Hardly anything gives the experienced plant lover more joy than growing young plants from seeds that they have collected (or purchased). Depending on the type of plant, sowing and growing are more or less risky; after all, seeds and seedlings are extremely sensitive. This is particularly true for the supply of water.
Should seeds be watered before planting?
Soaking seeds before planting can aid germination for some hard, large seeds such as mango, apricot, beans and squash. However, for smaller seeds it is unnecessary and can encourage mold growth. Moistening the substrate and high humidity achieve similar results.
Soak seeds or not?
In many gardening forums you can read that plant seeds should be watered before sowing, i.e. H. They should be soaked in lukewarm water or chamomile tea for a few hours to days. This is intended to accelerate germination or ensure that the germ breaks through the shell in the first place. The water bath practically takes over the task of the naturally rotting fruit casing, 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 don't necessarily have to soak the seeds to do this; thoroughly moistening the substrate before sowing and then maintaining high humidity serve the same purpose.
Advantages
Soaking can only make sense for some large seeds with hard shells. Many exotic plants such as mango or apricot, but also some vegetables such as beans and pumpkin, benefit from prior watering. You should also roughen particularly hard-shelled seeds with a little sandpaper before soaking so that the seedling can break through the shell more easily.
Disadvantages
Except for hard-shelled seeds, soaking has no advantages and can therefore be safely omitted. 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 will therefore no longer be able to germinate.
Sowing tips – How to germinate the seeds
The following rules will help you grow he althy 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 into a suitable container with a translucent lid.
- An indoor greenhouse (€29.00 on Amazon) or similar is best suited.
- Water the soil before sowing so that it feels as moist as a squeezed sponge.
- The substrate should not be really wet, this encourages mold.
- Soak the seeds and keep them warm.
- The humidity should be high, so always put a translucent lid on.
- But never forget to ventilate daily!
- Wet seeds and seedlings with a spray bottle about every two to three days.
Tip
Soak hard-shelled seeds in warm chamomile tea, this further reduces the risk of mold formation.
