trouble germinating...

[mikeb437]

bought sum seeds from amsterdam. been trying to germinate them in a paper towel. the seeds seem to pop open just sllightly but then they dont open anymore or start growing when i put them into soil. they open a slight crack but then dont do anything else.. im using regular tap water to germinate then once they crack i put them into miracle grow potting soil. ive grown weed before but never had so many problems just trying to get a seed to germ and pop out of the soil once planted... what can i do differently?

 

[GanjaAL]

I used plugs soaked in GW and superthrive. Also I soaked my seeds in 8 oz with a drop of super thrive for a total of 24hrs. At the 18 hour mark they were still floating but when I taped them... they sank and I soaked them for the remaining 6hrs then put them in the plug... hope this helps. Oh... when I pulled them out of the water... they were not even cracked. However they did grow. A few did not make it but that was because they were to deep in the plug.

 

[mikeb437]

whats a plug, a rockwool cube type deal? i actually soaked my seeds in water for 3 days or so untill they popped a bit. i only used water though. but wouldnt putting them into soil be ok? and why would they just pop open a tiny bit and not grow anymore after that? im gonna try some regular seeds i have to compare what happens.. im using rain water as well with no nutes.. it is ok that i dont use nutes right away correct? these plants are going outdoors after i get them started..

 

[paulycali]

Skip the paper towel method. Germ seeds in a glass of room temperature distilled water for 24-48 hrs then put them directly into the soil. Simple as that. No nutes just water

 

[GanjaAL]

Exactly... however I like the super thrive as I think it will give a little boost. But to each his own.

Soaking for that long could have did them in. I read... only 24hrs max.

I used sunleaves rooting plugs.

 

[mikeb437]

thanks guys,, ill give it a try for the 24 hrs.. i have a cup of rainwater,, will that suffice? and will the soil be okay or should i try the rockwool cube?

 

[Blaze]

Temperature is critical in proper seed germination. What temps are you doing this at?

 

[GanjaAL]

Not sure... I used distilled.

 

[SCFSYNDICATE760]

man i do the same exact thing every single time and i have about 98% success....just fold like 2 or 3 paper towels into a rectangle...moisten it by either spraying with a bottle or putting water in your handthen drippingon towel....dont want it soaked just pretty moist...put seeds in fold over...then i put them in the bottom of an old butter container, one of them plastic tubs..then i put em on the ground in my bedroom with a towel or shirt kinda thrown on top just covering the tub...then forget about em and in 2 days..walla...
theyre all popped with lil white tails comin out...then stick my pinky about 1/4 inch into soil and drop em in tail down if possible, then covered with a rather thin layer of soil ...watered a little and thats it,,,,,have had awesome results using that basic method....like if i put in 20 seeds 19 will pop..maybe its the seeds as well?? Anyways..my 2 cents..this method has always worked perfectly for me..
safe growing to all :harvest:

 

[budseyeveiw]

man i do the same exact thing every single time and i have about 98% success....just fold like 2 or 3 paper towels into a rectangle...moisten it by either spraying with a bottle or putting water in your handthen drippingon towel....dont want it soaked just pretty moist...put seeds in fold over...then i put them in the bottom of an old butter container, one of them plastic tubs..then i put em on the ground in my bedroom with a towel or shirt kinda thrown on top just covering the tub...then forget about em and in 2 days..walla...
theyre all popped with lil white tails comin out...then stick my pinky about 1/4 inch into soil and drop em in tail down if possible, then covered with a rather thin layer of soil ...watered a little and thats it,,,,,have had awesome results using that basic method....like if i put in 20 seeds 19 will pop..maybe its the seeds as well?? Anyways..my 2 cents..this method has always worked perfectly for me..
safe growing to all :harvest:

^^ this

 

[LUDACRIS.]

Low hassle germination.

A GOOD GUIDE FOR GERMINATING YOUR SEEDS.


STARTING SEEDS.

This is good information for those that choose to use paper towels and/or pre soaking seeds for germination before planting them.

For years i have been advocating this advice and had great feedback with not a single viable seed not sprout for me.

But i have found a site which states it nicely (and its been tested this way for many years now).

Read this and don't lose any more of your precious seeds needlessly (its foolproof).


For an optimal germination result the seeds should be planted DIRECTLY into the substrate.

We clearly advise against using pre-germination methods or soaking. Please do not place the seeds into a glass of water or in moist paper tissues. Fresh and healthy seeds prefer a nurturing and airy substrate to germinate in – just as mother nature has meant it to be. Cannabis is a plant species originating from semi-arid and temperate biotopes and the vast majority of modern cannabis hybrids contain a substantial percentage of these genetics. Cannabis seeds are not adapted to swampy wetlands, but they are suited for germinating in well drained soil/substrate. In nature they rot if they fall into a puddle of water...and there are no paper tissues lying around either. Taking into account these botanical facts, it is quite logical that by creating germination conditions that are similar to those of the natural habitat one can expect the best results.

