New at this, got a few questions...about ready to give up.

kelseyautumn · #1 12-13-2007, 10:37 PM

Ok, so I know questions about germinating are probably annoying, but I can't seem to get past this stage after several tries.

At first I had three seeds in a coffee cup of room temperature water. All three of the seeds sank, and still wouldn't sprout after almost a week. I thought that if they sank, that meant they were alive...so I didn't give up and went for the paper towel method...still nothing. Threw those away thinking I killed them somehow.

Now I have a few seeds in a damp paper towel in a plastic baggie on top of my cable box. I also coated them with Rooting hormone. After reading the faq, I figured I'd give that a try.
We also have a few in a shot glass with paper towels, on top of our modem with the hormone coated on them as well.
I was wondering if anyone else had used rooting hormone, and knows how fast it produces results. Or if anyone has any other ideas of what I can try next to get these little buggers to sprout their tails. I would try just planting them next, but I want to know if my seeds will grow before I spend the money on soil, etc...because I can't really afford spending money on dead seeds. So that's a last resort.

Maybe I just suck at this and should give up? :[

Garden Knowm · #2 12-13-2007, 10:56 PM

YO bro,

You can do this and get 100% germination... if the seeds are decnt.

1. take a rockwool cube
2. soak it in water that is pH ed to 5.0 for 2 to 24 hours
3. put the seed about 1/8 inch into the cube
4. hang a 43 watt CFL light 6 inches above the cube... keep the light on for 18 hours a day
5. if the room gets cold, make sure you put the cubes under a platic dome.. ideally, the cubes will be kept above 70 degrees at all time

YOU will germinate for sure..
If you get concerned about the cubes drying out, fill the tray or plate that the cubes are in with water tha is pH ed to 6.5... let the cubes sit in the water tha is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep... the cubes should soak this water up..

and NOW you KNOWM

Kestas · #3 12-13-2007, 10:56 PM

Just make sure they stay damp "not wet" in a dark mildly warm spot. This is the easy part just give them about a week.

Garden Knowm · #4 12-13-2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestas

Just make sure they stay damp "not wet" in a dark mildly warm spot. This is the easy part just give them about a week.

yeah, what he said

dalgoda · #5 12-13-2007, 11:36 PM

There is more fun stuff to figure out later too. The plant is quite hearty and will do most of the work for you under room temperature conditions comfortable for humans.
Germination was tough for me too just to get my one seed finally like 10 bagseeds later. The method that finally worked for me was fold the paper towel in four times. put it on a small plate the same size moisten the towel with room temperature water. Then put seeds into middle of folds put another plate upside down for a lid. Then put the plates into the sock drawer or an area of comparable temperatures and lighting.
checking on em about every day they finally, like three days later, shell's on two cracked and had the white root poking out.
Gave them about two more days and then planted them bout 1/2 an inch deep root pointing down in some already damp growing medium. then give it time and tlc and hope for the best if it is strong enough it should go. Survival of the fittest for sure in bagseeds it seems.
Rooting hormone tho seems not needed until you want to make cuttings for new growth(clones)
most all it needs should be in the shell or somewhere cause somehow in nature it never needs it.
good luck

kelseyautumn · #6 12-14-2007, 01:46 AM

Thanks for the responses.
I have a small amount of seeds (about

, and I've been doing a lot of what everyone suggested (minus the rock wool suggestion, I haven't tried that because of that money stuff).
I keep thinking that I'm seeing the very tip of the root still inside my seed...like it's getting ready to come out, but being shy. I don't know if I'm really seeing a potential sprout or just looking at the seeds too hard and over analyzing them. I'm so impatient with this, I'm dying for some progress.

By the way, I didn't buy these seeds. These are just some that I found, which is why I am so wary of them.
I just have been crossing my fingers and hoping that one of these random seeds would work with me, and yield a decent plant. :\

giantmo · #7 12-14-2007, 01:56 AM

sounds like dodgy seeds

Dixie78 · #8 12-14-2007, 02:15 AM

I always go with the damp paper towel and plate method as it seems to work 99% of the time. But deffo seems to be a seed issue here babes.
And sod's law will make the one that sprouts be a boy! cos that's the way life is! lol. germ at least 3-4 seeds and you should be okies.

email468 · #9 12-14-2007, 07:15 AM

You want to start with fresh seeds. they should have a dull (waxy) sheen and a hard, unbroken husk or shell. Colors can vary greatly from darkish brown to a buff or clay-color. Avoid very dark brown or black seeds as well as green or whitish seeds. Very shiny seeds should also be avoided.

And while you should avoid handling them a lot, you should be able to apply pressure with your fingers without crushing them.

And i also germinate using paper towel method. I thoroughly moisten a few paper towels and fold the seeds into it making sure they are completely covered and moistened. I take the seeds that are folded up in the damp paper towel and put it into a zip-lock baggie. I put that in a warm, dark place (on top of my PC tower). Most of the seeds usually crack within 24 hrs (though they can take longer) and taproot protrudes with 36 hrs (see pic)

edsthreads · #10 12-14-2007, 08:17 AM

A technique I found works every time (depending on age & quality of seeds) is put the seeds inbetween some paper tissue (the napkins you get at fast food restaurants work great as they don't fall apart like bog roll) fold napkin twice put seeds in middle, water with room temp water (I use tap water or ironised water - both have worked for me) Place plate in to a black carrier bag or bin liner & place on top of a set-top box or your TV if you still have a old CRT TV... Plasmas or LCD's are just too thin to be placing plates on lol...

The heat from the TV or set-top box I have found to be perfect for germination, but if stealth is a issue then a airing cupboard is good (or any nice dark warm place you can think of), just make sure the paper doesn't dry out & check at least twice a day & top up with a little water if needed.

Grow for it!