When can a manganese solution be used for watering seedlings?

Potassium permanganate can be used in a wide variety of areas of life, from medicine and cosmetology to gardening. It is also very useful for growing seedlings. The main advantage of this substance is its disinfecting effect, it is not for nothing that the agent was actively used by our grandmothers. You just need to know when it is recommended to water the plants and how to do it correctly. Still, the drug is strong enough, and in inept hands it can even harm.

Why do you need seedlings?

Any gardener knows what seedlings are for. Sowing seeds in special containers will allow you to harvest at the right time. Indeed, in the open field, due to unfortunate weather conditions, the germination may slow down, then the fruits will ripen much later.

In addition, the sprouts that hatch are very weak. They can be drowned out by weeds, they are extremely susceptible to various diseases, they are afraid of pests. A few weeks indoors will allow the seedlings to grow stronger, gain strength, after which it can be safely transplanted to the beds. Of course, not all plants need this approach. But if we are talking about tomatoes, peppers, cabbage and some other crops, then you cannot do without it.

Potassium permanganate for soil and seeds

You just need to remember that sprouts require care even at home. It is necessary to take care of the temperature regime, sufficient humidity, the right amount of light. And, of course, to prevent infections. To do this, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate. Moreover, it is suitable not only for watering, but also for earlier processing.

The first thing to think about is soil disinfection... To do this, you need to make a mixture in the following proportions: 5 g per liter of water. Then water the earth with the resulting solution. Thus, harmful fungi and bacteria that pose a danger to seedlings will be destroyed. The container for future crops should be treated with the same liquid, it must also be sterile.

In addition to soil disinfection, seeds are treated before planting. The solution is prepared in the same proportions. Then the seeds are soaked in it for 15-20 minutes. Then they must be rinsed under fresh water and dried. Another option: 2 g of substance per 10 liters of water. In such a weak solution, the seeds are recommended to be kept for up to a day.

This procedure is extremely helpful. Especially often it is carried out for the seeds of cabbage, tomato and some others. It allows you to protect against unpleasant diseases by destroying their pathogens. For example, from a tomato post. So the likelihood of getting a good harvest increases significantly.

In addition, thanks to the potassium and manganese in the mixture, the seeds are nourished. This has a positive effect on their growth, accelerates it, and increases the margin of safety. So the plants will be strong and hardy, they can easily transfer the transplant to open ground.

What is watering with manganese solution for?

Manganese solution is used not only at the stage of preliminary preparation. If you water the already hatched sprouts, you can save them from many troubles. After all, when signs of a disease appear in one plant, they will soon spread to others. Therefore, it is better to take care of prevention in advance.

The gardeners did not come to a consensus on how often it is necessary to water the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate. Someone generally refuses this remedy, others choose modern drugs, considering them more effective. But still, many are guided by the experience of older generations.

A similar watering is carried out every two to three weeks. If a concentrated solution is prepared for soaking the seeds, then you need to water it with a weak, pale pink. This is very important, since a high concentration of a substance can damage the plant, simply burn the roots or a thin stalk. The correct proportions are 1 g per 10 liters of water. Processing will effectively fight bacteria that could multiply during this time, as well as slightly nourish the sprout.

Special cases

It is worth watering the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate a day or two before the pick. This procedure is probably familiar to experienced gardeners. Many crops are sown in small containers with holes at the bottom to drain excess water. They are easier to provide good drainage, drainage of excess fluid and better oxygen supply.

But as the seedlings grow, it becomes cramped. Therefore, when several real leaves appear, it is time to transplant the plants into individual containers. This avoids root entanglement, resulting in seedlings growing weak and difficult to separate in the future for moving into open ground. In addition, in this way it will be possible to select the best and healthiest seedlings if there were a lot of seedlings.

The new soil must be disinfected, just like the first time. And the processing of seedlings before starting work will not transfer any bacteria.

Another case when it is necessary, without delay, to water the sprouts, is the appearance of such a disease as a black leg. Most often it occurs in cabbage seedlings. Due to the high humidity, pathogens (these are some types of fungi) are activated. Usually, infection occurs in only recently hatched shoots. At the same time, the stalk becomes thinner, darkens, as a result, the plant dies. In older seedlings, growth slows down, it weakens, and a good harvest is unlikely to be obtained in the future. To prevent this from happening, you need to treat the seedlings twice with a 1% manganese solution.

Pros and cons

Like any other remedy, potassium permanganate has its pros and cons. The advantages include:

• ease of use;
• good disinfecting effect (the drug is effective for both prevention and treatment of diseases);
• when using it, plants are fed.

Disadvantages of the product:

• today it is not available everywhere;
• there are modern, more effective substances;
• not effective against pests;
• in some cases, it can harm seedlings.

In order for potassium permanganate to bring only benefit, and not harm, it must be used correctly. It is very simple to do this: follow the proportions, do not water the seedlings with a dark purple solution. You also need to stir thoroughly, the crystals must dissolve completely.

Although the solution is non-toxic, it is better to use it with gloves. Sometimes there is an individual intolerance to the drug, so it is better that it does not get on the skin. We must try to saturate the whole earth, but without surplus.

Manganese solution is a time-tested remedy that has been successfully used for growing seedlings. When used carefully and in moderation, it promotes the growth of good seedlings, which will yield an adequate yield in the future.

Garden enthusiasts should remember about this effective substance. Moreover, it can be useful not only for seedling treatment. When watering, potassium permanganate has a positive effect on a variety of crops.