Precracking - Page 2 - Auto Flowering - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

blynx · 03-04-2009, 09:20 PM

I pulled out some 2yr old masterlow seeds I hadn't had any luck with in the past. I soaked th seeds for 24hrs and they were still floating. I pulled them out and cracked them then put them into soil. One popped above soil in about a day and a half. The other took about 3 days to come up.

03-05-2009, 11:05 AM

I never understood why AF strains, particularly LR#1, got the image that you have to precrack the seeds...

Out of the 1000s I have germed I have never had a low germ rate nor have the seeds been to hard to open up. But I don't germ in paper towles, cotton, etc... Direct into growing medium 1/2 inch down. Now what I have seen are seeds that open up just a little bit and try to push there tap root out and hit a hard piece of perlite, rock, bark, etc.. and not having the strength to push around it , it dies. So, I wonder if the soil density and heaviness plays a role in AFs not sprouting. After I saw this happening I switched to a lighter soil and all problems have gone away,, I just started 30 LR1 and 28 popped up, the other 2 where just duds.

The main thing I have found about germing AFs, the soil must be warm! If you keep your pot on the cold floor AFs don't seem to like it, keep soil temps between 75 - 83 degrees, The temp of the soil can varry a lot from the Temp of the air inside your grow room. You have to get a stick thermometer and put it in the soil, Digital ones are best. Heat Mats are a good investment. This will always improve germination rates.

03-05-2009, 02:37 PM

With precracking I didn´t mean that I manually crack the seeds I just soak them between papertowels until they crack on their own.

I´m way too clumsy to be cracking them...it would be a massacree

cervantz · 03-05-2009, 06:43 PM

Nice subject guys! i'm tottaly addept to precracking method, i get like 60% more seedlings when using this with the LR#2 cross ive make. however mine is a little different. I use a vintage style gillette blade lol. i brake it in the middle so its a little safer to handle. this things can REALLY cut if brand new so u really need to be careful.
I hold the seed with the side where the root comes out pointing up, and using the blade i cut very small pieces right where the shells meet each other. I do it until i can see a very small gap between the shells. I better show some pics cause my english is not very good

Heres how i hold and "open" the seeds:

Thats the final result:

I bet u a root will be pointing thru this hole 12h after soaked in water

And heres a non-precracked on the left and a precracked on the right:

Note that although theres no gap on the center/right side of the seed, its still a little scraped. I dont force it to crack or anything.. just that.

i hope this helps ppl having germ rate problems, cause this helps me alot!!

Bye guys!

03-04-2009, 09:20 PM	#11
blynx WALSTIB Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,358	I pulled out some 2yr old masterlow seeds I hadn't had any luck with in the past. I soaked th seeds for 24hrs and they were still floating. I pulled them out and cracked them then put them into soil. One popped above soil in about a day and a half. The other took about 3 days to come up. __________________ 1 sqft CFL Cab & other CFL micro cabs Current
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03-05-2009, 11:05 AM	#12
IceColdCrickets Guest Posts: n/a	I never understood why AF strains, particularly LR#1, got the image that you have to precrack the seeds... Out of the 1000s I have germed I have never had a low germ rate nor have the seeds been to hard to open up. But I don't germ in paper towles, cotton, etc... Direct into growing medium 1/2 inch down. Now what I have seen are seeds that open up just a little bit and try to push there tap root out and hit a hard piece of perlite, rock, bark, etc.. and not having the strength to push around it , it dies. So, I wonder if the soil density and heaviness plays a role in AFs not sprouting. After I saw this happening I switched to a lighter soil and all problems have gone away,, I just started 30 LR1 and 28 popped up, the other 2 where just duds. The main thing I have found about germing AFs, the soil must be warm! If you keep your pot on the cold floor AFs don't seem to like it, keep soil temps between 75 - 83 degrees, The temp of the soil can varry a lot from the Temp of the air inside your grow room. You have to get a stick thermometer and put it in the soil, Digital ones are best. Heat Mats are a good investment. This will always improve germination rates.
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03-05-2009, 02:37 PM	#13
curts1 Guest Posts: n/a	With precracking I didn´t mean that I manually crack the seeds I just soak them between papertowels until they crack on their own. I´m way too clumsy to be cracking them...it would be a massacree
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03-05-2009, 06:43 PM	#14
cervantz Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 31	My precracking method Nice subject guys! i'm tottaly addept to precracking method, i get like 60% more seedlings when using this with the LR#2 cross ive make. however mine is a little different. I use a vintage style gillette blade lol. i brake it in the middle so its a little safer to handle. this things can REALLY cut if brand new so u really need to be careful. I hold the seed with the side where the root comes out pointing up, and using the blade i cut very small pieces right where the shells meet each other. I do it until i can see a very small gap between the shells. I better show some pics cause my english is not very good Heres how i hold and "open" the seeds: Thats the final result: I bet u a root will be pointing thru this hole 12h after soaked in water And heres a non-precracked on the left and a precracked on the right: Note that although theres no gap on the center/right side of the seed, its still a little scraped. I dont force it to crack or anything.. just that. i hope this helps ppl having germ rate problems, cause this helps me alot!! Bye guys!
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