With the time spent meticulously seeding each plug not to mention the space constraints in any seedling set-up, it’s imperative that you get enough healthy seedlings out of each tray to stay on schedule.

Start Your Seeds Off Right in a Germination Chamber
Start Your Seeds Off Right in a Germination Chamber

Article from | ZipGrow

Germinating seeds can be a real hassle. When running a commercial grow operation you need to transplant hundreds, or even thousands, of seedlings per week, which can quickly become a drain on labour, and therefore costs and revenue. 

Having poor germination can be a serious problem. With the time spent meticulously seeding each plug (unless you’ve got an auto-seeder) not to mention the space constraints in any seedling set-up, it’s imperative that you get enough healthy seedlings out of each tray to stay on schedule. Any tools that can give an advantage when it comes to seeding and germinating are more than welcome. 

Seeds like to be kept uniformly moist but not drenched, otherwise you run the risk of growing mold instead of seedlings. On the other hand, if they dry out too much you can kill them as well. Trying to strike this balance can be a challenge when you’ve got a list of daily chores and tasks to stay on top of. Using a germination chamber replaces the need for humidification domes over individual trays; it also provides better air flow, more constant humidity and temperature controls.

You can think of the germination chamber as a mini-farm nested inside of the larger farm layout. The idea behind controlled environment agriculture is to maximize outputs by seizing the reins and manipulating the environment to make it more conducive to healthy plant growth.

If your plants and seeds have different requirements and you are in a position to cater to both of them individually then why would you not?

Because the climate in the general farm is kept a little colder and a little less humid than is required for proper germination; germinating seeds can be a real struggle if you only have one environment to work with. As much as the bulk of the hydroponic farmer’s work is going to be focused on more mature crops, it is important to remember that healthy crops start out as healthy seedlings. Without the latter, you’ll be redoubling your efforts on almost every aspect of farm work. 
 

Three Doors Down

In Cornwall, Ontario, we have a 1,0002 research and development farm and we use a germination chamber as the first step in starting our seedlings. We use a GC12 by Phytotronic for a few reasons.

Firstly, it’s very reliable; when used properly we tend to get higher than 95 percent germination rate.

Second, it’s easy. It really is a matter of ‘set it and forget it’. So long as the heater and fans are functioning it’s a breeze. There is an inlet and float switch so the unit stays topped up with life-giving water as long as you keep it plumbed in. If you do not have the facilities to have it plumbed in you can also just fill it up about once a month.

There are 12 shelves inside, each able to comfortably hold four 200-plug seedling trays, creating a total capacity of 48 trays or 9,600 seeds. The shelves are easily removable so when it comes to clean the interior of the unit there are no problems. 

After preparing the seedling trays and checking the water level in the reservoir the chamber is set to 77°F and then closed for 24 hours. The perfectly moderated environment makes such a difference in getting the seed-husks to crack open. 

Once the seeds have germinated it is simple to transition the plug trays to seedling carts to let everything sprout before transplanting the plugs straight into ZipGrow™ Towers

 

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AgriTechTomorrow

Comments (0)

This post does not have any comments. Be the first to leave a comment below.


Post A Comment

You must be logged in before you can post a comment. Login now.

Featured Product

XLamp® XP-L Photo Red S Line LEDs Set a New Standard in Horticulture Lighting

XLamp® XP-L Photo Red S Line LEDs Set a New Standard in Horticulture Lighting

Designed to deliver exceptional efficiency, unmatched durability and seamless system upgrades, XLamp XP-L Photo Red S Line LEDs are optimized for high-performance applications in greenhouses, vertical farms and other large-scale growing operations. These LEDs achieve an impressive typical Wall-Plug Efficiency (WPE) of 83.5% at 700 mA and 25°C. This efficiency allows horticulture luminaires to deliver the same output with less power consumption, translating into lower operating costs and optimized designs that use up to 35% fewer Photo Red LEDs. Cree LED's XP-L Photo Red LEDs, built with advanced S Line technology, set a new standard in sulfur and corrosion resistance, offering an extended lifespan and reliable performance. These features significantly reduce maintenance costs while providing consistent, high-quality lighting throughout critical growth cycles. Additionally, a consistent platform offers easy integration with a drop-in replacement for existing XP-based luminaires eliminating the need for reengineering due to footprint changes. With the same 3.45 x 3.45 mm XP footprint as the XP-G3 Photo Red S Line LEDs, the XP-L Photo Red ensures a hassle-free upgrade for existing designs.