I seriously need help sprouting ...

[Nellyyortiz9]

Hi everybody..so I’m having trouble with seeds sprouting. I don’t have a problem with germination, just a problem with them sprouting.

I have a propagation tent with 6500k cfl, a fan, heat mat and a propagation tray with a dome.

I’ve had less then a handful of successful grows(still kinda new...about 3 successful grows)

seems now all of a sudden I can’t get them to spout..what do i

 

[Homesteader]

Are you putting them directly into live soil or are you starting them in coco or peat?
Lots of times, many things will eat young seedlings in the soil before they break the ground (fungus gnat larvae being one). If you use something somewhat inert like sand, peat or coco, you can get them a head start and let the roots develop.

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

Are you putting them directly into live soil or are you starting them in coco or peat?
Lots of times, many things will eat young seedlings in the soil before they break the ground (fungus gnat larvae being one). If you use something somewhat inert like sand, peat or coco, you can get them a head start and let the roots develop.

Ok so I’ve used rapid rooter and starter soil and had about 50% rate. Jiffy pellets have 0% rate. Some starter soil actually ate the tap root of some of them.
I haven’t used just str8 coco

 

[Homesteader]

Are they old seeds? Maybe they are popping and then turning to mush? Sounds like its something else other than the medium. Those should all work well.

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

Are they old seeds? Maybe they are popping and then turning to mush? Sounds like its something else other than the medium. Those should all work well.

I’ve had more than a handful actually turn to mush. Is that from water logging the medium and drowning the seedling? Or is that just a bad seed.?
I had some seeds laying around from buds that I had broken up, I figured they’d be my practice seeds
I also had a few feminized seeds from reputable seed banks—and again it was about a 50% rate..really frustrating lol

 

[Homesteader]

Hard to tell from my vantage point but could also be that the seeds were not fully matured.

 

[linde]

old seeds. it's almost hard to not get a fresh strong seed to pop within 48 hrs. do it the old fashion way. drop them in a cup of 80° water for 24 hrs. than put in moist paper towels between 2 plates. keep around 78-80°. if seeds are good they will be cracked within 48 hrs. if seeds are old repeat process only adding carbonated water and hydrogen peroxide to water.

 

[linde]

don't put into soil until you see sprout. put seed in soil just enough to be covered with dirt. make sure soil is moist but not soaked.

 

[sambapati]

old seeds. it's almost hard to not get a fresh strong seed to pop within 48 hrs. do it the old fashion way. drop them in a cup of 80° water for 24 hrs. than put in moist paper towels between 2 plates. keep around 78-80°. if seeds are good they will be cracked within 48 hrs. if seeds are old repeat process only adding carbonated water and hydrogen peroxide to water.

I would just suggest using brown kraft paper coffee filters....they are much less likely to take any portion of your precious seed away. Putting them in-between the filters also works. A brief bath in very diluted Hydrogen peroxide has also been recommended on the farm to clean the seeds....I wish you luck and share the frustration...way way cooler when they just take off the way they are supposed to....I guess that is why we're not making the big $$$

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

I would just suggest using brown kraft paper coffee filters....they are much less likely to take any portion of your precious seed away. Putting them in-between the filters also works. A brief bath in very diluted Hydrogen peroxide has also been recommended on the farm to clean the seeds....I wish you luck and share the frustration...way way cooler when they just take off the way they are supposed to....I guess that is why we're not making the big $$$

Lol yeah I agree but I’ll definitely consider that for the next time

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

Hard to tell from my vantage point but could also be that the seeds were not fully matured.

how do you find mature seeds?

 

[Homesteader]

If you are buying the seeds they are mature. I would hope. Bag seed will sometimes will be the result of a herm late in flower and will produce little seeds that may or may not fully germinate.

 

[Milson]

Mature seeds will be hard and dark-ish usually. They often have striping. Less mature seeds will be pale and softer. At least in my experience.

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

Mature seeds will be hard and dark-ish usually. They often have striping. Less mature seeds will be pale and softer. At least in my experience.

Ok now question...once poped open and germinated, you put in the medium...how long do you wait for the taproot to be?
I usually just pop it in the medium after a day in the paper towel, regardless of how long it is....should I wait till the taproot is a certain length?

 

[Milson]

Ok now question...once poped open and germinated, you put in the medium...how long do you wait for the taproot to be?
I usually just pop it in the medium after a day in the paper towel, regardless of how long it is....should I wait till the taproot is a certain length?

