Life Cycle.

The waiting period.

• 1. For the first three days add some water to the top to insure germination.
  
• 2. Within 3-4 days you should see the seeds begin break the surface. Now is the time to name your plants. Although you have a number for you seed well, your plants need a name, that way they feel more loved and will happily grow for you. There is nothing worse than a lonely rejected plant.
  
• 3. When the seedlings break the surface, you should stop watering, and let the Dirt Masters water the whole system from below.
  
• 4. Near day five the plants should be 1-3 cm tall. Now would be the time to pick out the weaker seedling in each well. If the plant is to small or is abnormally shaped or yellow, take the forceps and pluck the little soil waster out! You cannot support but one plant per well, and one has to go. If you can not tell which to pull you may wait till day 7 to make the choice, but no longer.
  
• 5. By day nine, each plant should have a few buds of flowers growing on it. They may be very small, and they most likely will be near the terminal end of the plant.
  
• 6. Near day 12 you may see some open flowers, when you have open flowers proceed to the pollination section then return here.
  
• 7. If your plants have not opened up by day 15 something is wrong. By day 14 you should have pollinated you first group of flowers. For pollination instructions go to the pollination section later in the lab.
  
• 8. Around this time you may see some leaves yellowing, if so cut the dead leaves off. Each dying leaf takes energy from the plant, and that energy needs to go to the seeds. If you a skilled harvester, you will cut away the yellow parts and leave the green parts of the leaf behind.
  
• 9. By day 18 or 3-4 days after pollination, the pods should be distinctly formed, and nearly 3 cm long.
  
• 10. For the rest of the life cycle observe the growth of the plant, but cut off any new flowers. The flowers take an amazing amount of energy from your plant. Near day thirty, you will be cutting your plants off life support, and letting them dry out. They will die slowly, and five days later the pods will be ready for harvest.
  

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