Hellooo, I'm new here and I have a question about seed germination success rates.

[SpaceDustEnjoyer]

So I had about 6 bag seeds that I have soaked in a glass of filtered water for 24 hours, I am not expecting them to produce massive yields or express crazy genetics I just love growing. Out of the six seeds two of them have sunk to the bottom of the glass of water while the other 4 remained floating on the surface. I am wondering if this has any implications for their germination? Are the two seeds that sank to the bottom bunk seeds or are they the only two that AREN'T bunk seeds?

Does the fact that those two sunk to the bottom display any information about their viability? Or is it simply a gap in their shells allowing water inside to sink them?

 

[THC_AeroGrower]

With most new 'bag seed', you can expect lower germination rates. Most will have come from unintentional pollination (from hermies or late spotting a male) and the plants are usually culled as soon as the seeding is noticed leading to immature seeds with questionable genetic traits. Depending on the maturity and stability of the seed, it may lead to a weak runt or other problems.

But to your question: with bag seeds or questionable genetics I typically only plant the seeds that sink as this indicates they rehydrated. With most seeds from reputable sources they almost always sink but even if they don't I plant them and sometimes they still work so the sink method isn't 100% accurate

 

[BearWater]

I’ve have left seeds in water for a while, i will change the water out though. Whats the temp like where they are soaking? Are you letting them crack in the water?

 

[SpaceDustEnjoyer]

I’ve have left seeds in water for a while, i will change the water out though. Whats the temp like where they are soaking? Are you letting them crack in the water?

Temp would have remained around 20-25 degrees Celsius for the time I had them in the water, they have now been transferred to damp paper towel inside of a ziplock bag for the next 24 hours which at that point they will then be transplanted into soil.

 

[SpaceDustEnjoyer]

With most new 'bag seed', you can expect lower germination rates. Most will have come from unintentional pollination (from hermies or late spotting a male) and the plants are usually culled as soon as the seeding is noticed leading to immature seeds with questionable genetic traits. Depending on the maturity and stability of the seed, it may lead to a weak runt or other problems.

But to your question: with bag seeds or questionable genetics I typically only plant the seeds that sink as this indicates they rehydrated. With most seeds from reputable sources they almost always sink but even if they don't I plant them and sometimes they still work so the sink method isn't 100% accurate

Cheers for the info, they are bag seeds so I won't be surprised if none of the six do germinate, just at this point in time I cannot afford to drop 80 AUD on feminized commercial seeds. As I said I'm not in it to win it, I do genuinely enjoy the challenge of achieving high yields from poor genetics. Either way I won't be losing any sleep if these seeds are bunk theres a million more where they came from.

 

[BearWater]

Temp would have remained around 20-25 degrees Celsius for the time I had them in the water, they have now been transferred to damp paper towel inside of a ziplock bag for the next 24 hours which at that point they will then be transplanted into soil.

what strain did they come from? I like to leave mine in the water until I see at least the crack. Then that way im not waiting around for seeds that may or may not pop. I did that this last round! I soaked some seeds, some cracked then i put them in their solos. One of them that didnt I stuck in a solo anyways, it did in fact pop but man I was spraying that solo cup every day just wondering hahaha! Good luck with your run!

 

[amneziaHaze]

No both are good just the sunken ones have allready opened.i would do the paper towel method.2 plates with toilet paper inside a wet plastic bag.dont get the paper too wet but get it wet.bag will keep the humidity at 100% and plates will keep the paper in the dark and away from the puddle

 

[SpaceDustEnjoyer]

what strain did they come from? I like to leave mine in the water until I see at least the crack. Then that way im not waiting around for seeds that may or may not pop. I did that this last round! I soaked some seeds, some cracked then i put them in their solos. One of them that didnt I stuck in a solo anyways, it did in fact pop but man I was spraying that solo cup every day just wondering hahaha! Good luck with your run!

Strain and genetics are completely unknown, because of this I don't have high expectations for yield or anything like that. I simply just enjoy growing plants, the science of it is fascinating to me. I started with tomatoes and cucumbers, now I have evolved to cannabis. Either way a failure is still a victory in this context imo as you learn just as much from failing as you do succeeding when it comes to botany in my opinion.

 

[BearWater]

Strain and genetics are completely unknown, because of this I don't have high expectations for yield or anything like that. I simply just enjoy growing plants, the science of it is fascinating to me. I started with tomatoes and cucumbers, now I have evolved to cannabis. Either way a failure is still a victory in this context imo as you learn just as much from failing as you do succeeding when it comes to botany in my opinion.

Well said man! Im right in the middle of my journey learning and winning and failing and learning! Hahah! Take care!

 

[carlosescobar]

i personally dont bother with the plates and bags an all that hullabaloo, i soak for 24 hrs put it in the soil ,water, then leave. but my main point was its really ideal if you can keep the soil warm, under 15 oc they will die , under19 oc they will be really slow ( thats when people think its stopped then they add water and then its overwatered) . I used to have to plant 6 seeds to get 2 past the seedling stage , as soon as i added a small greenouse heater and got the temps over 21 oC i have 100% success with seeds, in fact everything is growing even the birdseed which dropped into my coco mix