What happens if one uses pre-germination methods?.


1. Soaking seeds in water/wet paper towels is a method which can be used for old seeds (3+ years) that are drying up and losing germination power; and for pure land race equatorial strains such as from Africa. Both factors do not apply to our seeds. Fresh seeds have a healthy embryo whose cells are filled with water. But excess water causes the cells to bloat, depletes oxygen and leads to the tissue rotting away before the seed embryo can germinate. Old seeds have lost water in the cell tissue, the embryo starts to shrivel, which is why germination rates drop the older the seeds are. Therefore, old seeds (ie. 3+ years) can soak up more water before adverse conditions cause them to rot. This is one of the main reasons why various seed stock reacts differently to pre-germination methods. Especially novice growers make a lot of mistakes with pre-germination methods such as soaking seeds in water for up to 1-2 days. Even if one chooses to pre-germ seeds it has to be done correctly.

It is in a growers best interest to choose a germination method with the lowest risk of complications. Because we want customers to have the highest success rate possible we recommend the most convenient and safest method. This does not mean it is the only option. We simply believe it carries the lowest risk. In fact, planting seeds directly in the substrate is also the most plant friendly method for any type of seed stock. The reasons are explained below in paragraph 2 & 3.


2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.


3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of it’s life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.

Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.

Germinating cannabis seeds is not difficult. All you need is some basic information on what is important and everything should work out fine.



GOOD LUCK HOW EVER YOU GROW.

LUDA.
:cool

 

[paulycali]

Exactly... however I like the super thrive as I think it will give a little boost. But to each his own.

Soaking for that long could have did them in. I read... only 24hrs max.

I used sunleaves rooting plugs.

Just need to keep close attention to them. Once you see the taproot coming out then there ready to rock. Throw em in some soil

 

[LUDACRIS.]

Better just planting the seeds. Its so simple and easy.

 

[budseyeveiw]

the only part id disagree with is the natural part. to an extent. mj, like pigs cows wheat,tomatoes or whatever have been selectively bred so some are far removed by hundreds of generations from wild stock. i mean some strains have really hard shells on the seeds which makes them harder to sow, but that characteristic wouldnt exist in the wiild. or not for long anyway

 

[CHILKaT]

I have tried all the various methods to start seeds. The easiest, fastest and highest success rate I have found is with rockwool cubes. I use 2" cubes soaked in a seaweed / rainwater solution. I don't ph test. I pinch off a small hole on the bottom of the cube, place the seed sideways and cover it with the small piece of pinched off material. I can then mist it lightly if needed. Since using this method over 1 year on hundreds of seeds I have had 100% germination success. All of my seeds have sprouted out of the cube within 24-48 hours with first leaves, all except one which took 4 days(it was a 4 year old seed). I let them grow for a few days in the cube and then plant the cube into my soil medium. I will never go back to any other germination method.

 

[mikeb437]

got them to germ and grow finally!

been having a helluva time getting these costly seeds to germinate. but i finally got them to pop out of the soil. putting outside daily to get good sunlight and bringing them in at dush to put under 3 cfl's i have on a lamp.. when they get a bit bigger, them im planting outside!

 

[LUDACRIS.]

been having a helluva time getting these costly seeds to germinate. but i finally got them to pop out of the soil. putting outside daily to get good sunlight and bringing them in at dush to put under 3 cfl's i have on a lamp.. when they get a bit bigger, them im planting outside!

Looking good. Nice to see no paper towel faries in the making.
(nice job).

LUDA.
:cool

 

[edro51]

Wet, Warm, Dark, works for me...,

edro

 

[mikeb437]

here they are now..

 

[JCashman]

man i do the same exact thing every single time and i have about 98% success....just fold like 2 or 3 paper towels into a rectangle...moisten it by either spraying with a bottle or putting water in your handthen drippingon towel....dont want it soaked just pretty moist...put seeds in fold over...then i put them in the bottom of an old butter container, one of them plastic tubs..then i put em on the ground in my bedroom with a towel or shirt kinda thrown on top just covering the tub...then forget about em and in 2 days..walla...
theyre all popped with lil white tails comin out...then stick my pinky about 1/4 inch into soil and drop em in tail down if possible, then covered with a rather thin layer of soil ...watered a little and thats it,,,,,have had awesome results using that basic method....like if i put in 20 seeds 19 will pop..maybe its the seeds as well?? Anyways..my 2 cents..this method has always worked perfectly for me..
safe growing to all :harvest:

couldnt say it better myself. just keep it simple ;)

JC