Question about starting seeds with capillary matting

home_grown · February 12, 2012

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience, good or bad, starting seeds using capillary matting. I'm thinking about trying dense planting with 50 cell plugs like nctomatoman talks about but, instead of just the plug flats, I'm thinking of setting them over Permanest trays (which I know are bigger than standard flats, which would make them easier to water, I think) with humidity grids and capillary matting. Does anyone think this would be a good way for me to start my seeds??? It's been a couple of years since I've started any and I'm kind of afraid I might drown the poor little things if I set the plug flats directly into 1020s to keep my table dry. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

frankkj · February 13, 2012

I used the capillary mat setup that one of the garden supply companys used to sell. Problem I found was the the roots of the seedling grew into the mat if left too long. I seem to remember that other than that, it worked fairly well.

Frank

Defiant20 · February 13, 2012

I germinated mine without the capillary mat as I was using a heat mat to speed up the germination. I then added the capillary mat and put them under the fluorescent lights after that. That worked well for me last year also, I didn't have to worry about them drying out, just keeping the reservoir full.

Brian

February 12, 2012	#1
home_grown Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nevada Posts: 8	Question about starting seeds with capillary matting I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience, good or bad, starting seeds using capillary matting. I'm thinking about trying dense planting with 50 cell plugs like nctomatoman talks about but, instead of just the plug flats, I'm thinking of setting them over Permanest trays (which I know are bigger than standard flats, which would make them easier to water, I think) with humidity grids and capillary matting. Does anyone think this would be a good way for me to start my seeds??? It's been a couple of years since I've started any and I'm kind of afraid I might drown the poor little things if I set the plug flats directly into 1020s to keep my table dry. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

February 13, 2012	#2
frankkj Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 90	I used the capillary mat setup that one of the garden supply companys used to sell. Problem I found was the the roots of the seedling grew into the mat if left too long. I seem to remember that other than that, it worked fairly well. Frank __________________ Old and Wise? Or maybe just getting old?

February 13, 2012	#3
Defiant20 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 44	I germinated mine without the capillary mat as I was using a heat mat to speed up the germination. I then added the capillary mat and put them under the fluorescent lights after that. That worked well for me last year also, I didn't have to worry about them drying out, just keeping the reservoir full. Brian