What is the best way to start seeds? I know you can't start them in dirt as you would normally do, so what do you use. I live in Honolulu so I can run my system year round. I don't want to buy anything more, I don't have the storage space.
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What style of aquaponics are you doing? Media? DWC? If you're doing media based aquaponics, you can just plant the seeds directly into the media, at whatever depth is recommended for the seed (usually about twice as deep as the seed is wide). Other than that, a lot of people use vermicompost (worm castings), coconut coir, vermiculite, or a combination of all three. You can even start your seeds in dirt, then wash them and transplant into your system. I personally either sow directly into media, or start in vermicompost.
I am using volcanic cinders. They are light and about as big as large gravel. I am afraid if I put the seed directly into the cinders they would float away. Strangely enough, dried coconut is hard to find around here. Do you start the plants in vermiculite and jiffy pots? Then plant the whole thing? Or do you start a bunch of them in a pot and take them out and put them in the cinders?
I suggest not to put them straight into the media, not to say that it doesn't work, but the risk you run is exactly what you think. What are you growing? Each plant has its own way of germination. Here is a good web page to start your propagation..
Are you using continuous flow or a flood and drain based system? If it is a flood and drain, then your water line should be rising a few inches below the surface of your media, leaving a couple inches of dry media. That will take care of the seeds not being anchored. I just have a tray of vermicompost with seeds planted in it, like you would a tray of soil. Then you pull out the seedlings and transplant them into your media.
ken harmeyer said:
I am using volcanic cinders. They are light and about as big as large gravel. I am afraid if I put the seed directly into the cinders they would float away. Strangely enough, dried coconut is hard to find around here. Do you start the plants in vermiculite and jiffy pots? Then plant the whole thing? Or do you start a bunch of them in a pot and take them out and put them in the cinders?
I am setting up a raft system and am going to start seeds in vermicastings. I figure that as the vermicastings are washed out of the net pots and into the system, it is a purely organic material that will neither settle out or bog any of the system.
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