HaxnicksMaxi Rootrainers | Reusabe Extra Deep Root Trainers | Planting Trees | Growing Trees From Cuttings | Black, 40 Cells | RT230101

I was surprised to discover that this product actually isn’t made of short-life plastic! Sadly, that’s because it hasn’t even managed a single life.It was cracked and warped before I even took it out of its packaging. The plastic envelopes are so thin they’re disintegrating, and they are too wide to fit into the flimsy plastic frame provided without causing further damage to the seams. All of this before I’ve even thought about filling them with compost and sweet pea seeds for 6 months of overwintering. Totally useless.I’m sure that the gardening conglomerates that once had trustworthy reputations (built by the hard work of the independent companies whose names they bought, certainly not the shareholders lining the board rooms today) are using gardeners the world over as free marketing research in just how shoddily they can make garden equipment, thus forcing the consumer to replace it on a yearly basis, and certainly with no regard for how the products perform or how much (or indeed how little) plastic goes into making them.If I may briefly stand on my soapbox, the standard to which plastic products are produced plays the biggest part in fighting the war against plastic pollution, rather than the (often unavoidable) overconsumption of plastic products by the consumer, as we guiltily buy products such as this because there are no viable alternatives. The majority of my plastic pots and seed trays were purchased by my grandfather in the 60’s and 70’s, and are still in constant use in 2021 and going strong.I’m no market researcher, but in this case I know for a fact that this product needs to either go back on the drawing board, or at the very least a few more pence worth of better quality plastic.

Was really pleased to have found these as looked fantastic for root training. When arrived I found that half of the books wouldn’t even stay shut. As soon as you put any compost in the edges opened up. Also the frame is very flimsy and is too small for the ten books. Although at least squeezing them in kept the books together. Plastic is super thin and even with careful handling I can’t see it lasting more than one season. Really great concept but how the books stay together needs a design rethink, the frame needs to be sturdier and the plastic more durable and ideally sustainable as well.

Flimsy frame which is too small for all of the cells. No way I can fit them all in, and a split in the frame means I can't even try to squeeze them in. Then, collapsed and destroyed half the seedlings. Completely unfit for purpose. Disappointing. Won't be buying another. Not as pictured on the box.

These are good for sowing seeds where you need to train roots to grow deep (e.g. sweet peas). However, for the price, I was surprised at how flimsy they are. I prefer to buy plastic items that I can be reused, so would have wanted them to be much sturdier. You would have to treat these very carefully in order to get sufficient reuse and value for money from them.I think for this level of quality the price should be much lower. However, I’d happily pay the original price if they improved their quality and made them more durable.

Cheap & nasty... couldn't be bothered with the rigmarole of returning as my printer was out of ink 🙄 ... most certainly cannot recommend 😔