Post polybag germination

Hi good folks.

I tried the polybag technique and its worked a treat for my varied hardy pereniels, in fact most have germinated in half the time than stated on the bag and all at the same time.

So i am in a dilemma to get them in to soil before they dry out.

Question, they seem uber delicate, how do i get the root into the soil? or do i just place them with tweezers on the damp soil?

Bare with me am novice, so any help on what do do to get them started on or in soil would be greatful please.

Thanks

chris.

 

Hi Chris - so pleased you got the polybag method to work. I think that the strength of the polybag method is really when you only have a small number of very precious seeds to germinate. You are in complete control with the polybag and can see what is going on, and if there are only a few seeds the potting up process is not to onerous.

With large numbers of annuals and perennials, I still tend to use a seed tray or a small pot.

What I have been doing, it to fill lots of small pots with compost. I always use a mix of 66% multi purpose compost and 34% sharp sand (to help drainage). Then for seeds and small seedlings I usually sieve it. I then pour boiling water on the pots to water them and to sterilise them. Sterilising them is not absolutely neccessary but hopefully helps by killing off any mould in the soil. After cooling, I make a small hole or trench in the top of the soil and using tweezers I insert the seed with its tail in the hole. I then push the soil back very carefulkly and water with a tiny bit of water to ensure that the soil has settled and is making good contact with the roots. I then put a cover on (to reduce evaporation) and leave out out of direct sun light for a couple of days.

 

Peter.

Thats great, my soil is a little rough even though it is seed soil. I have done my best to get the roots under. Is it essential the whole root is covered or will mother nature get the root to make its way below the surface?

Thanks

chris.

 

The seedling in the bag will have had 100% humidity, so the root will have grown quite "soft". If you plant it exposed to the air I think there is a risk that it will not be "hard" enough, and may dry out.

Nothing wrong with [also] planting part of the tissue/kitchen paper the seed was on - tear the paper into a section containing a seedling and plant the whole lot.

If the seeds are well spaced out, and most/all have germinated you could just put the whole thing on top of some seed compost, and lightly cover with more compost / vermiculite, and then prick out once they have got to first-true-leaf stage

 

Chris - theoretically you could just leave the seed and its root on the surface and nature would be very likely to sort it all out, as long as you can prevent the root drying out. Better still you could cover it with a very small amount of moist compost or vermiculite as Kristen said to keep the roots moist, because as he pointed out the tiny roots will dry out very easily.

I have just laid it horizontal on the surface and put a bit of vermiculite on top and had success. But I also lost some that way. So I now make a point or burying as much root as I can even if it is a bit more fiddly.