Seedling Substrate Selection And Filling

Choice of substrate:

A good matrix should have the following characteristics: ideal water capacity; good drainage and air capacity; easy to rewet; good porosity and uniform void distribution; stable vascular bundle structure with less dust; appropriate pH value , 5.5-6.5; Contains appropriate nutrients to ensure the nutrient requirements of the cotyledons before expansion; extremely low salt level, EC is less than 0.7 (1:2 dilution method); the size of the substrate particles is uniform; no plant diseases, insects and weed ; The quality of each batch of matrix remains the same.

The effect of vermiculite with smaller particles is to increase the water retention capacity of the matrix rather than the porosity. To increase the drainage and air permeability of the peat matrix, choose to add perlite instead of vermiculite. On the contrary, if you want to increase the water holding capacity, you can add a certain amount of small particles of vermiculite.

Pay attention to the following points: Although imported peat is an ideal source of raw materials for seedling raising substrates, because of its high price and non-renewable resources, Western countries have gradually switched to processed coconut shell pulverized materials as the source of substrates, and the effect is equally good. They call it coconut peat.

1. The matrix should be fully moistened before filling, generally 60% is appropriate. Hold the matrix with your hand. If there is no water squeezed out, it will form a clump when you loosen your hand, but if you touch it lightly, the matrix will disperse. If it is too dry, the substrate will collapse after watering in the future, resulting in poor ventilation and poor root development.

2. The filling degree of each hole should be uniform, otherwise the hole with less base mass will dry faster, which will make the moisture management unbalanced;

3. The hole matrix for sowing large seeds such as melons should not be too full;

4. Avoid squeezing the substrate, otherwise it will affect the air permeability and drying speed of the substrate, and because the substrate is too tight, the seeds will rebound, resulting in different depths when the seeds germinate.