seedlings emerging (Lee Poulsen)

Hannon othonna@gmail.com
Fri, 10 Jan 2020 10:27:53 PST
I'm glad Lee could provide a concrete example of seeds sprouting and
growing better when sown in smaller pots. I've experienced this also, and
as a result sow almost everything in 3" (6cm) pots. For the record, my seed
mix is peat, sand and perlite (NOT pumice) in roughly 4:4:1 proportion.
Seedlings sit in these pots for 2-3 seasons before being broken up.

The most significant factors here are probably soil temperature and
moisture. A larger soil volume stays wet and cold longer, and in a given
period of time the soil will dry (= aerate) less often, with less frequent
watering needed. Plants in containers are usually at their peak when
pot-bound and in need of relatively frequent watering. Something similar
applies to seeds and seedlings, which have a keen sense of their
surroundings-- they are discouraged when too wet or too dry.

Sometimes concern about deep-seated bulbs (more often corms) is overstated
and large pots are used. A *deeper *pot is OK but pots that are deeper *and
*wider can have excess volume overall that is deleterious.

Dylan

*"Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that
our thoughts have any relation to reality at all."* ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

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