Wet soil first???

[420ofcourse]

I put some germed seeds into 16 Oz. Solo cups w/ FF OF and perlite. I didnt run water through the soil before planting the seeds, I just sprayed the top layer after I planted. Is that alright or should I have wet the soil totally through first? Thanks

 

[Guest]

You want to 'activate' the soil / keep the pots in a warm place

I use a 'teped' pH adjusted water & water the compost, until it is damp - not sodden the whole pot

You will be fine as long as you keep the soil moist untill they germ. - then water very lightly as needed -

Many blessings on your grows & in your life

 

[issack]

i agree with fredster. you have to activate your micro organisims. also if your soil mix is hot with nitrogen and you dont give it a good wet flush you can burn your plants...all depends on your soil mix..i have burned plants before from making too hot of a mix.

 

[JetUsUp]

you should sprout them first using the napkin method.

 

[Guest]

yeah, another old school drop em in dirt and grow guy. I love it, and I always get 100% germ using it. Like Fredster said, keep the soil moist, use a mister to water, since pouring water on em can bury the beans. I never wet the soil first, just mist them everyday till they poke their heads out, then lightly water as needed.

 

[420ofcourse]

Thanks guys.

Fredster- Many blessings to you too bro. What exactly do you mean by activate?
Issack- I see alot of people use Ocean for seedlings, so it shouldn't burn them, right?
Jet- I soaked in distilled until I got taps showing.
Stank- Do you soak them at all? That's cool to hear that you don't wet soil first, I should be straight then.

Peace

 

[Guest]

Soil contains beneficial microorganisms/bacteria that are responsible for breaking down ie. mobilize / the availability of nutrients the organic matter in the soil contains into useable forms for the plant to pick up.They are also responsible for the nitrogen cycle to become complete during the nitrification stage build up

When the soil is wetted & heated the natural process of releasing the microorganisms/bacteria takes place.

 

[Guest]

420> nope, I never EVER soak em. I might if I had a strain that I had heard were difficult to germ, but I never have yet. I know many will disagree with me on this, but if the plant were started from seed outside, the only warming the soil would get would be from the sun, and therefore the soil outside ain't ever any warmer than whatever the temp is on any given day, and then only on the surface. Indoors I think soil gets all the heat it needs in the cab from the lights, and nutes will be released as soon as it gets watered, and seedlings don't need nutes anyway. Having said that, they do poke up faster if you keep em on top of the stove if it's a gas stove and the pilot light is on all the time, not an electrical pilot, or on top of the fridge. Some guys use propagation mats or heating pads ( wrapped in plastic so no moisture can get in and short em out or start a fire) but you have to be sure of the temps, or ya cook em. Like I said, this is just MHO, and I am by no means a master gardener. Just an old farm boy that likes to play in the dirt.

Just make sure you mist them good every day until they poke their heads up.

 

[JetUsUp]

well lets put it this way. i had a total of 16 seeds that i wanted to plant. i did the wet napkin thing. put them in a bowl and covered it with plastic wrap. put it uper a light and tlet them go, checking them ever 6 or so hours for a sprout. out of those 16 seeds, 15 of them sprouted. that is WAY above what most people get.

 

[issack]

hey JETUSUP i really think you need to gain aliitle more experience in growing before you try to give advice to people on here. not trying to be rude but just telling the truth....oh and did you get rid of the tinfoil in your cab??

 

[JetUsUp]

well i think that is 15 seeds out 16 is great. so maybe you should be so judgemental.

 

[420ofcourse]

36 hours after they went into the soil, 13/16 have popped up. The top layer of soil is really drying out though, I keep having to mist the soil every few hours. What is that about?? Oh yea, I'm using 1000w hps throughout most of the grow, but I started with a 150w hps for first few weeks of veg which I am using on these seedlings right now. It is about 1.5' away from the plants and the temp is 82, could the light be drying the soil out so quickly? Thanks

 

[issack]

i would give them about 3 times more water than you are now if you're haveing to mist every 2 hours. 82 is running allitle hot. temps should be around 75 to 78 max in the seed sprouting stage...remember warmer temps in the sprouting stage will produce more males in the long run....move you light up higher untill the all have sprouted then move down....but i would focus on getting the room cooler first off...good luck dude.