Germination - what works best for you?

[st0wandgrow]

Rockwool cubes soaked in aloe water. Salicylic acid is a rooting hormone and aloe contains a good deal of it

 

[Amos Otis]

It doesn't matter at all as long as you got good viable seeds..

Yep. Back in the day of bagweed and smoking/rolling in your ride, it wasn't uncommon to find a sprouted seed under a damp floor mat when you went to empty out the beer cans.

But if I had the most prized bean in the world, and one shot to grow it, I'd start it tip down a half inch into an expanded jiffy-7 pellet.

 

[Amos Otis]

Rockwool cubes soaked in aloe water. Salicylic acid is a rooting hormone and aloe contains a good deal of it

Does the aloe neutralize the high ph in the rockwool ?

 

[kgp]

Soak a rapid rooter for 10 seconds, place seed in rapid rooter, place rapid rooter in propagator. Done.

Works 100% for viable seeds and you don't have to handle the small tap root at all.

 

[kgp]

Seeds don't need a regulated ph. Think about it, the only reason we adjust ph is for nutrient uptake. Plants can only take in certain nutes at certain ph levels.

Germinating seedlings don't take up nutes only water which a plant can consume at any ph. They use stored energy from the mother plant and bacteria and fungus that is in the environment to establish the tap roots.

 

[Banana444]

Similar to most others methods. I prefer the paper towel between two plates method. I have found if you can get warmer temps to the plates the seeds will sprout almost immediately. In the winter I use a closet that is next to the furnace, it gets nice and warm and the plates maintain an extremely humid environment. In yhe warmer months I place theplates on top of my cable box which always remains warm, sometimes too warm. Just make sure to keep the paper towels moist. The added heat can dry out between the plates. As soon as the tap root emerges 1/4 to 1/2" it goes into soil, via tweezers. I have had 100% germination so far(just a short time and all good beans so far), but definateley not 100% of sprouts make it.

 

[OGEvilgenius]

Put them in a cup of water for 12-24hrs. Then into rockwool/peat pellets whatever I have. I have excellent success this way. Only seeds I've had that didn't germinate were specifically said to be difficult to germinate without help (Peakseeds Blueberry) and really old poorly stored seeds.

 

[Amos Otis]

Seeds don't need a regulated ph. Think about it, the only reason we adjust ph is for nutrient uptake. Plants can only take in certain nutes at certain ph levels.

Germinating seedlings don't take up nutes only water which a plant can consume at any ph. They use stored energy from the mother plant and bacteria and fungus that is in the environment to establish the tap roots.

Perhaps you're right, but in my experience, untreated rockwool must be soaked 24 hours prior to use because it's very acidic. Seedlings aren't taking in nutes, of course, but a radically high or low ph can kill the babies. Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[OGEvilgenius]

I never soak rockwool 24hrs. I never have issues.

 

[Amos Otis]

I never soak rockwool 24hrs. I never have issues.

Cool. I haven't used rockwool in years, but it's not hard to find lots of articles like this one:

"Rockwool is alkaline, this means that it has a high pH value which will burn your seedlings if you don't prepare it properly. How do we prepare rockwool? Simple....."

http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/389210-beginners-guide-germination-rockwool-propogator.html

 

[no clue]

I soak for 12 hours or so and plant in a light organic mix. Works over and over. Lesson learned: keep moist seedlings that seem to have damped off or stopped growing. I had one come back from the dead..we called her Nikki6..grew to be a beautiful plant and was the only female of 4

 

[purplehays1]

Soak a rapid rooter for 10 seconds, place seed in rapid rooter, place rapid rooter in propagator. Done.
Works 100% for viable seeds and you don't have to handle the small tap root at all.

I do this ^^^ But i soak them for a few hours until they sink first, and keep them around 80-85 degrees.

Speaking of, im hopefully going to have some germed Mr Nice Shark Shock to start my little medical grow here soon, check out my journal.

 

[bundee1]

Paper towel method but I sprinkle the seedlings with a pinch of great white powder. They root faster and have thicker stems and branches

 

[kindnug]

Soak a rapid rooter for 10 seconds, place seed in rapid rooter, place rapid rooter in propagator. Done.

Works 100% for viable seeds and you don't have to handle the small tap root at all.

Same thing I do.

 

[st0wandgrow]

Does the aloe neutralize the high ph in the rockwool ?

I couldn't tell you. I usually soak them for a couple hours then plunk a seed in. Works like a charm

 

[Zaycor]

I just put the seeds under my pillow at night...& in the morning voila . I find this only works with me though so please don't try it. Unless of course you really want to lol!

 

[purplehays1]

2 nights ago i put 5 seeds in a shot glass of tap water i had left out a few days before After 4 hours 4 of 5 had sunk and the 5th wasnt very boyant. I then put all 5 seeds in a damp paper towel in a sandwich bag at 80-85 degrees (i put on my router) in darkness. A day later i transplanted the seeds into soaked and drained root riot cubes in a domed propagator.

Tonight i can see root growth in the top of 4 of the 5 and some green sprouting from one cube. As i planted the seeds pretty shallow i will keep them in the dark and keep covering the showing root with little pieces of riot cubes until they all sprout.

My question is when do they need light?

 

[Zaycor]

2 nights ago i put 5 seeds in a shot glass of tap water i had left out a few days before After 4 hours 4 of 5 had sunk and the 5th wasnt very boyant. I then put all 5 seeds in a damp paper towel in a sandwich bag at 80-85 degrees (i put on my router) in darkness. A day later i transplanted the seeds into soaked and drained root riot cubes in a domed propagator.

Tonight i can see root growth in the top of 4 of the 5 and some green sprouting from one cube. As i planted the seeds pretty shallow i will keep them in the dark and keep covering the showing root with little pieces of riot cubes until they all sprout.

My question is when do they need light?

I believe when they're in the soil they don't need light at all...but they do as soon as they pop out which is why some people just leave the light on if they can't check in regularly. By the way you should maybe try distilled instead of tap water in your shot glass. Good luck

 

[tampee]

Good point about mother nature. But like I said, with the distilled water and towels, My rate is 100% germination! Kinda hard to beat 100%

Nobody gets 100% unless you haven't ordered many but you get an old ass pack like the BCBD Purps from Attitude I bought not a single seed germinated when I get at least 90%+ usually from MNS direct but about 75% on the Spice.

I just use sink water but it is spring water none of that city water I soak my seeds in a cup of water for about 12 hours them straight to pro-mix on a heat mat.

 

[purplehays1]

5/5 have sprouted through the surface in less than 72 hours. Mr Nice Seeds came through for sure!