Common Questions
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What are the shipping options?
When should I sow my seeds? Do the seeds need Stratification?
In general, like with nature, most of the trees are "sown" during autumn. This allows the seeds to go through the natural process of Stratification - in which the seeds are going through the cold season of winter, getting ready and preparing to sprout during spring.
When you sow and grow indoors, you can basically manipulate the natural process and control the different climate and surrounding of the plants.
You can sow your seeds at any time of the year as long as you carefully follow the instructions on how to keep them in the right temperatures and surroundings.
If you'd like, you may store the seed packets in a cold place for 1-2 weeks prior to sowing them, to mimic the cold season which could increase the germination rate. It is not crucial though as most of the seeds will germinate quite easily even without stratification.
How do I scarify the seed coating?
Before you begin the sowing process, you will need to make small scars on the outer seed coating.
Use a pair of small scissors or a small knife to gently scratch just a little of the outer surface of the seed coating. Just making some small scratches should be enough. This is to allow the seeds to sprout out more easily.
How to soak my seeds?
Before planting the seeds you will need to gently scratch / scrape their outer surface and soak them in room\temperature water (20°C/68°F) for 16-24 hours.
You will only need to sow about 7 seeds in each pot. You can keep the rest in the
packet and stored in a cool, dark place for future use (be aware of the expiration
date!)
Do not scrape more than a thin layer of the seed coating.Do not use hot water.Do not soak more than 24 hours.Soak the seed types separately, to not mix them up.
How to expand the soil discs?
Place the peat soil disc in the middle of a large bowl and pure ½ a glass of room
temperature water around it. Then slowly add small portions of water on the disc and
let the soil expand on its own. Repeat this process until it reaches about 6-7 times its
original size. It can take 20-30 minutes for the full process. Once the disc is expanded,
crumble the soil, squeeze it firmly to drain any excess water. Continue to drain the
water until the soil is slightly wet, yet fluffy and does not have water dripping out.
How deep to sow?
Using your finger, create multiple small ¼ inch holes in the soil and place a single seed in
each hole. A pot should contain about 7 seeds. Gently cover the seeds with about ½ inch
of the remaining soil. Do not press or tighten the soil on top of the seeds. Spray some
water on top of the soil to moisten it.
When will it germinate?
After about 3-4 days the first seedlings should begin to appear. At this stage it’s recommended to start exposing the plants to indirect sunlight. After they reach about 1 inch in size- start exposing it to direct sunlight for 30-45 minutes a day. Keep watering checking the soil daily. Make sure not to expose the plants to too much heat or cold.
How to water my seeds?
It is best to water the plants with small amounts of water using a sprayer and not pouring water directly on the plants.
It’s too cold where I'm living.
If you are leaving in an environment that is too hot or too cold, try the following techniques to help control temperature around the plants:
Too Cold:
1 . Place the plants on top of the fridge or beside an electric device that generates heat.
2. Heating mats- an affordable solution to maintaining the soil at the ideal
temperature during the colder months, and designed specifically for seed starting.
You simply place your pot on the mat, and set the mat to the desired temperature
(80°F).
There are some great options for Heating Mats on Amazon. Only buy a product
with an MET Safety Certification! The price range should be between $10–$30 US.
3. You can use grow lights, which are great for both providing enough light to your
plants, and can keep the soil temperature at the desired levels.
There are some great options for grow lights on Amazon. If you do buy grow
lights, there is no need to spend more than $25 US.
When choosing grow lights, it is recommended to pick a product with 3-5 dimming
levels, and with flexible timer options.
Grow Lights provide Blue Light and Red Light which are used in different stages
of the growth period. If you decide to purchase, we recommend you adequately
research how to optimise the effect of your grow lights.
4. Create a mini greenhouse from clear plastic drink bottles. Simply cut the bottle in half using sharp scissors, then place the top half over your plant. Keep the lid off on sunny days, and place it back on when cold weather is forecasted.
A similar effect can be achieved by placing clear foil over the plant on cold days. Be sure not to leave it on for too long, as without ventilation, mold will form.
Didn’t germinate!
If your seeds didn't germinate, and you believe you've done all the steps as instructed, you can first have a try with the extra seeds you saved aside. You can use the same soil that you used, only make sure it is not too wet when you sow your new seeds.
If you did not save any extra seeds and used them all in the first try- don't worry, we're here for you! Please contact us at grow@natureit.co and let us know which seeds did not germinate and we will be glad to send you another seed packet along with some more guiding points to have another try and get the best out of your Natureit experience!
I have mold!
Don't Panic! Mold is natural and might be caused due to the soil being too wet or the plant is located in an area that is not ventilated enough.
If you find mold growing on your plants, gently remove the mold and do not water your plant for 1-2 days. Relocate the plants in a well ventilated area and allow the soil to dry out a bit.
Also make sure you do not over-water the soil and try to expose your pots to slightly more indirect sunlight. You can rotate your pots every day or two so they will receive an even distribution of sunlight.
If you really want to go the extra mile, you can try adding add a little natural anti-fungal to your soil. You can sprinkle Apple cider vinegar or baking soda on top of your soil. This acts as a natural anti-fungal and keep mold from growing and won't harm your plant.
Do I need to thin the sprouts? How?
It is highly recommended to start thinning the sprouts.
Once you see a few seedlings start to compete for space, cut the weaker
seedlings with scissors. DO NOT pull them out from the root. You will eventually
need one strong plant to grow in the pot.
Re-planting - how and when?
We recommend to transplant your plants into the ground once they are strong enough.
We recommend re-planting in a larger pot or on the ground after a period of 2
months or so. Before re-planting, make sure you cut off the bottom of the pot
to allow the roots to develop deeper.
Which fertilizer or nutrients to use? When? And how much?
Seeds will use most of the nutrients in the soil when germinating. They will then continue to get their nutrition from the first leaves that are emerging from the sprout.
Once the plant becomes big enough, it will need to get more nutrients from an outer source to help it grow stronger.
We recommend using liquid fertilizers, or water soluble plant food. It is very common and easy to get with a simple online search.
You should always read the instructions for the fertilizer you decided to use, as each kind will have different dilution quantities and different feeding frequencies, according to different stages of the growth.
I'm Missing an item - what should I do?
Dont worry! We got your back! Just email us at grow@natureit.co and let us know which item you are missing and we will make sure to send it to you ASAP without charge of course!
We strive to make the best experience for our fellow growers. During our production process we take the necessary steps to make sure that all the components are in the kit.
There are several quality control stages, but luckily, we are all still human J
So… If you are missing any item, please contact us using the form on this website or simply email us at grow@natureit.co with your order number and missing item and we will happily send you the missing item Free of charge to complete your gardening experience.
Thanks!
How Tall will my Bonsai Trees grow?
The gardener decides how big a bonsai tree grows.
A bonsai tree can grow up to 60-80 inches (152-203 centimeters) or it can be as small as 1-3 inches (3-8 centimeters).
You can decide how big your bonsai tree will get by the size of pot you use when re-planting.
The general rule of thumb is:
1. Pots depth should be equal to the diameter of the trunk just above soil level.
2. For oval or rectangular pots, the length of the pot should be 2/3 the height of the tree. For round pots, the diameter of the pot should be 1/3 the height of the tree.