Hey!

Thank you sooo much for your reply! Means a lot. So I got lucky and found out that my mom bought a decent drill years ago and that I bought drill heads 3 years ago on black friday (yep crazy the gadgets you buy). So I managed to place holes without further cutting myself

I was hoping you could look and see if it looks okay. I cut the bottom out (a small opening for the container head) and placed 6 3/8 inch holes. The holes look smaller than I thought - is this enough for drainage?

Also super stupid question - there is some plastic sticking inwards into the container - I tried sanding it down... but there is only so much I can do. Will that interact with the soil? Possible fertilizer - it is PET plastic - same stuff they use for water bottles and soda... so I don't think it will but I have to ask

Do you have a soldering iron to melt holes? Or use a spade bit for drilling. I use 3/4 inch spade bits for smaller containers and 1 inch bits for larger containers (5+ gals)

Sorry my bad - I meant I used 3/4 instead of 3/8 spade bits (didn't know name of the drill bit I used - googled name you mentioned). So I should be okay to start planting my plumeria? It's just the container looks... odd. I will wash the containers with soap - the plastic bits sticking in/out that I can't remove (see image in previous post) shouldn't be a problem right?

Those holes look great.. To help keep the mix from coming out of the news holes, you can always cut some screening material that you can buy at the Home Depot or Lowe's. It's replacement screening and you can cut a square or circle to cover the holes to allow drainage , but keep the mix from coming out... Put this in he bottom of the container before you add the mix...

great advise from the above posters!

you did a great job!

be careful of the sun magnifying through the clear plastic and burning your roots..

Take care,

laura

Heya,

Wow thank you so much for the advice Laura. I did not even think about the sun burning
the roots b/c of the see-through plastic.
Thanks on the wiring advice too!!!
I'll buy some black nursery pots to cover them on those hot days. In the meantime, since my cuttings don't have
roots yet (and I know I need to keep them warm), would it be okay to place them
outside in the sun (after I dip them in the rooting solution and water once) or
should I just keep them indoors with a heating mat?

Thanks!!

Look for a galvanized wire mesh as it will be more rust resistant. You can also use a wick to help drain.

You are more then welcome!!!

Always glad to help!!!!

when rooting, the bottom heat is what is. It's omportant. If you are using those clear pits to root in, I would be careful about exposing them to direct light. The suns Rays will magnify through the plastic and could cause sunburn on the cutting that is below the rim area. So, if was mine.. I would place them on hot concrete... Let them enjoy the natural heat and keep them from direct sun.

You did a lot of work with those plastic bottles.

can I just make a suggestion? Why not use plastic cups to root in? Cut little holes.. Place the nine cups with the new cuttings on a heat mat or place them on hot concrete. Then once they have rooted in the little cups, you can easily transfer them to larger nursery containers. You could then use the clear ones that you made or just use black nursery containers. Using a smaller rooting container, you cam see the root emerge so much sooner and you will eliminate the worries of major sunburn from the larger plastic if in full sun.

one you put the cutting in the new container.. I like to take styrofoam chunks and place in four pieces to keep the cutting from moving.. I'll show you a pic..this will keep the cutting sturdy and won't damage the finer roots ...

just a thought!!

anytime you need help. We are always ready!! That's how we all learned!!

we are " rooting" for you!! ;-)

laura

oh.. The plastic pieces sticking up will not be a problem.. No worries !!

laura

lol pun intended. I circled back to answer the plastic bits/edges question but Laura has got it covered.

This is how I've done it. 3/4 spade bit, some snips, galvanized mesh, and a mop string to use as a wick.