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Optimal Plant Containers for Successful Seed Germination

Choosing the right containers for seed germination is crucial for successful plant propagation. Plastic containers are durable and easy to clean, ideal for starting seeds. Biodegradable options like wood fiber, peat, and coir are eco-friendly but may require additional nitrogen. Understanding the specific needs of seeds and using appropriate germination media ensures healthy growth. Proper seed collection, extraction, storage, scarification, and stratification techniques are essential for successful germination.

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Optimal Plant Containers for Successful Seed Germination

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  1. Plant Propagation

  2. Containers • Plastic is best! • Easy to clean and re-use • Durable • Can use clay • heavy, breakable, & salts build up • Can use untreatedwood like cedar • Treated wood contains arsenic and/or copper which is toxic to plants

  3. Containers • Can use paper • Biodegradable • Flimsey • Can use wood fiber/peat • Biodegradable • Can use coir • Biodegradable, coconut fiber, renewable resource • Can use peat pellets • Both “pot” and media in one! • Biodegradable if you use the kind without plastic mesh

  4. Plastic!

  5. Clay

  6. Salts!

  7. Compressed wood fiber/peat

  8. Coir

  9. Coconut fiber “coir”

  10. Jiffy Peat pots without plastic mesh

  11. Paper pots

  12. Media • For seed: • Use a “clean” germination mix • Use a mix designed for seeds • Smaller particles for good seed contact • Need space for air and water • No fertilizer is necessary to start but timed-release fertilizer helps after germination • Wood/fiber/paper pots will need extra nitrogen • Microbes need a combination of both carbon and nitrogen

  13. Different commercially-available seed germination mixes Zinnias Obviously, not all germination media are the same! Ones on the left had no time-release “starter” fertilizer and those on the right did!

  14. Media • Components • Organic: peat, bark, sphagnum moss, coir, compost, composted rice hulls • Inorganic: mineral components for drainage and aeration • Sand (only horticultural sand, play sand has ocean salt!) • Perlite (for aeration, white in color like “pearly white teeth”, made from volcanic rock) • Vermiculite (for aeration & moisture-holding & nutrient exchange, tan in color-made from mica rock)

  15. Peat bog in Canada Harvester

  16. Peat harvesters at work Peat is a slowly-renewable resource

  17. Soilless potting mix is a combo of peat perlite vermiculite

  18. Seed Collection • Most seeds should be collected on a sunny, dry day, in mid-day (after the dew has dried up) • Seeds can be collected in paper envelopes or brown paper bags • Capsules that split open should have a bag placed over them several days before they split so that seeds are not lost

  19. Seed Collection • If seed is enclosed in a fruit, you must remove the fruit first • Fruit can be soaked to soften and then removed by hand • Seed will NOT germinate if planted in a fleshy fruit!

  20. Seed Extraction

  21. Storage • Most seeds can be stored as follows: • Cool (refrig. For short term, Freezer for long term, exceptions would be water-filled seeds of tropical plants) • Dry (air dry but not in direct sun!) • Dark • Consistent • Sealed wax paper or foil pouch best • Freezer storage bags wrapped in aluminum • Remember to LABEL!!

  22. Seeds • Seeds can have different type of needs to properly germinate • 1.) Ready to germinate… just give proper conditions • 2.) Needs to have the seed coat abraded (scarification) • 3.) Needs to have a period of cool-moist (stratification) • Needs both 2 & 3

  23. Scarification • This can be done by: • Using a file • Using sandpaper

  24. Scarification • This can be done by: • Using a rock tumbler filled with grit or lined with sandpaper

  25. Stratification • This can be done by: • In a zip-lock type baggie • Placing seeds in vermiculite or sand • Add water and drain off excess • Place in a refrigerator • Generally 1 - 3 months • Depends on where the plant is native to

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