FAQs

Using a spray bottle to water your seeds is the perfect way to keep them damp until germination without letting the growing medium become too wet. Once they germinate, keep watering when the surface of the growing medium is dry to the touch and reduce frequency as the seedlings grow without letting them dry out. You’ve got this!

Most seeds need light to germinate, but how much depends on the seed variety. Usually, you can place your pot in bright-indirect light. As it grows, it may need full sun, while others prefer partial sun.

Some seeds need higher or lower temperatures than others, but 65-75°F is generally good for keeping seeds cozy enough to germinate.

A lot of seeds will germinate in 7-14 days, but some seeds, like cacti, can take 1-3 months to germinate and others, like grass types, germinate in shorter times. So, the short answer is…it depends.

Definitely! They’re your little babies and they need some love. When seedlings develop, their first set of leaves, or first sprout, (called cotyledons) provide enough nutrients for the seedlings to germinate and grow their first set of real leaves. After that, seedlings need supplemental nutrition to keep producing healthy new growth. We recommend starting to feed your plants once they grow their first set of “real” leaves. Or, in the case of cacti/aloe, once they’re at least 2-3 months old. Seedlings are delicate. We recommend feeding them with an all-purpose plant food mixed at half-strength and spread the love!

Depending upon the size of your container, you may need to transplant your seedlings to allow them plenty of room to grow. Ready to separate them? Here’s what to do:

1. Lightly squeeze the pot or gently tap the sides to loosen the growing medium.

2. Grab a fork and dig down deep (below the seedling you're extracting) to carefully separate and transplant it without damaging the roots.

3. Gently lift it up to see if you got under the whole root structure. If not, no big deal. Just replace the plant, dig deeper and try again.

4. Now you are ready to transplant it into another container or into your garden. If it's going into a new pot, fill it 3/4 full with general purpose potting soil, add your seedling, and gently fill in with additional soil to fill the container.

5. Repeat these steps until all your seedlings have been transplanted into individual containers.

6. Water lightly with a spray bottle and return them to their original placement on your windowsill/under grow light/wherever they’re happiest. We do not recommend transplanting and moving locations on the same day. This may shock your babies. Once it becomes accustomed to its new pot, you can move locations if desired.

That’s a no go, but for a good reason! Your seedlings have to go through a process called “hardening off.” That’s when young plants get used to outdoor conditions. Move them to an outdoor, sheltered place, out of the wind and direct hot sun, for a week before transplanting them to their final home. This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding. If it’s getting frosty or even under 50°F at night, bring them inside and take them back out again in the morning.

When seedlings are growing in a tight group, it’s time for thinning! Why? Well, they are going to start competing with each other, so they’ll all end up with stunted growth. They may also have poor air circulation, which could lead to mold. Here’s how to thin and win at growing.

1. You can try separating and placing them in their own individual pots. This can be a little risky, though, because seedlings have really delicate root systems, so you can always just thin them so they’re about an inch apart.

2. Keep the strongest, healthiest seedlings and thin out the others. If all the seedlings look healthy, cut the smallest ones off at the bottom of the stalk. Keep in mind that the tallest seedlings aren’t necessarily the healthiest. If seedlings are thin and leggy, you’ll want to thin these.

3. Use small scissors for more control so you don't accidentally trim a seedling you wanted to keep. Before thinning, be sure to disinfect your tool by dipping the blades into rubbing alcohol or wiping them with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Don’t stress. Mold on your growing medium is usually harmless fungus, but it could mean your plant is getting too much water and/or poor air circulation. Here are our easy fixes:

Move your plant so it gets more air. This will promote strong growth and discourage mold.

For watering, keep the growing medium moist, but not soggy. Even when seedlings are new, they don’t need deep watering. Just use a spray bottle to mist the soil and remaining seeds.

Keep the temperature consistent, too, so everything stays nice and constant.

No worries! Our growing medium pellets are non-toxic cocopress, a natural fiber made from coconut husks. Cocopress pellets are made of coir pith which is a by-product of the fiber industry. The material is aged, treated and washed. Depending on how much was consumed, they might get an upset stomach, but they should be fine. As with any accidental ingestion, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, check in with your doctor/veterinarian.

Take a deep breath. Your seedlings may be “damping off.” That’s a condition that affects seedlings causing them to shrivel up really quickly. It can be caused by a lot of different issues, which means it can be avoided, too. How do you keep your seedlings healthy? Things like spacing your plants properly, providing plenty of light, maintaining consistent temperatures, avoiding too much moisture, planting at the proper depth, and avoiding overfertilization will all help. And remember, we have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so we’ll always replace seeds that don’t grow for free!

If you’re seeing those teeny gnats flying around your plant, don’t worry. They’re easy enough to get rid of and you can stop them in their tracks by letting your soil dry a bit between waterings. Or you can use sticky card traps which are typically yellow, stick into the soil of your pot, and have an adhesive that traps the gnats.

You can also try an apple cider vinegar trap. Fill a small container with equal parts water and apple cider vinegar at least ¼” deep. Put a couple of drops of dish soap into the mixture and stir it together. Place the trap near the affected plant. Check the mixture every week to refresh it with new vinegar, water, and soap. You’ll be gnat-free in no time!