Benefits:
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You will need:
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| 1. Get hold of a sealable container and fill with 1 Litre of tap water or if you're feeling a bit flush bottled spring water. Take a PH reading using your test kit or digital ph meter. You need to adjust this PH to read 5.5 so if it is too high use PH down, if it is too low use PH up. If you go to far with the PH just add water to move the PH back in the other direction. Now drop as many cubes as you need in and seal the container then leave for 24 hrs. 2. After 24 hours pre-soaking remove as many cubes as required and put in tray. Give each cube a light squeeze to remove roughly 20% of the water. This is because the seeds will need water (humidity) to germinate but once they shoot will drown in an excess of water so they need some air to breathe. 3. Set up your propagator, heated versions will automatically maintain a model environment, if you are using a basic prop try and maintain a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and a humidity of around 70 to 90%. Set your fluorescent light up 2-3 inches above the canopy of your propagator. Until germinated keep the vents on the top of your propagator shut.  4. Plant your seeds. Make a small hole in each cube about 5mm in depth (some cubes come with holes already in) then using tweezers place the seed in the hole. once the seed is in position gently cover the hole by folding over some of the rockwool around the opening to cocoon the seed and create maximum humidity, remember the seedling needs to break out so not too tight or you'll block it in. This also ensures the seed is in darkness. 5. Seeds will germinate in anywhere between 12hours to 12 days depending on the environmental conditions and the viability of the seeds. Once roots become visible you can drop off the humidity by slowly opening up the vents on your propagator allowing your seedlings time to adjust each time until they are fully open. Taking this one step on you could harden off your plants further by removing the lid altogether for longer periods each day until you no longer need it at all. 6. Now just plant your cubes into bigger blocks or whatever medium you choose. If going into more rockwool remember to pre-soak the new medium, a bit of Canna Rhizotonic or BioBizz Rootjuice at this point is great for stimulating roots when transplanting. |
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Last Updated: May 03, 2008
