How to Start Plants from Seeds
Many garden enthusiasts claim, that the work they do in the garden is not only a responsibility and a burden, but also an amazing experience, which makes them think differently about the world and everything in it. I can safely confirm, that taking care of your own garden is a life changing activity, which will widen your point of view and make you look at plants in a different way. But all this doesn’t mean that gardening is something very easy, which doesn’t require any effort. No, taking care of your own plants is a very responsible job, and not everybody possesses the so much needed patience and will to do it. The thing which tests your patience and devotion the most is when you try to grow a plant from a seed. This is a very delicate process, which requires your constant attention, and even one small mistake can destroy your efforts. To help those of you who are still new at this, I’ve collected these useful tips for starting plants from seeds, which should be very helpful.
Containers. You can’t just put the seeds in the ground outside, and expect positive results after some time. Some of the seeds may hatch, but most of them won’t. This is because sometimes the outside conditions are too harsh for the small seeds, and they don’t allow them to grow. Sometimes it’s too cold, sometimes the fertiliser is not the right kind, or something else. This is why seeds are usually grown in containers, and preferably in seed trays with many cells on them. This way you can plant only one seed in a cell, and be sure that the growing thing inside the cell is your plant, and not some stubborn weed. Also, planting your seeds in a tray like that will make replanting them a lot easier. You’ll just have to remove the plant from the cell with the soil and put it in the ground. The roots won’t be irrigated in any way, which means your plant will have a better chance of surviving in the ground. If you want, you can make holes in the bottom of the cells, fill a bigger tray with water, and put this one on top of it. This is the best possible watering option. Household items like milk cartons and egg containers make great seed trays too.
The potting mix. As you know, the seeds also need a special potting mix to grow. You can find such mixes in the different specialised stores, but they are usually filled with different chemicals, which can cause different issues in your plants, this way endangering their safety and well-being. Therefore, I would recommend using an organic and chemical free potting mix. They cost a little more, but they are safe for your plants and your health. And if you want to save some money, you can always make your own potting mix. You just need to mix equal parts sand, some compost and some good soil. Some people even add other ingredients, to achieve better growth or health for the plant. Starting your own compost bin would help you a lot in achieving a toxin-free garden.
Soaking the seeds. Sometimes it takes a long time before the seed wakes up and starts growing as a plant. Therefore, some gardeners help themselves by soaking the seeds in some water for a couple of hours. Some of them even add some kelp or sea minerals. All this activates the germination, and makes the seed grow faster.
Heat and light. The heat and the light are among the most important things every seed needs to grow. Have in mind, that every seed needs at least eight hours of sunlight a day to survive. The temperature also needs to be high, but not too high. More than 30 degrees is a little too much for your future plants.
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