Just remember, the "peg" of the developing peanut has to get down into the soil, so you would have to cut a wide enough circle in the plastic to allow this. Otherwise, I don't know why it wouldn't work.

I'm reviving this incredibly old topic to report that I have added some cornstarch packing peanuts to my worm bin, and the worms LOVE!!! them. I added just a few at a time to the top of the bedding around the edges, where they would get damp but not dissolve completely right away, and they are attracting clumps of happy worms. The worms stitch themselves right through the peanuts once they get soft enough. Worm also love corrugated cardboard because the layers are glued together with cornstarch glue. It almost seems like the worms eat the starch itself rather than waiting for other small organisms to grow on it and eating them - but I think it's just that cornstarch supports such incredibly rapid growth of organisms, once it gets wet, that the table is set for the worms right away.

I usually carry all my cosmetics etc., in plastic bags, just in case...I always remember, years ago, right after 9-11, when they started to be so strict, I was flying back from Florida with 2 bags and of course, when I checked them, they immediatly said, they would have to be searched and they did it right at the counter...Well, the fellow was in for a big surprise, 1 of my bags was filled with lemons and very big scratchy pine cones...The look on his face was priceless...But I also noticed that year, the only people that were being searched were little old ladies like myself...I watched while savory persons strolled on through while the old ladies were pulled out of line...Somestimes it makes you wonder!

I use packing peanuts in both hanging and wall mounted containers, they do a great job, it's amazing how heavy a big planted basket can get! I've not used anything to cover them with, and yes, they can get mixed up when you tip the old soil out at the end of the year but I don't really find it troublesome to separate them out. Occasionally the roots of some stronger rooting plants have grown through them, so if the plant is going to be used again as opposed to an annual, I've just left them in situ and repotted th eplant, attached peanut et al, with no known problem. They don't absorb water BTW. You can also snap them into smaller pieces for using in small containers. Gill