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Pinedale, WY

I know there are a million different ways to start seeds, here are some general, basic questions. I am testing my starting process and want to double check that my temps are right.

1. What is the ideal soil temprature during germination?

2. What is the ideal air temprature during germination?

3. What percent humidity do I want?

Thanks people, your help is always good!

2/25/2008 5:14:35 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

P. Pastor, lots of variables depending on yer definition of germination? Is germination, when the root pops out, or when the sprout emerges from the soil? Do you soak and put into a starting mix, or do the paper towel method? Generally, 85 degrees has worked well for me. I have never checked air temp, it is prbly real close to soil temp, but changes once I take the lid off my germ chamber. Never checked humidity, but would guess it is fairly high, when the lid is on. Hope other replies help you more than this has!!! LOL Just want you to know, there are a lot of variables!!! Peace, Wayne

2/25/2008 6:10:39 PM

Pinedale, WY

Basically from the time you put them in the dirt/Seed starting mix, until the time they pop out of the dirt.

2/25/2008 6:35:18 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Well I had horrible luck last yr, so I will be taking notes.

2/25/2008 6:40:38 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

85 to 90 degrees air temp. in your germination container. Growing medium just moist enough that only a drop or two of water would squeeze out of a handful of medium. Air humidity is not a factor.

2/25/2008 8:10:40 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ambient air & soil temperatures should be the same.

85°F has always worked well for me until I ran into a stubborn 1068. Dick suggested that seed prefers 90°F & they do. The following year I ran into the same thing with an old 845 Bobier. 90° heat did pop it up after 11 days.

85°F is safer (fewer disease issues) but some seeds are just plain finicky & need a butt whooping to get them to move.

I agree that if you can squeeze more than two drops of water out of the media, it's too wet.

2/26/2008 1:15:46 AM

Syracuse, NY

if i were anyone else, i would tell myself to not use Miracle Grow seed-starting mix for your Atlantic Giants.
trials are yet to be conducted in a few weeks but i would
use Jiffy Mix with maybe, ironically, Miracle Grow
as a liquid fertilizer once they got to the first true leaf stage----i lost several top seeds including a 998
Pukos in '07 and the only thing different from '06 was...
the SS mix. add this to your list of suggestions. eric

2/26/2008 2:48:08 AM

Pinedale, WY

I actually use Jiffy Mix, and I used a little miracle grow to moisten the mix just a little. Should I just use water, then miracle grow when the first true leaf comes?

2/26/2008 1:07:06 PM

Pinedale, WY

85 is what my air temp is, but my soil sits at 80. I need to figure this out. It could be that my experiments are in a glass jar, instead of a normal plastic pot, would that make the soil harder to heat? I am using the cooler and hot water jug method.

2/26/2008 1:08:18 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

PP, with your only heat source being hot water jugs, the core temp of yer planting containers will prbly never get up to the air temp level. I have a 2' x 3' styro cooler, that I put on top of a small oil filled elec. radiator. I use 1.5 gal ice cream containers to sprout in...it takes several days for the soil temp to come up to 85!!! I put the containers in the cooler a week or so b/4 the seeds go in!!! Hope this helps. Peace, Wayne

2/26/2008 3:53:54 PM

Colorado

pastor try a 15 watt light bulb in a standard size cooler.that gets you around 90 next to the light and 85 in the far corners of the cooler.Make sure its on a safe outlet and place the bulb on a ceramic surface.Close the lid tight.I have gone a few seasons now with 100% germ.Steves right you want to squeeze all the excess moist. out of your potting soil.I wouldnt use fertilizer until the cotys are expanded and green.I think most germ problems are from two much moisture or to cool.with the bulb your soil and air temps will be the same and no trips to the sink or microwave to heat water

2/29/2008 3:28:06 PM

Pinedale, WY

I may try the light bulb, just because it is easier. Using the Joel Holland method of 1 gallon milk jugs filled with hot water, I have done 12 seeds the last week, I just put dirt from my patch in a mason jar and stuck the seeds in and I am 12 for 12. I used seed starting mix last year and was 100%.

2/29/2008 5:03:24 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I have used both the waterj ug and 15 watt bulb method with equal results. I have stuck with the bulb, because I don't have to be changing the water regularly, and I think the bulb maintains a more even temperature. When preparing my Jiffy mix, I use warm water so the planting medium starts out warm.

2/29/2008 10:43:52 PM

Pinedale, WY

My seeds pop up about 3-5 days after I stick them in the dirt, is that about right? Also I think that is true about the bulb, because the water temp cools off, then is hot, and repeating, so I think the bulb is better. A 15 watt bulb is like a night light bulb right? So do you just get an extension cord and a night light or what? Give me some ideas before I go shopping, thanks.

2/29/2008 10:54:17 PM

Colorado

pastor 15 watt is commonly used in refrigerators. You can get a bulb fixture that used as a cheap shop light-has a aluminum dish(reflector)which you need to remove and clamp which comes off also. 6 bucks at home depo

3/1/2008 9:19:42 PM

Colorado

We have those kind of fixtures around the house to keep our corn snake,three geckoes ahd tortise warm

3/1/2008 9:21:35 PM