I finally stopped murdering seeds...

K, so a while back, I got into a seed sprouting funk, like 25% success rate... seeds popped, tap root sprouted, and then -done-

Total newbie shit I shoulda known better, so thought I'd share my fuck up in hopes of preventing someone else from making it...

I root using root riot/root shooters style rooting plugs....

They dried out...

I, naturally, just re-hydrated them with RO water... and this is how I killed my seeds... I left the damn things just WAY too damn wet...

If you are re-hydrating your rooting plugs... remember to squeeze the damn things out... seeds drown.

Its really that simple, I was over watering, by over hydrating the rooting plugs... prolly costed me a good $60-$80 worth of seeds to realize wtf I was doing wrong....

I hate starter plugs with a passion. There is zero excuse for them in a small grow. Sure, if you want to start 500 seeds I can sort of see how they would save a lot of space. But for one pack, I just stick to a seed starting mix with perlite.

No fuss, easy to keep the right moisture level, and seedling grow well in it. The starter plugs on the other hand are really finicky and it's far too easy to mess things up. Another overhyped gimmick sold by hydro stores.

to my blog: on that germing thing

https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/germination-101.31319/

good luck

greg nr said:

I hate starter plugs with a passion. There is zero excuse for them in a small grow. Sure, if you want to start 500 seeds I can sort of see how they would save a lot of space. But for one pack, I just stick to a seed starting mix with perlite.

No fuss, easy to keep the right moisture level, and seedling grow well in it. The starter plugs on the other hand are really finicky and it's far too easy to mess things up. Another overhyped gimmick sold by hydro stores.

Click to expand...

No offense meant to those who like them. Just one guyz opinion.

greg nr said:

I hate starter plugs with a passion. There is zero excuse for them in a small grow. Sure, if you want to start 500 seeds I can sort of see how they would save a lot of space. But for one pack, I just stick to a seed starting mix with perlite.

No fuss, easy to keep the right moisture level, and seedling grow well in it. The starter plugs on the other hand are really finicky and it's far too easy to mess things up. Another overhyped gimmick sold by hydro stores.

Click to expand...

the real reason why these are so unpopular with weedites is the potential to totally screw ya Ph later once you potup

in most cases its a type of moss that holds water and later nutes

that screws the ph in the latter bound pot

more so with FFOF type organic soils ....avoid

vostok said:

the real reason why these are so unpopular with weedites is the potential to totally screw ya Ph later once you potup

in most cases its a type of moss that holds water and later nutes

that screws the ph in the latter bound pot

more so with FFOF type organic soils ....avoid

Click to expand...

Not sure about your warning about FFOF?

I start every taprooted seed in it. I do add 25% large perlite and check ph before use. It's always about 6.5 ph.

Then I transplant plastic cup to one gallon to 3 gallon pots in the same mix.

I water only for 6 weeks veg that way. What is the problem?

There is nothing much to it, put seed in suitable pot and medium, give a teaspoon of water every morning and night allowing the medium to wick it away in between. These sprouts can live for weeks without water once they break the surface.

MichiganMedGrower said:

Not sure about your warning about FFOF?

I start every taprooted seed in it. I do add 25% large perlite and check ph before use. It's always about 6.5 ph.

Then I transplant plastic cup to one gallon to 3 gallon pots in the same mix.

I water only for 6 weeks veg that way. What is the problem?

Click to expand...

I love that FFOF

I'm saying be cautious about using rapid rooters type plugs

as they can hold nute

vostok said:

I love that FFOF

I'm saying be cautious about using rapid rooters type plugs

as they can hold nute

Click to expand...

Sorry. I misunderstood your comment.

Carry on....

What I do when planting seeds. I put my regular hot soil mix in the bottom 1/4 of the pot, a 50/50 mix of the hot mix and a good quality potting soil with no nutes for the next 1/4 of the pot. Then 1/4 potting soil below the seed, {which is placed pointy end down} and 1/4 above it. Soak well with water, resoaking everyday until the sprouts start to show.

I always do pretty good this way. I am doing a seed test now with fresh seeds, and they are not coming up very good. I like to let them sit 30 days before planting, but I want to get my fall/winter crop in earlier this year.

I used to have problems when putting sprouts with real short (1/2 inch or less) tap roots into dirt. I came up with a new protocol that has me back to just about 100% success rate. My new seedlings go into 8 oz. Styrofoam cups with holes for drainage. I was having problems with the seedcap not coming up properly due to, I think, over-watering the next few days. Now when I first put seedlings into dirt I mix water with the soil so it is wet enough to form dirtballs if I wanted to. Now the seedlings can sit and push the cap up without heavy soil impeding the growth as I don't have to water the first couple crucial days. Also, now I do not bury the seedcap going into dirt. If the soil is wet enough the seedling will stand up straight as the cap sits on top of the dirt. Works for me.

Good luck, BigSteve.

I don't soak or use paper towels. I go straight into soil with seeds.
2.5" x 2.5" square cheap plastic pots. Fill with damp soil. Put seed in. Cover with 1/8" inch of soil. Use a spray bottle to keep soil damp but not soaking. Wait for seedling to emerge. When roots start coming out the bottom holes transplant to final pot.