Page 2 of Propagation by Worm's Way, Inc.

cozy canopy for your starts give your seedlings a warm moist environment for a strong start the heated germination station increases growing success by providing gentle warmth to the planting bed and controlling humidity under the dome includes waterproof heat mat humidity dome 11 x 22 watertight base tray and 72cell seedling insert instructions are printed on the mat the hot house with heated mat offers the same advantages and features as the heated germination station but its 6.5 humidity dome is well suited for taller seedlings such as tomatoes and peppers hgs300 hh300 heated germination station 30.95 hot house with heated mat 38.95 shm310 propagation fgp300 fgp310 fgp320 start seeds faster start your plants earlier and faster with a bottom-warming fast-gro propagation mat keeping the growing media consistently warm accelerates seed germination and root development in almost all plant varieties the water-resistant propagation mats raise the soil temperature 15-20 degrees above room temperature via an internal thermostat mats are ul-listed and guaranteed by the manufacturer for five years fgp300 fgp310 fgp320 fast-gro propagation mat 3 x 24 20.95 fast-gro propagation mat 11 x 24 28.95 fast-gro propagation mat 22 x 44 67.95 shm320 this one s too hot this one s too cold gardeners using fast-gro propagation mats can now monitor and maintain accurate root-zone temperatures with the matstat electronic thermostat the matstat supports temperatures accurate to 1°f the external probe can measure temps from the mat itself or via the soil by inserting it directly into the medium the matstat accommodates up to two mats not to exceed 300 total watts and also has an overheat alarm to ensure safe operation mat300 matstat 27.95 pre-treatment how you treat certain seeds is often just as important as when and how you plant them for instance soaking seeds overnight in water or a very mild sea kelp solution can help to soften and loosen tough coats and stimulate germination for this technique remove your seeds from the solution once the 24-hour period has expired and plant your seeds immediately thereafter scuffing or nicking the outside of a seed s hard exterior is another pre-treatment to consider particularly on stubborn sprouting seeds to do this very delicately chip each seed coat with light sandpaper or a small knife the wearing down of this outer coat helps ensure germination by exposing the seed embryo to oxygen and moisture a surprising number of seeds also benefit from stratification a cooling off period in the refrigerator some of them include asters black-eyed susans butterfly weed bleeding hearts columbine larkspur lavender purple coneflower snapdragons and pansies just mix your seeds with a dampened mixture of perlite peat or vermiculite place in a plastic baggie and seal keeping it in the refrigerator for four to 12 weeks before planting plants rooted from cuttings also known as clones are the preferred means of propagation by many gardeners particularly if they ve encountered difficulties starting from seed or if they want to be certain the offspring exhibits the identical traits of the parent plant cloning is simple provided only a sharp sterile utensil is used to make the cut cloning solutions gels and powders like olivia s cloning solution rootech gel and clonex cloning solution page 62 are common pretreatment options that help to seal the cut prevent transplant shock and deliver nutrients to encourage rapid root development continued on next page shm350 keep seedlings toasty the seedling heat mat comes in three convenient sizes with lighting and watering instructions printed directly on the mat shm300 shm310 shm320 shm350 seedling heat mat 10 x 20 25.95 seedling heat mat 20 x 20 43.95 seedling heat mat 48 x 20 76.95 seedling heat mat thermostat 40.95 propagation seed and clone success generally speaking the best advice for starting seeds is to follow the growing instructions listed on each seed packet if you don t have the packet it s worth your time to do some quick research on any seeds you re unfamiliar with likewise if you re going to transplant seedlings outdoors you should also confirm the frost date in your area to know when to start different flowers and veggies indoors start with good stock before you do anything keep in mind that the age and quality of your seed stock matters seeds should always be stored away from heat direct sunlight and fluctuating temperatures in dark dry airtight containers in general seeds can last between one and five years with two to three years being the average when using older seed stock always examine it carefully for signs of mold insect infestation or other damage first if you opt to buy new seeds you can maximize your success by choosing varieties which have been bred for insect and disease-resistance it s also a good idea to look for seeds that have been inoculated with active beneficial fungi or bacteria to protect against common plant diseases two common inoculants are mycorrhizal fungi and in the case of many beans and other legumes rhizobia bacteria 60 800-274-9676

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