DIY Clone/Veg Ferry (see pics) beta version $14

So, anyone who may be like me who has clones/vegging plants who moves them outside to sunlight during the daytime, but brings them indoor to a garage/light at night, may have had a problem of moving lots of plants in and out twice a day. Here is my BETA solution, meaning I am documenting it while building my first one, so if something doesn't work out I will be sure to post solutions/fix here.


The Problem: Moving these in and out everyday to sunshine. Current plastic tray is too cramped so the plants can't grow wide properly.




Design Construction: particle board, roughly 4ftx2ft (from Home Depot / Lowes precut $ Will be gluing 18 oz party cups but in half onto about 24 slots on the board, spaces roughly 7x7 inches apart. The half cut part cups will hold normal party cups with soil clones, easily able to add or remove plants as needed

After cutting the cups in half, you are left with the bottoms which will be glued to the board, and the tops which can be added later to increase the plant # (although decrease space each spot has)

cut holes in the bottom of the base so water can drain out



cut cups in half


put glue on bottom of small half, and put in on the premarked spaces on the board (roughly 7" x 7")
EDIT: Do not use this glue! IT will fail after a few days, see updated post below, recommended glue is Elmers Glue All Max for wood to plastic


Here are all 28 cups ( 4 x 7 rows), and also 3 additional top halfs upside down. You can add these in to increase the total board capacity from 28 to about 46, although less space per each clone. So, I would use this for babies/seeds only, and when the plants get biggest and start to crowd, move the additional spaces to their own board.




more pics tomorrow once the glue dries, and a test run!


EDIT: Also, I should add, I could add wheels to this board to easily move it, or attach a string to an end and tow it like a wagon or something.

Thats neat
Why did you cut the cups in half, how will the tops be used?
Honestly I think the 7"x7 area is perfect for 16oz partycups, by the time they start to crowd each other its time for a transplant anyway Im iffy about the particle board though, it is going to fall apart on you once it starts soaking up water.
Why not use several of the shallow plastic bins they are in now, would be easier on your back and could double as runoff trays too.
Just noticed the glue you used is water based, it most likely wont hold together for you.

Sorry for all of the criticism, I hope you take it as constructive.

Thanks for the comments whodatnation. I am using half cups just as a base that will permanently be there empty. Then, separately I have full 18 oz party cups with soil + clones. So, I can fit the full clone cup into the empty placement cup, and remove it very easy. So its a cup in a cup.

About the glue, we will see how well it works, if it doesn't hold I can swap it with something else stronger and more resistant to water.

EDIT: The plastic bins are too small, I was using them before but also I can't do the spacing that I want (7x7). I could use the plastic bins but they are also more expensive like $15 for 1 bin I think which is about 1/3rd the side of the board. I don't think the particle board will erode from water, but its something that we will see also. The cup top halfs are used for filler placement I can almost double the capacity if I wanted by placing the tops in between.

Oh I see cup within a cup thats a great idea <me

Unfortunately I am sure the particle board will be falling apart, I have plenty exp with wood products and manufacturing. If you have a leftover piece dip it in some water every other day and see what happens.

I think 1+ inch styrofoam panels MIGHT be strong enough to hold some solos. That would be much lighter, waterproof and not as expensive as the plastic bins.


Thanks for putting this idea out there I may make a few to harden off some veggies from the greenhouse this summer.

whodatnation said:

Oh I see cup within a cup thats a great idea <me

Unfortunately I am sure the particle board will be falling apart, I have plenty exp with wood products and manufacturing. If you have a leftover piece dip it in some water every other day and see what happens.

I think 1+ inch styrofoam panels MIGHT be strong enough to hold some solos. That would be much lighter, waterproof and not as expensive as the plastic bins.


Thanks for putting this idea out there I may make a few to harden off some veggies from the greenhouse this summer.

Click to expand...

I am interested in the styrofoam panels idea. The glue dried and I was able to put some 'transplants' in, here is what they look like when everything is up and running, in some nice So Cal February sun today too I might add!

OK, as predicted by whodatnation, the elmers regular glue failed pretty bad with any sort of stress. I replaced it with this glue, so far its working great, will update if for some reason this one starts having problems



Elmers Glue All max, you could also use other things which I am not sure about, but the main goal is to get plastic to stick to wood.

Link to product page
http://www.elmers.com/product/detail/E9416

Sorry it happened but glad you got it sorted I cant read the label so I cant say it will work for sure. Anything thats considered "outdoor" glue should work.

Glad to see someone coming up with a solution and at least trying it instead of just asking what to do. I would def transplant to larger pots, Your getting a good amount of stretching and the plants wont be able to reach full maturity successfully while in those cups. Once the roots become "bound" or too crowded it will have already of stunted the growth of the plant. You very well may already know all of this and Prefer a certain method, and I certainly do not claim to be any kind of expert.

That being said, Whodatnation might be able to direct you towards the best material you could use, but considering the budget you're shooting for, a solid 3/4 piece of plywood should be more than sufficient. Perhaps if you cut holes where you have the cups mapped out and allowed the cups to rest in the holes about halfway, you could rest the whole board in-between the arms of two chairs (or possibly just over the one as you have it in one of the pictures),and the bottoms of the cups/pots would hang out allowing any runoff from watering to not collect on the board. Then you could avoid the risk involved with glue and water, and a potential disaster with one of your babies!

Just a thought, I would be happy to elaborate if interested.

Good luck!

whodatnation said:

Oh I see cup within a cup thats a great idea <me

Unfortunately I am sure the particle board will be falling apart, I have plenty exp with wood products and manufacturing. If you have a leftover piece dip it in some water every other day and see what happens.

I think 1+ inch styrofoam panels MIGHT be strong enough to hold some solos. That would be much lighter, waterproof and not as expensive as the plastic bins.


Thanks for putting this idea out there I may make a few to harden off some veggies from the greenhouse this summer.

Click to expand...

Hi again Wodat. Hows it going? I have been thinking about your styrofoam idea, and I think it might be pretty good. Also, I was thinking corrugated panels might work as well. The main bottle neck is the are space you are moving them through. For example, I move mine into my garage through a regular door size, so the width is limited to a bit over 2 feet. If you have a workshop or a garage, you could use 3x12 foot panels, and carry much more plants.

Also, so far the Elmers MAX glue is working fine, haven't had a single cup come lose since I've used it.

12 foot may be pushing it for structural integrity, plus it may be a pain in the ass trying to maneuver something of that size without hitting surrounding objects,, and we all know the ladies get the red carpet treatment! Just my opinion, Id try to make things easier on myself in the long run just by simply making them a more manageable size, is one less trip really worth the headache? Iv been there and done that lol Just my thoughts

Glad to hear the project is still moving along, thanks for keeping us posted.