Seed Germination Guide
Germinating seeds is not difficult – provided you use fresh, high quality seeds and keep things simple.
There are countless methods of germinating, but many of them involve a high chance of failure, often resulting in low germination rates and weak seedlings and/or stunted growth.
We strongly advice against ‘pregerminating’ seeds in wet tissues or by soaking them in a glass of water before planting. When transplanting a seed that has already sprouted, the tap root is easily damaged. Another common mistake is letting seeds soak for too long – causing the seed to rot before it sprouts.
An easy and proven method with little risk of complications is germinating in soil. This way, the seed does not have to be transplanted and/or touched unnecesarily, thus avoiding stress and possible damage to the fragile taproot.
Germinating seeds in 4 simple steps:
- Take a small plastic pot (8-12 cm diameter) and fill it with seed-starting soil.
- Make a small hole in the center of the pot by pressing your finger down onto the soil.
- Gently moisten the soil with luke-warm water with a pH of 6 – 6.5.
- Keep the environment temperature between 21 – 28ºC.
This special potting soil mix has a low EC, and works great for germinating seeds. It can be found at most gardening centres. Normal potting soil will do the trick aswell, but avoid cheap, non-sterile soil that contains a high level of mineral fertilizer.
Place the seed approximately 1-2 cm deep and cover it with soil.
The soil needs to be moist, but should not be waterlogged.
In case the tap water in your region contains a high concentration of chlorine, it is adviseable to let it sit on the shelf for a few days.
You can use vinegar to lower the ph of the water. Make sure you use a well calibrated pH-meter or pH test paper strips to measure the pH of the water you are using.
Temperatures above 25ºC speed up the germination process. Try to maintain a constant temperature, avoid fluctuations.
Note that higher temperatures and increased air circulation can cause the upper layer of the soil to dry out quicker. If this happens you can re-moisture it by using a plant spray.
The seedlings should break the soil surface within 2 to 6 days.
Additional tips:
- Young seedlings require sufficient light.
- Do NOT use any fertilizer or root stimulator in the first 2-3 weeks.
- Beware of overwatering.
Provide plenty of direct sunlight or use proper lighting such as HPS or CFL lights. When growing under fluorescent lights (with the exception of T5), keep a distance between fluor bulb and seedling of no more than 2-3 cm.
Seedlings require little nutrients; the soil you are using should contain all they need for a healthy start.
Only water small amounts once every few days when the pot starts to weigh less.