Avoid common mistakes when growing seedlings, or risk developing mould, stopping them thriving this spring
Avoid common mistakes when growing seedlings, or risk developing mould, stopping them thriving this spring(Image: Getty Images)
As the temperatures begin to rise, it’s the perfect time to take care of any of your homegrown plants. Growing seeds from scratch can be incredibly fulfilling, but if you’re not careful, they can falter before they thrive.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish shared his two easy fixes for any gardeners growing seedlings from scratch, and in turn, not developing mould. A very common problem many gardeners face is the chance of developing mould or fungus on their young seedlings.
This can be resolved with a few simple changes to the way in which the seeds are watered and cared for.
Consider soaking the seeds in water before planting in soil, to avoid the soil becoming too moist(Image: Getty Images)
Ish said: “Starting your own seedlings can be incredibly rewarding, and if you do it right, you’ll have amazing plants, but chances are you might be making this odd mistake where it goes a little bit on the mouldy side, and don’t worry it’s incredibly common.
“Because, let’s face it, when you’re starting your seeds, what do you need? You need a nice warm temperature, fairly humid, and a good amount of moisture in the soil, and that’s exactly what it needs.
“At the same time, that is an absolute breeding ground for things like mould and fungi, too, so it can look a little on the gross side.”
The gardening expert explained that the problem is actually incredibly easy to fix, so there’s no reason to fret if you notice mould growing on your seedlings. First thing gardeners should do is “ease up” on the amount of water you’re adding to your seedlings.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
While the soil does need to be moist for the seedlings to thrive, overwatering will make the soil a breeding ground for mould. Ish recommended adding just enough water for the seed to soak it in.
However, if you’re worried about not getting the amount of water quite right, you could also consider soaking the seeds before potting in soil. Simply soak the seeds in some water a day before potting to give them a “kickstart”.
The second issue Ish noted is with propagation. If you cover a small pot tightly to keep all the air in, it creates a humid environment without any proper airflow.
Ish said: “The airflow is what prevents things like mould and fungus from growing, so you want to effectively leave a little bit of a gap in the bag whenever you’re doing this to allow adequate airflow through, and as a result, it shouldn’t go mouldy.
“So combined the two of those and your seeds like absolutely thrive, and they’ll look… a little less gross like that.”
Comments are closed.