When starting seeds for aquaponics gardening, the process is similar, however different compared to germinating seeds in a cup of water or even potting soil. When using Oasis Horticubes, the seeds are planted directly into cubes where they will later sprout.
What are Oasis Horticubes
Oasis Horticubes are used for planting seeds and allowing them to germinate. They are very porous, contain no fertilizer, and are pH neutral. They are built to allow excess water to drain from pot’s base making it ideal for growing plants in gravel.
Time To Plant Seeds In The Horticubes
The simple thing about using Oasis Horticubes is that you wet them with water and place one seed in each single Horticube. You might consider marking a popsicle stick with the name of the seed and placing it in the Horticube. This will help identify which seed is in which Horticube if you are growing different seeds at the same time and when you planted the seed. Some aquaponics gardeners will crumble up some of the Horticube and place it over the seed to create a dark area for seed germination.
What To Due After Planting the Seeds
Take some water and sprinkle it over the seeds to assure they are moist. The best thing to do now is to place the Horticubes in a dark area for a couple of days to stimulate growth. You may want to put the Horticubes in a temperature-controlled environment to keep the seeds from getting cold.
Because freshly germinated seeds use the energy and nutrients contained within the seed’s embryonic system, there is generally no need for fertilizer. Furthermore, introducing fertilizer to seed in its infancy can ultimately chemically burn the seedling, stunt its natural growth, or even kill it.
What To Do With The New Plants
All seeds sprout and grow at different rates. After the seeds sprout it is best to expose them to indirect window light until the plants reach about 1 to 1.5 inches.
Now it is time to transfer the seedlings along with the Horticube into the aquaponics garden gravel.
A tip for transplanting the cubes into their aquaponics home. Make sure they are thoroughly saturated so they don’t crumble and fall apart during the move.
Examples of organic seeds that do well in Horticubes includes spring onions, green onions, eggplants, kale, bock Choi, and leeks.