I'm wanting to switch over to mostly seeds and only a few clone strains. Problem is I've never had the best of luck with seeds. Most recently I germ'd 27 in a paper towel then moved them into riot rooters. Of the 18, 12 sprouted, 2 broke themselves in half, 2 sprouted with deformed (now dead) first sets, and 3-4 others first sets (not true leaves) are starting to wilt, stalks are good. So not good results, Temps the first 4 days peaked at 80 for day one then have been holding at 75-77. Ive since pulled the heat pad and now I'm at 70-72, but I think its too late as they don't look well. So here's my new plan, I have more seeds to try again. Control Temps, 70-74 range. Ditch the riot rooters. Seedling mix. 50% peat, 25% ewc, 25% rice hulls and perlite Soak seeds a few hours. Water from the bottom up. Here's where im a bit concerned, I moved these seed trays to another area because I lost my last batch of clones to fungus gnats. In order to get stable temps I need these trays back in that same area. I have sticky traps everywhere and my latest clones in that area are fine so far. I do have diatomaceous earth and have thought about putting a layer on the top of the seedling soil for protection, is that a bad idea? I've also thought about making the same organic cloning mix (aloe, DE, seaweed extract, lignite) for these seeds and watering them in with and using it for the soak. I'm I on the right track here? After environmental adjustments and a new media for them to germ in I'm hoping I am.
I say absolutely no ewc for seedling they don't need compost as roots develop. Plus you're asking for trouble with ewc at such an early stage. If it dries, it's concrete. I've been there. Bagged seedling mix has lime to offset the acidic peat. Do you have lime in your mix? I've literally had 100% germination placing soaked seeds in a peat pellet and using a plastic dome for humidity. Germinating in a paper towel is just one more risky step to attend to. It may take 2 days or 10 days, but seeds directly in mix will germ. For less than $3 Jiffy makes a complete kit with dome
That's been my usual line of thinking but I don't want the ewc for the nutrients anyway. I'm looking at the largest benefits being the microbes, protecting the tap root and seed, thats the idea at least. I forgot to mention a pH buffer earlier, will probably do 100% oyster shell flour or 50/50 osf and lime. Actually to this base soil, of which I'll make 1-1.5cf, I've been thinking 1 handful each of kelp, alfalfa, rock dust, and 1/2 handful ph buffer. Thinking I'll get a small amount of slow release npk, some good hormones and a boost to the micro life. I was thinking about using solo cups instead of seed trays. I like the depth of the cups more than the trays, IME soil depth is important.
I was having great success using 9 parts sphagnum peat moss to 1 part vermicompost - tried both with and without 1 part aeration amendment included (hulls) but no discernible difference from what I saw. Also did a run with 1/4 cup kelp meal per c.f., that was by far the fastest and healthiest batch of seeds and cuttings I've had yet. Already established soil works well too, FYI. I just like the consistency of the mix above as my normal soil contains lava rock pieces which are a bit too big for solo cups on average. Take cutting off plant, soak in water for 1-24 hours depending on how lazy I feel like being, dip end in aloe powder then set into solo cups filled with the above mix. For seeds I soak for 24 hours than set them into the soil at roughly the depth of the seed and lightly cover with loose soil. After all that I put them into a humidity dome or my seed box and let them do their thing.
Thanks for the input, seems to line up with some thoughts I have. It looks as though the medium is not as important as what's available for the cuttings. That is to say has long as there are microbes, kelp, aloe, or some other type of rooting aid, cuttings will root given the proper environment. With that here's my plan. 1gal h2o 1t aloe juice 1/2t diatomaceous earth 1/2t seaweed extract 4 peat 2 ewc 2 aeration 1T lignite 1/4c kelp meal 1/4c alfalfa meal Soak cuttings 1hr minimum. Dip in gel (half into honey) Roll into mycorrhizal inoculant. Solo cups with drainage. Top dress with bark mulch. Into humidity dome. Soak seeds 12hr minimum, into above mix. Solo cups with drainage Top dress with bark mulch, leave clearing for sprouts. Humidity dome I'll double check my quantities before I mix but i think that sounds right. I'm optimistic and hopeful. I tried many a time to root clones in soil with very little success. It makes too much sense not to clone into soil when your organic, imo. I think with the things I've learned the last couple of years and this mix I'll have my best chances as the cuttings will be in perfect position to thrive.
It seems to me that folks give themselves a lot of work by blending their own seedling soil. I have little experience but a fair amount of research but I think you may as well just buy a bag of seedling blend with all of those things already in it. I guess maybe people enjoy blending their own soil, it's just a time saver for me to buy pre blended. I just sprouted my little ladies in Dr. Earth Seed Starter Mix...which has: Peat Moss, Perlite, Seaweed Extract, Aloe Vera, Yucca Extract, Oyster Shell & Dolomite Limes, Ecto & Endo Mycorrhizae and Beneficial Soil Microbes. Cost me ~$18 for enough to start seeds through a couple of upsize repottings.
It is not very difficult to throw a couple things together in a pot. Plus then you can use your own vermicompost. Which is mostly likely, higher quality than what is in a bagged seed starter. I have been soaking them in water with BioAg fulvic for the first 12-24 hours then straight into the soil mix that has been pre-moistened with a light kelp and aloe tea. I get this from just reading LD/Clack posts. Here is a good one where he talks about why: http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1012698-germinating-old-cannabis-seeds.html
Pretty much what I do to the T. I think I may have thrown in like maybe 1/4-1/2 cup of aragonite flour with the kelp in the mix. Solo
Thanks for the feedback! It's just too funny that with all of these recipes we come up with it's already available on store shelves, guess they better work than, lol. So I ran the above recipe and tested out a couple different variables, the same soil was the constant, and the environment of course. I basically did a test of some into clone gel and some into honey. The other thing I tested was the inoculant, half V git rilled in VAM half into Soluble Mycorrhizae from fungi perfecti. Both inoculations are working as far as I can tell, both are showing fungi colonies where i got sloppy. Still having issues with Temps, it was damn near 80* in the dome and they didn't look like they wwre too happy about it. Been able to bring temps down but still too warm. Even with that i already have roots! Crazy, 2 of the honey cuts had roots on the morning of day 3, one of which had pretty strong ones already. Thats hands down the fastest anything has ever rooted for me, I was pretty shocked. Ill make my final judgment at the end of the week but so far honey is in the lead. Roots already, it's easier to work with and like 20-25% the price of gel. Seeds haven't sprouted yet, they are on day 3, after a 18hr soak. Temps are good and soil is moist, hope they sprout soon.
Be patient, they'll sprout. I recently tossed into my vegetable bed a jiffy pellet that hadn't sprouted after 8 days and Lo and behold, days later a sprout was reaching for the sky! I felt like a bad parent http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1357118-Scotty%27s-first-grow
Yeah its going well so far. Looked like 5 sprouts this am. My first round, the ones that started this thread only have 5 survivors, soon to be 4 im betting. They look awful though, all these little mutated leaves, stunted as ive ever seen. Will probably pop more of the same seeds to replace these ones.
Ahhh this is too good.... Those roots on day 3, well they were/are strong roots, funny thing is they were from sprouted seeds that were in my soil mix. I can only assume they are rice sprouts from the rice hulls. The clones do look good though, I will check for roots in about a week. Up to 7 sprouted seeds now, they are healthy but are not bursting with growth, slow and steady so far. The first batch of seeds are down to 4, it looks like they ate coming out of shock. The deformed mutated leaves are starting to look more like normal leaves. Ill keep them around a bit longer to see how they behave.