The Optimal Seed Starter Guide

Introduction

Starting seedlings is a simple process, particularly when adhering to the basic steps provided. Seedlings can be initiated with minimal water to encourage germination, or a more sophisticated approach can be employed to cultivate seedlings that are disease-resistant and possess robust cellular structures, enhancing their yield.

Know the Difference

Understanding the distinction between a "Sprout" and a "Seedling" is crucial. A sprout is a nascent plant that springs from a seed during germination. The initial leaves to emerge are known as cotyledons. These are not actual leaves but "seed leaves" that nourish the young plant until it's able to generate its own food via photosynthesis. Following the cotyledons, the plant will grow its first "true leaves", which differ in appearance from the cotyledons and can perform photosynthesis. At this stage, the sprout transitions into a seedling.

Anatomy of a Seed

Understanding the anatomy of a seed can enlighten you about its requirements. All seeds must undergo developmental stage to grow into a healthy, full-sized plant. Every farmer aims to mimic these stages as naturally as possible, and sometimes, to surpass nature itself.

Darkness

To keep it as close to nature as possible. Most seeds grow underground. In order for a plant to get through to the light, it needs to build its tissues stronger. Exposing a seed to light before that “makes it lazy.” Its cell structure is weaker and more prone to disease and infections.

 

Germinating seeds in the dark offers several benefits:

 

• Higher Germination Rates: Darkness can trigger certain physiological responses in seeds that promote faster and more successful germination.
   
• Protection from External Factors: The dark environment shields seeds from fluctuations in temperature, direct sunlight, and excessive moisture, creating a controlled environment that increases the chances of successful sprouting.
   
• Uniform Growth: Seeds germinated in the dark tend to exhibit more uniform growth patterns, as they are not stretching towards a light source.
   
• Optimal Nutrient Absorption: Light will harden some seeds making it more difficult, if not impossible to germinate. Darkness can help seeds absorb nutrients more effectively, providing a conducive environment for successful gardening.

Preparing your Rockwool

Whether you're sowing your own seeds or using Gardyn's pre-seeded rockwool, pretreating your seeds and rockwool is a crucial step. This process adjusts the pH of your medium to an optimal level without introducing unwanted nutrients or chemicals into your food. To achieve this, we will employ Hydroponic Research's PHLO.

 

PHLO (“Flow”) acts as a pH-lowering water conditioner that purifies and sanitizes. Within a reservoir, it aids in eliminating Chlorine and Chloramine, kills bacteria, and diminishes the likelihood of biofilm or algae development. In a seedling tray, PHLO can help soften the shell of a seed and make it more readily available to absorb water for germination.

 

Here are the steps: 

 

1. Gather your supplies,
   1. PHLO (also known as Hydroboost if purchased through Gardyn)
   2. Empty Seedling tray or other reservoir where your cubes will be able to soak.

   3. Rockwool placed into the yCube holder. 

   4. Pre-Seeded yCubes if you're planting those.​​​​​​
2. Using a dropper, Mix 2ml of PHLO with 500ml of water and add it to an empty seedling tray or other container. 

3. If you're planting your own seeds, now is the time to "embed" them into empty Rockwool. We use lab tweezers and push the seeds into the Rockwool about 1/4". 

4. Add your pre-seeded cubes.
5. Soak for 15 - 30 min being careful not to wash seeds out of the Rockwool.

6. Remove the cubes and place them into a germination tray. 

7. Fill your germination tray with water just enough for 1/4" of water touching the bottoms. 

8. Add 1 drop of PHLO to that water to aid in keeping the water clean and pH balanced. If you're using the Gardyn nursery, fill it to the inside fill line. 

 

Begin the Germination

To keep things organized, we recommend you utilize separate trays for each stage, germination, sprout, and seedling. If your other plants are already growing and your EC levels are at max, you will also want a tray for different nutrient dilutions so you can acclimate your seedlings to be in a system where you have mature plants.  A good habit is to label each tray, so you know which tray is which. Then log your plantings. Know when, where, what you’ve planted.

 

First, something to note:

Know that your results may be affected by the environment your seeds are in or whether or not the seed is actually viable. Not all seeds will germinate. This is why it is always recommended to plant multiple seeds per cube. For leafy greens plant 8-10, for fruiting plants like peppers, plant about 4 and for large plants like melons, plant 2. For melons and cucumbers, you may have to utilize scarification. This is done by simply nicking the surface of the seed to allow water to penetrate. We actually place a cut in the seed's shell. CAFEFULLY. 

 

Now, let’s get to the steps to follow:

 

• Step 1: Tray 1 - Germination NEVER start your seeds directly in the system. ALWAYS start your seeds in seedling trays. This will improve the growth and strength of your plants as well as prevent diseases from infiltrating your system. It is also a complete waste of water, nutrients, and money as the plants will not use anything outside of the endosperm for feeding at this stage of its life cycle.
   
• Step 2: Time for conditioned water. Mix 5 drops of PHLO and 500ml of cool, filtered water. If you are using pre-seeded yCubes, place, place them into a seeding tray / nursery and add enough to bring the level to ¼" high. If you are using the Gardyn branded tray, there is a fill line you can see when the gray tray has an open slot. You might not use all the whole 500ml depending on your tray sizes.
   

• Step 3: Place your tray with a vented cover in a warm completely dark area. Preferably on a seedling mat in a germination station. Leave your seeds in the dark until you begin to see sprouts.
   

• Step 4: Tray 2 - Sprouts have arrived and it’s time for some light. Move any sprouts to your sprout tray and place them in a lighted area such as a windowsill or seedling station. Using the same PHLO solution, you should remove the cover to reduce algae or fungus formations. If you already have your Gardyn growing other plants, you can place them on the lid so that the sprouts get light from the Gardyn. It will work but it is not the best option. You do not need a warming mat at this point. The lighting will provide some warmth. These lights are great for seedlings. If you want to really improve your sprouts and seedlings, a seedling tent is a must have.
   
• Step 5: Once your sprouts have developed into seedlings, indicated by the emergence of true leaves, it's time to transfer them to a seedling tray. This tray is similar to the sprout tray, with the addition of diluted nutrient solution. This dilution should be .002 KG for 500ml of water. You will continue to use the same PHLO solution, just add your nutrients to this and it will keep the water clean and conditioned.
   
• Step 6: Enter the Grow System A seedling is considered ready for transplanting when roots are visible through the growth medium below and the plant stands about 2-3 inches tall with true leaves. However, there is a slight exception for leafy greens, which can be moved earlier if the roots meet the required criteria. Transfer your prepared seedlings to your system and observe their growth.

 

Ensure you perform regular water top-offs and changes, along with root maintenance and appropriate pruning, to promote sufficient air circulation and strengthen the plants, as well as to distribute immobile nutrients throughout your plants. It is recommended to have an oscillating fan. At this point, it's very important that you know about and understand Vapor Pressure Deficit.

Conclusion

For nearly three decades, our hydroponic growing methods have stood the test of time. Developed through the expertise of leading botanists and our own hands-on experience, we at UGrowFood are dedicated to advancing home gardening. Our goal is to enable individuals to cultivate their own fresh, nutritious food, thus eliminating the reliance on inferior quality produce and supply chains.