I just pop it in the medium once i know it's going. I have only ever used seeds from a bank so far though.

 

[mysticepipedon]

old seeds. it's almost hard to not get a fresh strong seed to pop within 48 hrs. do it the old fashion way. drop them in a cup of 80° water for 24 hrs. than put in moist paper towels between 2 plates. keep around 78-80°. if seeds are good they will be cracked within 48 hrs. if seeds are old repeat process only adding carbonated water and hydrogen peroxide to water.

This is the method I've always used, except I'm not that particular about temperatures.

If you soak your seeds in water (or peroxide solution), after the 24 hour period, tap any that are floating. If they all sink, they will very likely germ. If they don't sink, there's a stronger chance they won't germ (or it will take that seed longer to germ).

Once they germ, seedlings don't like wet soil. Soaking them may fool you into thinking they like to swim, but once they sprout, they are upland plants.

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

This is the method I've always used, except I'm not that particular about temperatures.

If you soak your seeds in water (or peroxide solution), after the 24 hour period, tap any that are floating. If they all sink, they will very likely germ. If they don't sink, there's a stronger chance they won't germ (or it will take that seed longer to germ).

Once they germ, seedlings don't like wet soil. Soaking them may fool you into thinking they like to swim, but once they sprout, they are upland plants.

Hmmmm.. ok I’ll try to keep it less moist..I had a seed tray inside the propagation dome so that it stays humid and it was on top of a heat mat

in the dome was 80-90 degrees with a humidity level of around 70-80% with the holes open and a light fan breeze. I noticed this morning some mold was growing on top of the soil ( from
Being too wet I guess) but thanks for that and I’m going to try less moisture

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

If you are buying the seeds they are mature. I would hope. Bag seed will sometimes will be the result of a herm late in flower and will produce little seeds that may or may not fully germinate.

I just recently had to chop my gelato : ( due to nanners. I believe the soil was too hot from the beginning and I stressed it out too much

 

[Aqua Man]

I'll tell ya where I think you are going wrong at the end and what I do first.

I soak mine for 16-18hrs in DISTILLED water. Pop or not they go into paper towels but can use coffee filters. You never want to let them dry and you never want water pooling. If you can see water theybare to wet. I use 4 paper towels stacked then wet with DISTILLED water just enough they soak it all up and like i say if its shiny wet its to much. I use 4 because they don't dry out as fast.

Temp is very important they need to be warm. My ghetto solution is put a towel on top of my cable box. Take 2 plates face to face place the seeds on one side of the paper towel and fold it over so the seeds are covered. Gently pat the towels down so the have good contact with the seeds.

After 24hrs you will likely start to see some sprouts. Once they have a 1/4" tap root place into the media of choice that is MOIST NOT WET tap root down. Transfer as the pop as there is no point planting a seed that doesn't germ.

Now here is where I feel your mistake is.... only plant them max 1/2" deep. They seeds only have so much energy stored. If you go deeper they may not make it. Especially when its like 2 inches or something... now am I right? Have you been planting over an inch deep? Or maybe I'm wrong but thats how I do it.

 

[Nellyyortiz9]

I'll tell ya where I think you are going wrong at the end and what I do first.

I soak mine for 16-18hrs in DISTILLED water. Pop or not they go into paper towels but can use coffee filters. You never want to let them dry and you never want water pooling. If you can see water theybare to wet. I use 4 paper towels stacked then wet with DISTILLED water just enough they soak it all up and like i say if its shiny wet its to much. I use 4 because they don't dry out as fast.

Temp is very important they need to be warm. My ghetto solution is put a towel on top of my cable box. Take 2 plates face to face place the seeds on one side of the paper towel and fold it over so the seeds are covered. Gently pat the towels down so the have good contact with the seeds.

After 24hrs you will likely start to see some sprouts. Once they have a 1/4" tap root place into the media of choice that is MOIST NOT WET tap root down. Transfer as the pop as there is no point planting a seed that doesn't germ.

Now here is where I feel your mistake is.... only plant them max 1/2" deep. They seeds only have so much energy stored. If you go deeper they may not make it. Especially when its like 2 inches or something... now am I right? Have you been planting over an inch deep? Or maybe I'm wrong but thats how I do it.

Well, I definitely think I have been keeping the medium a lil too wet for their liking. I usually try not to put them too deep. Honestly, once I see a tap root, I place it in the medium regardless of size and maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong as well?
I have some I’m going to try out soon(hulk berry) and I’m going to try to read up on everything and see
Definitely appreciate the love