![]() How to sow seedsįill your seed tray with seed-starting soil as you normally would. Read on to learn how to properly use a humidity dome. ![]() So – humidity domes have piqued your interest (for good reason) and you’ve decided to give them a go in your seed starting room! Humidity domes may seem self-explanatory, but using them correctly is key to sprouting healthy seedlings. ![]() Seeds require moisture and heat to break dormancy and germinate, but seedlings need airflow to grow into healthy plants. If only one or two seedlings have germinated, leave the dome on until at least half of the tray has sprouted, but then remove the lid! If you don’t remove a humidity dome in time, you run the risk of leggy seedlings or fungal issues. Humidity domes are excellent for creating microclimates for your seedlings, but the danger is that your seedlings will quickly outgrow these conditions.Ī good rule of thumb is to remove the humidity dome as soon as your seeds begin sprouting. If you opt to use a humidity dome, you must monitor your seedlings once a day at a minimum, ideally twice. Humidity domes call for a little more responsibility than a lidless seed tray. The warm, humid conditions that seeds need to germinate can be deadly for seedlings themselves. I put the domes on the seedlings’ flats when I leave the greenhouse for the day, and sleep that night worry-free. Seeds in your seedling room may not need this extra protection, but I have found humidity domes to be extremely useful in greenhouses. This is especially true for bigger seeds like sunflowers, or certain vegetable seeds like squash, that might draw rodents to your seedlings trays for a midnight snack. While seed protection might not be the premier purpose of a humidity dome, it certainly can accomplish this purpose! I’ve found that humidity domes are perfect for creating a barrier for birds and other animals from getting to your seeds. Usually, seed will lose its vitality year after year, and using a humidity dome to create the perfect conditions for germination will ensure that you get the most possible seedlings sprouted from that seedstock. Humidity domes are particularly useful if you have older seeds. Seedlings generate their own heat as they sprout, and a humidity dome will still catch the warmth and multiply it. If you don’t have a heat mat, don’t worry! Humidity domes are effective with or without them. More seeds are likely to sprout under a humidity dome, and those seeds are likely to sprout quicker. ![]() When used in tandem with a heat mat, humidity domes actually do retain heat – and these higher temperatures result in increased germination. By design, humidity domes hold in the moisture that most seeds need to sprout. Humidity domes are proven to speed up the germination process. Humidity domes trap heat and moisture during a time when seeds need these particular conditions the most – during germination. There are several advantages of using humidity domes to start seeds. Humidity domes come in a few different types – there are tall or short domes, and some with vents that open and close to regulate humidity levels inside the dome. The idea behind humidity domes is to capture heat and retain moisture – both variables that improve and quicken seed germination. These pieces of plastic or glass fit just perfectly over standard seed trays. Humidity domes aren’t essential to your seedlings’ success, but when used correctly, can make a world of difference! What is a humidity dome?Ī humidity dome is designed to work like a greenhouse. Many gardeners have great success with humidity domes, and some opt to not bother with them. These glorified lids help accelerate germination by creating a microclimate in your seed-starting room. Now you may be wondering, are humidity domes really the miracle garden tool that will spell the difference between success and failure in your garden this year? Read on to learn what exactly a humidity dome is, when and how to use one, and even how to build your own!Ī humidity dome is nothing more than a plastic lid sized to fit a seed tray. You’ve seen them – those thin plastic lids that snap over the top of a seed tray. As an Amazon Associate earns from qualifying purchases.
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