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Ashby, MA

I started my seeds Friday April 8th (using the paper towel and bag approach) and they sprouted by Sunday night. I put them in small 3" peat pots in seed starting soil with the seed tip pointing down and added a little water (couple of tablespoons). I added a little water each day (1 or 2 tablespoons). It is now Wednesday morning April 13th and they have not popped up out of the soil yet. I'm a little concerned and not sure if I've been adding enough water. So this morning I added enough water to reach the bottom. I was going to wait until tomorrow morning. If they haven't popped up by tomorrow morning I was going to move them to regular potting soil which I've had better luck with.

Has anyone had this experience before? This is only my second year and my first time using seed starting soil rather than potting soil. The seed starting soil seems a lot dryer than the regular potting soil.

4/13/2011 9:00:24 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

What about temp?

4/13/2011 9:34:19 AM

Ashby, MA

I have them in my germination box which is in the mid 80's.

4/13/2011 9:39:44 AM

Linden, Mi.,

If these are test seeds, try digging them up (do this very easy)to see if they are growing. You may (I say may)have added to much water and they rotted. (Temperature and water). Keep testing you will get it right. I am still testing, I have been growing for some time now.

4/13/2011 9:47:16 AM

Ashby, MA

These are my final selection of seeds and they have already germinated. After they germinated I put them in the seed starting soil. I've gone through quite a few test rounds and was always able to germinate 100% of the time. Also, I took a few of those test seeds after they germinated and put them in some potting soil. In about 2 days they were popping up and doing well. This is my first time using seed starting soil.

I did take one of my back ups and remove some of the soil this morning and noticed that it was dry down where the sprout was. This is why I decided to add more water than what I was adding. I think the seeds are still alive. I'm just thinking that they weren't getting enough water... I hope.

4/13/2011 11:09:47 AM

Western PA

gpierce, Does the starting mix contain any fertilizer ? If so, it probably contains salts which are harmful to germination.(I did it last year). I dug mine out last year and noticed the roots were dried up from the salts.,
Just use plain starter mix with no ferts.

I get a bucket and hand mix my starter mix in my kitchen sink, using the sprayer (wife hates it, I always leave a trail of dirt) . I work in the water by squeezing and mixing, slowly adding more warm water and mixing again. If you can squeeze a drop of water out , it is too wet.
Good luck.

4/13/2011 11:57:16 AM

Ashby, MA

It's the Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix.

INGREDIENTS
This product is formulated from 80-90% horticultural-grade sphagnum
peat, perlite, fertilizer and a wetting agent.
Net Weight 2.5 lb (1.13 kg)
Seed Starting Potting Mix, 0.05-0.01-0.05
Guaranteed Analysis F 1144
Total nitrogen (N) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%
0.005% ammoniacal nitrogen
0.035% nitrate nitrogen
0.010% urea nitrogen
Available phosphate (P2O5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Soluble potash (K2O) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%
Derived from: urea, ammonium phosphate, and potassium nitrate.
Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product
is available on the internet at http://www.regulatory-info-sc.com.

4/13/2011 12:02:48 PM

Ashby, MA

I'm now thinking that I should pull them out and get them in the regular potting soil that was working for me with my practice seeds.

4/13/2011 12:05:13 PM

Littleton, Colorado

Miracle-Gro definately contains salts.

4/13/2011 12:43:23 PM

Fresno, CA

Idid you mix water in thoroughly with seed starting mix before putting it in the pot like ZAPPA describes? If not, that might be the problem. When I started a batch a few weeks ago I was using a Jiffy seed starting mix for the first time. I only watered from the top once in the pot, instead of mixing the water into all of the soil mix first. I think that was why I only got one plant out of six to start. When I pulled them apart I found that the soil was always wet at the top and bone dry at the bottom of the pot.

4/13/2011 2:43:35 PM

Ashby, MA

I did not wet the soil first before putting the seed in.
I think that's my problem. I did put a lot more water in
this morning to ensure that it gets down to the bottom so
hopefully that works. I'm still thinking about pull them out
and getting them into regular potting soil which is moist.

4/13/2011 2:55:52 PM

Rhode Island

most definately were under watered. once you have wetted properly they should still go.

4/13/2011 3:21:35 PM

Ashby, MA

I'll give them another couple of days and see how it goes.

