Follow6 Common Indoor Seed Planting Mistakes
While the motivation for indoor gardening is to encourage healthy eating and saving money, many beginners do not know how to care for their seeds correctly.
Undoubtedly, planting them is easy. It is in keeping them alive that tests the planting skills of many. Below, I will show you common mistakes made by beginners and their possible solutions.
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Failure to Label Seeds
The most common mistake that many beginners make is not labeling their seeds when they plant them. Unbeknown to many, the minute you have finished planting your seeds, it only takes a few minutes for you to step away from them. More often than not, on your return you realize that you have absolutely no idea what you planted in each container.
Always label your seeds. You can either buy the labels or improvise with popsicle sticks or clothes pegs. Using a permanent marker, write clearly the name of each plant, planting date, germination period, the source of the seeds and any other information that you wish to include.
Know Your Seed Source
One of the main reasons why people start a home garden is to improve on their health through healthy eating. To make sure that your seeds are healthy, purchase organic, GMO free seeds. They have the potential to germinate so make sure that you buy them from reliable and certified seed suppliers. The 3 most reputable seed companies in the USA are; Seedsnow.com, Botanical Interests and Seed Savers Exchange.
Lack of Sunlight
In general, young plants and seeds need sufficient amounts of sunlight and warmth to germinate and grow. If you plant them indoors, it is important to give them enough sunlight by either planting them against a south-facing window. Here is where they get sufficient amounts of sunlight. You can also invest in an overhead fluorescent lamp under which they receive warmth.
Over or Under-Watering
The best planting conditions is in moist good soil. Too often, beginners have the habit of over-watering them in an attempt to make them grow faster. Others forget to water them altogether. Sometimes they assume that once they have finished planting, the growing will automatically happen. Avoid planting them in wet soil. Make sure that it is moist enough to the touch of your hand. Water them every 4 – 5 days thereafter or when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Failure to Rotate Containers
This is by far the most overlooked aspects of indoor gardening. When you have successfully made your seedlings grow and sprout, the branches of your plants will always begin to stretch towards the source of light. To avoid that, rotate the containers occasionally to make sure that they grow evenly. In addition, you can take them out in the sun when the weather permits.
Overcrowding
When you plant them in a pot, it is always important to keep it simple. Planting too many of them in a pot will make them choke and die. When they start to germinate and have at least 2 leaves on them, begin to space them within 6 inches apart. This is done by uprooting the extra seedlings.
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