Forgive me is this is just a bit off topic. I will go the the propogation forum for further assistance but I have received some seed from kind DGers.
What do you guys start these seed in? Peat pellets woud be too expensive to have one for each seed. I have some seed starting soil but need to decide on the best container size. Is it best to use something to make a "flat" and then transplant when you see how many germinate?
charlotte
now to start-
I don't start any seeds in soil. I use vermiculite..But that's just me...Lets see what others say..
This is just a corner I've designated for seed starting. When they germinate in the ziplock bag I then place them in their own pots.
I think I'll have to stick with the jiffy mix for now. I'm like a cat and dont like change :) So you do plant each little seed in a different container. I've heard of folks using egg cartons also.
I'm so excited.
can you tell me something about rose mallow alba. I KNOW I have seen it but cant find it in the database.
I just use miracle grow soil to start mine.
yes you can use the egg carton also then when you are ready to plant, separate the 12 cells with a knife and plant them as is into the ground when the seedlings are ready. Make sure the carton is cardboard and one of those gray ones-more natural, and they will rot into the ground after you plant them.You should poke 5 holes on the bottom of each cell tolet the water drain out. They are made out of pressedcardboard which means the cells will retain water.
Charlotte, I believe it looks about like this http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/8123/
Charlotte,
You can use sour cream, cottage cheese, etc containers. Fill them up a few inches with your jiffy mix after punching holes in the bottom. Make sure the soil is wet then drained before you plant in it. Use one bowl for each kind of seed. This works well for starting several of the same kind of thing. As they come up, you can transplant them into the cell packs in flats. When you transplant, each seedling, would get it's own cell. Is that what you wanted to know?
I use four inch pots and a peat/perlite mix. I sterilize it and place in a freezer bag. The steam kills any bad stuff that I may have missed and when it's cool, I sow the seeds and close the bag and place in warmth and light.
Recently, I've been soaking seed or spraying small seed with a hydrogen peroxide solution.
I have used toilet paper rolls pack the empties in a tray and fill with dirt, the bottom is open so they at really good for shrubs and trees that are going to need a little more growing time in the house.
Capt Micha - what ratio of water/H2O2 do you use for spraying?
ah...very interesting. Yes, in using my peat pellets-they can get a bit expensive if you use many- also, if a seed does not germinate-you're stuck with having to decide whether to give it more time or reuse the pellet. !
So I can plant individually or as Badseed suggested, use a little bigger container to plant several of the same kind of seed then transplant those that germinate !
Charlotte, Before I had pots I used white 2 inch Dixie Cups. They are absolutely wonderful! I cut triangles on the bottom of each cup. The plants can stay in there for a long time before transplanting in the ground. As far as spraying. I just mist with water...
I have LOTS of pots. I have a friend (a nice older gentleman) who runs a big wholesale nursery. I try not to abuse my friendship but I go down about once a year or so and dig through his old "pot pile". My hubby says, "be careful when you tell people you are going to the pot pile" LOL
Anywho, I have probably 100 or more little square 3 or 4 inch pots but I wondered if it is best to allocate that much space and planting medium to each seed-especially if they are small seed.
Oooo I see...Charlotte you'll get the hang of it. Since you're not sure about everything..My suggestion is to get a roll of bounty paper towel. Moisten it, fold it in 4, and place your seeds inside (ziplock bag). Then when the seeds germinate. Pot up the one you want and pitch the rest. You do not have to start seeds in soil. Like I said..I rarely start any seeds in soil. But that's just me. Just about any seed will germinate in a paper towel. I even germinate Brugmansia seeds in paper towel.
OK Kim, are you saying, moisten the papertowel, lay the seed on 1 quarter of the towel, fold it shut with seed inside ? and then put in baggie? the seed are covered "inside the paper towel"
Yup!
Ok Charlotte...LOL LOL You're worrying me! I just bagged you some vermiculite, and a few plastic cups. I want you to experiment. If you have tiny tiny seeds and really want plants. Fill the little cup I send with vermiculite. Use warm water to fill it. You will see the water at the top. Sprinkle the seeds on top. Place the cup in a ziplock bag and watch the work. When the seeds sprout remove the cup from the bag. Sending Monday :-D
Charlotte, This is Pavonia lasiopetala. See the sprout in the bag? Then you just pop it in a pot :-D See it's easy...
It's been in the bag for about 7 days..I just went to check to see what's sprouting. I like this method because I have control of how many seedlings I want. Then I just throw the rest away...
I don't use a ratio per say. I just put in a small splash of hydrogen peroxide to the water.
