Hydroponic Seed Starting

Easier than it Sounds

By Vicki Parsons

You may not know it, but thousands of gardeners across the country will start their seeds hydroponically this spring - and they may not know it either! Peat pots and soilless potting mixtures clearly meet the definition of textbook definition of hydroponics - grown without soil -- even though they don't necessarily meet the high-tech criteria that typically come to mind.

Starting seeds is a great place to try hydroponics. Some mediums, such as peat pots, plugs made with composted bark and coconut fiber, include enough nutrients to give seedlings a kick-start. But even with other mediums like rockwool or Oasis, the seeds themselves generally have enough nutrients to support plants in their early stages until they're transplanted into larger pots or a complete hydroponic system.

Most seed-starting systems need a minimum of equipment - grow lights are recommended in most instances - but simply bottom watering the medium with or without nutrients is a perfectly acceptable alternative to sophisticated systems that automatically supply water and nutrients. At Worm's Way in Tampa, where hydroponic systems are tested and sold, seedlings are started in Rapid Rooters in a simple setup under a high-output florescent light that would easily fit in any kitchen counter or basement.

The Rapid Rooters, says Worm's Way Store Manager Ryan Tenuta, are their favorite seed-starting medium because they're alive, with large populations of the beneficial microbes called Mycorrhizal fungi that colonize the roots, helping plants maximize nutrient uptake and resist disease. And they're very simple to use - the plugs come in trays so gardeners just add seeds and water.


source : hydroponicsearch