Hardly anything gives the experienced plant lover more pleasure than growing young plants from seeds you have collected (or bought) yourself. Depending on the type of plant, sowing and rearing are more or less risky, after all, seeds and seedlings are extremely sensitive. This applies in particular to the supply of water.
It can be useful to soak seeds before sowing
Soak seeds or not?
In many gardening forums you can read that plant seeds should be watered before sowing, i. H. should be soaked in lukewarm water or chamomile tea for a few hours or days. This should accelerate germination or even ensure that the germ breaks through the shell. The water bath practically takes over the task of the naturally rotting fruit skin, which ultimately also provides moisture. In fact, seeds need water to germinate, after all they contain very little water. In order for germination to begin, they must first absorb a lot of water. However, you do not necessarily have to soak the seeds, thorough moistening of the substrate before sowing and the subsequent high humidity serve the same purpose.
benefits
Soaking can only make sense for some large seeds with a hard shell. Many exotic plants such as mangoes or apricots, but also some vegetables such as beans and pumpkins, benefit from prior watering. You should also roughen particularly hard-shelled seeds with some sandpaper before soaking so that the seedling can break through the shell more easily.
disadvantage
Except for hard-shelled seeds, soaking has no benefit and can safely be left out. This is especially true for plants with very small seeds, which include most light germinators. There is also a risk that the seeds will start to mold and are therefore no longer germinable.
Sowing Tips - How to germinate the seeds
The following rules will help you grow healthy plants from dry seeds:
- Always use unfertilized potting soil, not normal potting soil!
- This is pre-fertilized and therefore unsuitable for germination.
- Disinfect the soil by heating it in the oven or microwave.
- Now fill them in a suitable container with a translucent lid.
- A greenhouse or similar is best.
- Before sowing, water the soil so that it feels as damp as a squeezed sponge.
- The substrate should not be really wet, this encourages mold.
- Bring in the seeds and keep them warm.
- The humidity should be high, so always put on a translucent lid.
- But never forget to air it every day!
- Mist seeds and sprouts with a spray bottle about every two to three days.
tips
Soaking hard-shelled seeds in warm chamomile tea will further reduce the risk of mold growth.