| Title | Description | Added |
|---|
| Seeds |
Here is what I use for germination: Seeds, Kleenix tissue, water spray bottle. These seeds are Northern Lights from an organic seed garden in Oregon. |
03/05/04 |
| Into the jar |
I spray the Kleenix with water until it is wet, but not dripping wet. Then I put the 4 seeds in the middle of the Kleenix, then fold it up so the seeds are surrounded by wet material. I use a glass jar to seal the seeds in. Then I put the jar into the cabinet (any warm, dark place will suffice). I check the condition of the seeds once a day. |
03/05/04 |
| They popped! |
When the root tip emerges from the seed it is time to remove them from the wet Kleenix and place into the prepared soil containers. In this case it took 3 days. No need to remove the seed husk, in fact I'd suggest leaving it on until the plant discards it. |
03/05/04 |
| Soil prep |
This should be done the day you put the seeds into the jar. Sometimes I do not get it done until right before planting the seeds, but in this case I remembered to prep the soil in advance. The reason this is important is to avoid shocking the new seeding. I use: Black Gold Seedling mix, water spray bottle, 1-pint containers. |
03/05/04 |
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| Wetting the soil |
I wet the soil before putting the 'popped' seed into place. This creates a moist environment from the top of the medium to the bottom. I use the spray bottle as I fill in the container to make sure it is wet all the way through.
After the soil is prepared and has been at room temperature for 3-5 days I create a shallow hole with the end of a pen. This is where the seedling will be placed. |
03/05/04 |
| Placing the seed |
Careful. At this point, damaging the root, seed head, or cotyledons could easily kill your plant. I remove the seed from the Kleenix and place the root tip facing downward into the hole I created in the soil. |
03/05/04 |
| Cover up the seedling |
I cover the seedling with a thin layer of soil, just enough so I can't see it anymore. |
03/05/04 |
| Humidity enclosure |
I use plastic baggies to cover the 1-pint containers. This works well because they are the perfect size. I poke a few small holes in the bag to help prevent molding, rotting, etc. It also keeps the moist soil wet enough for the new seedling to keep developing. |
03/05/04 |
| Into the dark |
I use a cabinet for the next step. The new seedling needs no light, and they seem to sprout faster for me without any light. I check the seedling once a day until I see 1-2 inches popping up out of the soil. This method has had a 99% success rate for me. No watering while it has the bag on it. |
03/05/04 |
| After 3 days |
After 3 days the seedling has sprouted, and it is now time to remove the plastic bag. This seedling is ready for some fluorescent lighting.
If a plant takes more than 5 days to pop up out from the soil I assume that nature chose another destiny for it, and I re-use the soil and recycle the seedling (compost). |
03/05/04 |
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