Taproot from seed: Point it up or down?

Pedestrian

Pedestrian

Active Member
I haven't grown from seed in years but I have some Humboldt Seed Co Blueberry Muffin seeds that are just cracking and showing a taproot. I had always thought that the proper way to start a seedling in soil was to plant them just below the surface with the taproot facing up and then they did a cool flip after the taproot exposed itself above ground and reversed direction.
The HSC website says "Gently place the seeds into the soil with the white taproot facing down."
Which way is better?
 
SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe

SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe

Well-Known Member
For you to even have to ask this question makes me think you have never grown. Next time instead of making a post of a question try using the search button first. It will save you from embarrassment and others wont have to answer a question that's literally been asked a few thousand times.
 
Pedestrian

Pedestrian

Active Member
I honestly tried the search function first before asking. None of the keyword searches like "starting seeds", "germination", etc gave me relevant results. I've been spoiled for the last few years having access to DHN clones at a few different CA dispensaries. Sorry to have disturbed your wonderful life with my seeming foolish question. Perhaps this question which has been asked a "few thousand times" led to somebody trying an A-B comparison? I would love to be pointed toward that.
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
In most studies the repositioning of the seed after the taproot showed led to delayed germination due to gravitopism.

In rockwool the best seed position is sideways with seed shell spilt horizontal, in soil it dosent matter, if you germinate outside a medium it would be foolish to bury the tap root facing up.

There is nothing to be gained from soaking seed qpqrt from a quicker germination due to quicker seed saturation - once saturated all growth rates are the same for soaked or not.

Paper towels are pretty much a waste of time - soak 12-24 hours then plant :-)
 
Logan Burke

Logan Burke

Well-Known Member
With autoflowering strains, repositioning an already sprouted seed can seriously stunt their growth and leave you with a runt of a plant. This has happened to me a couple times, and because I do DWC I always have to place into rockwhool into the netpot w/ hydroton before the tap root grows through the bottom, or else even the stress of grinding that exposed tap root against the hydroton has stunted my auto's before.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I don't germinate but instead put seeds directly into soil. I plant them on their sides. I think the same would be the correct way for a pre-germinated seed.
 
C

cock roach

Active Member
I planted mine pointed in up ? They came up so …..don't know. Maybe it don't matter, they will come up? I planted them straight in the medium in a 5gal. bucket.
 
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M

McFrosticles

Well-Known Member
If the root has just popped out you want it pointing up, if it's came out and curled you want it pointing down. That's how seeds naturally orientate themselves: root pops up, curls round and works its way down.

Its no big deal either way as it will correct itself, however it wastes energy curling then recurling downwards, how this affects the plants development I don't know
 
Axion42

Axion42

Well-Known Member
Kingrow1 said:
In rockwool the best seed position is sideways with seed shell spilt horizontal
Click to expand...
No shit? Did not know that. I dont grow from seed too often, but when I do I use rockwool and I haven't always had the best results. I'll give that a shot next time.
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
Axion42 said:
No shit? Did not know that. I dont grow from seed too often, but when I do I use rockwool and I haven't always had the best results. I'll give that a shot next time.
Click to expand...
troll the whole net and youll find this method for rockwool born out of grower frustration at getting seeds to sprout in that tiny little hole.

far as i can remember it is the optimun position for the root to go down and the seed shell not to get stuck going upwards so basically it sheds its shell much easier.

I dont use rockwool anymore or id be using only this method - requires no pre germination in rockwool and tou can also just soak the block, lay the seed near the hole and the tap root will grow out the seed and shoot directly down the hole meaning you dont even need to plant the seed :-)
 
conor c

conor c

Well-Known Member
I only
Pedestrian said:
I haven't grown from seed in years but I have some Humboldt Seed Co Blueberry Muffin seeds that are just cracking and showing a taproot. I had always thought that the proper way to start a seedling in soil was to plant them just below the surface with the taproot facing up and then they did a cool flip after the taproot exposed itself above ground and reversed direction.
The HSC website says "Gently place the seeds into the soil with the white taproot facing down."
Which way is better?
Click to expand...

Always down in soil or coco with any plant canna included idk bout rockwool never used it tbh till kingrow1 mentioned putting it sideways in that medium I wouldn't even have considered any other way you learn something new everyday
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
conor c said:
I only



Always down in soil or coco with any plant canna included idk bout rockwool never used it tbh till kingrow1 mentioned putting it sideways in that medium I wouldn't even have considered any other way you learn something new everyday
Click to expand...
If you plant seed sideways in rockwool with the seed seams facing sideways too the root and stem will not be impeaded by the shell or itself as the rockwool pre drilled holes are small.

I may never find the original thread - was over on 420.com or somthing but internet too cluttered. Its easy to try and test though :-)
 
C

cock roach

Active Member
In the wild outside grows, ya think the seed will fall to the ground in a perfect position in the soil every time and grow?
 
S

Skunk smell

Well-Known Member
I always thought pointing down made sense,but I realized pointing up is a better way. I got that tip from Mr. Soul (the breeder for Brother's Grimm seeds) on the Dudes Grow show podcast.He explained that by doing that,the tap root will curl around and shed the shell,which prevents having to carefully do it with tweezers after it pops out of the soil.Ever since I started planting with the tap root up,I have never had to peel off the shell from the seed casing.
 
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