Germination/taproot question

[hugh manape]

Without bad mouthing any seedbank or breeder , I've come across a problem.After an overnight soak , all five beans popped.I had purchased a heat pad , but forgot to seal for humidity.After breakfast I was about to pop them into light warrior spoilers mix and I noticed they shriveled up.I sprayed them and within an hour they looked healthy again.I put them in solo cups and they all died.A great start turned disastrous bc I had been so psyched to try this gear.I'm pretty sure it was my fault....shouldn't of been lazy.Anyway I'm looking for the foolproof germination techniques.I did cover from light , but forgot to seal .

 

[GMT]

i throw seeds onto compost, sprinkle another layer about 5mm on top and gently water, then put the pot under a cfl to gently warm the surface, and keep the top layer of compost damp but not wet by rewatering as needed.

 

[hugh manape]

I've read a lot of people go straight to a medium and have great results.Over spraying might have been a problem too.thanks for reply

 

[GMT]

to be honest I think it was the drying out that was the real problem, plants can come back from serious wiltage ( i know its not a word), but a tap root that shrivels i think dooms the seeds future.

 

[hugh manape]

Germination is the only stage I still need to show more patience.Once I see green leaves , it's easy flying. , but I need to be more patient and just leave em alone at birth.

 

[Hurk]

I grow in soil, so I just put the seeds directly in soil in beer cups. I'll usually let the seeds soak overnight for maybe 12 hours. Usually when I plant them they haven't cracked yet, which I think is better because there's less chance of me screwing things up.

I say just throw the things in dirt, they'll know what to do.

 

[dddaver]

Seedlings just popped are pretty delicate. Too much water, they die. Too warm, they die.

I germed successfully in paper towels for a long time. Then I started having problems. Soaking towels too much, combined with putting towels in baggy on top of fish tank or cable box to warm them, were the culprits I think. They kept popping then dieing right away. I tried a barely damp (wrung out) paper towel, in a baggy, kept in the the dark in a empty cereal box, just on the counter. Success!

Now I just germ in rock-wool cubes that sit on top of dirt in Solo cups, no heat, in dark until cotyledon pokes through, then just one 26W CFL after that. 100% success. Them babies are delicate.

I also scruff up the seed's shells with sandpaper (make a tube and shake it like hell for a minute) to crack 'em a little before trying to germ 'em. Might be stupid, but works.

 

[thal]

I also go straight into medium, and I'm a coco grower. I start them in solo cups, filled to the top with coco. If necessary I'll dampen the coco prior to putting the seed in(if you water after the seed is in medium you can wash it out). I make a hole the depth of my pinkie nail, drop the seed in, and cover it up. Four days later I'll have a seedling standing tall.

I do keep my cups in a humidity dome I built until it pops.

 

[dddaver]

Oh yeah. I forgot about my humidity dome. I dome the seed cups till they show good leaves. But I could probably pull it before that. I just wanna keep them babies warm and moist before I have to expose them to the big bad world.

 

[Hammerhead]

I soak then plant in medium. soaking the seeds makes germination faster also helps with thick seed casings. Letting the tap root dry is death..

 

[hugh manape]

great stuff guys , thank you.everyone has good points that I thought and now have more confidence on how to solve.I have a problem checking and messing with them wen I should know better.I'm on my third year growing.been smoking for thirty.I have a 3x3 closet with a400 watt hps and a veg tent with floros.My first time ordering seeds , it was a germintthation nightmare.I now know in that case it was a bad seedbank(ams).1 plant after 70 seeds....they kept replacing them till I finally did research on them and gave up.So that experience keeps me wary whenever I start a new batch, so I fuck with them.That's why I won't mention the breeders company because I know I fucked it up.just wanted to give a little background to you guys .Just added some nice Kandy Kush pics to my albums and some veggin Sour D from Cali connect.

 

[dddaver]

Good luck to you. I bought a pack of WW seeds once and everyone of 'em popped and then promptly died. I was germing 3 at a time and using different methods each time too. Can get kinda expensive. I emailed the vendor who replied curtly he thought I was just trying to get free seeds. At least that place tried to help you.

I am a stubborn son of a bitch, but have learned not every battle is always worth the effort of fighting it. And sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the mosquito. I've also found when something works, hang with that, despite whatever "expert" advise comes your way. Apparently some people just say shit but really have no clue what they're talking about. Rant over (for now). Happy growing.

 

[Welsh-Smoker]

i throw seeds onto compost, sprinkle another layer about 5mm on top and gently water, then put the pot under a cfl to gently warm the surface, and keep the top layer of compost damp but not wet by rewatering as needed.

How long do they take to pop through soil by doing that then GMT?

 

[hugh manape]

I am also a stubborn bastard ! And I agree about half of what you read is b.s. and the proof is in the results.Stay true to your gut feelings......and yes....it gets EXPENSIVE.

 

[Jnugg]

Items needed:

1x 72 compartment seed tray
Bag of Rapid Rooter Plugs
Humidity dome (this is optional)
Paper towel
Ziploc bag or regular sandwich bag.

Moisten paper towel and add seeds and place in baggy,in 24-48 hours the seeds should have cracked.Once there is a 1/4" taproot on all seeds,grab your rapid rooter plugs and soak them in plain pH'd water (6.0-6.5) and then squeeze until only a few drops come out (field capacity),place each seed in it's own presoaked Rapid Rooter plug and place in the seed tray.I like to tear a bit from a corner of the RR plug and cover the hole gently.Place under fluoro's and wait for them to pop the surface.Once they have their 4th-5th set of leaves go ahead and transplant followed by a light feeding.

 

[hugh manape]

yea Mon !

 

[ELuminated]

Back in the day my garden started from a napkin soaked in water to germ the seeds, after almost 20yrs of growing I take a half gallon pot filled with CoCo and watered at 350ppm of burables in a water chelated mix and just plop the seeds down 1" and cover. I just did this method again last month, of 55 seeds I planted I found 54 sprouts.. we will see in another month how many bitches I can keep... Happy Planting.

 

[ELuminated]

O btw, I do not use a dome but I do keep the room ~70% RH and I use CFL lights for the first few weeks..

 

[hugh manape]

like your style.....seems much easier.

 

[ELuminated]

Thanks and Goodluck.