Many seeds will germinate only in warmer soil temperatures and a heat mat can help speed up germination and keep fungus from growing. Add a little heat to the mix, though, and… well, I still wouldn’t want to wake up but your seeds will. Do you feel like waking up and expending energy? I certainly wouldn’t. Imagine it: you’re cold, it’s dark, and it’s damp. A timer makes it easy no remembering to turn the lights on and off. Seedlings like 12-16 hours of light per day. Turn the lights on after your seeds have germinated (the exception is lettuce, which needs light to germinate). If your light source is fixed, you can just adjust the height of the trays. A chain on hooks makes it easy to adjust the height of the lights. Position the lights about 2-3 inches over the seedlings and adjust them to keep them at this distance as the plants grow. Get fancy with red/blue spectrums or, if you don’t want your home to look like a nightclub, stick to all-spectrum white, which will work just as well. With fluorescents, the strength can wane as they age, so it’s recommended to change them every 12 months, even if they haven’t completely burnt out. The nice thing about LED lights is that they offer the same strength of light until they burn out. You can use T12 or T8 fluorescents but T5 high output fluorescent lights or LED grow lights are more efficient. You don’t want pale, gangly, weak seedlings, do you? I didn’t think so. Light is essential! Sadly, our PNW winters don’t offer enough light to help a seedling grow big and strong (yes, even in a south-facing window. You’ll also want to wipe down any nearby surfaces with a damp cloth when you’re done. This is when you might want to wear a face mask since the soil is very fine and dusty, and can irritate airways. Before sowing, place the soil in a large bowl, sprinkle with water, and mix to moisten it evenly. Seeds need sterile, lightweight, moisture-retaining soil that is also well-draining. You will also need a drip tray to catch draining water and a clear cover, which is essential for keeping in moisture and heat while your seeds germinate. Just remember to clean them well before reusing them. These plastic trays can be reused for several years. When it’s time to transplant, it’s easy to slide the plant and soil out of the cell and into the garden or a larger pot. You can start seeds in almost any small container as long as it allows drainage but the easiest and most efficient choice is a seedling tray with cells (compartments).
#When to plant seedlings outside how to#
You can jump straight to the section How to Start Seeds Indoors in 4 Easy Steps (and come back to the details another time.
Spray bottle “mister” and watering can with rain nozzleįace mask (optional) - we’re all pretty experienced with these nowadays!ĭon’t have time for a lot of details? Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally. Seedling tray with cells, drip tray, and cover
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