Return to the Hot Pepper Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
A little confused about seed germination
| | |
Posted by alex818 z9 CA (My Page) on Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 6:16
| I bought one of those "Germination Stations" from an indoor gardening/hydroponic shop. Most of you already know that Its a heating pad with a 72 cell container and a clear plastic Dome (greenhouse).
I'm a little confused because I read that you need to have some ventilation otherwise your seedlings can grow mold or die from damping-off. How do you provide proper ventilation when you have a dome on top? Even with light watering of the soil there is plenty of condensation on the inside of the dome indicating high humidity especially since it gets warm in there. Do I even need the dome? Am I supposed to remove the dome every day to air it out?
Another thing Im confused about is that Im being told to soak the seeds and wait for them to sprout then move them into the germination cells (into these "rapid rooter" plugs they gave me). Dont the seeds need the 80-90 degree temps to even sprout or do they just need those temps to CONTINUE germinating successfully? Cant I just let them sprout in the greenhouse?
Thanks in advance!
Alex |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
- Posted by donn_ 7b, GSB, LI, NY (My Page) on
Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 7:47
| Capsicum needs 72°F and light to germinate, and should be grown on at 60°F until transplant time. I start mine in slightly damp paper towels, in open baggies, on top of the fridge. After they sprout, I just set them in cells with MetroMix, and lightly top them with fine vermiculite. Judging from the volunteers I get in my garden every year, winter sowing them would work as well, but my growing season requires a head start. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| You can also start the seeds right in your germination case,put potting MIX, not potting soil, in each cell and insert a seed but not too deep. Most pepper seeds do not need light to germinate, just after they peek their heads out. Mist the soil good, place tray on heating pad or warmer or in many cases I just have it sitting on a stand close to a register with no underneath heat. Place your plastic lid on top,sit back and wait for them to sprout. Some of the superhots need a constant 85 degrees to encourage them but I have sprouted them with no heat pad. Check that dirt is not too wet. If it looks excessively damp, raise the plastic cover for a bit then put it down. I grow all of mine this way. Do not transplant until after the seedlings have two sets of leaves. They will be fine in those little cells until they grow a bit. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| I put seeds in an open plastic bag with a moist paper towel in the 'fridge for a couple days. Then I put the bag on top of the 'fridge until I see a little white root breaking the seedcase. I put the seeds in a tray, sprinkle with a bit of mix, then put a loose piece of Saran Wrap over the top. I put them under my grow lights and I remove the plastic as soon as I see green growth breaking from the soil. This keeps the seedlings from damping off. Josh |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| I really appreciate your responses and info on your methods but I'd like some feedback as to how I can successfuly germinate with the setup I have right now. Also if you can please see my questions regarding ventilation and temperatures I'd appreciate it. Thanks |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| Alex, We did give you information on how to use the setup that you have now. Do you plan on using soil in your 72 cell tray or peat pellets? In either case you need to get the medium damp, insert seed, cover the seed, put the plastic cover on the tray. Done! Sit back and wait for the seedlings to pop out. If the plastic is very misted it probably needs some air inside. Lift the top up, prop it with a pencil or any item to keep it up for a while. Once the top is clear again, place it back over the tray. It's not rocket science but it works. Since you have a heating mat, place that under the tray to give your seeds warmth to germinate. I guess I go for the simplest way to explain it and to raise peppers. My feeling is it doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. NO I don't sit over my seeds 24/7 but close. J/K They want to grow so put them in the dirt or whatever and let them do what they are supposed to do. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
Sometimes the dome lid can make it to moist. Like vic01 said raise the
lid if it's too wet. I have one of those Germination Station, but I don't use
the lid. Just make sure they dont dry out.. I don't soak my pepper seeds.
They should still sprout, faster with the germination heating pad. That's
what I used last year. All my seeds germinated. Put the seeds right into
your plugs, not too deep. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
Sometimes the dome lid can make it to moist. Like vic01 said raise the
lid if it's too wet. I have one of those Germination Station, but I don't use
the lid. Just make sure they dont dry out.. I don't soak my pepper seeds.
They should still sprout, faster with the germination heating pad. That's
what I used last year. All my seeds germinated. Put the seeds right into
your plugs, not too deep. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| The only ventilation necessary is removing the dome/cover for a few hours each day, after the seeds have sprouted or if there is too much heat inside the mini-greenhouse. The way I use those kits is as follows: Plant seeds in soil inside dome if no seed mat is already there...set in dark warm area (always leaving dome/cover on unless white mold starts to form) until seeds start to sprout. When most seeds have sprouted, place in a lighted area (at least 6-8 minimum hours of light a day)...keep well watered...remove dome for a few hours each day (or leave it on kinda sideways with a 1-2 inch opening all day)...keep like this until plants need to be potted up. This method has always worked for me & produces a 90%+ germination rate every time. |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| So I have at least a dozen or so that have sprouted now and are about an inch tall with a pair of leaves. Can I take them off the heat pad now and straight to the light or do they still require some heat while under the light? |
RE: A little confused about seed germination
| | |
| They always require a minimum of 68-70 degree heat, so judge the heat mat need by that. How many seeds did you originally start with? If you have a dozzen sprouted out of 15, then yes, move them to the light & keep the dome off for 2-3 hours a day for now. If you only have 12 seds sprouted out of 20-30+, then leave them as is in the dark with heat mat for now until 70-80% sprout, at least, or the deozen that have sprrouted already get too big. Still crack the dome slightly for a few hours a day, letting some fresh air in to prevent white mold, but don't remove it. |
|
|
|
|
