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Electrical propagators
Swedboy
Posts: 394
Bought a cheap propagators last week and wonder should the vents be opened to let the condensation out or should I wait until the seeds germinate before venting it. It has quite a lot of condensation inside.
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yes, let it breathe on warm days (and make sure it doesn't get too warm) - just make sure the top of the compost doesn't dry.
Last edited: 09 April 2017 15:38:16
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Ta. Will do that.
Damn it seems like the whole thing got to damp and moist so all pots are covered in a light mould so have to bin it all i guess.
I remove the lid, tap the water out and wipe it dry with paper towel every morning Swedboy. Helps to curb the build up of condensation which can lead to damping off.
Are your pots plastic or fibre? I've found fibre pots are prone to go mouldy on the outside in damp conditions.
Maybe you could save some of your seedlings by transplanting them into fresh pots and compost.
I'm using fiber pots as I thought I'd be able to get more plants in. The mould is on the surface of the pots but none of the seeds has germinated yet. Planted them on Saturday.
Would just removing the white fluff on top save the seeds below?
If you still have seed left in the packets I'd recommend starting again.
I don't know what you're growing but if it's tiny seeds with a light covering of compost you risk scraping them off along with the mould.
I've been using small plastic containers in my heated prop, recycling old plug plant trays and plastic trays from supermarket bits like mangetout. Once they've sprouted, my seedlings are moved out of the propagator and potted into proper pots.
There are photos of my progress on this years seedlings thread, others use yoghurt pots, loo rolls, allsorts of containers ?
Good luck with yours ?
I normally use old plastic pots and containers when I've been using my radiator to propagate seeds but thought this time i try something new. I've even used old (washed) plastic meat trains as saucers for the plants!
Most of the seeds are just covered (tomtoes and cucamelons) will try to scrape the mould off and wait. Anything that sprouts will be moved out asap.
Yes the meat trays are just the right size and depth for seedlings I use those too, As for electric propagators I cover my seed trays with vermiculite which seems to cut surface mold down, I also use a soil thermometer and can unplug the propargator when the soil gets too hot, that way the temperature stays between 20-30 degs.
Last edited: 10 April 2017 19:58:47