How plugs for using in 'seed germination trays' are made?

Question

How is it held in one piece? How it expands on soaking in water? Can coco-pit be used and how nutriants are provided for growing plants?

Answer 1

They are called Jiffy 7 peat soil starter plugs. They have a polyethylene netting around them, filled, then compressed and dried. When you soak them in water they expand to about 2.5 inches tall. They have a small amount of nutrients in them for starting seedlings and are not meant to grow out plants, just to get them started so you can transplant the plants where ever you wish, then you can add whatever nutrients you feel necessary.

Answer 2

You can make such plugs out of cocopeat by using appropriate extrusion machineries to extrude the material to required shape and compression. Before that nutrients are added with slight qualnity of adhesive. If you use "Jalasakthi" or similar polymers having expansion property on absorbing water, the effect will be more visible.

Answer 3

Most likely its some form of peat possibly coco pith but i doubt it.  It probably is held together with some form of synthetic netting,  They are probably sprayed or soaked with some form of liquid fertilizer before compression and drying.

While it is a novel idea I wouldn't try growing a plant to full size in one or try making them I got jiffy windowsill greenhouses came with 12 pellets and a try with greenhouse lid for $1.97 at lowes refill packs I've seen as low as 20 for $2.00.  It would be more effiecient of your time and sanity to just buy them.

Unless your allergic to coco if thats why you asked,  I bought mine and they were worth over twice what i paid for them In my honest oppinion

Answer 4

Plug base materials come from a great many sources, from rock wool, to cellulose, to compressed non nutritive materials that are found in nature. Local materials are generally adaptable and cost effective. Most countries have a ready source of peat moss and the hand equipment to compress them. Cocoa pits and especially hulls can surely be used but they need to be evaluated to assure that any chemicals from processing are a known quantity. Wood fibers like sawdust or even excelsior can be used but again they need to be evaluated. Mixed materials found locally would probably be best to get the right qualities of moisture retention with aeration, not drying too slow or fast. The key though is local and that means cost effective. Seeding trays can be formed from anything available that can hold a given quantity of medium that one mixes. Steam sterilization of media, especially if it is reused is extremely important. Peat moss, though it seems benign very often harbors non species specific pathogens like those that cause damping off diseases associated with fungi. It's a great big "suck pill" to swallow when all your seedlings and cutting die because what was thought to be inert actually was a home for fungus waiting for a meal. Sterility by steam or other heat source is simple insurance to you. If reusing trays for plugs hose them well and soak them in 10% laundry bleach, then after a soak hose them again to remove as much trace material as possible. With cuttings and seedings, clean is "king".