🌱 The successful start of your grow – germination of the seeds

Before your smartSOIL becomes a green jungle, it all starts with a tiny, inconspicuous seed. Germination is the first crucial phase – and this is where you lay the foundation for the entire grow. If you are sloppy, you will get weak plants. If you work carefully, you will harvest strong beauties.

🌊 Pre-germinate seeds

The simplest method is to place the seeds in a glass of water overnight.

• After about 24 hours you will see the embryo detach from the shell.
• Important: Not all seeds germinate – and not all seedlings grow strong later.

👉 That’s why the golden rule is to germinate twice as many seeds.
Are you planning four plants? Then germinate eight seeds. This will ensure that you have enough strong young plants and can weed out the weak ones.

Alternative: The handkerchief method. Place the seeds between two damp cloths and wait until the first root becomes visible.

🪴Planting

As soon as the first roots are visible, it’s off into the ground.

• Use one plastic cup or small seed pot per seed .
• Fill it with light potting compost (airy, low in nutrients).
• Press a hole with your little finger – maximum 0.5 cm deep.
• Carefully place the seeds with the root facing downwards.
• Cover with soil and press down lightly.

👉 Pro tip: Use transparent perforated plastic hoods to keep the humidity high.

💧 Care during the germination phase

• Watering: A little water every day – the substrate should always be slightly moist, but never wet.
• Humidity: Above 90 % is optimal. Plastic hoods help, as does a humidifier.
• Temperature: Warm and constant, between 25-30 °C.
• Lighting: The lamp is already running, but not yet at full power. Set the timer directly to 18 hours of light / 6 hours of darkness – this rhythm applies for the entire vegetative phase.

With our propagator , growing seedlings and cuttings is child’s play!

🌱 Waiting for the first leaves

After 1.5 to 3 weeks, the seedlings will form their first complete set of leaves. Only then are they strong enough to move into the prepared smartTRAY or fabric pots .

👉 Important: Sort out weak plants consistently now. Weak plants at the beginning will not bring joy in the end.

🧾 Brief summary

Pre-germinate double the amount of seeds , plant only the strongest ones in potting compost, keep the climate and humidity stable – and wait until the first real leaves grow before repotting.