I am new to this forum and would like to say hello. I have been reading the posts and find tons of informations…after the seeds start to grow.
As a newbie, I’m reading everything and trying to do it right the first time. I have soaked 10 of my 20 seed delivery in water overnight and placed them 1/4” deep in 10 peat pots. They are filled with Harvest Organics Organic Raised Bed Mix. I am keeping them moist by spraying them with water about every 12 hours. I ran 2 cfl lamps above the first day, but found they dried the soil out quickly, so I turned them off until the seeds germinate.
Today is day 3. Nothing. I know I’m impatient, but is there anything else I can do to help this process be successful ?
MANY years ago, I used a paper towel inside a beer glass 1/2 filled with water to germinate seeds which was successful. I just figured this is what my reading recommended, so I would stick with that…
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I don’t start to worry until Day 6, and seeds can take much longer than that too to get out out the ground. I have four Gold Leaf that I soaked in 6.5pH water for one day, saw tails, and then put in a peat based soil (it was a hot soil so I flushed it a bit first with 6.5 pH water). I am also on Day 3 and nothing’s peeped out yet.
It looks like you followed the ILGM instructions, so you are off to a good start. Only concern could be the soil, it looks hot based on its website (has nutrients already added and on a time release like miracle grow) - this can lead to nutrient burn as it grows, but I’ve never heard of it killing off seeds before they sprout and I have ridden through hot soil without too much damage.
Make sure you are pH’ing your water to 6.5. pH is king. Do no add nutrients - just water. The seed has plenty of food to get out of the ground and sprout first leaves. Nutes can be evaluated later.
Here’s the germination guide.
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Thanks for the response. I guess I will have to be patient. I will keep the soil moist until I see something. Then I will put my CFLs on.
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Use a clear bottle cut in half as a humidity dome. I don’t soak my seeds, they go straight into moistened starter medium in Solo Cup and humid dome. 14/15 have sprouted and grown beautifully.
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They need warmth to so make sure they’re not cold.
I use the same bottle cut in half method for a humidity dome. Works perfect.
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Ok. another day with nothing new. Temps are 65-68. Humidity (in room) about 50%. They are currently requiring a spray bottle spray every 12 hours. The domes should contain the evaporation. I will put them on tonight. Thanks.
Nothin’ on my side yet either. Any day now.
I just added these (thank you DoobieNoobie). Here’s what I’ve got.
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65-68 degrees seems awfully cold to me. I had my best luck germinating at 75-78 degrees, and I gave the soil a light mist 3 times a day.
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Yes do not get discouraged it still has time to break the soil. I started soaking mine last Saturday was able to put her in the soil on Tuesday and this morning I just seen her break the soil. So it took a good week for me to get her out of the soil. And great suggestion by @DoobieNoobie with the dome. That will help also. And @TommyBahama does make a good suggestion about the temperature. Mine runs around mid-to-high 70s.
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I agree, seeds and seedling needs warmer soil to germinate and produce roots.
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Yep I had a slow germination at 70. It wasn’t until I brought the temp up to about 80 that they took off.
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I put the cfls on since I put the domes on. I will check ambient temps this afternoon. (We had snow last nigh). Indoor temp is consistent in the house. I will post dome temps later today.
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I checked my temps with the CFLs on less than 4” away and the temperature was still 63-64 degrees. So, I went down to my shop and found some leftover insulating blanket and some scrap wood. I now have insulated walls and ceiling with the CFLs on inside. I included my humidity/temperature gauge for an easy reference. Check out my pic and let me know what else I’m missing. BTW, spraying 2x per day until the soil is visibly wet.
I’m in bad reception area but the half of the pic I can see looks good. Rather than spray the peat pots just spray a mist into the bottle then place it back over the pod. If it visibility has moisture in it don’t spray. Those peat pots have a tendency to hold to much water. And keep that thing closed the rest of the time. You need it to get warm in there. Other than that you just gotta keep waiting.
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Heres a few hour later. Keeping it closed up the temps are in the upper 70s.
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Perfect keep it there and you will be growing in no time.
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Two days after bringing the temperature to 81 degrees, the seeds came to life. It’s now six days since I first planted but 3 days since bringing the temps up in my “incubator”. I now have 8 out of 10 starting to grow ! You guys are awesome !
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