What happens during the germination phase?
Now that you've learned a few things about your homefarm, the time has come for the first seedlings to appear. In this phase you should pay attention to the following points so that your seedlings grow into strong plants.
The following topics are described briefly and precisely here:
1. What is behind the different phases of the plant?
2. When will I see the first seedlings?
3. When should the propagation domes be removed?
4. Do the capsule covers stay on?
5. What if fuzz forms on the capsule?
6. What to do if a capsule doesn't germinate?
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1. What is behind the different phases of the plant?
1.1 Germination phase
The magic of nature begins. The moment the seeds absorb moisture, the germination process starts. This creates the seedling that later becomes the plant. This phase can run faster or slower and varies from plant to plant
1.2 Development phase
The development phase follows the seedling stage. In this phase the seedling starts to become a plant: the main shoot forms, the first leaves emerge and unfold and the leaf tips of the next shoots become visible
1.3 Use phase
The use phase means that from this point on (e.g. 30 days), depending on the type of plant, individual leaves can already be harvested. The plant has not yet reached its maximum here. Harvesting correctly encourages growth. So grab your scissors and enjoy
1.4 Final phase
Towards the end, plants sometimes form substances that make the taste more bitter or can even be unhealthy. Some plants start to wilt. At this point at the latest you should insert a new plant capsule and experience the magic all over again.
2. When will I see the first seedlings?
You can usually see the first seedlings in your homefarm just a few days after inserting the plant capsules. The exact time until germination varies depending on the type of plant, but the first seedlings often appear within 3 to 7 days. This early phase is crucial for the development of your plants, so it is important to ensure the right conditions such as moisture, temperature and light to give them an optimal start.
3. When should the propagation domes be removed?
You can remove the propagation domes as soon as the seedling almost touches them. This applies to normal plants as well as microgreens. In most cases you can also go by the following guide values: microgreens after 5 days, lettuces after 5 days, herbs after 8 - 12 days. Another indication is when the propagation dome is completely fogged up and droplets are already forming – then the dome should be removed.
4. Do the white capsule covers stay on the honeycomb baskets?
You should leave the white cover of the plant capsules on throughout the entire growing process. It concentrates the light on the seeds and at the same time prevents unnecessary light on the outer areas of the capsule. This effectively helps avoid algae forming on the plant capsule.
5. What do I do if fuzz forms on the capsule?
Don't worry if you spot a light fuzz on your plants – these are often harmless root hairs or a sign of healthy growth. With grey or brownish mycelium it could be mould, often caused by ungerminated seeds. In that case: carefully wash the capsule under water, but make sure no seeds are rinsed out of the capsule. Also remove any seeds that may have gone mouldy with tweezers and watch how things develop. If the mould is too severe or the plant is damaged, you unfortunately have to replace the plant together with the capsule.
6. What do I do if a capsule doesn't germinate?
With our seeds we make sure to use only the highest germination rates, but in the end it is still nature, so it can happen that seeds don't germinate. So give your plant capsules enough time to develop seedlings. If a capsule doesn't germinate, don't hesitate to contact our support team so we can find a solution together.
Next up is information on the first harvest of your plants. For more details, take a look at our article "First harvest".
If anything is unclear or you have specific questions, you can contact our support team at any time (happy@urbanhive.de).