DOES ROCK WOOL WORK WELL FOR GERMINATING SEEDS?
You can purchase rock wool cubes that are convenient and easy to find online.
These are a great way for seed sprouting. You soak the cubes in a plant nutrient and water solution and let them drain before planting your seed or seeds in the middle. The rock wool cubes hold in the nutrients and the moisture well. Most of the seeds sprout in a day or two.
COCO PELLETS. HOW WELL DO THEY DO?
These work well also. Just about anything that allows the free flow of oxygen and water will do all right.
HOW ABOUT THE NEW GERMINATING STATIONS AND HEAT MATS? ARE THEY ANY GOOD?
These come as a complete kit with everything you need except the seeds. Easy and inexpensive to get online. Using this method has become my favorite way of germinating seeds. So clean, so precise, so fast.
You just follow the enclosed directions and place your seeds in the provided seedling inserts which you then put on the waterproof tray all on top of the heat mat with automatic temperature control. There is a small humidity dome that comes with one of the kits and as your seedlings grow taller there is a larger humidity dome with vents to replace the smaller one.
This is a good way to start your plants for your indoor hydroponic garden.
So clean and easy and automatic. No messing with spilled dirt or dirt caught in your fingernails.
PEAT PELLETS. HOW DO THEY WORK FOR GERMINATING SEEDS?
Fast expanding earth friendly biodegradable peat pellets are a great way to start your garden. They can be used for germinating seeds for either a soil or soil free hydroponic garden. The peat pellets hold the required amount of nutrient and moisture to get your seedlings going. These peat pellets are easy and inexpensive to get online.
ARE THE USE OF PEAT POTS THE BEST WAY TO GERMINATE SEEDS?
Some people also swear by peat pots as being the best way for them. Your just fill your peat pots with your soil of choice and when the seeds are sprouted to the correct size you just place the whole thing in the garden not disturbing the roots one little bit.
DOES SPROUTING SEEDS INSIDE SMALL CONTAINERS FILLED WITH POTTING SOIL WORK WELL?
Sure that works well if the soil is good if your temperature and humidity and watering is optimal and you transplant at just the right time into the soil garden of your choice. WHAT KIND OF SOIL WORKS BEST? One part loam or top soil, one part sand and one part peat works very well for most instances or any bagged potting garden soil..
HOW ABOUT THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS FOR SPROUTING?
You place a little of your dampened soil or growing media into a sandwich or snack sized plastic bag. Put your seed or seeds in the middle barely covering them. They should germinate well in a few days. Take care not to disturb your roots too much when you transplant.
IS IT BEST TO JUST PLANT YOUR SEEDS IN THE INEVITABLE GARDEN TO AVOID DISTURBING THEIR ROOTS LATER?
I don't like to do this because I haven't had any luck with that method. Too many small animals around outside to trample on the small seedlings and too many insects that just love to eat both the seeds and the tender new green shoots.
But let's face it farmers have been using this method successfully for years. I guess if you sow seeds in this manner you have to be ready for at least a 33% to 100% seed or seedling loss.
IS ANY PRE-TREATMENT NECESSARY TO SEEDS BEFORE GERMINATING?
-Scarring the seeds - I never had heard of doing this until lately but some people swear by it as the only way to go: You take your seed and with a knife or file and you scratch or scar it to make a weak spot making it vulnerable to moisture and thereby making it sprout quicker and easier. Obviously size matters here. It would be difficult if not impossible to scar or scrape the tiny seeds.
-Some people think that soaking the seeds overnight or for a period of time readies them to sprout sooner
A variation of this is to place the seeds across a warm wet towel which is then folded over the seeds and kept that way inside a plastic container at least overnight or for a few days before planting or the next step in the process. If this method is used the container must be opened every 12 hours to allow plenty of oxygen inside.
-Some folks like to soak their seeds to a solution of liquid smoke and water (1 to 9 ratio) for a period of time maybe overnight to get them off to the best start. This mostly in fire prone areas.
IN CONCLUSION
So what is the best method of germinating seeds? Whatever method you choose, whatever works best for you and you are comfortable with is the best way for you as long as you adhere to the right temperature. In most cases if not otherwise stated 70 degrees F. or 65 - 80F. degrees works best for seed germination..
There are some plants or trees that are cold hardy and their seeds would be best sprouted at a colder temperature or even frozen for a period of time.
But for me there is no doubt about it. I've tried germinating seeds in just about every imagined way for all kinds of gardens and I conclude that my first choice would be the use of the rock wool, coco pellets or peat pellets for germinating seeds. You don't have to disturb the fragile little roots when transplanting as the young root system stays contained and snug inside.
I love using the humidity domes and the heat mats. Love all of my new hydroponic toys. Love the whole new way of indoor hydroponic gardening.
Don't get me wrong I'll always enjoy planting a flower or two or a bush or tree outside to nurture along and watch grow but as far as growing my vegetables and herbs, anything that I or my family will eat, there is no other way for me anymore than my clean chemical free hydroponic indoor gardens.
Clean, economical, automatic, fuss free hydroponic gardening is the only way to garden for me anymore.
No back breaking weeding or spraying as my garden is waist high. No messing with dusts, insects or insecticides or weed killers, no worry about poisoning my family with harmful chemicals, no aching back and I get to have clean fingernails too!
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