Can Chlorinated Water Inhibit Germination?

Topo

Topo

Well-Known Member
Damn man, my germination rate is hitting the shits!!! :cuss: I've been doing this for 35+ years, and lately my germ rate is less than 50%.

I use both techniques, paper towel and direct planting. A couple times I took the seed with a small taproot from the wet paper towel and put it in neutral potting soil. Then it just sits there unti it dies. I have tried to back off on the water and everything.

The only thing I can think of is the chlorine they add to my tap water; or the seeds weren't viable. They are in contant 78 degrees. I'm running out of excuses! :twisted:

Could it really be the chlorine? DAMN this is frustrating. I have not had any better success planting in neutral moist soil either.
 
GeeTee

GeeTee

Well-Known Member
yes chlorine can. try using sum bottled water or distilled or jus let ur tap water sit overnite b4 u use it
 
Topo

Topo

Well-Known Member
GeeTee said:
yes chlorine can. try using sum bottled water or distilled or jus let ur tap water sit overnite b4 u use it
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Thanks +rep. Now I have to wait longer for more seeds since that volcanic ash is screwing up the euro flights :cuss:. My patience is running out!!!
 
GeeTee

GeeTee

Well-Known Member
hey np bro thx for the rep. i found out long ago that chlorine can have an adverse effect on plant life even in small amounts. but gl wit ur next seeds
 
patlpp

patlpp

New Member
GeeTee said:
hey np bro thx for the rep. i found out long ago that chlorine can have an adverse effect on plant life even in small amounts. but gl wit ur next seeds
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Are you talking about just seedlings or is chlorine bad anytime in any amounts in any soil or in hydro??
 
YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
Topo said:
Damn man, my germination rate is hitting the shits!!! :cuss: I've been doing this for 35+ years, and lately my germ rate is less than 50%.

I use both techniques, paper towel and direct planting. A couple times I took the seed with a small taproot from the wet paper towel and put it in neutral potting soil. Then it just sits there unti it dies. I have tried to back off on the water and everything.

The only thing I can think of is the chlorine they add to my tap water; or the seeds weren't viable. They are in contant 78 degrees. I'm running out of excuses! :twisted:

Could it really be the chlorine? DAMN this is frustrating. I have not had any better success planting in neutral moist soil either.
Click to expand...

I always use water straight from the tap and have a 100% germ rate everytime (direct planting).
Were the seeds viable ??????
 
YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
GROWFAQ.

How can I tell if my bag seeds are healthy?

Added by: MedManFresh

Seeds have a waxy glimmer and a hard, intact shell.
Colours range from a buff through a dark brown, and from light grey to almost black colours. Often seeds are mottled with brown or black spots, or lines on a lighter field.

Green or whitish seeds are usually immature and will germinate feebly if at all.
Shiny, very dark brown or black seeds often mean the contents are fermented and the embryo is dead. Fermented seeds crush easily with finger pressure and are hollow or dusty inside.

Brick or compressed cannabis seeds must be checked as seeds that are bruised or crushed are not viable.
 
pdotb

pdotb

Active Member
Topo said:
Damn man, my germination rate is hitting the shits!!! :cuss: I've been doing this for 35+ years, and lately my germ rate is less than 50%.

I use both techniques, paper towel and direct planting. A couple times I took the seed with a small taproot from the wet paper towel and put it in neutral potting soil. Then it just sits there unti it dies. I have tried to back off on the water and everything.

The only thing I can think of is the chlorine they add to my tap water; or the seeds weren't viable. They are in contant 78 degrees. I'm running out of excuses! :twisted:

Could it really be the chlorine? DAMN this is frustrating. I have not had any better success planting in neutral moist soil either.
Click to expand...

the way i do it is just put the seed in a cup of water and it should float first when its in there....give it a day or two then tap the seed on the top of the surface if it sinks to the bottom and stays there then it is ready for planting...it works 100% of the time for me...also i just use tap water as well
 
Topo

Topo

Well-Known Member
Wow, thanks for all the help guys....I didn't expect this much support. After I post this message, I'm going to rep whoever I didn't previously.

Well, I dug around that pulled up the last dying seed. The taproot wasn't the healthy white kind with the sharp tip. The tip look blunted and brownish, like someone who's arm was chopped off. (Sorry if you or anyone you know had this tragedy :( ) Out of Attitudes last 10 seeds to me, only 4 made it to planthood. I'm not blaming Attitude though. It's almost summer here, and when the water supply get's warmer, I think they infuse more chlorine into the tapwater.

This was my last seed, so this hit me hard :( . I do have more on the way, but God knows when they'll get here with that volcano plume. As far as the viability test, I am going to try that the next time around. I didn't know that was a surefire quality test....'goes to show you can always learn more. :)

Thanks to all. I'm gonna go cry in my beer now.....:(
 
YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
Topo said:
Wow, thanks for all the help guys....I didn't expect this much support. After I post this message, I'm going to rep whoever I didn't previously.

Well, I dug around that pulled up the last dying seed. The taproot wasn't the healthy white kind with the sharp tip. The tip look blunted and brownish, like someone who's arm was chopped off. (Sorry if you or anyone you know had this tragedy :( ) Out of Attitudes last 10 seeds to me, only 4 made it to planthood. I'm not blaming Attitude though. It's almost summer here, and when the water supply get's warmer, I think they infuse more chlorine into the tapwater.

