At my wits end popping seeds

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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
Greetings and Happy New Year everyone ! I never thought I’d be posting this but I lost my knack for popping / germinating seeds. I’ve been growing for over ten years and my seed popping has been on a steady decline for that entire time. I’ve tried numerous different ways and seem ton have issues with all of them. I’m buying good genetics and enjoy growing different strains so I don’t really do much cloning. My seeds have always stretched . I’ve tried different lights and different grow medium and still get the same result. I posted here a few weeks ago and got some great feedback so I took the advice and tried again. I bet I’ve tried to pop 20/30 seeds the past few months and either they don’t break the the shell , stretch so much they break in half or they are burned ( I tried starting them in Ocean and one poster said it was too hot and I’m pretty sure he’s correct ). I use the paper towel method and transplant into ( it used to be coco) an organic seed starter soil ( Espoma ) . My temps are around 70/75 and humidity is between 60/70 . I’ve tried the led shop lights , a small 12x12 HLG light and my Mega Pro on 50%. I’ve tried all the lights at diffenent distances as well. I’ve never had luck with mineral wool or any kind of seed starter plug. I think I just need to get back to basics. Any advice would be appreciated!
 
MtRainDog

MtRainDog

Well-Known Member
Hmm any possibility you had a mishap storing your seeds? Maybe a really hot or humid spell they were exposed to? That sounds like some seriously bad luck and I doubt you'll get much better advice than what you've already tried.

But get ready for the great paper towel debate again...
 
Trap Star

Trap Star

Well-Known Member
I had a bad ass seed collection...nice gear too.
I went to long without germination
an all the seeds were no good...
They wouldn't pop for shit..
Or they would crack the shell an dud out...

I hear you on being a pro at popping seeds
It's the most basic stage of growing...
Yet, you can fuck it up like a newbie if your not steady.

Beware of OLD seeds...
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
The great paper towel debate lol. I typically pop them within a day or so of receiving . After looking through some posts it looks like have a small area would be more controlled. Currently I have to fill a humidifier every few hours and I admit I’m not great at doing that but I do t think it’s enough to cause this streak I’m on.
 
MissinThe90’sStrains

MissinThe90’sStrains

Well-Known Member
Hey bud, what’s your exact method and process for how you’re trying to pop your seeds? Seeds need to stay warm and moist, but not completely water-logged. Its likely that simply you’re overlooking something small along the way.

Are you watering them into the new medium after you transplant them? Are you putting some sort of dome over them to keep humidity and moisture in, or are they lid-off and exposed to the 60-70% ambient humidity? Is the medium drying out after you transplant them from your paper towel?

Too little light is better than too much. You can re-bury stretched seedlings in transplant, and you can always move your light closer a little bit each day until they let you know what they want.
 
waytoofaded

waytoofaded

Well-Known Member
MtRainDog said:
Hmm any possibility you had a mishap storing your seeds? Maybe a really hot or humid spell they were exposed to? That sounds like some seriously bad luck and I doubt you'll get much better advice than what you've already tried.

But get ready for the great paper towel debate again...
Click to expand...
This sounds about right. OP doesn't sound like a newb at all, only other possible answer is bad seed storage.

Personally I throw my seeds into a shot glass until a tail comes out, then I'll drop it into a solo cup, no more paper towel.
 
eyeballsaul

eyeballsaul

Well-Known Member
I typically germinate in a paper towls within plastic with holes punctured in the top sitting on a heat.

Don't give up, I'd just leave space in the top of the pot to fill with more coco when the anticipated stretch happens. I'd have leds on about 20% max at a distance. I don't mist or even keep my seedlings in a dome.

I have recently grown a few different lights side by side and the difference a good quality not necessarily expensive led makes is massive.
 
M

mandocat

Well-Known Member
I have been having issues with sprouting as well. Some were due to old seeds. This time I used Coast Of Maine sprouting mix, 4 inch pots and my LED 5 ft above, cranked all the way on, and a heat mat under the pots. The great thing about this mix is that it feeds the seedlings for a couple of weeks, without burning the plants. Watered with rain water. Worked great! I am a living soil grower, so may not fit your approach.
 
