Do Microgreens Use the Nutrients in the Soil?
Yes, microgreens do use nutrients from the soil to grow. The soil needs to have enough nutrients to sustain plant growth. Without the proper nutrients, plant growth is impossible.
What are the best nutrient solutions for microgreens?
There are plenty of good solutions, but some of the best are the following:
- FloraGro
- MaxiGro
- Liquid Kelp
- OceanSolution
Is Soil The Best Growing Medium?
Soil is arguably the best medium for growing microgreens. It is easy to use, it produces one of the highest yields, it can be reused, and it is environmentally friendly.
Try to use organic potting soil, something like Smart Naturals can be found at most Walmart stores and it’s quite sterile, which is great for indoor growers since nobody wants mold or pests to ruin their sprouts.
Can You Grow Microgreens in Peat Moss?
Yes, growing microgreens in peat moss are possible. It is a common medium used to grow herbs and veggies. A perfect gardening medium that retains water very well and is easy to clean.
What are the benefits of peat moss?
- Free of weeds and toxins.
- It absorbs nutrients easily.
- It helps to loosen the soil and prevents compaction.
- Water retention.
- Promotes healthy root growth.
Can You Grow Microgreens in Coffee Grounds?
Yes, you can grow, but because the medium is quite acidic it can damage plant roots if used alone to grow your greens. It is recommended to mix the coffee grounds with soil.
I would not recommend experimenting with this because mold can appear on the coffee grounds. It’s easy to ruin your sprouts if your mix is too acidic. It is much easier and better to use peat moss mixed with soil and added nutrients.
How to Grow Microgreens in Your Basement
The best solution would be a shelf growing space, where you have lights and ventilators that will simulate external factors. All you need is A few shelves, grow lights, a few ventilators, trays, a growing medium of your choice, it can be soil, a mixed medium, or hydroponics, and last but not least the seeds.
How to Sanitize Microgreen Seeds and Trays
Here’s how we prepare our solution!
- Add 4 teaspoons of white vinegar.
- Add 4 teaspoons of food-grade hydrogen peroxide.
- Add 4 cups of water
- Mix it all together.
Soak the seed in solution for 10 minutes, rinse the seeds, and then soak in water for 8-10 hours. Then you just rinse them for the last time before you plant them in trays.
Do Microgreens Grow Back After Cutting?
Most of the microgreens won’t grow back after cutting. All the energy is used to grow the first set of leaves, after cutting the plants don’t have any energy left to get regrow another set of leaves.
Some varieties like peas, beans, kale, and spinach, can regrow after harvest, but even then it’s not always the case. If you are growing the sprouts up to 4-6 leaves, cutting the top ones will help the plants survive the shock and keep growing.
