I kind of found that place to be a nice place to order all sorts of things! Ships fast and inexpensive.

These work out really great when mixing up a custom media mix or when filling pots with soil media mix, also. Keeps the work area neat and clean. I've even filled a few pots on the kitchen counter from time to time without spilling as much as a grain of sand that needed clean up. Everything stays in the tray. I've got two of these and 12 smaller ones made by Rubbermaid ( 28" x 14" ).

I keep one of the large ones in the back of the Grand Cherokee for use when I transport large volumes of food like 5 gallon pots of chili, soups, hams, turkeys--anything that might spill or slop around in a sudden stop. I had a whole gallon of pancake syrup spill on me once before. No more of that mess.

Yes green house megastore is a great place to order from! I like these size trays because they fit my seedling shelves almost perfect and don't waste space.

Roosterlorn said:These work out really great when mixing up a custom media mix or when filling pots with soil media mix, also..... Everything stays in the tray. I've got two of these and 12 smaller ones made by Rubbermaid ( 28" x 14" ).

I use the cement mixing tubs because they have nice high sides. I guess I am just more of a messmaker than you!
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Pla...

Lorn, are those smaller rubbermaid trays the ones we see in your pics of newly planted seed in gallon pots... and the ones you set on top of the pots until germination, too?

Rick--yes, I always use the cement mixing tubs for making large master batches of mix for seeds. But when it comes to scales, I use a different mix for incubation. I never really know how many scales I'm going to end up with or when I might get some in trade so media batches are kept quite small. What I do is use a large stainless steel bowl and the tray together.

As a suggestion to all seeders, large volumes of master mix for seeding can be made up in tubs and stored in large freezer bags until ready to use. I usually prepare about 40 to 50 gallons and store in a cool dark place. Freezer bags of 5 gallon size are ideal.

Lorn - might you share a bit more details on the composition of the different mixes you use for seed and scales?

I just cleaned up my mess in the basement from seeding last night. Lol. From loose media on the floor, to empty bottles of water. Good thing the wife didst see the mess and that the section I'm set up in in not finished.

Well, my very first DH seedling has emerged! My first lot of DH seeds were L. martagon and L. japonicum from Hill View Rare Plants last year. I started both in bags; unfortunately I didn't get the moisture levels right and managed to kill the L. martagon (have had much more success with the L. martagon var. album and the martagon hybrid seeds I got later).

As for the L. japonicum:
- Started 2nd April 2016
- Two germinated on the 11th and 12th of June
- Went into the fridge on 16th October
- Came out of the fridge on 21st January 2017; both bulblets looked fine and were potted up the same day

This morning (2nd February):


Now, to avoid killing it...

Those first successes are always the most exciting! Glad to see you are keeping records, too.

Thanks, Rick.

Enjoy your baby, I hope you see flowers in a few years.

Thanks Della. I hope that is the case!

A little taste of my setup. Every year it gets a little better.




The rack is 4ft x 2ft. The 4ft flourescents fit nice and hang great from the wire racks. I finally found a 4 x 2 (slightly smaller) plastic tray that covers the racks so I don't have to worry about overflow when watering. I was using cardboard which works but obviously has flaws. The picture shows I can fit 21 gallon pots per tray. They fit comfortably but without a lot of wasted space.
I also have a magnetic thermometer that tells me the high and low temp in the past 24hrs as well as the humidity. I planted 13 pots today. More to follow in the coming weeks.

Try tucking the thermometer down between the pots. See if you get different temperature readings.

A couple things you probably plan on doing, but just in case---. First, if you have another tray, place it over the tops of these pots. This helps conserve a nice even moisture control at the seed/media/surface level. You'll only have to mist every 3 or 4 days or so. Second, no need for the lights until they start to bobby pin, then introduce light at lower intensity by raising the fixture a good 15 to 18 inches from soil media. This helps keep the seed/soil/media temperature down where you want it until most all have bobby pinned. I've found that young cotyledons don't require a lot of light to start with and will wait patiently for the remainder of the lot to emerge for your light. You might not think so, but radiant heat from T5- HO's can raise the soil surface temperature 3 to 5 degrees F over ambient RT. and that's critical if you're trying to hold 65 to 67'F. I have some test pots with access holes drilled in the side at various levels where I can insert a calibrated soil temperature thermometer and monitor the temperature, not only at the cotyledon stage but throughout the season at bulb level as well. I'll dig one out and post a picture tomorrow. Pretty neat, actually. I leave one in a pot all summer long and is a deciding factor whether it's time to water or not, especially on very hot days when I think I might need it, but I actually don't. More on this little point later.

Good idea Rick!

Yes Lorn, the pic was to show the set up. I don't plan on turning the lights on till they start pinning. I know that the lights do raise the temp as well and it doesn't help that everything (pots and trays) are black. Good idea on using the tray as a cover for moisture though.

That is a nice set up! Looks good.

Here's the setup I used to check the temperature at the surface and inside the pot. Thermometer left in pot all summer has to be protected with a baggy affixed with a tiny rubberband because the face/dial is not waterproof. Excuse the ugly bag. I was in a hurry last evening. Also, if anyone is interested in calibrating any cheap generic dial thermometer see my post from Nov. 29th, 2012 here: The thread "Standardizing Generic Thermometer for Refrigerator (Lilies)" in Lilies forum

@Joebass where on LI are you from?

Updated pictures on the sedlings going.


Anyone want to guess the tetras and the late germinaters?