Those peat pellets and post can get expensive. There's also speculation as to whether they smother the plant's roots or not. I've tried growing the same kind of plant in regular plastic containers and jiffy pots. The jiffy pots dried out quickly, molded and stifled the plants. The ones in the regular pots were larger and healthier.
Kim, you dont have to go to the much trouble LOL besides is the p.o. closed monday for easter?
looks like you have the "mix" in the second photo in a baggie but not a pot.
So, this method is better because....... you only pot up seed that sprouts ? Of course , I assume you then gently plant them and slightly cover-unless they are one that requires light to germinate.
CaptMicha- yes, I am becoming unhappy with my pellets. I always remove the webbing when I repot them but they seem difficult to keep the proper wettness !
When we purchase seeds the package tells info such as "do not cover-light required". On trades, is there any place online that will tell such info?
I go with Kim on the baggie method. You can see what germinates. I use coffe filters insted of paper towels they seem to not stick as much.
Here are some Japanese MG that germinated in a few days.
Thats very interesting also. So do you unroll them every couple of days to check or can you see thru the paper when they need potted?
One year I had about 60 bags taped to my dining room window. LOL My neighbors probably thought I was nuts! Hey, it's good for them to wonder. hehehe Most of the time you can see the little roots.
You do need to make sure they don't dry out.
I'm amazed that you can move them from the wet paper to soil and the stress not kill them.
Ohhh I didn't know the PO was closed..Already packed it up
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I know it's hard to try something new when you have to buy it! LOL LOL. So I just send you some in a bag. Once you use it you'll be hooked!!! No mold, rotting, disease. I love it!
Ronnie, I'll try coffee filters...Sometimes if you don't catch them in time. They do root through the paper towels! arghhhhhh.
OK. I have malva sylvestric, rose mallow alba,E.white swan,clematis radar love, purple globe thistle, and red swamp hibiscus in wet paper towels in sealed zip bags. Now what do I do with them?
I would put pellets in my seed starting tray with clear cover on my heat mat under a light. What should I do with the bags?
How often should I look inside the papertowel?
Charlotte, I'm sorry to say..but I hate pellets..They dry out too fast and have NO nutritional value. :-( Do you have any seed soil? Once they germinate put them in your small 3-4 in. pots with soil. Believe it or not...LOL E.white swan is one I do start in soil. LMK how these do in a towel. You can tape them to a sunny window or just put them somewhere with light..Be patient :-D
I don't bottom heat anything...so maybe someone can assist you with the bottom heat thing...
Keep the where it's warm and watch they don't dry out. Just keep an eye on them, if the seem dry open and spritz. You also don't want them soaking to the point of rot.
You will be able to see them through the paper so you don't have to keep opening them
When you start to see a little tail w/ some green carefully pick up and transfer to your pot as if you were transplanting a plant. Plant outside when your weather permits.
If you can see mine you will notice the green through the bag.
Great Pic Ronnie!
Thanks Kim, I am trying your vemiculite method next, I have a ton of plastic cups!!
I use the vermiculite for the itty bitty seeds...Here's the variegated tabacco.
This method keep a leash on those microscopic seeds! LOL LOL
Wow, thanks for all the super informative posts, folks!! I had heard of these methods for germinating, but not in this detail before. NIce pix too!! Thanks for a really informative thread. I intend to put the info to good use on my datura seeds etc etc etc :)
Carolyn
Charlotte, did you want to know when you shouldn't cover seeds when planting?
The general rule of thumb is, any tiny seed shouldn't be covered. Then, medium seed, I bury them as deep as the seed is big. I usually do the same with large seed but with large seed, some times they need to go deeper. This seems to work well for me.
Thanks, tiny seed scare the POO out of me. I'm just too clumbsy.
Yes, Kim, I do have some seed starting soil for the cups.
When the soil sprouts with a little tail (root) and a green stem do I bury the whole plantlet in the soil or just the root part as if you were planting a tomato plant?
Do I need an itty bitty shovel? LOL-sorry I couldnt help myself.
Toothpicks and chopsticks are perfect!
Kim
I have noticed alot of your posts,you the germinating Queen!
I have tried to take small cups with vermiculite with warm water with fert and put in baggies and i started week ago tuesday still nothing.Is this something I am doing wrong? They have sweat!
put no germation yet.....Help please i want to graduate doing this.
I have done putting seeds in soil under heat llamps with lights on top got seeds up over night.But i want to do your method Can you tell me what do do
Thanks for your information Robin