Thank you. I hadn't heard this before so I will browse around about it. I hope I'm using the right term when I say 'biodegradable pots' -- I'm meaning to use a generic term that includes cow pots, coir pots, fiber pots, peat, wood fiber and peat, etc.

Without using a biodegradable pot, how do you transplant plants that don't like having their roots disturbed? I'm doing this more on the recommendation of what it says on the back of many seed packets I have:

Scabiosa, and Moonflower: "Does not transplant well. Sow into pulp pots that can be directly planted into the garden."

Morning Glory: "Sow into a pulp pot and transplant directly outside to avoid disturbing roots."

Etc.

I never grow Morning Glory as they are considered a highly invasive weed here. And both Scabiosa and Moonflower are intended to be directed seeded for best results. But if I was going to do it inside i would use 2" plastic cell packs that can easily be clipped off leaving the rootball intact.

But if you are going to try starting them indoors and since you already have the pots you might as well use them. Just be sure to carefully cut off the majority of the pot when transplanting. If you soak the pots well before doing it they will usually come off easily.

Dave

'...how do you transplant plants that don't like having their roots disturbed?'

You transplant from the original sowing container before the roots reach the limits of the pot. You invert the pot into your hand like a sand castle and plant the whole caboodle as is. Don't tease out the roots.

Or, if your climate allows, you sow directly in situ.

Floral_uk, I appreciate your answer here. If you use a large enough pot so that the roots have not yet grown to the walls of the pot when it's time to plant outside, then the transplanting will take place essentially without having disturbed the roots. I'm sure this is how gardeners did their work for many many years before so-called "biodegradable" pots became so popular.

You don't need to sow in a large pot, in fact that's not a good idea. If outdoor conditions don't allow planting out you pot up to a larger pot first. Peat pots sound like a good idea but they actually don't work at all well. I used them once long ago and have never bothered since.