Ahhhh, this is a fun thread
I, like many others, have a ton of seed. I always lament the two times in my life where I’ve given a whole shed load of collected seed away.
Looking forward to seeing some of these old seed make it into adults. Hopefully you’ll find some lovely plants
The worst part is when interest in particular seed is expressed, so then gifted, only to sit in someone else's vault. 
... but I've looked and it should've turned up by now if that were the case.
Hello fellow cannabis enthusiasts! (And especially preservationists.)
First, I want to thank Lester Beans for his thread and mention of cracking seeds, and that someone made a device to aid with this. And big thanks to Thailer for following up with details.
I have never been too keen on the idea of scuffing. Can’t remember now the member here who recommended using nail clippers to clip the very end of seeds to help with germination, but I liked it. And cracking even more so. I have more than a few packs of seeds in the vault that may not be viable. Here’s a short list off the top of my head without actually looking.
G-13 IX
Dutch Dragon
Thai Tanic
Schnazz #2
Peacemaker
Ancestral Skunk #1 (known to have around 10% viability)
Thai Lights
Exile
G-force
Afghanica
Bubble Gum
BOG Bubble
Papaya
Sweet and Sour Cindy
Critical Romulan
I ended up buying “The Seed Cracker” to hopefully improve the possibility of getting these older, questionably viable seeds to pop. I have other projects and fresher seeds I had wanted to be popping next but I really need to shelve those plans to work my way through these seeds to see if anything can be saved from them. I will pair them with similar lineages when possible. For example, when I try to pop Thai Lights I will follow that up with Thai Tanic if results are poor. So maybe I get two girls from TL and only one plant, a male, from TT. I will toss some pollen around. Likewise, Afghanica and Exile will pair as both are basically Afghan Skunks (Afghanica more so than Exile). And Bubble Gum with BOG Bubble, etc. If I have a high germ rate - 70% - or above on any pack, I will work with those first before popping a similar counterpart. My goal is to try to produce fresh seed stock from each, but depending on viability it may end up as crosses that attempt to stay within similar familial lines. I have two packs of G-13 IX and will start with it. Depending on the results, that may be it until July. If no luck with G-13 I will try to start the Thai crosses next. All this will be to gear up and get practiced before July, when I plan to try to pop 75 AS #1 beans. This will tie me up for some time as I work my way through these packs. I will use this thread to document the results.
The Seed Cracker cost $55 and $10 shipping within the US. For an additional dollar per letter, up to 16 letters can be stamped on it and/or for three dollars a cannabis leaf. Kind of pricey. Especially when you consider that you could get this from Amazon for less than $15.
Mill out a nesting bed right in the center, mount it to a board or something else so as to fix it into an upright position, and get cracking. Looks like it would work… ?
Here’s my Cracker:
When I was looking around online to see pics of it I found this video of it in action:
I am going to get some GA3 to see if it improves chances. I plan to prep five beans of G-13 as shown in the video using GA3. The other five I will prep with a variation of Chimera’s method as well as soak after washing. I found the claim in the video of gravity aiding by taping the baggie to the cupboard door to be, questionable. Anyone think that makes sense? I suppose it couldn’t hurt and would also allow excess solution to drain away.
Back in a few weeks when things get underway.
Hi Shmavis, In regards to taping a baggie to a door or wall so the baggie hangs vertically, I’m not sure that would help older seed germinate?
What I do know is it will make the tap root grow straight down instead of curling like it naturally does. I’ve tried it myself after Simon from Serious Seeds sent me the info in a pm after I had trouble germinating some Serious 6 seeds.
It can make it easier to transplant the tap rooted seed as just the tap root goes into the soil and the seed shell stays just above, level with the soil surface and stop’s the seed from moving when watering so the seed doesn’t have to try to reorient itself again. It’s a good way for beginners to germ seeds using the paper towel method I suppose. Other than that, I don’t think it could help germinate old seed? Apart from it does help drain away water from the paper towel and may stop rotting but the water still sits at the bottom of the baggie, so should be poured out and the towel re moistened everyday to keep fresh.
Your right about the Classic seed stock, I have two packs of ‘Plato y Plomo ‘ and can’t get them to germ, I need a seed cracking machine too I think
Anyway, I hope your well bro
