Soak and paper towel method?

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

I’m going to give up on direct planting into peat pellets and try the paper towel method and then plating directly into my 5 gallon pots with coco.

what temperature needs to be maintained when in the paper towels in a zip lock bag? Our house is never above 70band I’m wondering if this will be a problem and that I might need a heating mat or something? Thanks

PizzaBob · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
I’m going to give up on direct planting into peat pellets and try the paper towel method and then plating directly into my 5 gallon pots with coco.

what temperature needs to be maintained when in the paper towels in a zip lock bag? Our house is never above 70band I’m wondering if this will be a problem and that I might need a heating mat or something? Thanks

Bad idea. Just put the cubes in the ziplock bag then.
When I pop seeds I’ve used solo cups (coco) and cover w Saran Wrap. The light itself will heat up the coco in the cups if covered w Saran Wrap. I’ve also started in rockwool cubes in a dome. Both worked great.

Cashmeh · Oct 11, 2021

Make sure there isn't ink on the towel or paper plate. I just use regular plates not paper as they dissolve over time. You won't need a heating mat.

Soak seeds in ro/distilled for 16hrs, tapping them after about 12 to make sure they sink. Once you see it cracked open your good for paper towel method. I fold them and put them in between a few thick layers of paper towels right inside a crease/fold. Put it on a disk plate and stack another on top of it. Make sure it's not dry anywhere on the paper towel. I put quite a bit of water in there but most don't. I just make sure the seed will be above the water level or above a spot of oversaturation.

No bags needed for my method. Once you have one in tap root place in medium with shell bairly visible... Eazy peazy. Will take 3-4 days max from dry seed to get a good taproot.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

PizzaBob said:
Bad idea. Just put the cubes in the ziplock bag then.
When I pop seeds I’ve used solo cups (coco) and cover w Saran Wrap. The light itself will heat up the coco in the cups if covered w Saran Wrap. I’ve also started in rockwool cubes in a dome. Both worked great.

I planted seeds directly into peat pods in a dome and not having great success this time since two of them never sprouted after 6 days! I broke open the peat pods and the seeds never sprouted or cracked open at all

Ponky · Oct 11, 2021

I'm at 100% using a glass of water and the cabke box. Paper towel is fine. But putting seeds in water and walking away until you're ready is easy.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

Ponky said:
I'm at 100% using a glass of water and the cabke box. Paper towel is fine. But putting seeds in water and walking away until you're ready is easy.

Yeah, that sounds good to me with the exception of the cable box, could I use a heating mat with a glass of water on top and guess it would need to be covered with a box to keep it dark

And, how long do the tails need to be before planting into the medium?

Ponky · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
Yeah, that sounds good to me with the exception of the cable box, could I use a heating mat with a glass of water on top and guess it would need to be covered with a box to keep it dark

And, how long do the tails need to be before planting into the medium?

If you don't have a cable box as long as the water is in the 74 to 77 F range it's ideal. You can plant them as soon as they crack or I'd say up to 15 mm. 1 cm is ideal. I pick them up with a clean spoon and pour them tail down into their seedling medium. I use just packed promix in a Solo cup. Then lightly cover. With a small pinch only. When they pop out I help the seed shell halves come off.

PizzaBob · Oct 11, 2021

Ponky said:
If you don't have a cable box as long as the water is in the 74 to 77 F range it's ideal. You can plant them as soon as they crack or I'd say up to 15 mm. 1 cm is ideal. I pick them up with a clean spoon and pour them tail down into their seedling medium. I use just packed promix in a Solo cup. Then lightly cover. With a small pinch only. When they pop out I help the seed shell halves come off.

Well documented that taking the seed coating off weakens the plant. Do not assist.

Ponky · Oct 11, 2021

PizzaBob said:
Well documented that taking the seed coating off weakens the plant. Do not assist.

If I don't the little leaves die. Literally just help it fall off. Don't remove it.

PizzaBob · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
I planted seeds directly into peat pods in a dome and not having great success this time since two of them never sprouted after 6 days! I broke open the peat pods and the seeds never sprouted or cracked open at all

Heat and humidity.

Rickcin said:
I planted seeds directly into peat pods in a dome and not having great success this time since two of them never sprouted after 6 days! I broke open the peat pods and the seeds never sprouted or cracked open at all

heat and moistness. And being in a media that forced struggle to push up to light. Some seeds just take longer. Put the pellets in a zip lock bag in the dome. The paper towel method which I’ve done can creates weak stems and can stunt growth if not done perfectly.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

Ponky said:
If you don't have a cable box as long as the water is in the 74 to 77 F range it's ideal. You can plant them as soon as they crack or I'd say up to 15 mm. 1 cm is ideal. I pick them up with a clean spoon and pour them tail down into their seedling medium. I use just packed promix in a Solo cup. Then lightly cover. With a small pinch only. When they pop out I help the seed shell halves come off.

What about carefully using plastic tweezers to plant the seed tail down or is the exact direction not important?

C2F · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
I’m going to give up on direct planting into peat pellets and try the paper towel method and then plating directly into my 5 gallon pots with coco.

what temperature needs to be maintained when in the paper towels in a zip lock bag? Our house is never above 70band I’m wondering if this will be a problem and that I might need a heating mat or something? Thanks

I soak for 12-16hrs then I put in paper towel and inside a storage container

Ponky · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
What about carefully using plastic tweezers to plant the seed tail down or is the exact direction not important?

I have poor dexterity but yeah if you have the gentle hands of a surgeon. I have mallet hands :( sterile is important. Tail down helps. Sideways is ok. Upside down might slow it down.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

PizzaBob said:
Well documented that taking the seed coating off weakens the plant. Do not assist.

I have a seed that’s beginning to sprout and the actual shell has just pushed up above the soil. I’ve never seen this happen before?

Ponky · Oct 11, 2021

Rickcin said:
I have a seed that’s beginning to sprout and the actual shell has just pushed up above the soil. I’ve never seen this happen before?

That's what you want. The little Helmet will fall of. Might have to gentle push on it if it stays on there for too long.

growsince79 · Oct 11, 2021

Ponky said:
If I don't the little leaves die. Literally just help it fall off. Don't remove it.

I heard a good tip that works. Spray 1 drop of water onto helmet head.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

Ponky said:
That's what you want. The little Helmet will fall of. Might have to gentle push on it if it stays on there for too long.

Interesting, thanks for the response!

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

growsince79 said:
I heard a good tip that works. Spray 1 drop of water onto helmet head.

I’d rather not try to remove the helmet but I do mist the peat pod several times a day and hope it just falls off.

growsince79 · Oct 11, 2021

No heating pad needed. Cable box, hot water heater, or even top of the fridge is perfect. Last night I soaked seeds 4 hours then into paper towels. First one already popped in less than 12 hours.

Rickcin · Oct 11, 2021

growsince79 said:
No heating pad needed. Cable box, hot water heater, or even top of the fridge is perfect. Last night I soaked seeds 4 hours then into paper towels. First one already popped in less than 12 hours.

Your right! I did a few seeds in the basement in P Towels and they have tails after 24 hrs. How soon can I plant these and it would be good if they could go directly into their 5 gallon pots, is that okay

Soak and paper towel method?

Soak and paper towel method?

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