hate having wet feet but love the humidity. Works for him.