Huge Trouble Starting SSH Seeds in Soil

[rrog]

I bought premium Mr. Nice Seeds Super Silver Haze. Out of 18 seeds, 16 germinated. I assume that's normal. However I now have only 4 left that have survived.

I started the sprouts in a temperature controlled box with paper towels. They sprout just fine and fast. Seems like no problems there at all.

I'm using an all organic local compost. This is maybe 8 month old compost, so not too hot (I figured).

I had tiny styro cups with the compost to give the seedlings a start at rooting. The first batch of sprouts were likely in too wet an environment, and after a couple days all died.

For the second batch of seeds I mixed in Perlite and Vermiculite with the compost. Maybe 1/3 Perlite / Vermiculite and 2/3 compost. Damp soil material now. Not wet. Used Peat Pots this time.

Seedlings did much better but still 1/2 died, and the remaining are alive and look good but are not growing fast. They are under fluoros about 8" from the seedlings. Soil and air temps in the mid 70s.

I'm not thinking too much moisture but am wondering if I should have mostly Perlite / Vermiculite and just a bit of compost to start the seedlings. Is it possible that the compost was just too much for the sprouts? That's my current theory.

Thank you for any thoughts or advice.

 

[jaykush]

how are they diying?

 

[Savoir-faire]

Yes, it is certainly possible.
skip the paper towel method. drop the seed in a little hole in a 6 pack filled with (str8) promix... the promix, i believe, has enough lime to balance the pH of what is in there right out of the bag. - You can also refer to the Organics for Beginners thread and sprout in LC's mix (unamended)- Seeds have the energy/food they need to get started right there in the shell. Once they get some roots and a few leaves.. then it's time for the peat, compost mix..

Using the 6 pack with promix.. Mandala#1: 6/10 on day 3.. 9/10 by day 4.. 10/10 day 5.. not so confident about the last sprout.

Oh and 8" sounds far for fluoro's.. i keep my T5's 2 inches from the babies.. but I may be confused about what stage you are actually at.

 

[rrog]

how are they diying?

Hey JK. How ya been? Long time. Thanks for the reply. The seedlings seem to simply stall and then lose green. Some never expanded their leaves to pop the seed shell off.

Yes, it is certainly possible.
skip the paper towel method. drop the seed in a little hole in a 6 pack filled with (str8) promix... the promix, i believe, has enough lime to balance the pH of what is in there right out of the bag. - You can also refer to the Organics for Beginners thread and sprout in LC's mix (unamended)- Seeds have the energy/food they need to get started right there in the shell. Once they get some roots and a few leaves.. then it's time for the peat, compost mix..

Using the 6 pack with promix.. Mandala#1: 6/10 on day 3.. 9/10 by day 4.. 10/10 day 5.. not so confident about the last sprout.

Oh and 8" sounds far for fluoro's.. i keep my T5's 2 inches from the babies.. but I may be confused about what stage you are actually at.

Good info. Promix is a seed starting mixture? I will Google this

Thank you both very much for the assist

EDIT: I looked up Promix and see it is a potting soil / seeding soil. But what is the "6-pack" you refer to?

 

[jaykush]

bad compost, bad genetics or both imo.

got any other spare seeds(could even be fast growing veggies) to see if its the compost? if they do fine its the ssh seeds, if they die or suffer its the compost.

cant beat homemade compost, it saves day and days of troubles.

 

[rrog]

Hi Jay. What might make the compost bad? I believe it to be high quality. It's organic and local. The local horticulturists / master gardeners swear by it.

The seeds are from Mr Nice Seeds, which I chose because of their great reputation. I was thinking I was getting the best genetics possible for the SSH strain.

I'm still suspecting / wondering if the compost was just too strong for day old sprouts.

 

[Iron_Lion]

I had a whole pack of MNS SSH not germ, I pm'd Shanti and I got a replacement pack. You might want to be sure its not operator error first as it wouldnt be fair to ask for replacements if it was something you did.

Sounds to me like bad substrate, especially if they sprouted.

 

[guest2012y]

Jay's got a good point,if other seeds grow in it then it's not the mix.

I've always been really careful with seeds that cost this much $$$. I have a full blown anal seed starting method to keep failures at bay. My best advice to you would be to start seeds in those rooter plugs. Don't overwater.
CC1

 

[pinecone]

I generally have very good results germinating sprouting seedlings, but I have run into some issues some GHS SSH seeds I've been working with. I think I'm 4 out of my last 8 with these seeds and 6/10 for the pack overall. The ones that didn't sprout germinated, but died before they made it to the top of the soil; weird. There might be something genetic to this. The ones that did sprout took an extra long time to come up, relative to other sprouts.

