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Portugal

hello All.
i have a tropical fish tank with water temp about 26ºC.
Over the water i have a protective glass so the fish dont jump off the tank and above it all i have 2x18W fluorescent lamps.
i have about 10cm betwen the glass and the lamps, and that space mantains a regular temperature abou 25ºC. but is quite moisture.

is that a godd germination place??
it has about 14 hours of light.
can the excessive moisture cause problems??

give me your opinions.
Abraço
RMatos

1/18/2007 4:32:17 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

It might be a little cool. If my math is right 25C is the same as 77F. I try to keep my seeds around 85 to 90F. I think that the moisture would good. I start my seeds in a large, plastic beverage cool with a 15 watt light bulb and the lid just slightly open. It keeps the seed starting mix warm and moist.

1/18/2007 9:30:43 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Last year I started mine in a large insulated cooler. I put a gallon jug of hot water in(and changed with hot water every 6-10 hrs.). I had a thermometer in there, and it stayed around 85-90 degrees F for a good part of the time. I had a very good germination rate.
I filed and soaked my seeds, and put them in moist paper towels, then in zip-lock baggies. Then into the cooler for germination.

1/18/2007 11:13:18 AM

Syracuse, NY

for an interesting read, and maybe a few ideas for you:

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=17908

copy and then paste this into your browser and hit 'go';
then look at the series of pictures about my
Gerry Germ-Buck.
this is the germination method that works best for me.
i also germinate my seeds from '06 in SEED-STARTING MIX,
like the stuff from Scotts that is pictured,
with NO heat in a little pudding cup at room temperature of
about 70-72 F.

takes a little longer this way, but, no heat.
ummm, i would not use potting soil or regular DIRT for this
"cold" germination. nor would i trust is for the REAL seeds
like 842s, 845s, 940s, etc. not yet, anyway.

too much moisture is bad. i would FORGET about the
fish tank lid idea---
what is good for the fishies is no good for the
AG seeds. DEDICATE a structure to sprouting your seeds.
it is so simple, it happens without us in Nature.
concerning the fluorescent lights? get at least 40-watt
fluorescent bulbs, at least one per fixture, and i prefer
two side-by-side per 4-foot fixture;
i have had great results with one Gro-Lite (for growing
indoor plants under) and one full-spectrum (simulates sunlight) per fixture, kept on 24/7 about one INCH above the highest leaf-tops of the seedlings, raising the fixtures as the seedlings grow. this prevents LEGGY, spindly seedlings, and you will get that if you do not have the lights on all the time (plants in the wild have a day-and-night cycle of light, which prompts them to grow as quickly as possible) i guess i am out of suggestions now----
good luck with it! eric g

1/19/2007 3:01:40 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

I have practiced using the Joel Holland colemans cooler method and it seems to work great. Just like Doug14 does with a small variation. I filed/soaked the seeds and then put them in small cups (small peat pots when the real thing comes). I then put them in the cooler. 2 different times i tried 4 seeds each and all popped up in a few days so i am going with that method.

1/19/2007 7:47:10 AM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Remove them once they break the surface of the dirt and give them light.

1/19/2007 7:48:15 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

RMatos, I use a styrofoam cooler, on top of a oil filled electric heater (looks like a small radiator). Over a several day period I adjust heat to 85-90 degrees, using a soil thermometer inserted into the soil (damp, not wet) in approx 1 gal container. File and soak seeds, (4-6 hrs.) then into the soil inside the germination box. Usually 3 or 4 days and....bingo, we be growin AG's!!!! Try some different methods during the off season, tons of fun to see em sproutin, and will hone yer skills. Peace, Wayne

1/19/2007 12:46:53 PM

wish we could get Deb to chime in here,,,,still the best germination technique I've heard of !!

1/19/2007 12:57:05 PM

Georgia

I start them out on a germination mat..it cost like 40 bucks. I fill the pots with seed starter mix...after the seeds have been filed and soaked there coated with Captan fungizide..there put in pointed end down about an inch..I water throughly the first time..after they break ground I remove them from the mat and keep flouresent lights about two inches above them..I always have great germination success..everyone has differnt methods this just works great for me almost 100 percent of the time.

1/19/2007 1:01:42 PM

Indiana

A used water bed heater is alot cheaper than a germination mat you can get them on eBay for as low as $10 if you are patient.

1/19/2007 9:41:31 PM

porterville, calif.

As a heat source Ive used a heating pad. The medium setting works good. Ive had 19 out of 20 come up. I have use a old incubator. That worked real good. But I had to watch the humity in it. I have been real good getting seed to come up. Just need to keep em going.

1/19/2007 11:52:12 PM

Portugal

Hello!
Thank you all for your answers!
i think i'll leave to rest my idea of the fish tank...
i liked the idea of the bucket with the incandescent light.
Heating pads are a little expensive... but i'll buy one just to try it and use both methods.
I'll post the resuts on my diary.
Once again thank you

Abraço
RMatos

1/23/2007 4:55:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

Missed was the fact that you have just about perfect temperatue by wrapping a seed with damp paper towel material and taping it to your own body. Two days to three days bingo...open and pot the awakening seed. Not kookey at all! It's a no frill way to start.

1/23/2007 12:26:29 PM

seen it here first folks,,,

Doc invents the AG "patch" !!!!!!

1/23/2007 12:52:38 PM

Chillicothe, Ohio

I start my seeds in plastic bowl with a lid ( not sealed
all the way) damp paper towel place bowl on the top of a
crt computer monitor about 3 days later they are ready to put in pot has worked every time ( so far )

1/23/2007 6:33:52 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

See my diary on constructing a cheap and effective germinator. The idea came from Doctor Bob Liggett.

1/23/2007 7:36:14 PM

Salem, NY

It may sound crazy but I read it on someone's growers diary, tried it and it does work....germinating seeds in the oven!!! By keeping the oven light on for 24-48 hours, there is enough heat from the bulb to germinate seeds. Along with the light, I used a pyrex measuring cup full of water for moisture/ humidity. It kept the soil temp. constant and moist!!! Not alot of $ invested in heating elements too!!

1/24/2007 7:10:05 PM

Georgia

Its funny about the aquariam or tank idea..I raise African Bullfrogs the kind that eat mice and birds.I have two heating pads underneath the tank.They stay about 85 to 90 degrees.I have the tanks filled with sphagnum peat moss. I always drop a couple seeds were they dont sit and in like three days I have little pumpkin plants. I mist the frogs every other day and the seeds just pop up. The frog usually doesnt stomp the plant until its three leaf stage Im not gonna start my good seeds this way but Ill be damed it works every time.

1/24/2007 7:34:42 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Note to self,
Must buy meat eating FROGS??????????

1/24/2007 7:58:22 PM