Having germination problems
- Thread starter Musshie
- Start date
Darkliquid
Member
here my method of germination explained. i have 100% success in germination so far: plate, paper towel, seeds. put one piece of paper towel on the plate, take a eye dropper or syringe and wet the towel, tip the plate to get all access water out, you just want it dampened. put seeds in, decent space between them. put an other piece of paper towel on top, wet it with a eye dropper/syringe. tip plate to get all access water out, you dont want your seeds to be drowing but also not once go dry. put plastic wrap around the plate and seal the seeds in. put in dark place. you will see sprouts under 24hours later. dont let it dry out but dont add more water unless absolutely needed
socaljoe
Well-Known Member
I like this method, works for any seed I've tried it with. KISS in all things is my philosophy, so far it's working out OK.
Coho
Well-Known Member
Welcome! I put in a shot glass with water for 12 hours. The seeds are scuffed up with a scotch bright pads. They sink as they take up water. Then into damp Jiffy starter mix about 1/4 inch down. Dinky pots or solo cup(holes for drainage. Into the bottom of the veg tent with a vented baggie over em until leaves form. Bottom of the tent so the light is like 3 feet away.
Sativied
Well-Known Member
Check out this recent thread: https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/637970-seed-germination-issue-2.html
Don't try to rush things with paper towel method or letting them swim in water, only costs a day or two extra and creates unnecessary risks handling and transplanting. Use jiffy/rapid rooter or similar, or just pot it straight into soil as nature would do. Paper towel method is useful if you don't have A-quality seeds and don't expect them all to pop - so you don't waste time and space on the weaklings.
Don't try to rush things with paper towel method or letting them swim in water, only costs a day or two extra and creates unnecessary risks handling and transplanting. Use jiffy/rapid rooter or similar, or just pot it straight into soil as nature would do. Paper towel method is useful if you don't have A-quality seeds and don't expect them all to pop - so you don't waste time and space on the weaklings.
LadyZandra
Active Member
Pre-sprouting is almost a must in growing MJ-- then you KNOW if the seed is viable..
in damp paper towels on a plate covered in plastic wrap then foil, or inside a CD case in a warm dark place- they usually sprout in 48 hours or so... then they get planted with the shell just barely showing at soil level (root down) in a warm place with their grow light.
If you put the seeds directly in the soil, you now have to keep the soil the right temperature all the way through, and not-too-wet not-too-dry for them to sprout... and once in soil- you just can't find them (usually) to try a pre-sprout. Sprouting in soil can take up to 2 weeks, depending on the strain of seeds, warmth, moisture, how thick the shell is on the seed etc....
MANY people do it in a shotglass- but do not get a high germination rate because some strains do not like overly wet conditions... so you don't know for sure if the seeds were viable- or you just weren't making them happy!
in damp paper towels on a plate covered in plastic wrap then foil, or inside a CD case in a warm dark place- they usually sprout in 48 hours or so... then they get planted with the shell just barely showing at soil level (root down) in a warm place with their grow light.
If you put the seeds directly in the soil, you now have to keep the soil the right temperature all the way through, and not-too-wet not-too-dry for them to sprout... and once in soil- you just can't find them (usually) to try a pre-sprout. Sprouting in soil can take up to 2 weeks, depending on the strain of seeds, warmth, moisture, how thick the shell is on the seed etc....
MANY people do it in a shotglass- but do not get a high germination rate because some strains do not like overly wet conditions... so you don't know for sure if the seeds were viable- or you just weren't making them happy!
AimAim
Well-Known Member
Yeah I ever for the life of me understood why you would sprout a seed on a paper towel. The potting soil is just as moist and you don't risk screwing them up (as often happens from the tales of woe I read on here). I think some people are just really curious as to what's going on, or think they need to micro-manage every aspect of this common plants life.
From 1979 until 2008 I'd grow bagseed with a 90%+ germination. In the last 5 years I have germinated close to 100 seeds with a success rate of 100% in soil. . Granted these are commercially produced and proven viable seeds. But 72 hours or so and there they are up lookin around. Maybe I'm just lazy but it seems to me to add a lot more work and what is the reward? Maybe a day earlier germination?
