Do Plants Grow Better & Faster in a Wet Paper Towel or Soil?

Germination

• The part of the seed you see is just a shell. Inside the shell is an embryo. When the conditions are right, the seed shells break open and the plant sprouts. The necessary conditions for a seed to germinate include moisture, oxygen and the right temperature, although temperature requirements for germination can vary from plant to plant. Some plants also require light.

Sprouting Plants

• Many plants can germinate equally well in either damp paper towels or soil. They’ll sprout as long as there is sufficient moisture and air, they are kept in the ideal temperature for that plant and, in some cases, exposed to light. Some seeds will sprout even better on a wet paper towel, like tiny lettuce seeds that can get lost in the top layer of soil and be buried too deeply to reach the surface. Other seeds, such as cucumber, are better sprouted in soil, because disturbing the roots of a seedling can inhibit growth.

Growing Requirements

• Once plants have sprouted, they still need light, oxygen, moisture and to be kept in the right temperature range, depending on the species. Other needs begin to emerge as well. Just like all living things, plants require certain nutrients to grow, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc and salts. A plant's root system draws these nutrients out of the growing medium. Water and oxygen must also be present in the medium to help transmit the nutrients through the plant roots.

Soil

• Soil quality can vary greatly. Some soils may be rich in nutrients and organic matter, while others may be nearly depleted of nutrients. Plants also have different preferences. Some like heavy, clay soils, while others like their soil light and sandy. Some like soil on the acidic side, while others like it more alkaline. Once you find the ideal balance of soil components for your plant, with the right mixture of nutrients, your plant will thrive.

  Overall, soil can retain and transmit the nutrients plants need most. Even if not ideal soil to begin with, various additives and fertilizers can be introduced to help make your soil better suited for your plant.

Paper Towels

• Paper towels do not naturally contain all the nutrients plants need. Additionally, wet wadded-up paper towels get heavier and more compressed over time, squeezing out oxygen and inhibiting the roots from spreading. Once germinated, seeds will be better off if moved to another growing medium, such as soil or compost. The General Government of Hamilton County recommends throwing paper towels and their cardboard tubes into your compost pile. Once composted with other organic materials, you can use it to supplement and enrich soil.