growing strong seedlings
Giving your plants a strong head start is an important
first step towards achieving success in your indoor
garden. If your seedlings are weak and spindly, they may
not make it off the propagation bench. Even if seedlings
do survive, they may never reach their true genetic potential, so following a few propagation basics is well worth
the time and effort.
Seed Soaks
Whenever possible, it’s best to use fresh seeds that have
been stored in a cool, dark place. Fresh seeds are loaded
with starches and stored nutrients, and typically have a
good germination rate when given adequate moisture
and warmth. If you have older seeds or seeds that haven’t
been stored under ideal conditions, a few extra precautions should be taken. Kelp extracts make a great seed
soak for older seeds, as kelp is loaded with natural growth
hormones and contains many beneficial trace elements.
One of the hormones found in seaweed extracts is called
gibberillic acid. In nature, gibberillic acid triggers the
release of enzymes in the seeds that begin the germination process. Soaking seeds overnight in seaweed extracts
may improve germination rates by up to 30%.
In hydroponic applications, stonewool starter cubes are
a good choice for starting seeds. A sheet of stonewool
starter cubes fits perfectly in a standard nursery tray, and
it has the perfect air- to water-holding capacity. Just make
sure you condition the stonewool with pH-adjusted water
before planting. For best results, soak the starter cubes
for a few minutes in water with a pH of about 5.5. The
conditioning solution will neutralize the limestone dust
left over from the manufacturing process and provide
plenty of moisture for germinating seeds. Pour off the
excess water so the stonewool isn’t sitting in a puddle of
water, then simply plant one seed in each starter cube.
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Maximum Yield USA | April 2015