Current Grow

So, as sort of a catch-up post, I purchased a RainForest 36 (General Hydroponics) from Greentrees Hydroponics. My thought at the time was, this was a great device to start seeds and cuttings in. The product description sorta led on that it was great for starting. I wanted to garden a few years ago and thought I could do it behind my townhouse. I built a few raised beds, and bought some seeds from Territorial Seed Company. I had read a book about growing food in hard times and the author recommended the company. They were prompt with fair prices. Furthermore the seeds I bought and planted from them (total failure in the raised beds, not enough light), sat for two years in my garage before I decided to try hydro growing. The seeds all sprouted, so I'll be purchasing from them again. I wasn't sure about starting the seeds, so after reading a random forum posts to the effect that transplanting multiple times is so hard on a seedling that one would be just a well served putting seeds directly into the Hydroton, I did. For three or four days I was sure this was not going to work, until it did. Part of this blog was to help a person just starting out, so in that spirit this is what I needed to get seeds started.

• RainForest 36
• Seeds
• GlowPanel 14w
• Seed mat

Did I need these things? No, but I didn't know that. I could have started the seeds in flats, placed on the mat, and moved them to a larger grower. Today, I don't have a bigger grower. So in the end, the RainForest will not only allow me to start seeds and clippings but I can, if I choose, grow some smaller plants to full size in it. I don't know if I needed the LED light to sprout seeds, but I know I'll need it to grow. I've read some posts stating you can sprout in the dark, and some people that think you should have normal daytime light cycle (photo cycle) to simulate normal daytimes. In the end, I placed the light on a 12 hour cycle and all, ALL, my seeds sprouted. Good seeds, good grower, blind luck. Probably a little of all three.