Optimizing propagation: how to translate germination into profit

The physiology of a quality seed

When you purchase seeds from Easyseeds, you can count on high germination rates. However, a seed is a living organism waiting for the right environmental signals to activate its metabolism. We call this process 'imbibition': the absorption of water by the seed. Once this process starts, there is no turning back. If conditions are not optimal afterwards, the germinating seed dies before it emerges above the ground.

The three pillars of germination success: water, temperature, and oxygen

For professional cultivation, you must control these three factors down to the degree and milliliter.

1. Moisture management and substrate selection. A common mistake is keeping the seed trays too wet. Seeds need oxygen to release energy for growth. In a saturated substrate, this oxygen is lacking, causing the seed to rot. For the B2B market, we often recommend a substrate based on a fine peat structure mixed with perlite or vermiculite. This provides the capillary action necessary to retain moisture, while guaranteeing aeration.
2. Temperature strategies. Temperature is the most important switch for germination. Many professional cut flowers in our assortment require a soil temperature between 18°C ​​and 22°C. Aconstant temperature is ideal for hybrid varieties bred for uniformity. Some 'more difficult' or more natural varieties actually require a difference between day and night temperatures to emerge from dormancy. As a grower, you can control this with your climate computer to simulate a natural environment.

3. Light. The often-forgotten factor. In professional cultivation, we make a strict distinction between light-germinating and dark-germinating seeds. This has major implications for how you sow the seeds. Light-germinating seeds (such as Ageratum, Petunia, and Lisianthus) require a specific wavelength of light. They must not be covered with soil. In a professional setting, a thin layer of transparent film is often used to maintain high humidity without blocking the light. Dark-germinating seeds (such as Delphiniumand Phlox), on the other hand, contain substances that inhibit germination as soon as light falls on them. They must be carefully covered. In practice, you see that a layer of black vermiculite or a dark cover plate significantly improves results.