The Trick To Getting Seeds To Germinate Is Hiding In Your Medicine Cabinet

It's such a rewarding experience to watch a plant grow from a tiny sprout, and seed germination is arguably one of the most critical stages of growth. The goal is to transform your seeds into strong seedlings. That starts by creating the right environment with plenty of moisture and warmth, and the key to successful germination might be something you already have at home.

Cotton balls are the fibrous, absorbent plant material that many people have in their medicine cabinet but rarely associate with gardening. Many flowers, vegetables, and fruit seeds need a consistently moist environment to promote root growth, and the cotton ball hack provides that. For this affordable way to increase seed germination rates, you'll need freezer bags, cotton balls, water, scissors, yarn or string, and a spray bottle.

Many vegetables and annuals have a sprouting time of one to two weeks and need an additional four to six weeks before sowing outdoors. So, you should plan to begin germinating your seeds at least six to eight weeks before the last frost or whenever the instructions on your seed packet indicate planting times are optimal.

You want your cotton balls to be damp, not soaking wet. While you can dip them in a cup of water, a spray bottle may give you better control over the moisture levels. Spritz the cotton until it's damp and keep it moist throughout the growing process. Put your cotton balls in a freezer bag and place one to two seeds on each cotton ball, giving consideration to the size and type of seed for this step. For instance, you can place two lettuce seeds on one cotton ball, but you may only be able to fit one bean seed — which is much larger — on each cotton ball.

Remove air from the bag and seal it. Use scissors or a hole puncher to punch a hole in the top of the bag and loop the yarn through. Hang the bag in a warm, sunny area. Over the next few weeks, you'll need to monitor the progress of your plants, looking out for drops in moisture content or rot. Root rot can occur when there's too much moisture. On the flip side, if the cotton starts to feel too dry, you can lightly spritz it with water.

There are plenty of other clever uses for cotton balls around the home, but using them a medium to germinate seeds is one that'll have you growing in no time. Instead of a freezer bag, you could place the cotton balls in a container or jar and cover this with plastic wrap. Plus, you could use a grow light instead of direct sun. The ultimate goal with any of these methods is to find the right balance of warmth and moisture to promote growth.