I have read alot on here and researched seed starting, I just want to be sure on what I need before I go buy lights, etc.
Start with potting soil..a fine soil with good drainage.
Use heat pads or mats...can someone please explain these and how this works?
Grow lights once they sprout...read like 16 hrs a day? Keep the lights close 2'' or 3''.
How exactly do you water from the bottom considering they are in cups or pots?
Very new at this...thanks!
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brandon558
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- Location: North Carolina
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rainbowgardener
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Obviously, you have been reading and thinking about this, so you are off to a good start already.
The heat pads or mats are to warm up the soil. Most of the seeds you might germinate indoors (there are exceptions), germinate much better in warm soil. Better meaning not only quicker, but with higher germination rate. So there are specially made heat mats for this purpose, or you can just use regular heating pads from pharmacy (as long as they don't have automatic timed cut-off). Or people improvise lots of things like putting their plants on a sheet of metal with incandescent light bulb under it...
Bottom watering is easy - you collect all the cups or pots and put them in a tray. You would want to do this anyway. If you are watering from the top, the water will still drip out the bottom. If there's no tray under them, it will get very messy. So you have all your little pots in a tray. You put a little bit of water in the tray, just enough so it just touches the drainage holes of the pots. Then the soil wicks the water up. Again they make special trays for this
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/1020-standard-trays-no-holes-10_pack/seed-starting
but various kinds of baking sheets or whatever you have around that you could set the pots in and pour 1/4" of water into would be fine.
The heat pads or mats are to warm up the soil. Most of the seeds you might germinate indoors (there are exceptions), germinate much better in warm soil. Better meaning not only quicker, but with higher germination rate. So there are specially made heat mats for this purpose, or you can just use regular heating pads from pharmacy (as long as they don't have automatic timed cut-off). Or people improvise lots of things like putting their plants on a sheet of metal with incandescent light bulb under it...
Bottom watering is easy - you collect all the cups or pots and put them in a tray. You would want to do this anyway. If you are watering from the top, the water will still drip out the bottom. If there's no tray under them, it will get very messy. So you have all your little pots in a tray. You put a little bit of water in the tray, just enough so it just touches the drainage holes of the pots. Then the soil wicks the water up. Again they make special trays for this
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/1020-standard-trays-no-holes-10_pack/seed-starting
but various kinds of baking sheets or whatever you have around that you could set the pots in and pour 1/4" of water into would be fine.
Make sure your potting soil is a soilless mix or a seed starting mix.
Many seeds need a little extra heat to germinate. Cheap heating pads work OK, but don't let the pads get wet. Put in a large baggie. Shock and/or fire potential. Heating mats made for seed starting are best if they have a thermostat. Inexpensive ones can be found on e-bay sometimes.
A shop light with regular florescent bulbs will do just as good as the expensive gro-lights. 1 to 2 inches is a good distance above the tops of the seedlings.
It is a good idea to have drip pans of some sort under your pots to keep things from getting messy. Some people bottom water and some top water. I have done both and right now I lean toward top watering to control the soil moisture. Too much water will encourage damping off.
Most of all, have fun with it all. In a year or two you will become an expert.
Many seeds need a little extra heat to germinate. Cheap heating pads work OK, but don't let the pads get wet. Put in a large baggie. Shock and/or fire potential. Heating mats made for seed starting are best if they have a thermostat. Inexpensive ones can be found on e-bay sometimes.
A shop light with regular florescent bulbs will do just as good as the expensive gro-lights. 1 to 2 inches is a good distance above the tops of the seedlings.
It is a good idea to have drip pans of some sort under your pots to keep things from getting messy. Some people bottom water and some top water. I have done both and right now I lean toward top watering to control the soil moisture. Too much water will encourage damping off.
Most of all, have fun with it all. In a year or two you will become an expert.
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brandon558
- Cool Member
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:31 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Thanks for the quick replys...much appreciated.
Now does the temp where you plan to start seeds matter much? I obviously don't have a green house. I planned to do this in my garage, that being said the temp will change once opening the garage door, ect. With the lights and pads is that much of a worry or not really?
Thanks
Now does the temp where you plan to start seeds matter much? I obviously don't have a green house. I planned to do this in my garage, that being said the temp will change once opening the garage door, ect. With the lights and pads is that much of a worry or not really?
Thanks