What happens in the germinal stage?

Now that you've learned a bit about your homefarm, the first seedlings have emerged. 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's behind the different phases of the plant?
2. When do I see the first seedlings?
3. When should the greenhouse covers be removed?
4. Do the capsule covers stay on?
5. What if fuzz forms on the capsule?
6. What to do if a capsule does not germinate?

 

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1. What's 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 will later become a plant. This phase can be faster or slower and varies depending on the plant.

1.2 Development Phase
The development phase follows the germination phase. In this phase, the seedling begins to become a plant, forming the main shoot from which the first leaves emerge, unfold, and the leaf tips of the next shoots become visible.

1.3 Usage Phase
The usage phase means that from this point (e.g., 30 days), depending on the plant species, individual leaves can already be harvested. The plant has not yet reached its maximum here. Proper harvesting promotes growth. So grab your scissors and enjoy!

1.4 End Phase
In the end, plants sometimes produce substances that make the taste more bitter or can even be unhealthy. Some plants begin to wilt. At this point, you should plant a new seed pod and experience the magic anew.

 

2. When do 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 plant species, but often the first seedlings 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 humidity, temperature, and light to give them an optimal start.

 

3. When should the greenhouse covers be removed?
You can remove the greenhouse covers as soon as the seedling almost touches them. This applies to both normal plants and microgreens. In most cases, you can also refer to the following guidelines: Microgreens after 5 days, lettuce after 5 days, herbs after 8 - 12 days. Another indication is when the greenhouse cover is completely fogged up and drops have already formed, then the greenhouse cover should be removed.

 

4. Do the white capsule covers stay on the honeycomb baskets?
Throughout the entire cultivation process, you should leave the white cover of the plant capsules on. It concentrates light on the seeds and at the same time prevents excess light on the outer areas of the capsule. This effectively helps to prevent the formation of algae on the plant capsule.

 

5. What do I do if fuzz forms on the capsule?
Don't worry if you discover light fuzz on your plants – these are often harmless root hairs or signs of healthy growth. If it's gray or brownish mycelium, it could be mold, often caused by ungerminated seeds. In this case: Carefully rinse the capsule under water, but make sure no seeds are flushed out of the capsule. Also, remove any moldy seeds with tweezers and observe the development. If the mold infestation is too severe or the plant is damaged, you unfortunately have to replace the plant and capsule.

 

6. What do I do if a capsule does not germinate?
We ensure that we only use seeds with the highest germination rates, but ultimately it's nature, so it can happen that seeds don't germinate. Therefore, give your plant capsules enough time to develop seedlings. If a capsule does not germinate, do not hesitate to contact our support so that we can find a solution together.

 

Next, we'll discuss information about your plants' first harvest. For more details, take a look at our article "First Harvest".

If you have any questions or specific concerns, you can always contact our support (happy@urbanhive.de).