I've been rather annoyed cutting plastic netting off of my seedlings roots while I re-pot them, but actual soil blocks are kinda fragile if you don't get the mix just right. So I made some proof of concept soil blocks with 1/2 seed starter mix, 1/2 potting soil, some newspaper, a pvc pipe and a piece of steel that happened to fit the inside of the pipe(could use a stick or something).
First I rip the paper into strips and place them across the top of the pipe, more paper strips means a sturdier pellet, and you want the edges to overlap when you push it in with the dry side of your stick.
Add your soil/seed-starter mix and tamp with stick a few times, then push out bottom of pipe.
I put all of my pellets through the pipe twice so I could get the paper even on top but this seemed like a waste of time. I made like 20, but could make a hundred or so rather easily. Mine are slightly larger than the originals but still fit in the Jiffy tray
Anyways no more cutting off those stupid plastic nets for me, and added bonus way cheaper then the pellet refills.
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[–] [deleted] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
[–] Frowning_Buffalo [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Thanks for the advise. They look tighter packed then they are, without the paper they would just turn into little piles.
[–] summerstormAK ago
I've found that if I get the planting medium wet to about oatmeal consistency, the blocks form correctly and the plants do well. I suspect you could compact the blocks too hard, but I haven't found it to be a problem.