This is the process I used for getting seeds started in rockwool plugs in a plant tray with a humidity dome and a thermostatically controlled heat mat. Taking this approach makes starting a lot of seeds indoors easier, and I am also starting a bunch of tomatoes and peppers. These seeds from Seedsman were all huge, so I am hoping they are healthy and full of energy. 

The rock wool plugs were saturated in a weak Clonex solution at .6 EC and a pH of 6.1 and placed under an inexpensive (given to me) set of strip LEDs left on 24/7.

im_sparky

Topic starter

March 25, 2023 2:38 pm

(@im_sparky)

Linalool

Joined: 1 year ago

March 16: Germination

Houston, we are go for liftoff! Life has kept me a little busy, so getting this edited and posted has taken some time, but here it is. This video shows the germination of all my seeds, and how I deal with a seedling that has pushed itself out of the rock-wool cube.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tk1CuRhZ4bs?start=

Seed-Starting Alternative

You don’t need a load of equipment to start seeds. I used this approach because I am starting a bunch of seeds for my outdoor vegetable garden at the same time, and I am wanting to make sure my new batch of soil in my bed is as settled in as much as possible.  I usually just start seeds directly in my container of soil, with the seed placed just under the surface  of a handful of rinsed and pH’d (to 6.5) coir or seed-starting mix.  Putting the seed into soil directly will often result in the seedling being burned by the nutrients of rich soil, so the handful of coir gives them time to get established and to gradually grow into the soil.

Materials List

Just in case anyone is interested or wanting to learn what equipment I used, here is my supply list based solely on what I have chosen. I am sure other products work fine, too. This is not an endorsement and none of these companies sponsor or pay me — it is just meant to be a helpful list.

• Seed Tray with Humidity Dome
• Grodan A-OK 1 1/2″ rock-wool plugs
• Grodan Gro-Smart Insert Tray
• Vivosun Seedling Heat Mat and Digital Thermostat
• Clonex Seedling Solution (at about 1/4 strength)
• Apera Instruments AI209-T Value Series PH20 pH Tester Combo Kit

Thanks for taking a look!