Germinating in water
- Soak seeds overnight in warm water. Make sure you use warm water and not hot, as this will damage the seed’s natural protective coating.
- Use enough water to cover the seeds completely and prevent them from floating to the surface, but don’t add too much, as this can cause bacteria growth that you don’t want.
- Leave the seeds soaking for up to 24 hours, making sure they do not stay in the water for more than 36 hours; if they do stay in longer than 24 hours, change the water every 12 hours before placing it back into the container of soaked seeds so you don’t end up with mold growing on your seeds because of a lack of fresh air or too much chlorine build-up in your container’s water supply.
Germinating on cotton wool
Germinating on cotton wool is one of the most popular methods of germination and it is easy to see why. You can use either cotton wool or paper towel for this method. Soak the cotton wool in water until it is well saturated, but not dripping wet, then place your seeds onto it so that they are evenly spaced out but do not touch each other.
Fold over the other half of your cotton wool so that it covers the seeds completely without squashing them. Place this into a plastic bag and seal around all three sides except at one end, where you should make a small opening to let air circulate inside. This will help keep things moist if you have too many seeds to fit into a propagator with a lid.
Seeds germinated on cotton wool need to be kept warm for successful germination; optimum temperatures are usually about 23C (73F). It is also very important to keep them moist at all times by checking them every day and watering as needed; this means that when placed in normal room temperatures rather than under direct heat, as with a propagator, you may find yourself watering up to twice daily.
Germinating in soil or compost
A seed tray is the best container for germinating seeds in soil or compost.
- Fill the seed tray with compost or seed compost, and firm it down gently.
- Water the soil or compost until it is moist but not soggy.
Germinating in a plastic bag
The good news is that many seeds will germinate without the need for a fancy setup. For those, you can use simply put them in a plastic bag with moist compost or a paper towel and cover it with plastic wrap or foil to retain the moisture. Put it somewhere warm (65-75 degrees) and try to check on it regularly. Once your plants are 2-3 inches tall and have established their first set of true leaves, they’re ready to go into their final potting medium.
Germinating on tissue or newspaper
Another way to germinate seeds is through tissue or newspaper. You can use paper towels, tissues or even newspaper. The trick is to place the seeds carefully on the paper towels or tissues, and then cover them with another layer of paper towels or tissues. When using newspaper, place the seeds on one layer of newspaper and cover them with another layer of newspaper.
Then, place the paper towels in a ziplock plastic bag, seal it and place it in a warm area (the same temperature as your vermiculite) until you see little green shoots coming out from the seeds (about 7 days).
If you use tissue or newspapers, be careful not to let them dry out – they will act as a wick drawing moisture from the seed and this will dehydrate it before it germinates. Check every day to make sure that they are still moist.
There are many ways to germinate seeds and you can try several methods.
The most effective method for germinating seeds will depend on the type of seed you are growing. Some seeds require specific conditions, such as light or darkness to germinate successfully. Some can be left to soak in water while others need to dry out first before they will grow.
There are several different ways you can try to germinate your seeds at home. You may find that one approach works better with some kinds of seed than another, or that by trying different techniques you have a higher success rate – it’s all good gardening experience!
Seedling tray with soil and cotton wool lining base of a tray