Second experiment on Watering method vs media vs cover.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Objective: Find a relatively simple and straightforward way of germinating seeds, with high/acceptable success rate of germination
Environment: Non direct morning sun + 2hrs of 2xT5 FL (2x14W)
Species: N. Mirabilis (50 seeds)
Sowed: Feb 2 2011
Comparing: Watering method (Water tray, spray) vs media (SM, coco peat) vs covered.
Feb 20 (Day 18) First germination
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)
Feb 22 (Day 20)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)
Feb 24 (Day 22)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
2 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)
Feb 26 (Day 24)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
2 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
1 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
3 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)
Feb 28 (Day 26)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
2 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
2 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
2 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
3 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)
Conclusion:-
- I think the seeds will continue to germinate, another 1 or 2, but rate is slower than Vikings.
- Learning from exp1 and 2 indicate that all methods will works
. So use any method above, decision largely depends on your preference and material accessible/available to you. From observation, coco peat germinate faster, and very easy to move the seedlings as compared to sphagnum moss that tangles up.
- I’m down-selecting germination method: water tray, coco peat, open/covered seed box. I would like to further test whether germination rate, and the degree of algae/moss formation if I put the seedboxes at balcony. That will eliminate the dependency of FL tubes.