Budzbuddha

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
Same boat as @MickFoster - Rooters

However , many ways to germ a lousy seed. Old seeds happen as well as getting bunk from seed banks. I prefer rooters because no cups of soil needed upfront.

Plus rooters are ready for any method of grow - plug goes in soil , hempy , DWC, clones.

No pee needed :hump:

IMG_9977.jpeg
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
mandocat said:
I have been having issues with sprouting as well. Some were due to old seeds. This time I used Coast Of Maine sprouting mix, 4 inch pots and my LED 5 ft above, cranked all the way on, and a heat mat under the pots. The great thing about this mix is that it feeds the seedlings for a couple of weeks, without burning the plants. Watered with rain water. Worked great! I am a living soil grower, so may not fit your approach.
Click to expand...
I appreciate it. 5 feet away? That’s where I get confused because a week like 5 feet away is different from a strong Light 5 feet away.
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
eyeballsaul said:
I typically germinate in a paper towls within plastic with holes punctured in the top sitting on a heat.

Don't give up, I'd just leave space in the top of the pot to fill with more coco when the anticipated stretch happens. I'd have leds on about 20% max at a distance. I don't mist or even keep my seedlings in a dome.

I have recently grown a few different lights side by side and the difference a good quality not necessarily expensive led makes is massive.
Click to expand...
I believe my issue is like distance. I’ve used small lights very close and still had stretching and also had my large light 2 feet away and get the same outcome. I think I just need to dial in
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
I am a fan of the moist paper towel in a sandwich bag.
Really it's so I'm not wondering if they've opened, but never had issues with doing it that way.

Anyway , posting to suggest you try a different light source.
Fluorescent.
It's a nice mild light and kept close won't make them stretch.
Click to expand...
That is the only light I haven’t tried. I’m glad you mentioned that because I believe I’m going to give that a shot.
 
Blue brother

Blue brother

Well-Known Member
4tube t5 ho fixture 3 inches from the top of the medium worked best for me for years, now I use led tubes I found on Amazon at 8 inches from the top of the medium but there's a million different types of led tube so my results might not be the same as yours.

seed straight into the growing medium, I allways used rock wool cubes but now just put them straight in soil and cover lightly, I feel ur issue is more to do with light distance rather than germination method though
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
MissinThe90’sStrains said:
Hey bud, what’s your exact method and process for how you’re trying to pop your seeds? Seeds need to stay warm and moist, but not completely water-logged. Its likely that simply you’re overlooking something small along the way.

Are you watering them into the new medium after you transplant them? Are you putting some sort of dome over them to keep humidity and moisture in, or are they lid-off and exposed to the 60-70% ambient humidity? Is the medium drying out after you transplant them from your paper towel?

Too little light is better than too much. You can re-bury stretched seedlings in transplant, and you can always move your light closer a little bit each day until they let you know what they want.
Click to expand...
I definitely don’t keep them too wet because I’ve had them rot in the past. As far as your other questions I’d like to be able to answer that, but unfortunately, I don’t even get to that point to replanning this stage in the game. Lol. I literally cannot get these seedlings over 3 inches tall. I see so many other videos where they are growing healthy basically right out of the surface of the growing media.
 
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EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
Blue brother said:
4tube t5 ho fixture 3 inches from the top of the medium worked best for me for years, now I use led tubes I found on Amazon at 8 inches from the top of the medium but there's a million different types of led tube so my results might not be the same as yours.
Click to expand...
Someone else mentioned fluorescence and I believe I’m going to give that a shot, but I believe the thing that frustrates me is that I’ve been able to do these in the past with basically the same set up. The only difference I have now is I have a larger room and previously the smaller room was easier to maintain temperature and humidity
 
E

EduardoCorochio

Well-Known Member
Trap Star said:
I had a bad ass seed collection...nice gear too.
I went to long without germination
an all the seeds were no good...
They wouldn't pop for shit..
Or they would crack the shell an dud out...

I hear you on being a pro at popping seeds
It's the most basic stage of growing...
Yet, you can fuck it up like a newbie if your not steady.

Beware of OLD seeds...
Click to expand...
Now that you mentioned it. I did switch seed banks. But I just can’t imagine that many seeds being bad. I’m going to look back and see when this started but I do believe is when I switched seed banks.
 
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