4/13/2011 3:25:18 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Gprice, I sand the corners of my seeds then I soak them in warm water for a few hours. My pete pots are also soaked then soil that has been innoculated with myco is added. I put then in the germination chamber under a heating mat. The soil is moist and never soggy. When I get home from work I see that the dome of the germination chamber is fogged up and I can smell warm soul. Ive had good germination with this method. I can understand the stress involved with seed starting.

4/13/2011 9:08:18 PM

Ashby, MA

Thanks everyone for the advise. I've added some water this morning and will add some tonight. I'm going to give it another couple of days. Since they have already sprouted I think I'm ok... keeping my fingers crossed. This one goes down as one of the "what *not* to do".

4/13/2011 9:53:44 PM

Martinsburg, Pa

Would it help to put a plastic bag on top of the pots to retain some of the moisture???

4/13/2011 11:34:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Mossyoak, yes, if not in an enclosed germination chamber, a baggie will help to retain moisture. gpierce,#1... sterilized seed starting medium is very dry stuff, needs to be moistened to the "one drop" method b/4 placing seeds in it. #2...Peat pots are very dry & will wick moisture away from yer starting medium. If using them, they should be presoaked !! #3 if these don't make it, I can help ya out w/ seeds to try again!!! Peace, Wayne

4/14/2011 12:05:02 AM

Western PA

If you presoak your peat pots like Peace Wayne states, and you have moist starter mix, premixed in a bucket,and then put your sprouted seeds in, you should not have to water until after the seeds pop through the surface.I will agree with the above posts, that the pots are sucking the water from your mix.
Just remember to not over do it on the water.

4/14/2011 8:32:19 AM

Ashby, MA

Hi everyone, I'm happy to report that since I added some more water all my seeds are now popping up through the surface. Lessons learned:

1) Presoak the peat pots.
2) Moisten the seed starting soil to the "one drop" method before placing in peat pots.
3) Put the moisten soil in the peat pots and finally the sprouted seeds.
4) Shouldn't need more water until they break the surface.

Once the leaves are out I was going to put them under a grow light. However, I'm not sure when I should get them out of the peat pots and into some bigger containers. Should I do that as soon as they have some leaves or wait until they are a certain height? The peat pots are only 3".

4/14/2011 8:46:02 AM

Ashby, MA

I forgot to mention in my last post that I do have a germination chamber that these are in and it maintains about 85 degrees. However, my chamber isn't big enough for when I move them to bigger pots.

4/14/2011 8:47:28 AM

El Paso TX.

Once the seedlings break the surface of the pot they can safely be removed from the germ chamber - in fact they are better off being removed since the high temps with little light will cause them to get very leggy if you leave them in the chamber. The germ chamber is only to get them started afterwards just keep them under the grow lights at room temp. and they will grow fine.

If they are in 3" pots you should get them transplanted within a couple days as the roots on these things grow quickly and you want to transplant before they grow into the peat pot so you do not disturb the roots when transplanting. (If you can not plant them in the ground within that timeframe) I use the 5" pots and within 3-5 days after sprouting the roots are starting to get to the bottom of the pot if they are not transplanted or put in the ground.

4/14/2011 9:06:31 AM

Muddy Waters

Once they root you dont need germ chamber do you??Are you guys.germing in towel than returning to bottom heat.I would think that would make them leggy.once rooted,room temps are good!Am I right or wrong???

4/14/2011 9:44:59 AM

El Paso TX.

HHG -- I believe you are correct --- I soak and place straight into the peat pots (not using the paper towel method) and remove from the chamber at the first sign of them breaking soil - Since I use a dark chamber with no light source they will get leggy quickly if I leave them in once they break soil (heat, moisture and no light == quick leggyness as they seek a light source)

4/14/2011 9:52:31 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Once the seeds are transplanted into gallon pots. I make sure they get a dose of the elements outside them on May I make sure they go in the greenhouses. Good luck.

4/14/2011 12:58:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Way Kul to hear that the new growers forum is working...gongrats g!!! Now, outta the peat pots, and under or into the light!!!(No more heat)! I no longer use paper towel method...a few hours at work, seems to allow germination, and roots intertwined in paper towel, so I gave it up. I now file, soak...2-3 hrs. max, and directly into germ. chamber in 1 gallon pots. Peace, Wayne

4/16/2011 2:52:52 AM

Rhode Island

wayne
you are spot on. if more people who are new-newer growers used this message board they would probably get more information.
pap

4/16/2011 7:15:55 AM