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Post by durgan on Feb 9, 2010 20:38:55 GMT -5
Planting seeds to insure maximum germination. www.durgan.org/URL/?IGNNG 12 September 2009 Planting seeds to insure maximum germination. Pots used are are plastic cups. Five drainage holes are burnt around the periphery using a common soldering iron. The periphery is chosen to supply drainage, and to leave a small space to retain water. Soil is my own mix previously prepared. The seeded pots are placed in an individual gusseted bag so the pots are on a essentially level surface. The bag presents an environment that is high in humidity, which is probably the most important necessity for good germination. When the plants have germinated well the bags are opened. The bags also prevent water from draining out of the pots, which can be a nuisance. Pots are placed in a bright window. Grow lamps are avoided. A heating pad is sometimes used under the containers, if deemed necessary. The pad is one of those simple body heating pads used for muscle treatment. Cheap and effective. The plants will be thinned to one per pot after they have reached a strong appearing condition. When transplanting the pots are often cut open to minimize any root disturbance. Germination is near 100% using this method.
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jcm05
Administrator
Posts: 1,685
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Post by jcm05 on Feb 10, 2010 14:42:14 GMT -5
How is this any different from planting seeds in a covered 1020 flat?
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Post by durgan on Feb 10, 2010 15:22:37 GMT -5
How is this any different from planting seeds in a covered 1020 flat? Ah, You don't disturb the roots until the plant is quite large for transplanting. The air supply is more generous. The top of the plant has some room to grow before removing the cover. The roots have room to expand. Far easier than digging out of a flat. I have tried them all over the years.
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amideutch
Breeder in Training
Golden Cherokee
Posts: 139
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Post by amideutch on Feb 14, 2010 4:01:37 GMT -5
For me I have always used Jiffy 7 peat pellets with excellent results and last year Switched to Grodan Jump Starts that are also peat pellets but they use a different type of peat. Come in their own greenhouse in 12, 36, 72 or 81 cell greenhouses. Last year I used 2 of the 81 cell units with excellent results. When they were 4" tall I potted up to 4" CowPots and 4" DotPots which are biodegadable pots and used Fox Farms "Light Warrior" for the aggregate. So from germination to plant out I have virtually no transplant shock. And when I pulled the plants at the end of the growing season the pots had degraded from 95% to 100%. Ami Attachments:
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