-Please See our New Chilli Growing Guide Here-
Chilli Germination Methods
Depending on the type of Chilli Plant you are trying to grow will determine the level of expertise required to germinate the seed
If you have a very domesticated seed such as a Jalapeno then it will be very easy to germinate, however wild and rare types will require more work to get successful germination
THE BASICS - HEAT AND WATER
The first step is Heat and water - by providing an environment of around 27c and as much humidity as you can get the basics are done
Using a heated Propagator will provide the ideal environment very easily - you can control the temperature and by being an enclosed area the humidity will naturally be around 95 - 100%
This heat and water will soften the seed coat and allow moisture to penetrate the inside
The moisture will activate the metabolic rate of the little plant inside the seed, a root will start to appear and take up water by its self
This will hydrate the stem and after a day or two the first leaves will be hydrated and start to open
The Teabag Method
Tea contains a Bio-molecule called Tannins; it is this that helps to soften the seed coat
By softening the seed coat it is easier for moisture to penetrate the coat and hydrate the seed, it will then perform as above
Tannins are found in the soil and form part of the ecosystem, so by introducing Tannins in the form of tea which is easy for all of us to find we are introducing a compound that the seed will find naturally in nature
How to Use Tea
Take a Cup of Tea - Brewed as Normal, and save about 1/3 - once cooled to room temperature place in another 1ltr bottle or measuring jug
Fill the container to a litre and stir well, this will weaken the mixture to the desired result
Take your growing media, whether it is Rockwool Cubes, Jiffy Plugs, Soil or Paper Towel and coat with the mixture
I find it very useful to have 100ml syringes for these jobs as you can coat the area you require with great accuracy
Place back in the propagator and wait a day or two
During this time the tannins will go to work and soften the seed coat
Allow the growing media to dry a little - to dampness rather than soaked and then apply clean water to the seed coats that are soft
If your seed is still hard then repeat this process one more time
How to Check the Seed Coat is soft
Using tweezers is a must with seeds, as you can ensure they are clean and can pick up seeds easily - your hands are not clean
Whenever using equipment always back sure their cleaned with an antibacterial soap - this will help enormously with hard or difficult seeds to germinate
Seeds will create a fungus build-up if things are going right, by providing a clean environment your length of time germinating seeds increases dramatically which you many need
When the seed is dry and hard, it is easy to pick them up with tweezers, but when the coats have been softened, you can crush the plant inside and kill it off
So very carefully pick up the tea seed and you will tell straight away the outer casing is now soft
When I say very carefully I do been very carefully!
Okay - Still no Success with Germinating Seeds
Nature is a crafty old girl, and you need to think about the circumstances that the seed and plant cycle go through to provide survival of the species
Chilli Plants produce Berries - every chilli pod is actually a berry and as such is mostly red to attract the birds in eating them
Eating the berries, the bird will process the flesh of the berry through its stomach and drop out the seeds
It is believed that there is something in this digestive system that provides the seed with the right environment
By dropping the seed on soil that contains Tannins, the seed then in theory has all the ingredients it needs to germinate, depending on what the weather is doing of course
Bird Droppings
This is not a pleasant job, and much of it is steeped in gardener’s tall tales around the camp fire, however I believe it has a basis given what happens in nature
Simply (he says) collect fresh bird droppings, it is believed pigeon is a favourite to go for, personally pigeon droppings are used as it is easy to find and there tends to be lots of it
Collect the material in a vial, I like to mix in a little bit of water to make it easier for myself
Take a small clean paintbrush and dab each seed front and back (use Tweezers here) with the mixture and place back in your propagator with the water and heat and wait
Don’t try to place the seed in the mixture I guarantee you will drop one and then you will be hunting around bird poo to find
Germination Powders
The main point of germination powders is to try and replicate what the seed would go through in nature and provide the right nutrients for the seed to be happy to germinate
In essence, as above with the bird droppings
There are various sources of different formulas available, I only recommend using the powders if you have exhausted all of the above, and I know the pigeon droppings is not inviting, I guarantee it is a conversation stopper at parties!
Personally I prefer to apply nature first before turning to chemicals, but I have germinated seeds that have not responded to all the above
When germinating new seeds it is always trial and error before you find a knack for doing it
Scarification
This for me is the last step and does provide results, however I kill more seeds this way than any other
Using a sharp blade I cut the edge of the seed coat to ease the process of getting nutrients to the plant inside
I also use sandpaper to gentle erode the coat and edge cases of the seed pod
This is very much a practice makes perfect method and use tweezers when using the blade!
Trial and Error
As I stated above it very much is a trial and error application when germinating seeds, knowing your seed to start with is a very important step and will save you a lot of time
If you are struggling, contact me for advice