I'm an experienced grower who cruises the Newbie forum. Once in a while I jump in if I think I can help.
Been seeing a number of threads from those having problems successfully getting newly germinated seedlings into dirt.
The biggest problem is that seeds get buried too deeply when first put into dirt. REMEMBER -- see how fat the seed is? That is how much dirt,
maximum, you put on a seed. I use the paper towels-in-a-baggie procedure to germinate seeds. I check the baggie after 48 hours, re-seal the baggie
to make sure all the seeds have cracked, and prepare the next day to put them in dirt.
I try not to handle the newly rooted seedlings at all. I use 2 toothpicks to maneuver and pick up the seedling. Use round solo cups for this first
transplantation. Round 'cuz those are easier to re-TP out of when the time comes. Don't get the clear or light-colored solo cups as they can allow
too much light to get to tender new roots. I like the small 9 oz. size as the seedlings growth emphasizes root growth at first.
I mix up a batch of MiracleGro Potting Mix as my media of choice. I've tried a bunch of "special" starter soils and found most if not all to be too fine
in texture. One note about using MG PM for new seedlings -- MG uses wood chunks mixed in with their dirt as part of the organic make-up. Wood chunks
bigger than a wooden match should be removed from the soil before it goes into the cup. I hand-sift the dirt going into my cups as twice I've lost
seedlings buried under a chunk of lumber. So make sure there isn't anything in your dirt that could impede the natural growth of roots or stem. Then
I moisten the soil until it sticks together in clumps. An ounce or 2 of water for a 9 ounce cup. By TPing into wet soil you don't have to worry about trying
to water tiny plants for 3 days.
I fill the solo cup to the top and gently tap the cup to settle the soil. I leave a slight bowl shape on the surface with the center of the cup the low part.
This helps channel water to the main stem area where needed. Look at the seedling. If it has a 3/4 inch taproot I poke a hole 3/4 of an inch deep in te middle
of the cup. Using the toothpicks I maneuver the seedling until it is sitting upright in the hole. The seedcap should be at the same level as the surface.
DO NOT BURY THE SEEDCAP! What you want to do is press the soil around the taproot until the soil firmly supports the seedling. Sprinkle dirt around the top
so that the seedcap is just visible. Did I mention to make sure you drill 3 or 4 small holes in the bottom of the solo cup? Important for drainage and root health.
Last thing I do is grab a sharpie and write down all the relevant info on the outside of the solo cup: date, strain and plant ID number for me. Then they go into
my veg room where they get a 400W HPS bulb (the MH vegging bulb was too hot in my small veg space) on a 20/4 schedule. The light is off from midnight
to 4 AM.
In about 2 weeks or so when the seedlings are 4 inches or so I get ready to TP them into a larger pot. But that's another story.
These are tips that work for me. I don't pretend to know it all and would like to hear from anyone with comments, suggestions or complaints.
PM me if you have any specific questions you think I could help with. Always glad to help.
BigSteve.
Been seeing a number of threads from those having problems successfully getting newly germinated seedlings into dirt.
The biggest problem is that seeds get buried too deeply when first put into dirt. REMEMBER -- see how fat the seed is? That is how much dirt,
maximum, you put on a seed. I use the paper towels-in-a-baggie procedure to germinate seeds. I check the baggie after 48 hours, re-seal the baggie
to make sure all the seeds have cracked, and prepare the next day to put them in dirt.
I try not to handle the newly rooted seedlings at all. I use 2 toothpicks to maneuver and pick up the seedling. Use round solo cups for this first
transplantation. Round 'cuz those are easier to re-TP out of when the time comes. Don't get the clear or light-colored solo cups as they can allow
too much light to get to tender new roots. I like the small 9 oz. size as the seedlings growth emphasizes root growth at first.
I mix up a batch of MiracleGro Potting Mix as my media of choice. I've tried a bunch of "special" starter soils and found most if not all to be too fine
in texture. One note about using MG PM for new seedlings -- MG uses wood chunks mixed in with their dirt as part of the organic make-up. Wood chunks
bigger than a wooden match should be removed from the soil before it goes into the cup. I hand-sift the dirt going into my cups as twice I've lost
seedlings buried under a chunk of lumber. So make sure there isn't anything in your dirt that could impede the natural growth of roots or stem. Then
I moisten the soil until it sticks together in clumps. An ounce or 2 of water for a 9 ounce cup. By TPing into wet soil you don't have to worry about trying
to water tiny plants for 3 days.
I fill the solo cup to the top and gently tap the cup to settle the soil. I leave a slight bowl shape on the surface with the center of the cup the low part.
This helps channel water to the main stem area where needed. Look at the seedling. If it has a 3/4 inch taproot I poke a hole 3/4 of an inch deep in te middle
of the cup. Using the toothpicks I maneuver the seedling until it is sitting upright in the hole. The seedcap should be at the same level as the surface.
DO NOT BURY THE SEEDCAP! What you want to do is press the soil around the taproot until the soil firmly supports the seedling. Sprinkle dirt around the top
so that the seedcap is just visible. Did I mention to make sure you drill 3 or 4 small holes in the bottom of the solo cup? Important for drainage and root health.
Last thing I do is grab a sharpie and write down all the relevant info on the outside of the solo cup: date, strain and plant ID number for me. Then they go into
my veg room where they get a 400W HPS bulb (the MH vegging bulb was too hot in my small veg space) on a 20/4 schedule. The light is off from midnight
to 4 AM.
In about 2 weeks or so when the seedlings are 4 inches or so I get ready to TP them into a larger pot. But that's another story.
These are tips that work for me. I don't pretend to know it all and would like to hear from anyone with comments, suggestions or complaints.
PM me if you have any specific questions you think I could help with. Always glad to help.
BigSteve.
