Let's figure out the secret of growing high-quality seedlings without soil using toilet paper. Let's learn how to prepare seeds and care for seedlings. We will also analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a method unusual for gardeners.
Toilet paper as a substrate
Toilet paper, having a number of universal qualities, is perfect as a substrate for producing seedlings. It consists of waste paper - gray paper and cellulose - white paper. This composition of the paper stimulates the growth of seedlings; it is easily kept moist at a constant temperature. Disposable handkerchiefs and paper napkins are also used as a substrate for propagating seedlings. This material is soft and tears easily. Thanks to these properties of paper products, picking seedlings takes place without harm to them.
Seedlings on toilet paper
List of vegetable crops grown by this method
This technology for producing seedlings was also used in Soviet times in areas with cold climatic conditions - in the north, in Siberia. This germination method is suitable for seeds of many vegetable crops and flowers:
- salads (watercress, basil, parsley);
- nightshades (peppers, eggplants, tomatoes);
- pumpkins (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins);
- other vegetables (carrots, onions, cabbage);
- flowers (lilies of the valley, petunias, irises, marigolds).
It is not suitable for heat-loving and slow-growing crops, because they have to be grown in earthen soil. Such plants are light-loving, and the seedlings will not have enough light during this germination. Seedlings of cold-resistant crops can be planted in the ground; their seedlings easily tolerate cool temperatures.
Properties of marigolds
It is recommended to plant marigolds in mixed beds with nightshade crops - tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes: tagetes with their specific aroma drive away wireworms, nematodes, Colorado potato beetles, onion flies and other pests.
- How to grow coleus in a flower garden
And by planting marigolds between strawberry bushes, you will protect them from weevils. In addition, the roots of Chernobrivtsev disinfect and heal the soil by releasing thiophene into it, and also prevent the spread of horsetail and creeping wheatgrass.
Pros and cons of landless seedling growing technology
This method of growing seedlings is very simple and has several advantages.
Its main advantages:
- simplicity of installation and watering;
- When planting seeds, soil is not used;
- no risk of seed contamination by bacterial and fungal diseases;
- no pre-treatment of seeds with antifungal drugs is required;
- the humidity level of the substrate is easily controlled;
- seed germination is higher than in soil;
- the root system develops more intensively;
- reduces damage to the roots of seedlings when planting in the ground by 95%.
Along with the positive aspects of seedlings in toilet paper without soil, the method also has negative aspects:
- not suitable for all cultures;
- with very dense germination, seedlings experience a lack of light;
- at the stage of leaf formation, you need to regularly fertilize (paper contains no nutrients);
- Missing the deadline for planting seedlings in the ground will lead to the death of seedlings;
- improper dilution of the mineral complex will lead to burns and death of plants;
- if the roll is tightly rolled, the seedlings may suffocate;
- Seedlings need to be monitored every day.
The technique of obtaining seedlings on paper is acceptable for all garden crops - tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, cabbage, peppers, zucchini, onions. But using this method for heat-loving plants is not always effective and advisable. He may not live up to expectations.
Peat tablets
In addition to directly available means, there are also special ones, for example, peat tablets. Several of their advantages can be highlighted:
- convenience and environmental friendliness;
- Almost anything can be grown in them;
- additional substances are included in the peat base - these are fertilizers and stimulants that help seedlings grow well;
- no picking is required, and the plants are replanted immediately with peat, which ensures the integrity of the root system.
Planting is simple and is done as follows.
- The tablets are laid out in a tray with high sides so that the recess in them is at the top. A small amount of warm water is added there, in which they swell. If necessary, add more water.
- After this, you need to drain the excess liquid from the pan and lightly squeeze out the tablets.
- One or two seeds are placed in each tablet and covered with the same peat.
- Create greenhouse conditions for seedlings by covering the container with film.
- Water the seedlings and ventilate them at the necessary intervals. It is worth noting that peat dries out quickly, which should not be allowed.
- As soon as the sprouts appear, the film is removed.
- As soon as the planted plants have real leaves, they are planted in the ground after removing the net. The peat will soon dissolve in it.
See also
Description of the tomato variety Logan and its characteristicsRead
These peat tablets have long won the love of many gardeners.
Preparing seeds for planting on paper
Before planting seedlings using any technology, seeds need to be prepared and seed selection carried out. Most crops on paper germinate very well, germination is even better than in soil, but there are non-germinating seeds that need to be gotten rid of. To separate the good seeds from the bad ones, you need to place them in a weak saline solution (calculation: 30 g of salt per 1 liter of water). The bad seeds will rise to the top. They are collected and thrown away. The water is drained and the remaining seeds are dried. After this, the seed can be laid out, maintaining a distance between the seeds, on the prepared paper.
Laying out seeds on toilet paper
Sowing in a small amount of soil
This method is called the diaper method , since the sowing process itself is reminiscent of wrapping a seed in a diaper. The method is completely justified, since its implementation is characterized by a minimum of costs and financial investments, and the result is excellent.