This was my last seed, so this hit me hard :( . I do have more on the way, but God knows when they'll get here with that volcano plume. As far as the viability test, I am going to try that the next time around. I didn't know that was a surefire quality test....'goes to show you can always learn more. :)

Thanks to all. I'm gonna go cry in my beer now.....:(
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Something to consider and read. I do this everytime and it never fails with viable seeds.

"POSTED BY CRACKERJAX"



https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/176359-starting-your-seeds.html <<<<<<<< LINK
 
Topo

Topo

Well-Known Member
Yep, I'm gonna do the floatation test, and if the bean dives down, she goes right into the neutral seeding soil......with distilled or de- chlorinated water. Mother Nature invented this process (except the sink or float test), so I'm going to follow the blueprint.

As I think back, Mother Nature didn't put water in chlorine either. I hope that my mystery is hereby solved-thanks fellas. :) :leaf:
 
YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
Topo said:
Yep, I'm gonna do the floatation test, and if the bean dives down, she goes right into the neutral seeding soil......with distilled or de- chlorinated water. Mother Nature invented this process (except the sink or float test), so I'm going to follow the blueprint.

As I think back, Mother Nature didn't put water in chlorine either. I hope that my mystery is hereby solved-thanks fellas. :) :leaf:
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Soaking seeds is never a good idea and usually ends up in fungus as seeds already contain enough moisture inside and clorine does not matter. I think you are drowning them in my opinion.
 
patlpp

patlpp

New Member
GeeTee said:
chlorine is bad for any plant or seedling
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Plants do not actually uptake chlorine, the problem is that chlorine kills all microbes in organic grows, which is a good thing in chemical hydroponics. It kills Pythion dead, instantly. SEE>> https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/286022-killing-root-rot.html and read FATMAN's excerpts.

YOUNG BUCK said:
Soaking seeds is never a good idea and usually ends up in fungus as seeds already contain enough moisture inside and clorine does not matter. I think you are drowning them in my opinion.
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Agree, this tends to be the #1 cause of failure along with too much water. Maybe you should try the towel method and use rapid rooters next time in a 100 PPM solution of RO water. The rooters are inert and have a very high success rate, they will provide the correct water/air ratio . Do not however let them sit in a pool of water. This is another mistake people make where they let the rooter or rockwool sit in a pool of water , constantly wicking water. Even if you use RO water and your germination is a success, how is one to know it was chlorine? Odds are if it were indeed the water, than most likely it was due to something other than chlorine, like an extremely high PH or a huge amount of some mineral. Have you tested your water by taking a ph and PPM reading?
 
K

Kode

New Member
good way the check seeds is try and pop it, as hard as you can with your thumb and middle finger squeeze it if it pops it's bad if it don't it's usually good.
Reason being if there is a healthy embryo in there there is no room to compress/crack from the force you can to with your fingers.
 
GeeTee

GeeTee

Well-Known Member
patlpp

patlpp

New Member
GeeTee said:
chlorine is bad for any plant or seedling
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GeeTee said:
patlpp said:
Plants do not actually uptake chlorine, the problem is that chlorine kills all microbes in organic grows, which is a good thing in chemical hydroponics. It kills Pythion dead, instantly. SEE>> https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/286022-killing-root-rot.html and read FATMAN's excerpts.

i never said plants take in chlorine i said its bad for them, pour sum chlorinated water into ur pot and c wat happens in a few days
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OK , I have and they are doing fine. No root rot either. Could you elaborate instead of "Bad" ? Bad as in a bad influence? You are right for organic grows but wrong in hydro
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YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
GeeTee said:
patlpp said:
Plants do not actually uptake chlorine, the problem is that chlorine kills all microbes in organic grows, which is a good thing in chemical hydroponics. It kills Pythion dead, instantly. SEE>> https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/286022-killing-root-rot.html and read FATMAN's excerpts.

i never said plants take in chlorine i said its bad for them, pour sum chlorinated water into ur pot and c wat happens in a few days
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I do it every feed and it has no ill effects on my plants and all this letting water sit for days to remove chlorine is a myth as water straight from the tap is fine and there is no need to let it sit out in open containers. Yes let it sit untill its at room temp and thats it.
Chlorine does not affect the plants growth or efficiency to grow the chlorine debate is a myth and if you believe that its a bad thing for plants how come it works exellent for me after 10+ years of growing ??????????.
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Topo

Topo

Well-Known Member
Lively discussion here. With the sink or float test, wouldn't you just do that for just a few hours? If I do it, I wouldn't let it literally soak, as in overnight, etc. I just wanted to see if it's my fault, or viability of the seeds. And I am big strong guy, so I'm afraid I could crush a viable seed :lol: I'd be scared I just wasted money.

If/when my seeds get here, I will photojournal the germination process. Oh, by the way, I did test both the water and the soil, and both were about 6.9-7.0 pH.

Thanks everyone! :leaf:
 
YOUNG BUCK

YOUNG BUCK

Well-Known Member
Topo said:
Lively discussion here. With the sink or float test, wouldn't you just do that for just a few hours? If I do it, I wouldn't let it literally soak, as in overnight, etc. I just wanted to see if it's my fault, or viability of the seeds. And I am big strong guy, so I'm afraid I could crush a viable seed :lol: I'd be scared I just wasted money.

If/when my seeds get here, I will photojournal the germination process. Oh, by the way, I did test both the water and the soil, and both were about 6.9-7.0 pH.

Thanks everyone! :leaf:
Click to expand...

No dont soak the seeds or try to crush them(they dont need it)and viable seeds look like this. Nice and dark/shiny with a stripey appearance.

 
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