Âfirchf1 said:What is the best way to start my seeds?any pointers in getting good yields?thanks
ÂDatil said:There is no "best" way, choose what works better for you. I don't soak and sow directly in soil with no issues at all.
Good luck
Datil
There is no "best" way, choose what works better for you. I don't soak and sow directly in soil with no issues at all.
Good luck
Datil
No light is necessary for germination.ikeepfish said:I soak mine in peroxide for about 6 hours and they go a few inches under T5 lighting in a grow tent straight into soil cells or peat pellets under a dome. I air them out a few hours a day and pour the moisture off the domes elsewhere, I only water very lightly with a peroxide and water blend, like a few drops with a dropper. I keep 24 hour light on them with a small fan until they have 2 sets of true leaves and then they get a 19/5 light cycle and transplanted into bio cups and start getting nutes. I tried the Jiffy "self-watering" greenhouses this year and don't recommend them because they hold way too much moisture for small sprouts. The regular ones without the wetting mat seem much better.
ÂProud Marine Dad said:No light is necessary for germination.
ÂProud Marine Dad said:I use a propagator from Charlie's Greenhouse website and my germination rates are about 90%
No light is necessary for germination.
Maybe a tad although fluorescent lights put off very little heat.filmost said:I soak my seeds (recently for about 2 or 3 hours vs 24 that I started with) in 0.3% hydrogen peroxide. Then I put them in a moist coffee filter, which goes into a ziploc bag that I seal half way, and which in turn is placed on something warm; either my router, my fridge, or if I have the space on my heat mat then I will use that.
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Open the ziploc bag once daily for oxygen and to check if the seeds have rooted. If they have then I plant the rooted seeds into in cup or tray with coco coir, cover with saran wrap or the tray cover, and wait for hooks. After I get hooks, I take the wrap/cover off and wait for them to pop. If I get a helmet head, I very gently cover it with more coco coir and let it pull itself out naturally; much easier than trying to remove the seed casing yourself and in most cases the cotys come out undamaged.
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I have noticed that lights can help with soil temperature. So in the event you aren't using a heat mat, I think it would be beneficial.
ÂProud Marine Dad said:Maybe a tad although fluorescent lights put off very little heat.
   Maybe so, but when visible light is absorbed by soil and the water contained in it, it is converted into heat. I start my seedlings under eight t8s, and if I don't keep an eye on how much ventilation I allow my flats, they can get too hot.Proud Marine Dad said:Maybe a tad although fluorescent lights put off very little heat.