Can a seed germinate without sunlight?
Short answer: Most seeds do not require light or external heat to germinate; they require moisture, oxygen and an appropriate temperature range specific to the species. Light and heat act as environmental cues for some species and can strongly influence timing and success, but are not universally mandatory. Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions and might even be inhibited by light (e. Phacelia and Allium spp. However, some species (e. Begonia, Primula, Coleus) need light to germinate (Miles and Brown 2007). Don’t confuse seed light requirements with what seedlings need. All seedlings require sunlight.Some seeds need light in order to germinate, but many do not. Seed packages will usually indicate what your particular selection requires. If lights are needed for germination, place trays under lights immediately after sowing. If light is not required, turn the supplemental lights on after germination occurs.Most seeds need a minimum of 14-16 hours of light per day to germinate and grow. Shop lights are a great option because they can be left on for long periods of time without generating too much heat but just enough for the plant needs.Suitable moisture, Suitable temperature and Supply of oxygen are the major necessary factors for seed germination. Most seeds are not affected by light or darkness. Seeds of many plants are light indifferent or nonphotoblastic, i.Typically, a seedling needs 12 to 18 hours of light each day for optimal growth, but there are many variables. Different types of plant seedlings will require different amounts of light to thrive. The brightness and spectrum of the light can also vary.
Do seeds require sunlight for germination?
All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to germinate. Pre-Soak Your Seeds Before Planting That is why many seeds take a long time to germinate. You can trick the seed into opening faster by pre-soaking them in water. The goal is to penetrate the outer surface of the shell so that the plant gets the signal that it’s ready to grow.The first step is to cover the seeds up with a few inches of water in your glass bowl. While doing this, make sure the bowl isn’t near direct sunlight and is at a reasonable room temperature. You’ll want to let the seeds soak for a certain number of hours, often anywhere from six to 24, depending on the seed variety.Soaking seeds before you plant them speeds up the process of breaking down the seed coating and allows them to germinate faster.How Long is Long Enough? A few seeds do not Soak at all and though most do, they Soak for varying duration’s. The norm is 8-12 hours, but some soak for only 20 minutes, some occasionally soak in warm or hot water and for more or less time – Check the seed information pages for the seeds you are sprouting.
Which seeds need sunlight to germinate?
Examples of seeds that need light to germinate include: strawberries, perilla, sorrel, begonias, columbine, petunias, poppies, snapdragons, strawflower, and scabiosa. While it’s important to use fresh seed, the right soil mix and containers, as well as appropriate levels of water and fertilizer, it is essential to have abundant light for the germinating seedlings to grow high quality plants.If we look at the matter from the gardener’s point of view, however, we can use the rule of thumb that most cultivated plants on sale in seed form prefer to germinate in the dark. There are some notable exceptions however: some greenhouse perennials, epiphytes, many grasses, and even tobacco all prefer light.For example, even though Johnny jump up and corkscrew vine are flowers, they produce larger seeds and therefore germinate in the dark. On the flip side, lettuce and celery are vegetables, and while most vegetables germinate in the dark, these seeds are small and need light to germinate.
Do you germinate seeds in the sun or shade?
Seeds don’t need light to germinate. They need a little moisture and warm temps. Once they germinate they need sun light or a suitable spectrum grow light to grow. Seeds planted too deep may not be able to emerge because they’re not getting enough warmth and light. Seeds planted too shallow may dehydrate before they have a chance to grow. Before starting, review the seed packet information so you know exactly how deep to plant.The quickest way of testing seed viability is to dunk them in a glass of water. The seeds in question are placed in water for about 15 minutes. After that, you should see some seeds still on the surface and others at the bottom of the glass. The good seeds will sink, while the bad seeds float.Take the seeds you wish to germinate and place them on the top half of your paper towel. Make sure to leave an inch between each seed so they have room to grow. Fold the paper towel over the seeds so they’re sandwiched between two layers of damp paper towel.
How many hours of sunlight do seeds need to germinate?
I usually keep the lights on about 12-16 hours. We do 18 hours unless they’re photosensitive. For instance Onions use daylight hours to tell them when to bulb. We set those at 12 hours for our Long Day Onions so they don’t try to prematurely start bulbing. For most indoor plants, including decorative species, a light exposure of 12 to 16 hours during the vegetative stage is recommended. As plants enter the flowering stage, some may benefit from a shorter light duration, typically 8 to 12 hours per day.
Can I germinate seeds in the dark?
Most seeds can germinate in darkness or light (one exception is lettuce, which needs light) but once the seeds have sprouted, keep the lights on about 12-16 hours per day. Adjust the lights or the trays as your seedlings grow to keep the lights 2”-3” above them. The minimum amount of light is 10 hours. Generally, seedlings need 14 to 16 hours. You can get into the scientific amounts and test it down to the optimal hours and minutes – and some studies do just this. Keep a close eye and see if they seem to be stretching.Even long-day plants need a daily respiration period of at least 6 hours (for seedlings) and ideally 8-10 hours for mature plants. We do not recommend providing more than 14-16 hours of light per day, even for long-day varieties.