Content
The imagination of our gardeners is truly inexhaustible. The unusual method of growing seedlings without soil is recognized by gardeners as successful and effective. The method is interesting and has a number of advantages:
- Seedlings do not require much space;
- Maintenance is kept to a minimum;
- The disease of seedlings with a bunch of dangerous diseases, especially blackleg, is excluded, since there is no contact with the soil;
- The germination of seeds increases, which is especially important if the seeds are not cheap;
- The seedlings develop a powerful root system;
- Plants grow faster and begin to bear fruit 10 days earlier;
- The technology is simple and does not require preparatory measures or large financial investments. Available materials are used;
- At the initial stage, no soil is required.
Try and get pepper seedlings in a new way.
1 way
You will need: toilet paper, plastic film, a plastic glass or a cut plastic bottle.
Take the cheapest toilet paper, unscented, undyed. Disposable paper napkins will also work, but paper is undoubtedly much more convenient to use.
Take it step by step.
- Prepare plastic strips, cut them the same width as toilet paper (about 10 cm). The length will depend on the number of seeds taken for seedlings (approximately 50 cm). Lay out the strips on the table.
- Place toilet paper on top of the film in 2-3 layers if the paper is too thin.
- Moisten the toilet paper.It is best to spray with a spray bottle.
- Stepping back 2 cm from the top edge of the toilet paper, sow the pepper seeds at intervals of about 3 cm. This is done so that in the future the root system of neighboring plants does not get confused, and when planting in the ground, you can easily separate the seedlings without injuring the roots .
- Place a layer of toilet paper on top of the seeds and moisten. Then a layer of polyethylene.
- The entire multilayer structure is rolled into a loose roll.
- Next, tighten the roll with a rubber band so that it does not unwind and place it in a plastic glass or other suitable container so that the seeds are on top. Fill the container with water about halfway, so that the water does not reach the seeds.
- Place the glass with the seeds on the window. At this stage, the seeds are provided with moisture, which will rise through the toilet paper, air and nutrients that nature itself put into the seeds.
- After 10 days, expect the first shoots to appear.
- Care for pepper seedlings is minimal. Make sure there is always fresh water in the glass. When the first shoots appear, they should be fed with fertilizers based on humic acids. The next feeding should be done no earlier than the appearance of the first true leaf.
When the plant grows 2 true leaves, it will be ready to be transplanted into the ground. To transplant pepper seedlings, prepare the soil and separate containers. Remove the roll from the glass, place it on the table and unwrap it. Carefully remove the top layer of plastic wrap. Separate the plant and plant in a container with soil. The paper that has separated along with the roots does not interfere with the plant at all.
If you did the sowing correctly, the plants will quickly take root, will not stretch out, and will be strong, with a thick stem and wide leaves. Stocky, healthy pepper seedlings are the key to a future rich harvest.
Regular care of pepper seedlings is then carried out in the usual way.
Watch the video of planting pepper seedlings without soil:
Method 2
Method 2 growing pepper seedlings on toilet paper is somewhat different from the first, but it is also economical, simple, and will not require any effort or close attention from you.
You will need: toilet paper, container for seedlings, cling film.
Any container will do: you can use plastic containers in which semi-finished products or confectionery products are packaged; even a deep plate will do. The cheapest option is to use a plastic bottle. Cut it lengthwise, but not all the way. Thus, you will receive a mini-greenhouse with a finished top. The bottle must be transparent. When using other containers, the top will have to be covered with cling film if they do not have a lid.
Take it step by step.
- Place several layers of toilet paper at the bottom of the container and moisten them.
- Sow the pepper seeds, keeping a distance between them of no more than 4 cm. For convenience, use tweezers.
- Cover the container with film, and the bottle can be placed in a bag and tied. Place the container on the windowsill or under additional lighting lamps after the sprouts appear.
- In a week, the seeds will hatch and begin to grow.
Experienced gardeners remove the protective film already 2–3 days after pecking the seeds so that the pepper seedlings are hardened. You can start the hardening process gradually: opening the containers slightly for 1 - 2 hours, increasing the time each time, and then opening them completely.
Your task at this stage is to prevent the seeds from drying out. They should always be moisturized. Usually there is enough moisture, since the water evaporates and settles in the form of condensation, again moistening the seedlings.
As soon as the seedlings appear, you should fertilize them, since the nutrients that were in the seed are spent, and there are not enough nutrients in the water.
Use humic fertilizers. You only need 2 drops per 250 g of water. First, prepare a solution with fertilizers, and then add them to the greenhouse, preferably spray them with a spray bottle.
The second feeding will be required when the cotyledon leaves appear, and the third when a pair of true leaves appear.
At this stage, the pepper seedlings are ready for transplanting into the ground. Prepare containers for seedlings and soil. Separate the plant and move it to a new growing location. The paper does not need to be completely separated from the roots; it will not interfere. You can cover the seedlings with glass or film. Although this is usually not required if you have previously started the process of hardening off the pepper seedlings.
Further care of the plants is exactly the same as for ordinary pepper seedlings.
How to grow seedlings using a landless method in a plastic bottle, watch the video:
Conclusion
Try growing pepper seedlings using new methods.The soilless method is simple, suitable for beginning gardeners, and increases the germination of seeds, even low-quality ones or those with a long shelf life.
