Anyone else having this problem

[TriWingGirl]

Hi everyone

I have always had at least a 80% or better germination rate usually 90%+.

Lately that rate has plummeted to 0% some of the one that were popping were stunted or deformed.

This time i started 2 packs of seeds 16 total, 0 popped and 0 are growing, all died or just did nothing.

i have not changed anything with my germination process in any way.

Could the ex-raying of the mail be killing the seeds. If so why should we waste our money on seeds that are being killed.

if there is no reason for the seeds to not pop can somebody help me with my germination technique.

I use a heat mat, then i put down a towel to keep them from burning and i put a towel over them to keep them warm. I put the seeds in a wet paper towel between 2 plastic picnic plates. i have been doing it this way for 10 years always had a 90%+ germination rate. it has only been the last year or so i have not been able to get my seeds to pop. this makes no sense to me.

I have tried using rapid rooter cups and my cloning tray and dome. i had the rate of 20% and only half those where viable.

 

[oldtimer846]

I cant really help, but i can say i bought seeds, 2 or 3 months ago, and had no problems.
I just put mine in the 3gal dutch pots im going to grow them in, just under the soil, turn on the 400w MH about 13 inches above them, and water them. Have not had any problems. They have all came up. Even one i thought was not going to come up did after 10 days.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

You had tails in the papertowels on all or just the 20%?

I just had 60/60 germ and sprout a few weeks ago, mostly Karma gear and a few others...wish I could help

It is perplexing and heart-wrenching at the same time watching them just fizzle like that.

 

[foomar]

Thats pretty much the way i have popped seeds for thirty years , toms , peppers and canna with better than 90% overall , sat on top of a historical collection of gadgets and tellys , 70f to 80f is good.
Have lost a couple of packs due to overheating , over 100 f seems to cook them beyond viability , unexpected full sun took them over for hours.

Unfortunately have had six breeder packs last year with zero germination with no obvious reason with other packs going 10/10 around them , and not old stock they were DOA.

Have been researching x rays with a view to increaseing mutation rate deliberately in canna , seems the energy from parcel scanners is too low to have any effect so would doubt they could sterilise.

 

[The Bulk]

Heat can be a mold attractor!Soak 2 days in a glass of water changing water as much as possible.Put in paper towel lightly wet and put in baggie.I even put them in the fridge if they are slow starters to fight mold.Old seeds and mold are the biggest factors in germination rates,bought seeds never have a born on date so ya never know what ya get.So you really can never rule out old seeds as the problem.

 

[teh_piper]

What kind of water are you using?

 

[ddrew]

My method from day one

24 hour soak
Put in wet, but not dripping, paper towel.
Paper towel goes inside a big freezer bag that I blow full of air and seal, twice a day I let the old air out and blow new in.
I wait till they have one inch plus long tails, and even till they throw off the seed casing sometimes.
Then I plant them with the top already above the soil line.
95% or better success this way for years now.

 

[DeoXy]

Hi everyone

I have always had at least a 80% or better germination rate usually 90%+.

Lately that rate has plummeted to 0% some of the one that were popping were stunted or deformed.

This time i started 2 packs of seeds 16 total, 0 popped and 0 are growing, all died or just did nothing.

i have not changed anything with my germination process in any way.

Could the ex-raying of the mail be killing the seeds. If so why should we waste our money on seeds that are being killed.

if there is no reason for the seeds to not pop can somebody help me with my germination technique.

I use a heat mat, then i put down a towel to keep them from burning and i put a towel over them to keep them warm. I put the seeds in a wet paper towel between 2 plastic picnic plates. i have been doing it this way for 10 years always had a 90%+ germination rate. it has only been the last year or so i have not been able to get my seeds to pop. this makes no sense to me.

I have tried using rapid rooter cups and my cloning tray and dome. i had the rate of 20% and only half those where viable.

hmm sounds about right to me... only thing I can think of is either you got the short straw on certain packs that happen to either just be bad or old stock.. where did you buy from if I may ask? I've never personally had that problem except with some Soma's Salad I bought from the bou.. had 0% germ success, only other thing I can think of is your heatmat is raising the ambient/rooting temp too much and cooking them.. It happens... I'd say either get seeds from somewhere else(trusted seedbank) and/or try germing w/o a mat.. GL!

As a quick note I've always germed with tap water and never had issues.. as it was asked before.. not sure if that plays much of a role.. but I personally never noticed any difference between distilled or tap when germinating seeds

 

[paladin420]

Yes I am. Only with seeds that were purchased ( not from here,and not my purchase-
If I take mail order beans out of my equation I'm at 80%.Thats counting 24 heirloom Afganies from the 80's. I'm 0 for 14 from two Canadian companies.
I still want to try lots of the choices here. Customer Service matters IMMHO.
Good luck

 

[TriWingGirl]

hmm sounds about right to me... only thing I can think of is either you got the short straw on certain packs that happen to either just be bad or old stock.. where did you buy from if I may ask? I've never personally had that problem except with some Soma's Salad I bought from the bou.. had 0% germ success, only other thing I can think of is your heatmat is raising the ambient/rooting temp too much and cooking them.. It happens... I'd say either get seeds from somewhere else(trusted seedbank) and/or try germing w/o a mat.. GL!

