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Re: Distribution of Fine Seeds for Germination

Hi Nan,

Athough I have planted specks of greenery in the past, I prefer to let tiny
seedlings stay in the pot until they are big enough to handle, assuming
they have room to grow and are not crowing each other. Then, I never use
anything besides my fingers when transplanting and touch only the leaves,
never the stem. I use the same soilless mix for germinating and the first
trasplanting
and always use pots, not flats as I can't seem to manage flats. I try to
get a cube of soil along with the seedling, but if I can't, I pick the
seedling
up by a leaf, then poke a hole in the soil with my finger and put the
seedling into it deeper than it originally grew - up to the seed leaves.
Then I add whatever more soil it needs, and knock (knock is a big word
here, it really is a much gentler process) the sides of the pot to settle
the soil around the roots.  I never use my fingers or thumb to push the
soil around the stem or roots.  Then I bottom water with about 1/4 strength
liquid fertilizer, and set the transplants into a north window for a day or
two to let them recover before settling them under lights.

Good luck,
Gail

At 10:18 PM 3/17/97 -0800, Nan Sterman wrote:
>Gail and Duncan
>
>I understand Gail's method, and I've often used fine sand myself.  My
>problem comes with transplanting -- how do you know when those small
>seedlings are ready to transplant.  And how do you actually do the
>
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>Nan Sterman                                    Design For Learning
>nsterman@ucsd.edu                      205 Cole Ranch Road
>619 634-2902                                  Olivenhain, CA 92024
>619 634-2957 (fax)
>
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