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GA3: How to germinate old seeds?
- Thread starter Illuminate
- Start date
What is really old in your opinion?
Keep on growing
It kind of depends on how the seeds were kept. I have Thai bag seeds given to me from the late 1970's that spent over 20 years in a drawer, then 15 years in a fridge and I get almost 100% germ from them.
Then I have a bunch of f2 hybrids I made that are about 12 years old, just left in zip lock bags at room temp, typically 25C 40-50% humidity, and I can't get a single one to pop, all sorts of strains, tried hundreds.
I would love to see how the Thai seeds grow Arf. Do you have a thread on those?
I did a run earlier in the year, I don't have any need to do another this year.
I have some other old seeds I am trying to germ that have spend 15 years in high humidity which I think makes them dormant.
I am going to try putting them in the fridge with some silca gel for a few months to see what happens.
I pry the seed hull apart if if they take too long to pop. No need for g3 for me anyways. I will use a bit of superthrive and molasses for a soak. Hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes, 1 to 20 water ratio. Scuff first.
Wear gloves and then into wet paper towels at 85 F.
Wear gloves and then into wet paper towels at 85 F.
Is it worth putting old seeds into a fridge for while to help seeds if they have been sitting in a sock drawer for years, and the seeds are not germing?
Ive been trying to germ various seeds, like ak47 from the 90s but the seeds arent opening. They open ever so slightly , then seem to give up
Great thread by the way
After look at this, and doing a quick google search, there is a liquid called BAC XSeed. Not sure whats in it, but i was thinking of trying it.
Ive been trying to germ various seeds, like ak47 from the 90s but the seeds arent opening. They open ever so slightly , then seem to give up
Great thread by the way
After look at this, and doing a quick google search, there is a liquid called BAC XSeed. Not sure whats in it, but i was thinking of trying it.
Ive got some hydrogen peroxide handy.
Does the % make a difference, and if so, which % do you use/recommend?
what does 1 to 20 water ratio mean?
Think i might try this on some seeds.thanks man
Here's my 2 cents.
My method, which I learned from an Old Coot, is using Bio Ag Ful-Power. They're just concentrated enzymes and like like a few said here when seeds are activated there's a lot of going on I.e. hormonal activity. I use about 1:100 ful power to water. It's better than giberellic acid, peroxide, bleach, etc. No offense. If it don't work then, them seeds where bunk.
One Güey
My method, which I learned from an Old Coot, is using Bio Ag Ful-Power. They're just concentrated enzymes and like like a few said here when seeds are activated there's a lot of going on I.e. hormonal activity. I use about 1:100 ful power to water. It's better than giberellic acid, peroxide, bleach, etc. No offense. If it don't work then, them seeds where bunk.
One Güey
frostqueen
Active member
Using Ful Power is a great idea, but if it were 'better than gibberellic acid', botanists would use it instead of GA3. But they don't.
A combination of Ful Power and GA3 would be an interesting experiment, though.
Is it this?
Keep on growing
Keep on growing
Mystic Funk
Active member
hey if you guys are still looking to get old seeds to pop, I started a thread with some good methods. there's also a ga3 test in there. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=334985
peace
-mystic
peace
-mystic
frostqueen
Active member
Yep, that's the stuff. Instructions for seed germing are on their label, as I recall. It didn't work for me by itself, so I have ordered some GA3 now. These seeds I'm working with may just be non-viable at this point.
All other factors being equal, an old seed batch that takes a long time to germinate, has the "helmut" issue where the seed coat gets stuck on the cotyledons, or has trouble emerging from the soil might benefit from GA3. However, it won't bring an old seed batch back to life if they're already dead due to excessive desiccation, exposure to humidity or moisture, heat exposure, sudden temperature changes, or other environmental factors that increases the rate of oxidation to the embryo. Sometimes, seeds are born dead even if they look amazing and fat on the outside...
Immediately after harvest, if fully mature seeds are dried at room temperature in the dark for 2 days, immediately sealed in air tight containers, then placed in the refrigerator, these seeds can theoretically last up to 20 years. They're dry at this stage, but not bone dry. I was surprised to hear some seeds lasting 35 years and still sprouting, but that seems plausible. In 2016, I germinated some zucchini squash seeds harvested in 1996 (package said packed for 1997), got 100% germination, and while they didn't sprout fast, they didn't take their sweet time either. The package of seeds were carefully stored in air tight containers in the refrigerator and were only temporarily taken out of cold storage maybe 3 or 4 times.
I don't think people in general realize just how long cannabis seeds can remain viable if stored properly. At the same time, their shelf life can be very short( weeks to months) if stored in a house, for example, that gets warm every day and cool at night.
Immediately after harvest, if fully mature seeds are dried at room temperature in the dark for 2 days, immediately sealed in air tight containers, then placed in the refrigerator, these seeds can theoretically last up to 20 years. They're dry at this stage, but not bone dry. I was surprised to hear some seeds lasting 35 years and still sprouting, but that seems plausible. In 2016, I germinated some zucchini squash seeds harvested in 1996 (package said packed for 1997), got 100% germination, and while they didn't sprout fast, they didn't take their sweet time either. The package of seeds were carefully stored in air tight containers in the refrigerator and were only temporarily taken out of cold storage maybe 3 or 4 times.
I don't think people in general realize just how long cannabis seeds can remain viable if stored properly. At the same time, their shelf life can be very short( weeks to months) if stored in a house, for example, that gets warm every day and cool at night.
TOKING TOKOLOSH
Member
Please tell me more about this GA3
