Humidity dome for seedlings diy11/18/2023 This is a large deterrent for most gardeners. The soil blockers themselves are very small and easily storable when compared to multiple plug flats and trays. The supplies required for soil blocking also take up less storage space. It's an excellent method for seed starting indoors, we all know indoor space is limited - especially in cold climates like mine! Using soil blocks saves space, both on heat mats as mentioned previously, but due to the nature of the blocks, they are able to fit many more plants in the same area. It's no secret that plug trays and nursery pots are incredibly space-intensive. Unless, say, your husband runs over it with a skid steer. While you'll still require 1020 trays or trays of some sort for your seedlings, you'll end up using and wearing out far fewer plastics in your gardening.Īs an added bonus, soil block makers are made of metal and are going to last you a LONG time. One of the benefits of soil blocking is that the soil blocks are self-contained, reducing the reliance on plastic seed starting trays that, while cheap, wear out over time, creating plastic waste. As an added bonus, transplanting the seedlings causes little if any damage to the roots, allowing the plants to nearly bi-pass transplant shock altogether! There is no need to wrestle potentially root-bound plants out of plug trays or to tease the roots out because the seedlings in the blocks have a vibrant, branched root system.īlocked seedlings are healthier going into the garden, and due to air pruning, their roots are perched at the edge of the block, ready to dive right into your yummy garden soil. Soil blocks are incredibly easy to transplant into the garden, simply dig a hole the size of the block, place it in the hole, and backfill. These branched root systems are in contrast to the roots of plants grown in pots - once the roots hit the plastic boundary of the pot, they simply follow it along, circling around the pot which can cause root binding issues, as well as increase transplant shock, as the roots are used to growing around the plant.Įasier transplanting + less transplanting shock Because of this, the roots sit perched at the very edge of the soil block, ready to penetrate the soil as soon as they are in contact. Once the roots reach the outer bounds of the soil block, they stop growing outward and instead branch out along the root for a more fibrous, branched root system. Because the soil is molded into a free-standing block and they are not encased by plastic, air is able to penetrate the soil block from the sides as well as the top - increasing oxygen availability to the roots.Īir pruning is a natural process that effectively stops the roots from growing when confronted with air. Soil blocks encourage healthier root systems through increased oxygen availability and air pruning. Seedlings started in soil blocks tend to be healthier There are a few reasons to use soil blocks when gardening. I've actually been using this method from Farmer Jesse over at No Till Growers on YouTube for my plants as they outgrow the 2" block! It's a bit messier but it works great and I'm not limited to size, I can keep upsizing the block whenever I need! Why Soil Block? The 4" block maker is the final stage in the soil blocking journey for most plants! As they outgrow the smaller blocks, they can be upsized into the maxi block, which will see larger plants like tomatoes through their 5-8 week nursery stay before being transplanted into the garden.Īt this point, I do not use a 4" soil block. It's also great for easily upsizing started seedlings from the micro (3/4") blocker. The mini makes 4 two inch blocks and is suitable for nearly all seeds, and when fitted with the 3/4" dimple are great for seed starting larger seeds, like beans and corn. This soil block maker is by far the work horse of the bunch, it's the most versatile, and if you were to buy only one, I would recommend this one! I particularly like this size of soil block for small seeds, like strawberries, celery, etc. They're also great for seeds that have a long germination time, like lavender. They're great for seeds that love heat for germination, like tomatoes or peppers, because you can fit a large quantity of these itty bitty blocks on a small heat mat. This little ditty makes 20 3/4" blocks! These blocks are best for seed starting and quick transplanting into a larger block. The 2" blocker has a dimple that receives the 3/4" block and the 4" block has a dimple for the 2" block for quick and easy "up-potting" with minimal disruption to the plant. They are designed to work in series together. In the mainstream, there are 3 sizes of soil blockers available. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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