I used them once many years ago and will never do so again. The drainage from these 'pots' leaves a great deal to be desired. The pros know that the key to rapid and healthy growth is their ability to provide plenty of oxygenated (and fertilized) water into the containers a few times a day.

I don't think that the Jiffy 7 with peat pellets that expand when water is added were meant to be a continuous medium for growing plants. They are meant to start seeds. I assume the Jiffy Pots which I never used are similar.

However, I have found that these need to be used with care as the containment created by the plastic covers can produce a 'SUPER' greenhouse effect that on hot days or in direct sun will raise internal temps so high that seedlings can not hope to germinate and will in some cases cook like rice in hot water. The bottoms of the Jiffy 7s are black and yes, that absorbs sunlight and makes them even hotter.

I ran into the same problem with my own fabricated greenhouse seed starters too. I cut the tops off soda bottles and slitted the bottoms for drainage and then used the tops to create a mini greenhouse. On hot days, the same results occur. Super hot interior temps.

So, I'd advise using these things indoors during Summer months or in shaded cool areas. Most seeds germ in early spring and should be planted in winter and so the Jiffy 7s likely, are still practical.

As far as drainage, what's to stop you from making your own slits in the pots? Nada.

But I learned. Trying to create mini-greenhouses can be a nightmare due to the fact that they have no temp control and in effect amplify temps a lot more than I might have thought, to deadly levels.

The peat pellets are a great seed starting medium and you don't necessarily have to use the plastic covers on the Jiffy 7s to take advantage of these wonderful little peat pellets to start seeds off. And best yet, you can just plant the peat pellet once the seedling sprouts, very easily.

So when you ask yourself why create a mini-greenhouse, two answers pop up ... 1) to amplify temps and 2) to keep in water. In answer to both, 1) often you don't need to amplify temps, but heat mats work fine in those cases where you do, for germing seeds and 2) vermiculite and other media do fine to keep in water. Note also that depending upon your zone, the mini-greenhouse concept might be more appreciated. Here in Bakersfield, the concept is totally out of place in our hot dry conditions.

My 2 cents.

Trying to create mini-greenhouses can be a nightmare due to the fact that they have no temp control.

I am on the West Coast of Florida and have the same problem with the jiffy pots. I stopped using them and just use the pellets or clay saucers now. Works fine for me. I do find that if I use the right size clay pot with the top of a soda bottle i get the perfect balance since the clay pot absorbs the extra moisture.

Kristen

For the past 2 years I have used the ones in the mesh netting, they swell up when you water them. I liked them only in the house. What I liked was they were very easy to water, I only watered them a few times as they did hold the water well but didn't have a problem with too much water. I have tried and do not like the paper pots tho. They do dry out too fast and I don't think they use a very good grade of soil in them, the concept is good,ie, place them in the ground no need to remove the seedlings. That's all well and fine if they make it that far, mine never did.

This past spring I used a plastic bag, not a zipper one just one you tie with a twist tie. I like it cuz I could open it up when it needed to be and when it was time to plant them out I just put the soil from the bag right in with the seedlings (in a pot or in the ground) and I didn't loose one seedling due to exposed roots. I don't think I would use them for WSing tho, too flimsy. I like Trudi's method best.