germinate in paper towels
 

Ron,

Excellent site! You say that you germinate in paper towels yet you also say that you start seeds in vermiculite/Olivia's. I know there is no "right" answer here but I'd like to get the process down once and for all. If I germinate in paper towels, then do I move the seedlings to vermiculte/Olivia's until they are a few inches, and then to soil until they are large enough to go into the system? Is there an extra/missing step here? A step-by-step would help if you can spare it. Thanks. Keep up the good humor!

1 - Start the seeds in a Olivia's or Ortho's B1 Plant Starter soaked paper towel. They will start to germinate in 2 or 3 days.
2 - Transfer to the vermiculite tray when the root is about 1 inch long and before the root starts to dig into the paper towel.
3 - Let the plants mature a week or two in the vermiculite tray. Start feeding with a weak nutrient solution (200-400 PPM) if the plants start to yellow.
4 - Transfer to your hydro system when the plants have at least their second set of true leaves for most plants or when they are big enough to grab hold of.
5 - Skip the soil part.
Ron