Pine

 

[rrog]

Great and thoughtful replies. Thanks very much.

I think I should be looking at a Promix type of started soil that is more gentle for the seeds.

Also watch the water levels, as these seem especially sensitive.

I went from straight compost that was wet (100% seedling loss) to only slightly moist, mixed compost and am looking at a 50% loss. I think I'm on the right track

Iron Lion and Pinecone that's interesting. Confirms how delicate this strain is. I'm not discouraged now that I have a better understanding of the delicate nature and what I need to do. Iron Lion, I would say this is mostly user error at this point. I may get another batch of seeds, but I'm not going to ask for them for free.

Capt.Cheese, how have you been? I like the sound of the full blown anal seed starting process. You have a link?

 

[VerdantGreen]

8 month old soil can still be too hot for seedlings, the age doesnt take the nutes away. best to start seeds in an unferted soil mix. the only ferts/adds i use in my seed mix are dolomite lime and seaweed meal.

whilst many people have success sprouting seeds before planting, it is adding an extra transplant at the point where the seedling is at it's most vulnerable. i advise sprouting the seed in soil.

also i never use a dome on seeds or seedlings as it can encourage rot/damping off

EDIT - as for overwatering - its best to have a mix that is well drained enough to make it almost impossible for the soil to be too damp. 30% perlite does it for me.

VG

 

[VerdantGreen]

bad compost, bad genetics or both imo.

got any other spare seeds(could even be fast growing veggies) to see if its the compost? if they do fine its the ssh seeds, if they die or suffer its the compost.

cant beat homemade compost, it saves day and days of troubles.

hi jay, i may be wrong, but i reckon cannabis seedlings are more sensitive to rich soil than many veggies - especially haze types like ssh.

 

[pinecone]

I may get another batch of seeds, but I'm not going to ask for them for free.

I've heard they are pretty customer friendly at MNS. I would send them an email explaining the situation and expect to receive free replacements. These were very expensive seeds that you bought.

Pine

 

[apep]

Hey rrog. If the seedlings arent poppin their shells off you will have to give them a hand.
Just pinch the shell and it will crack off, then there will be this thin sheath thing (dont know what its called) pinch that and slide it off, the seed leaves will open in no time.

 

[OPT]

So you were using just compost, no peat, perlite, etc?

If so i would assume that is your problem. I too agree with verdant that you should just start seeds in a simple unammended mix, for example "seed starting mix" that you can find anywhere.

OPT

 

[bigwity]

i had trouble with my seedlings and clones dyeing off when i realised i watered them with the wrong spray gun full of nutes gutted, oh well lesson learned

 

[guest2012y]

hi jay, i may be wrong, but i reckon cannabis seedlings are more sensitive to rich soil than many veggies - especially haze types like ssh.

V man's got a good point here. Yet I have had cannabis seeds come up in and do just fine in my compost pile alone,but if I put fresh 2 week old seedlings directly into my super rich soil mix they would crisp up. They seem to do fine after a couple more weeks of root development.

 

[rrog]

All of these replies are certainly appreciated. What an amazing forum. Thank you all.

I like the idea of starting the seeds in a soil-type mix, rather than paper towels. Especially these obviously sensitive seeds. So any old seed starting mix would work, then? Like the Promix previously mentioned? Mix in 30% Perlite as my pal VerdantG suggested?

 

[ganjasuiteseat]

ive crack walk about in straight black kow in three weeks i CLONED off them.maby its the compost heavy toxins???is it CITY compost if so,its probly got a contam.peace

 

[guest2012y]

Capt.Cheese, how have you been? I like the sound of the full blown anal seed starting process. You have a link?

Everything is green as always rogg
Here's the only pic of what I do and it's blurry. After I soak the seeds in a glass of water overnight or until they crack,I'll transfer them to the plugs. I just get a square tupperware box and put in about an inch of 50/50 mix of perlite and vermiculite.
Then I get those rooter plugs (any brand) and sink them down into the perlite and vermiculite. Then add water so the whole thing sucks it up like a sponge. That's all the water they ever need in here.
I set the box in my veg room under 1000 watt MH light at 80 degrees. I put a piece of tent screen over the top of the box and hold it on with a big rubber band to keep bugs and stuff out. Usually in about 3 days or more they pop up. If they look like they are going to damp off I try to get them closer to the light. Moisture level is critical in the medium. Not too much,not to little. I never have to add water to the box because they only end up living in there a bit over a week.
After they develop a decent root system I transplant into a mild seedling mix of my own.