A sunny windowsill.
Seeds need warm, sunny conditions to germinate, ideally 70F or higher. This can often be achieved in homes with south-facing windows if you have enough room for the seed trays. If you don’t have a sunny window or can’t provide the necessary temperature with just a sunny window, an electric heat mat is your best bet.
A heat mat consists of a pad that looks like an oversized mouse pad that’s plugged into an electrical outlet and heats the soil to the desired temperature. It’s great because it allows you to grow seeds in an otherwise unsuitable environment or at any time of the year if you’re using artificial lights as well.
With ideal conditions, most seeds will sprout within 2 weeks, although some seeds like tomato might take 4 weeks or more before they’re ready to transplant into their final pots/garden plot/etc.
Pots.
- Roses, perennials like phlox, and hostas are easy to start under grow lights.
- Nasturtiums and impatiens can be started in small pots with a little soil.
- Lilies, tulips, marigolds, and other annuals should be started indoors.
- Any perennial with a woody stem needs to be starting indoors or the roots will rot from lack of water and minerals.
Potting soil.
The most important thing to keep in mind when searching for potting soil is that you should look for a mixture that is light, porous and well-drained. Good potting soils are available at garden centers, but if you want to make your own soil mix, the following ingredients will get you started:
- Peat moss
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
To enrich the mixture and feed your seedlings as they grow, add compost, manure or fertilizer to the soil before planting.
Marking sticks.
You need to label whatever you are growing so you know what it is, especially if you are planning on growing more than one type of plant. There are lots of different gardening labels and markers available for purchase, but I find it most effective to use whatever materials I have laying around the house. When I’m planting seeds, my favorite things to use for labeling are marking sticks.
I like marking sticks because they easily stick into the soil when plants are small and don’t take up much space in a tray that might be tight for room. Plus, they won’t interfere with the growth of your sprouts since they’re thin enough and long enough to not get in the way of any part of your seedlings or plants. Some people like using labels or writing directly on their pots because then they don’t have something sticking out awkwardly from the soil (that also makes them difficult to move without breaking off) and because it looks nicer—but that’s all personal preference!
Watering jug.
You will also need a watering jug. Ideally, this jug should have a watering spout, rather than a pouring spout. This means that the spout is at an angle and it has a smaller opening that releases water in a steady stream. You don’t want to use the jug from your dishwasher or sink because these generally have pouring spouts with large openings designed for releasing water quickly, which can disturb the seeds and soil more than you’d like. Also, make sure the jug has a lid or cover to prevent algae from growing inside.
Though there is no particular size that’s better than any other, try finding one that’s easy to hold and pour.
Humidity dome or cling wrap.
- Humidity dome
- The humidity dome is a plastic cover that goes on top of the seed trays to hold in the moisture and humidity while the seeds are germinating and growing. You only need to use them for the first 2-3 weeks.
- You can make your own humidity dome out of plastic wrap or even a cut open 2 liter soda bottle. This is not necessary if you already have one, or buy a pack of plastic domes with holes for air circulation at your local garden center.
Plastic bag or container with a lid.
The first thing you need is a plastic bag, or container with a lid. These are useful for many reasons:
- They can be used to cover the pots where your seeds are germinating indoors. This keeps the air humid and moist, which helps protect the seeds from loss of water.
- They can be used to cover the seedling tray after it’s filled with soil, in order to keep humidity high until the first few leaves have sprouted (the “first true leaves”). Learn more about this process here.
- If you have a humidity dome, use them to help create a mini greenhouse effect inside your propagation tray—just place plastic bags over the entire humidity dome setup while they’re germinating.
Follow these steps and your seeds will grow.
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