Phase 1: Seeding

What You'll Need

• Peat Moss Plugs

• Seed Starter Kit (200 Cell Seed Tray, Reservoir Tray & Humidity Dome)

• Pelleted Seeds

• Dechlorinated Water

Get Started

Step 1: Place peat moss plugs into a seed tray with one plug per cell.

Step 2: Fill the reservoir tray with dechlorinated water.

Step 3: Place the seed tray onto the reservoir tray filled with water and allow the plugs to soak for 5-10 minutes.

• This is a method known as bottom watering which will fully hydrate the peat moss plugs.

• When the plugs are completely saturated with water they will change to a dark brown color and be moist to the touch.

Step 4: Empty the water from the bottom reservoir tray and then place the seed tray back on top.

• Leaving water in the reservoir tray for long periods of time can create root rot as well as invite potential fungi & mold issues.

• It is ok if there are water droplets in the bottom tray but be sure to drain all excess water by the end of the day.

Step 5: Insert 1 seed into each seed hole ensuring the seed is in the center of the plug.

• If you accidentally get more than one seed in a plug, that is ok. Once the seeds sprout you can easily cut extra sprouts so that there is one seedling per plug (this is a process called thinning).

Step 6: Gently push down the seed into the center of the peat moss plug so that it rests in the core.

Step 7: Place the humidity dome on top of the seed tray with vents open halfway for light air flow..

• The humidity dome helps to retain moisture in the peat moss for up to a week.

• Keeping the humidity dome on top of the seed tray creates a greenhouse effect which helps environmental humidity moisten the seed, the outer pellet material as well as the hull.

• Be sure to open the humidity dome every couple of days to invite fresh air.

• Think of this as a seed incubation period, similar to a hen sitting on an egg.

Step 8: Set your lighting schedule to 16 hours ON, 8 hours OFF.

Germination Tips

• Germination is the development process of a seed ‘hatching’ out of the hull and growing into the seedling stage of a plant.

This process is dependent on a variety of factors, especially temperature, but typically takes 2-6 days.

• It is normal to have approximately 10% of cells not germinate. If you do not see the emergence of two small leaves known as cotyledons after 7 days then you may add an additional seed to every cell that is empty.

• Proper air flow is crucial at this stage to prevent culturing unwanted things like mold & mildew. It is recommended to lift the humidity dome every 1-2 days to wipe down the condensation forming on the inside of the lid.

Water Scheduling Tips

• Typically around 3-5 days post seeding, your seedlings will require additional water.

• Water seedlings approximately 2 times a week; not to exceed 3 times.

  • Pro Tip: If we water seedlings on a Thursday evening, we typically don't water again until Monday morning; If we water seedings on a Friday evening, we typically don't water again until Tuesday morning.

    • This is specific to growing Salanova in our growing environment.

    • Every grow environment is different but we have found success in doing this so that white roots wrap around the plug with minimal roots descending downward past the grow media.

    • Check out our TikTok to see what we our seedlings typically look like!

• Bottom water the seedlings by filling your reservoir tray with dechlorinated water then place the seed tray into the reservoir so that it sits directly into the water.

  • Allow seedlings to soak for up to 10 minutes.

  • Drain excess water from the reservoir. Be sure to do this or root rot is inevitable.

    • The seedlings may appear to be healthy but pythium (a common root rot causing pathogen in hydroponics) is notorious for being most destructive as plants mature and near harvest.

• Once almost all seedlings have presented their cotyledons, remove the humidity dome.

  • Leaving the humidity dome on longer than necessary can create unfavorable conditions, i.e. mold & mildew. It is important to find the ‘sweet spot’ where the seedlings have enough time to germinate (or incubate & hatch) but are not exposed to excessive humidity without air flow.

• Your seeds are ready for transplanting once they have reached 2-3 inches of growth which is typically around 2 weeks from seeding date.

  • This is where you, as a farmer, have a little more control over the harvest period. Seedlings can stay in seed trays anywhere from 2-4 weeks without any issues.

  • Fertilization is recommended for seedlings more than 2 weeks old.