Seed straight to soil issues

I planted a gelato PP seed straight into soil on Monday, sprayed with water
1-3x daily to keep top soil moist with Temp 70-85 RH ranging from 40-60%..

5 days later... NOTHING HAPPENED. The seed is unchanged! No tap root or cracked shell!

I removed it from the soil and placed it into moist cotton pads in a warm place to see what happens because hell idk!!


This seed was one of two free seeds... The first gelato seed I soaked and it grew a lovely tap root really fast but I broke it from digging around... Could this one just be a dud?
 

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
I leave them 100% alone for at least 7-10 days depending on what my schedule is. I keep the soil moist and warm and I usually have them popping up in 3-5 days depending on the seeds vigor. Digging them up is usually a good way to kill them. Sometimes they just take a while but if you're in a hurry just plant another seed and leave that one alone to see what happens.
Its absolutely possible to have duds with seeds, but buying proven genetics from a reliable breeder goes a long way to making you feel more confident in them germinating.
70-85 is a pretty big temp swing for trying to germinate seeds as well. Try using a heat mat and keeping the temps close to 80. They seem to drag on when it's cooler, at least from my experience. They also want high humidity once they come up. 40% is not where you want to be for seedlings, try to keep it above 60% or as close to that as you can.
 

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
This is my Northern Lights from Authentic Genetics that just came up yesterday. It was planted about 2 and a half days earlier with no soaking or anything done to it straight into Roots Organic soil and some Dr Earth dry amendments for when it needs food later on. It's sibling hasn't come up yet but I'll give it some time before I get too concerned.
Everyone seems to have a different way to get to the same place as far as germination. Try a couple different methods on some cheap seeds and find what works best for you. I just like straight to soil as it lessens the amount I handle the seeds. You might find a damp paper towel in a Ziploc in a dark and warm place works better for you. It just depends on what you like. IMG_20230106_182950265_HDR.jpg
 

FirstCavApache64

Well-Known Member
In my experience, humidity domes should be used for cuttings and not seeds unless there's no way to keep a reasonable humidity in the grow room. Having to harden a tiny seedling off to get ready for the grow room or tent environment is a chance to stunt or stress a tiny plant.
Do whatever is working for you by all means but eventually the seedlings are going to have to deal with the regular growing environment you create and I'd rather they get used to it as they come up out of the soil.
 
I've tried cones in the past and ended up with mold...

The seed was in soil for 5 days yet nothing progressed until I removed it and placed it into moist cotton pads yesterday which cracked the shell.. This is bizarre to me! If a tap root forms, I'll replant into soil and leave it be. I only dug it out once I discovered a cute little unaltered seed!

I'll inspect after 10 days for the next seed.
 
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