As a quick note I've always germed with tap water and never had issues.. as it was asked before.. not sure if that plays much of a role.. but I personally never noticed any difference between distilled or tap when germinating seeds

I believe this may be the problem.

It is true i have been having trouble since i started using the heat mat. I used to stick them in a nice warm spot. Sometimes in the towel closet between the towels. Sometimes in my cloths closet in a nice warm spot.

Rather than continue with a way that is not working i think i will go back to a nice warm spot, and quit relying on the heat mat.

I had a feeling the heat mat was getting them to hot, and cooking them.

I get all my seeds from SBN, the best seed company in the world. i have never before had an issue that is why i asked for help. It had to be my fault.

It's OK though i have more seeds and the Libra full moon is next week i will try again.

If first you don't succeed adapt over come fix the problem ask for help. you will succeed

Any and all help will be appreciated. I always accept any input that anyone wants to give.

 

[teh_piper]

If you started having problems when you added the heat mat... That would the first and obvious thing I'd change

Why change what has worked for 10 years? I wouldn't have worried about using the mat unless you have cold temps, slow germ rate, or no germ rate

 

[krunchbubble]

think about it....

Burpee and all those food and flower companies send there packages in the mail every day for decades....

if the x ray were killing seeds, these companies would not be doing this.....

 

[TriWingGirl]

Change in subject/ how do you start your Seeds

Change in subject/ how do you start your Seeds

I'm thinking i should go back to the very first old school way i learned. put a seed in a cup put the cup under a light. I'm thinking of putting them in the sun this time.

I'm curious to know how some of you start your seeds. Do you germinate, do you use heat, do you just put it in dirt, do you add karma and root booster.

How many of you out there have had trouble with heat mats? how many have had no trouble and use them a lot.

I have in the past used just put it in dirt and got 90+. i have germinated no heat and got 90+. I have used heat mats and got 80+ mostly until lately.

I would be interested in knowing more about soaking them i have never heard this before. Should you soak green house color coated seeds?

 

[In~Plain~Site]

Dampened paper towel>small square tupperware container,lid slightly ajar>desk drawer for 24-72 hrs>profit

 

[blizz]

same as in plain site but i put mine ontop of my cable box for a little warmth

 

[foomar]

Soaking for a day at 70 - 80 usually shows white tips , these are fresh and have produced enougth root to go into soil directly.

One of the twelve seeds all but one is off and running , gently cracking between the teeth has probably saved it , would never know if planted direct in media.

I would love to see what the GH seeds look like under their coating.

 

[TriWingGirl]

So soaking does the same as germinating.

I'm still interested in knowing about bad heat mats. if it is burning my seeds should i stop using it completely, would it also cause problems with growing plants? would it still be usable if i bought the hydro farms heat mat temp controller. my hydro dealer said it was unnecessary because the heat mat has an internal temp control.

I'm going to assume that the internal control is broken if the mat is getting to hot. i control the air temps in the room and keep them down. i have noticed that the room has been getting hotter each time i use the mat. definitely hotter than it was when i bought it and it worked great, now however it is getting to hot.

So i ask will the temp control fix this mat or do i need a new one, or should i just stop using it?

 

[Cloneman]

Bean stew?

Bean stew?

I'm going to assume that the internal control is broken if the mat is getting to hot. i control the air temps in the room and keep them down. i have noticed that the room has been getting hotter each time i use the mat. definitely hotter than it was when i bought it and it worked great, now however it is getting to hot.

I think you have answered your question, sounds like the sensor/stat has stuck on (its buggered). I have had propagators do the same thing in the past, ended up grilling my clones.. I now use a digital propagator (7 settings), which has been great for years, i think they use a thermistor, measuring heat with a different resistance to turn on/off the main control (7 settings). Not having anything mechanical to fail like a thermostat which has to click on and off...

My method is scuff them a bit with sand paper, just in case, some are quite hard to crack,in between wet paper towels between 2 plates, in the propagator if its on/has room, if not on top of my wireless router (great temp). Check with the back of your hand its warm and keep damp. When the tails are out, in to the soil.

I have been doing it this way for 17 years and it sorta works. Mind you its different strokes for different folks, what ever gets you there..

Good luck mate

 

[Tokin' KneeGrow]

So i ask will the temp control fix this mat or do i need a new one, or should i just stop using it?

a dollar-store thermometer can answer dat question mo better than any honky in dis here joint.

 

[TriWingGirl]

Think i have discovered the problem

Think i have discovered the problem

My troubles started about 2 years ago when i moved in my roommate. She is an extremely negative person, the type that thinks its funny to piss people off and screw up everything to not have to do it.

As my troubles started when she got here and have gotten worse as time has passed. i believe her negative energy are responsible.

I also now know her way of sabotaging me was to keep me stressed so i would make mistakes and be as negative as she is.

i believe all this negative energy is the problem. for those that understand this i plan to evict her , and I'm going to cleanse the house with sage today. To remove the negative energy and clear the house. then i will start again i will up date