Germinate Difficult Seeds using Coffee Filters

 

The method I use is to place several seeds onto one half of a damp coffee filter, making sure they are not touching each other. Fold the filter in half and spritz with water using a spray bottle, then place the filter into a Ziploc baggie and seal. (You can fold in the ends of the filter some more if needed to fit into the baggie. Just make sure no seeds are touching each other.)

I store my germination baggies on a plastic tray which I place on an old heating pad set to its lowest setting. The warmth helps the seeds germinate. If any of your seeds require darkness to germinate, place them together in a baggie and store that baggie in a dark cupboard.

Each day I hold each baggie up to the light and look for any seeds that have sprouted a root. If the coffee filter looks a little dry, I open the baggie and spritz it with water.

Once a seed has germinated, I very carefully use tweezers to plant the seed/root very shallowly into a peat pellet, or into a tray with potting mix. The tiny seedlings can be extremely delicate and must be kept moist until they poke their heads above the soil.