HELP!!! Seeds pop... then stop?

[bigtopsfinn]

I'm having some trouble popping seeds, and can't figure out what's going on.

Every seed that has cracked poked it's tail out just a little, then stops growing.

I've tried:
Germing in paper towels
Germing in cotton
Germing in cups of water

First I thought it was the water I was using, but after testing it was EC 0.2 and ph 8.0 (I know this is high, but didn't think the ph really mattered at this stage, am I wrong?)

Something to keep in mind: These seeds were purchased over a year ago, and have moved around quite a bit from cold to warm to cold to warm, etc., and finally mailed halfway around the world in a jar of mixed nuts and wedged into some stroepwaffels from Holland. I cleaned the seeds well before germing but hasn't seemed to have helped.

FML

 

[Space Ghost]

temps? and why not adjust the pH down to about 6-6.4?

 

[tonsoffuns419]

when the tail pops out you are supposed to plant it man whether that be in rooters, soil, ect, ect

 

[bigtopsfinn]

temps? and why not adjust the pH down to about 6-6.4?

Temps = 25-30C. And yeah, I'm trying to adjust ph now.

when the tail pops out you are supposed to plant it man whether that be in rooters, soil, ect, ect

Tried that too, but just turned to mush.

So maybe it really was the ph? Usually when I've popped seeds, the tail can grow several mm in the paper towels. But now they can't even do that. I've been trying to isolate variables, and everything seems to point towards ph.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[hippydan]

pH definitely matters, whether or not it's the reason your plants stop dead in their tracks I can't say for sure.

 

[bigtopsfinn]

pH definitely matters, whether or not it's the reason your plants stop dead in their tracks I can't say for sure.

I was under the impression that ph is important for nutrient uptake, and that'll come once the seedlings use up their stored energy. Hence, why I haven't dealt with the ph issue yet. But like I said, I'll be adjusting the ph now and crossing my fingers.

 

[primeform]

im having this problem with a specific batch of seeds, but they are older. I think my temps are droppin too low at night tho.

 

[bigtopsfinn]

im having this problem with a specific batch of seeds, but they are older. I think my temps are droppin too low at night tho.

That's a possibility also, 25-30C is just a guess. Not really sure what the night-time temps are here. I've tried putting them in different places but doesn't seem to help. I thought they were getting too hot on top of the fridge, so I moved them to another spot. But maybe now they're getting too cold at night. Damnit.

 

[hippydan]

I was under the impression that ph is important for nutrient uptake, and that'll come once the seedlings use up their stored energy. Hence, why I haven't dealt with the ph issue yet. But like I said, I'll be adjusting the ph now and crossing my fingers.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=205523

Jedi's thread on starting seeds in rockwool. You can compare the results yourself. The three on the left side germinated but stopped growing. Sounds like the same thing you're experiencing.

 

[bigtopsfinn]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=205523

Jedi's thread on starting seeds in rockwool. You can compare the results yourself. The three on the left side germinated but stopped growing. Sounds like the same thing you're experiencing.

Thanks for the link. Guess I know what to try now. Hopefully it's not too late for the seeds that already popped.

 

[Retardo Motabon]

Have you tried planting them directly into a seed germination mix instead of soaking them?

 

[The Bulk]

Old seeds,overwatered and molded is the only reason I have seen them stop sprouting,temperature has nothing to do with it unless your below freezing.....

 

[The Bulk]

Temps = 25-30C. And yeah, I'm trying to adjust ph now.




Tried that too, but just turned to mush.


Thanks for the replies!

Mush tails equals rot from mold.....

 

[bigtopsfinn]

Mush tails equals rot from mold.....

One seed I planted into the coco actually had visible mold growing on it.

Now I'm thinking that there is a mold problem. What's the cure for this, h202? Will the 5.5-6.0 ph help?

 

[bigtopsfinn]

Have you tried planting them directly into a seed germination mix instead of soaking them?

I've got coco ready to go, but after planting the cracked seed nothing happened (except the mold).

I haven't seen seedling starter mix. No gardening stores here, gotta go to a nursery which poses its own problems. Never know what you're gonna get. That's why I wanted to stick with the coco.

I'll probably try using a soil and coco mix here soon if things don't start to work out.

 

[hippydan]

What's your humidity? Is the medium too wet?

 

[bigtopsfinn]

What's your humidity? Is the medium too wet?

I think about 80% humidity, still waiting for my hygrometer. I watered the coco and then squeezed the cup so that it was only damp. I kept adding a little water on top of the seed every couple days, but I think the seed was already dead at that point. Not sure though.

The thing that is really confusing is that I'e gotten really nice long tails in paper towels before, but now I can't even do that.

Maybe there is some kind of mold killing them in the paper towels/cotton and the lower ph will help. I don't really know?!

 

[captaincaveman]

you should try soaking them in distilld water and a few drops of super thrive for 24 hours then they should have a good size tap root (mine always do) put em in some merical grow soil. thats how i do it and they grow healthy and i get more females too

 

[TruthOrLie]

im pretty sure 80% humidity is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too high

maybe im wrong, i dont do coco

 

[bigtopsfinn]

you should try soaking them in distilld water and a few drops of super thrive for 24 hours then they should have a good size tap root (mine always do) put em in some merical grow soil. thats how i do it and they grow healthy and i get more females too

No superthrive or MG in this country.

im pretty sure 80% humidity is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too high

maybe im wrong, i dont do coco

Yeah I can't do much about it at this point. Once they are growing, they'll be in an AC room with better humidity levels. But electricity is really expensive here, so can't run the AC all day right now.

I don't see how humidity has any effect at this point. They can't even get out of their shells...