Sowing In 100% Vermiculite

http://seedsite.eu/zaaiinstructies.htm
Just stumbled across this Belgian site above . Now I use vermiculite to cover most of my seed when sowing , but the lady who's site this is sows in 100% Vermiculite. The seeds are also sown in clear plastic containers ( £1 shop type ) which looks like a very efficient way as these can be stacked .
Has anyone else sown in 100% vermiculite ? I was thinking of trying this on a couple of my more troublesome seeds next year.

 

I use slightly damp vermiculite in clear plastic zip lock bag to germinate my daylily seeds Harry, just pop the bags in the bottom of the fridge, they take 6-8 weeks to germinate but over 95% success rate

 

I did with Lupins when I was about 10. Didn't know what the stuff was though, didn't taste of much.

 

Hmmm ... not sure.

I don't need to add water to my seed sowing compost after sowing. I have a seed tray and a clear perspex "propagator" lid. There is no evaporation (well, anything that does then condenses on the perspex and runs back down into the compost)

So I don't think this is different to the "vermiculite in a totally enclosed container" idea (putting the seed compost tray/pot in a plastic bag, for example, would be the same?)

For some seeds I'm happy to prick them out as soon as they germinate, although in practice that is a week, maybe two, and I have taken the propagator lid off by then AND started watering the seedlings. That won't work for a container with no drainage holes.

In other cases the seedlings need to grow on for a month or so before they are large enough to prick out (small things like Lobellia, Petunias etc)

For stratification then putting seeds in damp vermiculite in the fridge, and then sowing the seeds in the normal way works well IME. If the seeds are large they can be fished out of the vermiculite when it comes out of the fridge, if small then easier to "sow" the mixture of vermiculite + seed onto the top of the seed compost.

(Old 35mm film container used to be good for Vermiculite + Seed in the fridge for stratifying ... haven't see a suitable replacement for 35mm film canister that doesn't involve me buying them!)

Other than that I think the Baggie method would be better than Tupperware & Vermiculite.

 

I wasn't planning on using the Tupperware boxes ( can you still buy Tupperware ?) I was going to use my standard propagators with 100% moist vermiculite for my petunia wave seeds . The seed is pelleted so easy to handle , but the actual seed is tiny so I presume I need to give them a weak feed soon after germination ?

 

Tupperware

 

Why just-Vermiculite rather than seed-sowing-compost Harry?

(Its a straight question, just in case it reads like it might be a loaded-question! I did read the article you linked to)

 

I have always used seed compost and vermiculite since I started growing from seed seriously about 7 years ago. Generally I get good germination rates on everything , except perversely one of my favourite annuals , trailing petunias . My bete noire is trying to raise Shock Wave® petunias from pelleted seed. Actually my germination rate is getting worse , from poor to apalling !! Now I know I could ( and do ) buy a tray full of Surfinias®, but I thought 100% vermiculite may give me a better chance.

http://www.wave-rave.com/WaveFamily/PlantInformation.aspx?phid=048605220027795

 

I too have a particular Petunia that I like to grow (Double flower, single rather than mixed colour). I've had years where it has been almost impossible to get enough to germinate ...

I've come up with a different solution to you - I buy a tray of Surfinias® now I'm afraid !!!

I'll be very interested to hear how your Vermiculite experiment goes. I think your biggest issue will be looking after them (feeding principally) until large enough to prick out, but I wish you luck

 

Thanks Kristen . I will order 2 packets of Shock Wave® Coconut petunia seeds . I'll try one in 100% vermiculite , and t'other in a Surestart seed compost and perlite mix . I have the full cultural instructions from the Wave site , so we will see how this little experiment goes . Don't hold your breath