In full season of sowing seeds, it is the ideal time to take care of your seedbeds, thus guaranteeing the survival of the seedlings. Since the seeds are sown until the plants reach a certain height, which will depend on what species it is, their health is very delicate.
Therefore, there is nothing like following these tips and greatly reduce the risks that may arise during the season growth.
First: clean the seedbed well
If you are like me who likes to reuse things over and over again until they are no longer usable (something that rarely happens), the first thing you have to do is conscientiously clean the seedbed that you are going to use to sow your seeds. The ideal is to use organic products, but you can also use a few drops of dishwasher and then rinse it well. Finally, it can be left to dry in the sun, or we dry it ourselves with a cloth.
Second: choose the substrate
This is the most important and complicated at the same time, since depending on the type of plant it is, one type of substrate or another will be more advisable. For example: uterine
- Cacti, succulents and other desert plants: use a specific substrate for cacti, or make a mixture of 60% black peat, 30% perlite and 10% vermiculite.
- Native trees or easy to grow: universal substrate, or 70% black peat with 30% perlite.
- Trees and shrubs that are very much on the edge of our climate zone (either by heat or by cold): for this type of plants I advise using high quality substrates or mixtures, such as 40% akadama with 60% black peat.
- Aquatic and seasonal plants: black peat.
Third: choose the irrigation water
The most suitable water is rain, but if you live in a dry area you can use tap water by letting it stand overnight so that the chlorine goes down. If it is species that require water and substrate with a low pH, add a few drops of lemon or vinegar for every liter of water, and you can use it to water without problems.
Four: location
The location of the seedlings also depends on the plants you have planted. They should generally be placed in full sun, but plants like Calathea, maples or Aspidistra will germinate best in semi-shade.
Final Tips
Finally, I would like to give you some final advice that will surely help you. The first has to do with the frequency of irrigation. It's very important always maintain a certain degree of humidity in the substrate, so that the plants can grow well.
Likewise, it is also necessary that use some organic fungicide -such as copper or sulfur- from the first day of sowing and following the manufacturer's recommendations, as this will prevent fungi from attacking the newly germinated shoots, and thus maintain an enviable state of health.