Propagating seedlings in the fish tank

[M Cosmo]

As you may know I have been heating my fish tank in the greenhouse.   I have floated the seedlings trays in the heated fish tank.  The fish tank stays about 70 degs. The greenhouse can go down to the low thirties. At just 3 days after I planted the seedlings they have sprouted.  They float seedling trays will oversaturate if I float them right in the tank.  I put a 1 inch styrofoam sheet underneath the trays.  This raises them up enough to stay warm but not get waterlogged. You can see the red heater in the back of the photos.  I water them with a light spray from the hose.  

 

[Michelle Silva]

Hey Cosmo, this looks great, thanks for sharing..Do you ever have trouble with coconut coir ( or whatever media it is) getting in the tanks?

[Michelle Silva]

seems like a bunch of seeds in each cell, are you doing that for a reason?

[M Cosmo]

No problems but there is some in my tanks.  It doesn't seem to cause any problems. 

 

[Sahib Punjabi]

I have also been experimenting with propagating seedlings in these float trays...where I was lacking was :

No water heated & no 1 inch styrofoam sheet underneath the trays. I will certainly try this. Thanks for sharing :-)

 

 

[M Cosmo]

These were not pelleted seeds.  They are last of last years greens seeds.  Kale and Lettuce.  I thought I would just see if they would germinate and thin them out. They did a lot better than I thought.  I usually only put one or two seeds per cell. I give away some of the seedlings to Ron.  

Michelle Silva said:

seems like a bunch of seeds in each cell, are you doing that for a reason?

[Sahib Punjabi]

Mr. Cosmo,

I like the heavy seedling density. I have just recently experimented growing Fenugreek in these floating trays and am having some success. I will post a photo later. I am also experimenting in a similar manner with Cilantro and may try some micro salad next :-)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenugreek

[Michelle Silva]

Oh I see..I often don't use pelleted seeds. A little trickier but I don't mind them.

Michael Cosmo said:

These were not pelleted seeds.  They are last of last years greens seeds.  Kale and Lettuce.  I thought I would just see if they would germinate and thin them out. They did a lot better than I thought.  I usually only put one or two seeds per cell. I give away some of the seedlings to Ron.  

Michelle Silva said:

seems like a bunch of seeds in each cell, are you doing that for a reason?