Help and advice on growing on plug plants please

[sizeofalentil]

I bought a LOAD of plugs plants - geraniums, cosmos and lots of hanging basket plants. I wouldn't have bothered but they were such a bargain that even if I kill 2/3 they are still good value for money.

However, am now regretting my decision as I really can't be bothered to grow them on.

Could I plant them in to their final positions in the garden and just cover with a glass cold frame? Or pot into large pots and leave in an unheated greenhouse?

Or am I going to have to tenderly care for, nurture and breastfeed* these tiny babies for at least 5 weeks?

*Ok, maybe not breastfeed

well ...I've potted up my plug plants and installed in a cheap grow house from Wilko's .

now ...I am bound to over and under water so was thinking of putting the pots on trays with either gravel or capillary matting . I could even add the water retaining gel that came with the dinky little packages of plug pants to the gravel .

I am a bit worried about creating a damp atmosphere in my small sweaty pvc grow house .I zip it up at night and open in the morning and it's in a sheltered spot down the side of the house .

Any thoughts or advice ?

Yes, I worry about that with matting too. I use it from late Aprilish when the greehouse is getting hot for stretches, but I tend to worry about damping off and other fungal problems earlier. This is not an evidence-based worry, just a kind of paranoid gut reaction, however. Hopefully someone who actually has some knowledge rather than mere anxieties can advise you!

Oh, and I would add - I don't think it's ideal to leave plants on the matting for longer than 24 hours or so without checking. It can dry out unevenly, you see. Of course, sometimes it can't be helped however!

Mine sit on trays, no matting, I'd rather check them for dryness once a day, or twice when its warm. I am an inveterate checker though, along with opening/shutting windows /doors or zips.... I'm a believer in not leaving them damp - the roots need to go searching :)