How to grow seedlings without soil

There are a variety of methods for growing seedlings. Gardeners typically use the simplest and most popular ones, which have already been tested by other gardeners.

These methods are suitable for almost all country house owners. But how can you grow high-quality seedlings in an apartment? After all, the daylight hours are too short to nourish the plants, and they will almost certainly grow weak and unsuited to life.

Two ways to plant seedlings without soil

This technology is suitable for absolutely all crops. Moreover, its main advantage is that it preserves the tenderness of plant roots, leaving them virtually untouched.

Due to this factor, after transplanting to open ground, the plant adapts to the new conditions much more quickly and takes root better. Moreover, growing seedlings without soil doesn't require any complex tools or extensive gardening knowledge.

To plant seeds, you can use almost any materials and containers you can find around the house. Let's look at two of the most popular methods for growing plants without soil.

Method 1: Growing crops in plastic

Small plastic containers are an excellent solution for growing strong plants. The only requirement is that the container must have a lid. These containers can be found at any hardware store; they're used for storing various foods.

If you don't have such a container, no problem; a regular clear plastic mineral water bottle will do. Cut a slit in it, dividing it into two halves. Now let's look at planting in more detail.

1. Place several layers of toilet paper (about 10) or paper napkins on the bottom of the container, and then moisten them with water so that it is well absorbed;
2. Next, the seeds are evenly scattered throughout the container and pressed down. They should be kept at a distance from each other;
3. Now the plants will develop their life systems without soil. Believe me, these conditions will be enough for them;
4. The container must be covered with a lid (if you are using a bottle, cover it with the other half) to create a “mini-greenhouse”;
5. Now our “garden” can be wrapped in a plastic bag, tied securely, and left in some warm place.

There's no need to water these seedlings. The bag will provide warmth, causing condensation to form. This condensation will act as the "source" of moisture for the crop.

If all these conditions are met, you can achieve vigorous seedling growth. Once germination occurs, the seedlings can be left until the first leaves appear.

Method 2: Germination in sawdust

Wood sawdust is another popular method for growing high-quality seedlings. Soilless seedling growth in sawdust is just as simple as the previous method.

Before planting, the sawdust should be disinfected by pouring boiling water over it and allowing it to swell. This also helps the wood retain moisture better. Then, fill the seedling container with sawdust to a depth of about 14 cm.

The seeds should be planted at a depth of no more than 2 cm, maintaining a uniform grid. Now the container can be placed in a warm place, and the sawdust should be regularly moistened as soon as it begins to dry out.

Once the plant sprouts 2-3 small leaves, it should be transplanted into a separate pot or special seedling containers. This method also protects the plants and prevents them from being damaged during transplantation, as the sawdust does not adhere very tightly to the roots.

Advantages of the methods

The use of soilless seedling germination technologies is advantageous because:

• You can save a lot of space by keeping the seedlings on the windowsill. For example, to germinate 100 seeds, you can use just one 20 cm diameter container;
• The plant will not suffer from blackleg, as this disease only parasitizes the soil. This will significantly improve the quality and quantity of plants for further cultivation;
• Plant care is significantly simplified. It only requires regular watering and adequate warmth;
• The seedlings will develop in stages and can be pricked out as they grow.

Using a soilless method for growing seedlings, you can get a decent harvest in the future, as the plants will better adapt to new conditions. This will allow you to grow vigorous bushes that are resistant to many diseases.

Peculiarities

When growing plants without soil, there are some subtleties to consider. The most important thing is to time the plantings correctly. That is, it's better to sow the seedlings later, not earlier.

If you neglect the timing, the plants may become too large, stretching upward, and their leaves will turn pale. Therefore, the later you sow them, the better, and the greater the chance of getting quick and strong seedlings.

Reviews

Vitaly Nikolaevich, 28 years old, Kazan

"I never thought anyone would germinate plants for indoor planting. It's quite an interesting resource, and I really liked the idea. I'll definitely give it a go. I'm not sure what exactly to try yet, though."

 

Galina Yurievna, 40 years old, Kuznetsk

"I've only used the soilless method a couple of times, during severe cold spells. What can I say, the methods are effective – I grew about a hundred red pepper seedlings from three 5-liter bottles. Then I transplanted them into pots, and then into the garden."The roots were, in fact, practically unharmed—one could say that out of 100 plants, about 80 survived. The harvest was also large. The method works, and I've personally tested it!"