GDub51
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What type of seeds are you using , breeder ? Strain ?I've had a "wipe out" this year with all but ONE seed of 12 still alive. I figured damping off right? OK, so I cooked in the microwave for three min. sealed in plastic wrap AND then baked it in the sun as I've read for several days and started over to have it all do the same thing over again!! The cups were washed out with hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly. So I'm going on my third try! I got new "seedling soil", tossed the old, and set new seeds today. The existing soil in the large pots will be sterilized with H202 tonight. Too bad it had already been recharged with a dozen expensive adds that will be wasted by the H202 sterilizing but I don't know what else to do! At least I still have time and more seeds. ANY ADVICE AS TO WHAT MAY BE GOING ON? I'm SoCal, Orange County, 7 miles from the ocean. The soil in pots has never had any diseases before and has been recharged already each season for four seasons. Nothing odd in the recharge, all by MFG's directions, and that soil was not used for seedlings anyway! I had used last years un-recharged for them, in which all but one died. I water seedlings with PH adjusted distilled water with a little H202 as advised in large jiffy cups (I only transplant once) keeping the area around the seedling damp while not soaking the soil not around the seedling. Now that I've been advised NOT to use a humidity dome for disease reasons anyway here is my problem. I spray the area just around the seedling about 6 times a day just to keep the soil around the seedling moist, not soaked, continuously. Under the lights dries the soil quickly which calls for the 6 times a day spray or three of fresh water, just enough to keep it damp around the seedling. (soil not around the seedling remains dry. I don't water the cup, I water the seedling. So I'm pretty sure they have enough and not too much moisture. I bury sprouts about a centimeter deep and cover loosely. I also use a heat matt for germination and seedlings. Yet still after two tries now, have only one plant left... ANY ADVICE??
I think she meant the seed starter mix.You cooked your seeds in a microwave for 3 minutes then baked it outside in the sun for 3 days?? wtf?!
The paper towel method is one of the best ways to germinate a seed in my experience and millions of others. It provides a great combination of moisture and air. To say it does nothing to help germinate a seed is completely wrong. I have over 95% success rate using the paper towel method. I'm sure germinating directly in soil works very good
too, but I've never done it that way so I can't speak directly out of experience.
Soil has the proper air: water ratio too unless saturated, same with the paper towel. Same germ rate too. The only reason to germ in a paper towel is so you know it sprouted. Why sprout a tiny delicate root to disturb it and risk damage transplanting? I think it actually sets you back a bit because all those tiny hair have to reattach to the soil now.
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