Nature always lifts the mood. It could be as simple as watching a flower bloom. Many of us always try to create tiny gardens around us to feel close to nature. Having plants around us is always therapeutic. Sometimes the process goes wrong, which leads to drying plants or simply not yielding the desired fruit or flower. Some common factors that affect and lead to such consequences are:
- Inadequate amount of light
- The moisture level of soil
- Type of soil and nutrients required
- Transplant shock
- Unavailability of suitable weather
- Caring pattern
Every seed is different from others. They need particular soil like dense soil and loose soil for germination. Germination is the process from where a seed or spore grows to become a seedling after a period of dormancy. Germination is also known as sprouting. It is essential to break the dormancy of seed for its growth. Many times, the seed does not get proper moisture or environmental conditions. It is unable to come out of the dormancy state. We need to make sure that everything is in the right place for growing it.
You must be thinking about what could be the solution to such situational problems. There is one thing that can never go incorrect. The seed starter kit and grow light is the best kit that will help a seed grow in the proper environment, and your dream to have a small garden of your own will come true. With the help of this, you will be able to grow homegrown organic fruits and vegetables.
Many companies make different types of starter kits and grow lights. But most of them consist of components such as:
- Sunblaster light
- Sunblaster dome
- Propagation Tray or seedling tray
- Peat starter plugs or peat pucks
- Seeds of your choice Now let us understand each component individually in detail.
1. Sunblaster light
These LED light strips come in various sizes according to the sun blaster dome and requirements of the seed.
Some lights come with intensity regulator functions.
They are even available in different shapes but most widely used are rectangular or tube-shaped.
2. Sunblaster Dome
A sun blaster dome is a closed compartment kept over the propagation tray. The nano sun blaster dome of 7 inches is in high demand among garden enthusiasts who grow indoor plants. Other sizes available are 11 inches, 12 inches, etc. The material used for making the sun blaster dome is heavy-duty plastic. Heavy-duty plastic helps to keep the moisture levels high and constant while allowing light in the proper amount. It also ensures that the probability of germination is high and successful.
3. Propagation Tray or Seedling Tray
Soil or peat pucks are top-up in propagation trays. Trays split into cells. These cells are also called holes.
After filling soil or peat pucks, 2,3 seeds are sown in each cell so that at least one seed germinates. Regular watering is vital till germination. The best thing about propagation trays is they can hold up to multiple seeds at a time. These are kept in the trays till they grow into seedlings and are ready for transplanting.
4. Peat starter plugs or peat pucks
Peat is a mixture of soil and partially decomposed vegetable matter. Peat pucks are dried compressed peat covered with biodegradable mesh. Peat pucks are small in size and circular in shape, usually disc-shaped. Some brands provide already made peat pellets. These peat pucks are compressed and dehydrated discs. Before sowing seed, you have to pour warm water over the peat pucks. As you pour warm water, they swell up. Hence they are ready for sowing seeds.
5. Seeds of your choice
You can add seeds of your choice while buying these seed starting kits. Seeds of herbal plants, vegetables, flowers, and even a variety of tea plant seeds are available along with these kits.
Isn’t it amazing that you can conveniently grow vegetables and fruits at home with these seed starter kits and grow lights!
Now let us understand the procedure by which we will produce seedlings and then convert them into plants.
There are a total of seven steps for using these kits for the germination of seeds.
Step 1
Find a suitable kit and grow light according to your gardening requirements. Buy seeds of your favorite plants you want to grow.
Step 2
Now, pour warm water on peat pucks. Put the swelled peat pucks in the cells of the propagation tray. Don’t worry if you notice a mesh around the peat pucks. The mesh is biodegradable. Pouring water regains moisture of the peat puck and preparing it ready for sowing seeds.
Step 3
Choose your desired seeds and sow 2,3 seeds in each cell of the propagation tray. Sowing 2,3 seeds increase the probability of germination of at least one of them.
Step 4
Keep the sun blaster dome over the propagation tray. Sunblaster dome will make sure the humidity level is maintained inside.
Step 5
Last but not least, place the sun blaster grow light over the sun blaster dome. Make sure it is kept in such a way that the light reaches every cell. Light is an essential part of the process of germination.
Step 6
Regularly water the cells and check the light intensity.
Step 7
As the days pass, seeds convert into seedlings. These seedlings are now ready to be potted.
If you are a gardening enthusiast or want to try gardening as a hobby, you should try using these seed starter kits once. Happy Gardening!
