Removing heat from Seedlings ?

Hi

Have got some seeds germinating in the heated propagator at 20c the first ones just coming through are some Antirrhinums.

At what stage is it best to remove most seedings to a lower temperature ?

 

As soon as possible I would say, Antirrhinum are fairly tough but this is the age old problem of a halfway house between propagator and greenhouse shelf.
I prefer things to grow cooler rather than too warm after germination.

 

Have got a second heated propagator( full sized seed tray) so will move them into that for a while at a min temp of 10c as the rest of the greenhouse is down to 3 or 4c quiet often.
A neighbour tells us we are expecting a Beast From the East later in the month ?

 

Antirrhinum self seeds outdoors and over winters here without difficulty...,
indoors its day length that needs supplementing to avoid leggy seedlings. Clean glass and consider lighting to achieve 12 hours , either growlight leds or T8 fluorescent on a photo time switch such as this :
www.amazon.co.uk/Sensky-AC220-240V-Photoelectric-Waterproof-Adjustable/dp/B011UJ5TSC/ref=asc_df_B011UJ5TSC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309865130761&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4497352133537735836&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045821&hvtargid=pla-565236717028&psc=1&mcid=d730d930b244398db06d9a8b2a55638f

 

I'm a bit of a traditionalist and cant really see the point of paying for lighting when you can just hold off sowing for a month or two, you just end up with big plants and nowhere to put them unless you have a greenhouse with lots of heating and the next problem is they are getting big in the greenhouse and its too cold to plant them out.

It all kind of snowballs.

 

Have just been putting up some led lights, have got some whites and also a red/blue grow light which we gather are better for seedlings.

Probably have started the Snaps off too early as we typically start seeds more in March, but we were also sowing some Begonia Semps and seems they can take 1 - 2 Months to germinate.

 

In my experience, I agree, Begonias do seem to stand still for a while before really getting going so they need an earlier start.

 

I am growing some begonias from seed , my Semps started germinating about a week ago sowed early January , the semps aren't light sensitive like the ones that grow a tuber( non stop or illuminations ) , all begonias take an age to get going . I'd leave the begonia in the propagator as well they benefit more with the humidity .

I'll probably sow some antirrhinums tomorrow hopefully

 

Interesting as the T&M seed packet stated cover with glass or film etc but do not excluded light as needed for germination .... ?
Normally buy the little pots full of small sized Semps ready for potting on, but this year doing a bedding display so needed a lot.

The Snaps have come up in just a week !

 

No don't cover the seeds they do need light to germinate but they don't need X amount of hours of light to germinate . The tuberous begonia are little devils to grow, the tuberous seedling won't produce leaves just roots/tuber without without red or blue light can't remember which way round it is . The wax begonia semps are much easier they are not light sensitive so don't require extra light to produce leaves or roots .

I am growing both Trailing begonia / non stop mocca and some wax begonia they are all germinating now but more to come hopefully . I haven't used lights to germinate the seeds but I do really need to set my lights up now seen as they now require the extra light.

 

I think the size of begonia seed is enough to justify surface sowing regardless of light requirements.

 

Just checking the Semps and lots are already coming through in just 9 days !
Wonder why they say 1 -2 months on the packet or did we just get lucky with some fresh seeds ?