Treating your seeds to increase germination rate! - Php75 per 100ml of solution for your seeds

Ever went to the grocery store or hardware store to find new packets of different seed varieties? Grabbing each and every kind of variety with a big grin on your face, excited to go home and plant them? However, after 5 days... 10 days... 15 days.. 1 month... only 1-3 sprout from the 50 seeds you planted?


I know i've had my share of that moment more than just a couple of times! And it drives me crazy, knowing that i spent several hours planting many varieties of seeds into individual cups, and lining them up, spraying them day & night, chanting a 'grow-faster' song to them , to find that they eventually wont sprout ... O.o


I have experimented with several variables that can affect germination rate (the % of the total number of seeds that will sprout). There are many variables that can affect it , temperature, humidity, growing medium, heat, water levels, etc.


After all me experiences, i have stuck to one procedure that has resulted into a higher germination rate.
Since sprouting the seed is the first step of almost all (if not all) gardens, it is important that one be able to sprout as many seeds as one can. without the sprout, there will be no plant (if the plant cannot be propagated by cuttings, ofcourse).




1) GROWING MEDIUM
Many people use coco peat, peat moss, gravel, sand, saw dust, regular soil, potting soil or purchase high grade soil just for their seedlings.


I on the other hand, use TISSUE or COTTON.
Have you ever had a science project to sprout Mongo Beans? In english, it is called 'Mung Bean'. What was the most effective way of sprouting them? COTTON BALLS! placing them onto water soaked cotton would let them sprout within 12-24 hours.


I do the same! Now, many people would ask, "Isnt that procedure only effective on mongo beans or fast growing plants? What about other complex plants?"


I have tried this on lettuce, herbs, broccoli, melon, peas, beans and pumpkin seeds and they all produce promising results.


2) SEED TREATMENT WITH FERTILIZER
Many people just place the seed into soil and wait for it to sprout. I'm not saying that that's a bad thing... but seeds need an extra push to sprout. Especially when you're not sure of the brand of seeds you purchased and the germination rate seems low.


I treat my seeds with Organic Liquid Fertilizer. I sell this fertilizer for Php75 per 100ml of liquid. Pricey? Mix this 100ml of liquid to 32L of water and you've got almost  a year supply of treatment for your seeds!


Doing this, i'm able to get an 80-95% germination rate on the difficult varieties and a 95-99% rate on the easy plants such as lettuce and basil.


You may experiment with your own commercial fertilizer, but i trust the liquid that i'm using. So if you'd like to give it a go, my number is located all around this blog. :)








PROCEDURE:
1) If using Cotton
- Spread the cotton till it makes a thin carpet, about 1-2cm thick will do.
If using Tissue:
-Take several layers of tissue and place them on top of each other till you get a 1-2cm thick matress of tissue.


2) Take the liquid solution and mix it into some water. **Ratio: 50ml - 16 Liters of water**


3) Pour the liquid onto the cotton/tissue until it is soaked. Allow about 1-2mm of water to flood the medium.


4) Sprinkle your seeds ontop of the tissue/cotton.


5) Redo step no.1


6) take your new blankets of cotton/tissue that you made on step no. 5 and place it over the seeds. What you're gonna have is a burger like picture with the tissues/cotton as buns and the seeds as patties.


7) take the solution and pour it over the top layer of tissue. Do not let it flood, just enough to wet the top layer.




And you're done!


Take note****: do not let the tissue dry up. In the next few days, constantly keep the tissue MOIST not SOAKED!  Keeping them soaked for more than 2 days may result to rotting. So you just want to sprinkle more solution onto the top layer of tissue, enough to keep it damp for the next few days.


Keep it away from Direct sunlight. Near the window pane should be good enough.


Transplant the sprouts when they are 2-3cm tall or when you start to see them grow leaves.








Here are pictures of SUGAR PEA  seeds that i treated 5 days ago using the very same procedure as explained, and the same liquid solution that i sell. They will be transplanted later this afternoon.

And there you have it! it's not very complicated, isn't it? Actually quite simple, and will save you the frustration. It sure did save me . haha.


So if you want to buy some of the organic liquid solution, it's at php75 per 100ml, you can get them from me. :)




I hope this helps in your gardening experiences!




Happy Gardening, 'till next entry!




Ulyssa
09393257253
http://www.facebook.com/The.Hydro.Garden