To sow seeds using the diaper method, you will need a film, some ready-made soil mixture and already germinated seeds. Rectangles 25x30 centimeters are made from the film, 1 tablespoon of moist soil is placed in the upper left corner, and a sprout is placed on top of it, the top of which should protrude beyond the film. Sprinkle all this with another spoonful of the mixture, take the film by the bottom edge and fold it in half, then starting from the left side, roll it up and tie it with thread.
It is necessary to carefully monitor soil moisture and feed such seedlings with fertilizers. Before planting plants in the ground, they are hardened and, after removing the film, placed in the prepared hole without freeing them from the soil mixture.
Seedlings in toilet paper without soil: methods of sowing seeds
There are several ways to obtain seedlings in toilet paper without soil. One of the methods of germinating seeds is called “roll-up”. For this you need: a roll of toilet paper, a syringe or spray bottle, a plastic glass, 2 plastic bags, flower or vegetable seeds and water (melt, spring or tap water, settled). The paper should be gray or white; it is not advisable to use colored paper for this.
Work procedure if seedlings are in toilet paper without soil:
- Spread a plastic bag evenly on the table.
- Place several layers of toilet paper on it along the bottom and top edges, so that the surface of the bag is hidden.
- Moisten each layer of paper with water from a syringe or spray bottle.
- Stepping back 1 cm from the edge, carefully place the seeds along the upper edge at a distance of 1 cm from each other.
- Carefully roll the cigarette into a roll. You can roll from either end, but evenly and carefully.
- On the roll, write the name of the crop, the date of sowing, and the number of seeds with a marker.
- Pour water (about 0.5 - 1 cm) onto the bottom of a plastic glass.
- Place the roll with seeds in a glass with the bottom side down (where there are no seeds). You can place several of these rolls in 1 glass to save space.
- Cover the glass with the roll with another plastic bag. Then remove the glass to a warm, lit place.
After some time, the first shoots appear. When the first leaves of the seedlings appear above the paper, remove the bag and place the glass in a well-lit space. Tomato, pepper, and cabbage seedlings on paper can also be germinated in a bottle. When choosing this method, gardeners receive a mini-greenhouse and a mini-bed - 2 in 1.
Two in one: mini-greenhouse and mini-bed
"Snails"
To make them, take a thin polyethylene strip, spread it out, fill one half with soil and place seeds on it. The soil along with the seeds is moistened. After this, the tape with soil and seeds is carefully rolled into a roll and tied with a rubber band. Next, this roll is placed in a container next to other similar rolls, and this is done in such a way that the edge with the seeds is at the top. Seeds in such transparent packaging germinate quickly. Having untwisted the “snail”, the sprouts, without the risk of damaging their roots, are transplanted into separate containers.
Operating procedure
- Place several strips of paper together and cut them into small pieces. You can even pick it.
- Cut the bottle into 2 parts, so that the bottom is intact.
- Place chopped paper particles on 1 half of the bottle. Moisten the paper generously.
- Spread the seeds on the surface of damp paper, cover them with other pieces.
- Write the name of the crop on the surface of the bottle.
- Close the bottle with seeds using the cap.
- Place the plastic container in a bag.
- Tie the bag with a rubber band and leave in a warm place until shoots appear.
The temperature favorable for the emergence of seedlings is + 23 - +26 degrees. After the seedlings appear, it is reduced to room level. Water is added regularly to prevent drying out.
Seedlings in toilet paper without soil: feeding features
Seedlings in toilet paper without soil require feeding when the first leaves appear. To do this, an aqueous solution of a complex of mineral fertilizers for seedlings (specialized or universal) is made. The complex is diluted with water (the dosage is 2 times less than that indicated on the package). The prepared fertilizer is poured into a container where there is a roll of seedlings, or it is carefully poured over toilet paper with seedlings in a bottle. It is not recommended to spray the solution with a spray bottle, because this leads to the formation of spots on the leaves of seedlings and a deterioration in oxygen metabolism.
Fertilizing is also carried out when the seedlings form 2-3 leaves. Of course, the seeds have a sufficient supply of nutrients to ensure the development of seedlings without feeding, but without the support of the mineral complex, the seedlings will lag behind in development, and this will negatively affect their overall yield.
There are many ways to grow seedlings using landless technology; seeds are planted both horizontally and vertically. Use plastic bottles and other convenient containers for planting. This method of obtaining seedlings is suitable for many garden crops. You can get seedlings of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, zucchini and many other crops grown using this method.
- Growing Beans: Green Beans and Grains
- Gymnosperm pumpkin: description and varieties
- Choosing the best soil for seedlings
- Red roadside slug
- Mold on the ground in seedlings: causes of appearance, methods of control
Useful video
In addition, watch a practical video about planting seeds for seedlings without soil:
Having familiarized yourself with all the landless technologies for germinating seeds and growing seedlings, you can choose the most optimal one for yourself. All of them have proven their effectiveness and are actively used by both amateur and professional gardeners.
Rate the article, share the material with friends on social networks, and express your opinion in the discussion below!
