Newbie comparison question

[glypnirsgirl]

i started my first two batches of seeds in the Park Seeds Company Bio-Dome on a heat mat from a Ferry Morse seed starting set. The bio-dome uses a "sponge" for seed starting. The sponge has a small hole drilled partway down. Almost all of my seeds (except the batch of Brown Berry and Aunt Ruby's German Green) germinated in the sponges with bottom heat. I used all of the sponges up and I have not received the replacement sponges from Park (and i am still starting eggplants, peppers and herbs).

So I decided to use the peat pellets that came with the Ferry Morse seed starting set. The set came without instructions, but I figured out that I had to really wet the peat pellets to get them to enlarge like on the picture. I did that, then planted seeds. i have kept them soaked, plastic lid on the set and have bottom heat --- but almost no germination. The seeds have been there for two weeks now and out of 60 peat pellets, only 3 or 4 have any signs of green. Any ideas as to what I have done wrong?

Elaine

[robin303]

Those peat pellets are terrible. Break down and get that small bag of Ferry-Morse seed starting mix. I use those 3" peat pots 3/4 full of Scotts Potting soil then a layer of the stating mix and put the seed in then cover 1/4" of the starting mix. The trick is you got to spray with a spray bottle like and old Windex bottle. I fill 3/4's so the seed will get nutrients once it penetrates the starting mix. Once it establishes I completely remove the peat pot because it is worthless to. I do this every year with a 99% germ rate.

[glypnirsgirl]

Thanks Robin. I will re-sow in seed starter and lose the pellets. It sounds like I am just wasting electricity trying to get them to start at this point. I can just trash and start over - kind of like yanking off the bandaid instead of trying to tease it off.

Elaine

[glypnirsgirl]

Good news for my plants. My stepson left for Italy this morning. The last 2 days we have spent getting ready for his trip and nursing 2 other children who are sick. John, my stepson and I went to the doctor and got Tamiflu and missed the bullet.

Anyway, with everything going on, i did not get out into the garage until this evening --- about 2/3 of the seeds have now broken into the green! i am thrilled I got so distracted I did not have a chance to yank out the pellets and start over. Still, i won't be using these and i think that I will start more peppers and eggplants in something else.

Elaine

[ArcherB]

When using peat pellets, it's important to keep in mind that YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). Some people love them. Others hate them. In my personal experience, I've had excellent success with them. I've had good success using seed starting mix in trays, but the pellets have given me nearly 100% germination rates over a broad range of plants. Seeds in the pellets also seem to go much faster. I use the Jiffy Peat Pellets in their "Professional Greenhouse".

Also, I hear that peppers do not do well in the pellets, although I have not tried them.

[SteveS]

I am not a fan of the peat pellets. Obviously, they work, but just not quite as good IMO as starting in sterile seed starting medium in speed of germination & %age.


Steve

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by glypnirsgirl

So I decided to use the peat pellets that came with the Ferry Morse seed starting set. The set came without instructions, but I figured out that I had to really wet the peat pellets to get them to enlarge like on the picture. I did that, then planted seeds. i have kept them soaked

I agree with subsequent posts saying that peat pellets aren't great, but if you soaked them until they were fully enlarged, and then watered them again before the seeds germinated, then the soil is probably too wet and the seeds rotted.

Moistened seed starting mix should not need watering again until after the seeds germinate and the surface of the seed starting mix is noticeably lightened in color.

[glypnirsgirl]

Ahha! So that is why they did better with the lack of attention instead of my constant monitoring of them. This is my first year to start from seed.

The biodome made it very clear that I did not need to add water again, but I did not know what to do with the peat pellets and overwatered them. Good to know for next time.

Elaine

[garnetmoth]

Glad you had some success Elaine! and safe travels to your stepson!

I have started in pellets or small cells, and over-watered seedlings, gotten fungus gnats, etc.... I sometimes see leftover or ignored seeds come up in barely-moist potting soil leftovers, so I finally started watering less.

Im using 3 inch pots mostly this year, several seeds per pot, and waiting until they get obviously lighter/dry (now i can touch the surface to check because they have mostly broken the soil!)

Good Luck!

[glypnirsgirl]

Originally Posted by garnetmoth

Im using 3 inch pots mostly this year, several seeds per pot, and waiting until they get obviously lighter/dry (now i can touch the surface to check because they have mostly broken the soil!)

Good Luck!

I am curious --- does this mean that I should not touch the soil until the seeds have broken through? I touch things all the time to check for moisture level.

Elaine

[garnetmoth]

I just dont poke the top of pots so I dont accidentally crush the emerging seedlings. If youve got peat pots (easy to just touch the side if theyre in a flat not cells), small fingers, or are less of a clumsy person than me, touching the soil is fine!

[feldon30]

You can tell if the soil is still moist by the weight of the seed starting tray, how the top of the soil looks (dark instead of light). Plus if you still have your dome in place, then very little moisture should be lost.