AimAim
Well-Known Member
Gosh! Guess I've been living on the edge the last 34 years since I have never pre-sprouted a single seed. I can't imagine how I made it this far actually since it's almost a must. But luckily my soil stays the right temp because I germinate in a sprout box and the florescent lights keep the soil temp just right. And I have managed to overcome the not to wet or not too dry dilemma by simply misting the top of each pot 2-3 times a day, with a piece of saran wrap laid loosely over the pots. You just need to give them a couple squirts until the come up since the seed is in the top 1/4" of soil.
And once in soil I do not want to FIND them to "try a pre-sprout" whatever that means. When they break ground is when I KNOW my seed is viable. And it always is. I've heard of taking 2 weeks to germinate but have never experienced that either, 3-4 days has been my experience.
Anyway for anyone wanting to try for the first time this radical method of planting a seed in soil I'd give one suggestion: Pre-wet your soil mixture in a 5 gallon bucket before packing your pots. Don't put loose dry starter mix in a cup, plant your seed and then water. A lot of the peat based starter mixes are hard to wet thoroughly the first time and tend to float around, your seed can end up too shallow or deep.
Sativied
Well-Known Member
Well then let me clear that up for you: it's because teachers in school show kids how seeds germinate, by putting them in paper towels they don't have to mess with "dirt" in classrooms... Somehow that stuck with (too) many people as some sort of clever way to germinate... which it is not.
ganjarules106
Well-Known Member
just leave them in a glass of water over night until they sink then use the paper towel
LadyZandra
Active Member
Damn! Didn't know I would be stepping on your toes dude-- chill out!
All I know is THIS is how I and most of the growers we know were taught to do it-and NOT in grade school.. by long-term growers(yes-old school- I'm over 45 what yo expect?)
Draig and I have a 100% germination rate for years..
. so I guess since it works and we always taught others this way and it worked for them....
Didn't say it was The only way-- just saying that for beginners with limited resources, KNOWING the seed will/did sprout saves hassles, dumped dirt/seeds etc....
wasn't trying to start anything...
All I know is THIS is how I and most of the growers we know were taught to do it-and NOT in grade school.. by long-term growers(yes-old school- I'm over 45 what yo expect?)
Draig and I have a 100% germination rate for years..
. so I guess since it works and we always taught others this way and it worked for them....
Didn't say it was The only way-- just saying that for beginners with limited resources, KNOWING the seed will/did sprout saves hassles, dumped dirt/seeds etc....
wasn't trying to start anything...
Sativied
Well-Known Member
ganjarules106
Well-Known Member
you can also use the green house method by putting saran wrap over the top and put a rubber band over to stop it from coming off and just leave it over night then take the plastic off to let some air in then just put it back on again if your trying to get it sprout don't let the sprout get to tall other wise it will hit the plastic and snap or bend the stem hope this helps
tusseltussel
Well-Known Member
this site is quite comical. the things people say and do. plant it in a freakin beer cup with holes poked in it. cover with seran wrap done. don't pre germ it in paper towels don't put it in your finishing size pot, and if you wan't to soak it in water thats fine but 6 hr. is plenty of time. just plant the damn thing it isn't rocket science your all insane. I may not have been growing for 35 years or even be 35 years old yet(close) but I have been growing for almost 2 decades and every time I ever tried pre germing or soaking or any othe super top secret magical bull shit guess what happened..... those bitches died. and come on really scarifying seeds, Plant those bitches in soil transplant em in a couple weeks and put em in their final pot 2 weeks before switching to flower. Done thats it.
AimAim
Well-Known Member
Bravo, this actually makes sense to me, never would have thought of it myself. I knew there was a reason. I'm serious that was pretty insightful. I've asked on forums many times for one advantage to sprouting on paper towells and the only answer seems to be "so you know they are alive". Well if they don't come out of the soil they are not alive.
Good thinking sativied!
