Oh, girl. Your obsession is just beginning, and like a new parent blissfully unaware of the reality of the impending arrival ('our lives won't change much'), you might as well cancel any travel plans you have for the next two months until you get these babies in the ground. I've found that seedling heat mats are the only way to go and worth the investment. My house is cold - my spouse likes it arctic at night - and if I don't want to poke my head out from the warm bed covers I can't expect the seedlings to want to poke their noses out either. Temperature is everything for germination. But the big deal is how to water them after they sprout. First, devote one clean, sanitized container to their water and lable it so you don't ever - ever - use it for anything else. Never let this container's lip touch soil, and don't get soil into it. Damping off is the number one reason seedlings fail (ok, number two, AFTER getting killed off by lack of water) and it's caused by a water-borne fungus that thrives in soil. I won't get geeky with explanation if you promise not to let your watering can get dirty.
Stephanie
· 1 year ago
You're not just waiting to see if you've arsed it up. That's the simple thing. You're waiting to see HOW. Great entry.
Kitt
· 1 year ago
You can't arse it up. Trust me.
Just make sure you keep the light(s) as close to the seedlings as you can without actually touching them, so they don't get all leggy. And once everything's sprouted, you won't need the heater anymore.
When's your last frost date? And have you planted your outdoor seeds yet? (Peas, spinach and chard can go in the ground now.)
Obsession in this case is a Good Thing. You will reap what you sow.
All Comments
I've found that seedling heat mats are the only way to go and worth the investment. My house is cold - my spouse likes it arctic at night - and if I don't want to poke my head out from the warm bed covers I can't expect the seedlings to want to poke their noses out either. Temperature is everything for germination.
But the big deal is how to water them after they sprout. First, devote one clean, sanitized container to their water and lable it so you don't ever - ever - use it for anything else. Never let this container's lip touch soil, and don't get soil into it. Damping off is the number one reason seedlings fail (ok, number two, AFTER getting killed off by lack of water) and it's caused by a water-borne fungus that thrives in soil.
I won't get geeky with explanation if you promise not to let your watering can get dirty.
Great entry.
Just make sure you keep the light(s) as close to the seedlings as you can without actually touching them, so they don't get all leggy. And once everything's sprouted, you won't need the heater anymore.
When's your last frost date? And have you planted your outdoor seeds yet? (Peas, spinach and chard can go in the ground now.)
Obsession in this case is a Good Thing. You will reap what you sow.