Struggling with starting seeds? Learn the seven most common seed starting mistakes and how to avoid them to grow strong, healthy seedlings.
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Starting seeds is one of the most exciting parts about gardening, but it can also be the most frustrating.
If you’ve ever struggled with seeds not sprouting, leggy seedlings, or weak plants that don’t thrive, you’re not alone! May gardeners make the same mistakes when starting seeds, but the good news is – they’re easy to avoid once you know what to watch for.
In this post we’ll go over seven common seed starting mistakes and how to set your plants up for success.
7 Seed Starting Mistakes
1. Not Using the Right Growing Medium
There is no one right growing medium, but there are wrong ones.
Avoid using heavy, course soils and instead use light-airy growing mediums that allow the seedlings to “breathe” and stretch out its roots.
Tip: Use coco choir, seed starting mix or a light potting soil to start your seeds in.
2. Suffocating the Seeds
Seeds need oxygen to “breathe” just like any other living thing.
Some seeds should not be covered at all and should only be sown on the surface of the soil. The seed packet will state how deep to plant the seed.
Tip: Avoid pressing down and compacting the soil on top of the seeds. Cover them lightly with to be sure it has room to “breathe”.
3. Too Much/Too Little Water
Give too much water and you will drown seedlings. Give too little water and the seedlings will shrivel up to nothing.
Using a set up like this where you can bottom water to keep the soil from drying out or getting too waterlogged is recommended.
Tip: Bottom watering will also help prevent annoying and persistent fungus gnats from making a home in the soil.
4. Too Hot/Too Cold
Each seed has its own requirements, and the seed packet will state what the ideal temperature is for germination.
If a seed is too hot or too cold, it will go dormant and won’t germinate.
Tip: You can consider using heat mats to start your seeds if needed, but it is not completely necessary as long as the environment they are growing in is warm enough.
5. Not Providing Adequate Light
Not giving seedlings proper lighting will produce leggy (or even dead) plants.
Seedlings need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to grow and thrive. Place your seedlings in a sunny, southern window where they will receive plenty of direct sun.
Tip: If you don’t have a window with direct sunlight, consider purchasing grow lights to give your plants the proper light they need to grow.
6. Not Thinning the Seedlings
Planting more than one seed per seed cell is great for germination rates, but too many seedlings in one cell will have plants fighting for water and nutrients.
Once they have one set of leaves, thin the seedlings by removing the weaker ones, leaving one healthy seedling per cell.
Tip: Use scissors to snip weaker seedlings at the base of the soil.
7. Not potting up
Seedlings will only survive for so long in their starter trays. As they grow, so do their needs.
Without adequate space the plants health will suffer and will result in stunted plants.
Tip: One way to tell when the plants are ready to pot up is by the roots. Once the roots start poking through the bottom of the trays, it is time to plant them into larger nursery pots.
You’re on your way to setting your seedlings up for success!
Starting seeds successfully comes down to understanding what your plants need and making a few simple adjustments along the way. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll have strong, healthy seedlings ready to thrive in your garden.
Have you made any of these mistakes before? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear your seed starting experiences! If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow gardener.
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More Beginner Gardener Guides
- How to Start Seeds Indoors: A Beginner’s Guide to Successful Growth
- 6 Ways to Start Seeds for the Garden
Happy planting & until next time –
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