Solo cups question

javafxnoob · March 23, 2019

I transplanted my sown from seed tomatoes in solo cups. Now, roots started hiting the cup walls. Will roots be damaged by sun, do I need to protect them from sun exposure?

Послато са moto e5 play уз помоћ Тапатока

Worth1 · March 23, 2019

No they will be fine I did this in glass jars some time ago to show folks here that is was okay and to show the roots.'

taboule · March 23, 2019

Like Worth said. I wondered about it for the longest time. Still managed to grow big and health plants.

There's an advantage to clear cups in this case, very easy to see when/how much a plant is getting root bound.

rxkeith · March 23, 2019

no problems for me in the past.

if sun exposure were to damage the roots, then i would imagine the sun could damage the plant due to perhaps too much sun too soon if they aren't gradually hardened off.
i use cups with a wider bottom. they provide more stability when the plants get larger, and are more prone to falling over. trade off is less plants per tray.

keith

SueCT · March 26, 2019

Interesting, I have only ever used the Red Solo cups. Might be fun to use a few clear this year and see if there is any difference in root growth or top growth. They look like nice healthy roots.

Worth1 · March 26, 2019

I cut holes in a bunch of glass mason jars and grew tomato sets in them.

taboule · March 26, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I cut holes in a bunch of glass mason jars and grew tomato sets in them.

Diamond bits run under water?

Worth1 · March 26, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by taboule

Diamond bits run under water?

Small 1/2 inch diamond hole saw set up on drill press and used water.

Scooty · April 12, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by javafxnoob

I transplanted my sown from seed tomatoes in solo cups. Now, roots started hiting the cup walls. Will roots be damaged by sun, do I need to protect them from sun exposure?

No... but you may need to protect them from sun to prevent algae growth...

Gardadore · April 12, 2019

I have found that the seedlings actually grow better in the clear cups over the red cups. I keep them under lights until ready for hardening off and keep them in a table tent during the hardening off to avoid direct sunlight. The root systems always seem stronger in the clear cups and I enjoy watching them grow. The other advantage is that you can see how moist they are all the way down.

March 23, 2019	#1
javafxnoob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Serbia - Zone 7b Posts: 119	Solo cups question I transplanted my sown from seed tomatoes in solo cups. Now, roots started hiting the cup walls. Will roots be damaged by sun, do I need to protect them from sun exposure? Послато са moto e5 play уз помоћ Тапатока __________________ “He who plants a garden plants happiness.” Chinese proverb

March 23, 2019	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	No they will be fine I did this in glass jars some time ago to show folks here that is was okay and to show the roots.'

March 23, 2019	#3
taboule Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 903	Like Worth said. I wondered about it for the longest time. Still managed to grow big and health plants. There's an advantage to clear cups in this case, very easy to see when/how much a plant is getting root bound.

March 23, 2019	#4
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	no problems for me in the past. if sun exposure were to damage the roots, then i would imagine the sun could damage the plant due to perhaps too much sun too soon if they aren't gradually hardened off. i use cups with a wider bottom. they provide more stability when the plants get larger, and are more prone to falling over. trade off is less plants per tray. keith

March 26, 2019	#5
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Interesting, I have only ever used the Red Solo cups. Might be fun to use a few clear this year and see if there is any difference in root growth or top growth. They look like nice healthy roots.

April 12, 2019	#10
Gardadore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Saylorsburg, PA Posts: 261	I have found that the seedlings actually grow better in the clear cups over the red cups. I keep them under lights until ready for hardening off and keep them in a table tent during the hardening off to avoid direct sunlight. The root systems always seem stronger in the clear cups and I enjoy watching them grow. The other advantage is that you can see how moist they are all the way down.