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Heat Map and seed germination

callumwillamcallumwillam Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello all! 

I’m completely new to growing and starting of plant from seeds. I’m currently having a nightmare trying to germinate Chilli and sweet pepper seeds.

I’m currently using a normal propagator with a dome lid and vents, underneath a heat map. 

I first tried with Cilli seeds Red i around 5 weeks ago, they germinated but unfortunately they became very laggy and eventually withered. However, no sweet peppers have germinated and I’ve done two batches two weeks apart, and still nothing in 5 weeks. 

Same with sunflowers which they sprouted almost in 2 days but died extremely quick, however I done two other sunflower seeds in just a greenhouse with no additional heat and germinated better and more healthily. 

I quickly found out about “Damping off” which I rectified and change soil etc. but I’m still facing these issues. 

My propagator gets extremely humid where water is just running from the top, however the soil still dries out too quickly, my soil is Grey, has a swampy sort of smell to it. The annoying thing I’m facing is, if I keep watering it will damp off, but there still a lot of water on the dome lid, this then causes the soil to go really hard and the water then just piles on the surface. 

I currently use a seed mix (purchased from The Range) with perlite and Blood fish and bone mix which I followed on YouTube).
I’ve successfully germinated easy veg and herbs, but I really can’t crack pepper and chilli :/ 

Am I just trying to hard? 

Thank you. 

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    You shouldn't need to mix anything with seed compost, it's made for seeds, especially not blood, fish and bone. Fertiliser is a lot later. As soon as they germinate open the vents. Have you got water retaining mats under the seed trays in the propagator? Wilko, among other places, sells them. They help keep compost moist and stop it drying out. Could they be too hot on the heat mat? When seedlings go leggy it can mean there isn't enough light.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • callumwillamcallumwillam Posts: 4
    Thank you for the reply. 

    I’m guessing the Fertiliser is what’s causing the smell? 

    No nothing under the tray, is this capillary matting? Should I still water the soil or just wet the mat? 

    I currently just use the lowest heat rating on the heat mat. I found that when I used the thermostat it switches off and the soil goes really cold, so now I just leave it on the lowest temp on 24/7 until/of they sprout. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Yes capillary matting, brain went on strike  :) Use damp compost to sow into then water the matting. I sometimes use a spray bottle as watering cans can be too fierce.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • callumwillamcallumwillam Posts: 4
    Thanks for the advice, I’ll make another trip to Wilko and pick a mat up! Should I not be to concerned if there’s a huge build up of water droplets on the dome lid? 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I'd wipe them off, they can cause damping off of seedlings. Are the vents open or shut? I shut them when I sow then open them at germination.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • callumwillamcallumwillam Posts: 4
    Hi Lizzie, 

    I keep them shut until they germinated, I open the lid to wipe off any real excess droplets. Is that ok? 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Why not try and sow some peppers in a pot on your kitchen table /worktop.
    Ive never used a propagator and never wanted one,  my peppers were up in about a week. Still time if your quick. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Whereabouts are you @callumwillam? 5 weeks ago, here where I am, the light levels were still very low. That doesn't help. There's a big difference between north and south in that regard - easier later in the year when it's the other way round. 

    I agree though - just try doing some without any extra help, on a warm windowsill. A lid on, and then uncover when seeds are through. It's very easy for too much moisture to accumulate, which then encourages the compost to stay wet, and then the seedlings can't cope. I barely have to water any seed at this stage, and certainly not when it's covered.
    My kitchen isn't very warm, even though it's south facing,  so the compost doesn't dry out very quickly anyway. You just have to be careful of overwatering them too, so avoid a watering can , as @Busy-Lizzie says    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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