To keep seedlings healthy and growing, feed them gelatin! Any flavor is okay as long as it’s sweetened with sugar and not artificial sweeteners.

The gelatin contains the nutrient nitrogen, which helps plants form green leaves. The sugar actually feeds beneficial microbes already in the soil that help young plants defend against disease causing organisms. Here’s how to go about it:

  • Fill the flats with seed starting mix.
  • Sow the seeds in the flats.
  • Use an old saltshaker to lightly sprinkle powdered gelatin over the seedlings.
  • Press the seeds and gelatin into the soil.
  • Cover with a thin layer of starting mix.
  • Mist the soil and cover with wet paper towels.
  • Place the flats in a warm area (around 65° F to 75° F).
  • Keep the towels moist by occasionally misting them, and check the flats daily for sprouts.
  • As soon as you see growth, remove the paper towels.
  • After the plants take off, feed them liquid fertilizer with a teaspoon of gelatin powder mixed into each gallon.

Watch the video above to find out more.

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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