Birds & Blooms - USA (2021-02)

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he recommends plastic trays that have

been washed with warm, soapy water

and disinfected with a 10% bleach

solution to prevent spreading disease.

Fill the tray with a commercial

seed-starting mix of peat moss and

vermiculite, and then sow the seed at

the depth recommended on the packet.

“For the seed to germinate, it needs

good seed-to-soil contact,” Richard

says. “And make sure they’re not too

crowded.” Properly spaced seedlings

are easier to transplant later.

Heating Up

Warmth and humidity aid germination.

“You need to keep the seed consistently

moist,” Richard says. After sowing, he

waters the tray before stretching clear

plastic food wrap across the top and

securing it with tape. (Some trays are

sold with clear plastic domes to create

this greenhouse effect.) He then places

it by a heating vent, or you can also use

a heating mat specifically for plants.

How^ to^ use^

newspaper^

to^ make^ b

iodegradable

planting^ cu

ps.

1. Cut^ four^ la

yers^ of^

newspaper

into^ a^

7 - inch^ squa

re.

2.^ Fold^ in^ t

hirds,^ then^

turn^ and^ fol

d again^ to^

make^ a^ nine-

square^ fold.

3.^ Angle-fol

d each^ corne

r

on one^ side^ a

nd^ staple^ it.^

Repeat^ the

process^ on^

the^

opposite^ sid

e.

4.^ When^ s

eedlings^ are^

ready^ to^ tra

nsplant,^ slice

a

few^ holes^ in^

the^ paper^ an

d

plant^ the^ e

ntire^ cup.^ Th

is

won’t^ distu

rb the^ roots,

and^

the^ pots^ will

break^ down

.

Fold^

newspaper

into^ these^

cute,^ simp
le

pots.^