Germinating seeds what did I do wrong?

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
So I think I messed up my second attempt at popping seeds. Want to ask what I am doing wrong?

This is what I got going on.

wet the paper towel and put in a ziplock baggie, put the baggie between two plates, put the plate on my router to keep it warm and then a t-shirt on top of it to keep it dark.

In less than a day I can get the seed to pop and the root sticks out just a tiny bit then the next day there is no new growth and like everything basically stopped growing compared to the growth the seed had (popping) day before.

I have just used tap water which I think is a little high on the ph scale maybe a 7 cant remember. Other than that I cant see why these dont get a bigger tap root the next day after it pops.


TIA
 

jeeba

Well-Known Member
As soon as it springs the taproot plant it.You might be waiting to long to plant.
 

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
I had just started these yesterday morning and about 18 hours later I had a popped seed. So add another 10 hours onto that and nothing happened since. I would of thought that in 18 hours it popped and then add another 10 onto that I would of thought that it would of popped out a little more. But I got nothing since it had popped.

Am I jumping the gun? Plant them? Ok I suppose that is the only way to see if it will grow.
 

missnu

Well-Known Member
As soon as I see a seed has cracked open I plant it...when I used the papertowel method....now I soak the seeds in a cup of water sitting on top of my light reflector---adds humidity and acts as a great seedling mat...anyway when the seeds sink I take them and put them in jiffy pucks very carefully with the pointy end down and then I put the puck in a ziploc bag and sit that on the reflector and by later that day or the next the sprout pops out...sometimes 3 days. Seeds that take a long time to germinate I usually get curious and accidentally squeeze to death...lol...
 

CoAcHrOaCh

Well-Known Member
I popped seeds for the first time not long ago and after they popped they took a bit to grow any more...luckily I had the advantage/disadvantage of them just being cheap bagseed but the above advice of pop em and plant em sounds like a winner
 

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
I did plant them in soil. I think one will sprout up for sure I dont know about the other one so we will see. I had one seed left over so I started that one in RO water this time to see if I get better results.
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
if they popped then they will sprout....ive never seen or heard of a successfully germinated seed failing to break ground...you dont want the seed to grow much you only want the tiniest little white root hanging out a bit thats when its ready to plant...ill say i dont germinate like you do your overthinking it imo i take a cup and a wet paper towel and put all the seeds down the middle then fold in half and roll the towel long ways around my hand seeds to the top so now its a roll the shape of a circular cup..i take a glass with some roomtemp water..best to leave it sit out a day..then squish the bottom 3rd or so of the paper towel into the water at the bottom of cup while expanding the circumfrence of the towel so it sits against the inside of the glass and you can see down the middle. give it a swirl to make sure the water stays leaching up to the seeds and set in a dark place..unless its freezing temps arent an issue and i dont like the idea of the bag personally i feel like that cuts out gas exchange a bit who nos if that even matters yet tho..not this guy
 

Izoc666

Well-Known Member
hey bernie, maybe it will be much easier for you, if i can help ya out ? i would start soak seeds for overnight and plant seed direct to the 16oz party cup (soilless, made of peat moss mix with perlite) and tent that you use zig bag for humidity , till you see the sprout , take the tent off...thats it. no complicated. next time you can give a try, buddy. good luck

tip:

I would keep spray mist on the surface soil if its really drying...the goal is to keep soil moist all the time...and dont need water, otherwise it will drown the roots.

happy growing and peace

666
 

althor

Well-Known Member
If you do use party cups, let me also add in abit of advice. Slit the sides of the party cup every 1inch or so, from the bottom all the way to the rim.
That way, when you get ready to transplant, all you have to do is leave a party cup size indention in your new container, clip the tips of the rim where the slits are, and then peel the cup back away from the plant. You can gently lift the soil out of the cup and sit inside the indention. Whala, 100% stress free transplant.
 

unlucky

Well-Known Member
or he as got the paper towel to wet, i pop my seeds the same way but dont cover with a plate, to start off with i give the seed a little rub with sand paper on the pointy side and then fold two paper towels wet them a tad till damp,then cover the seeds with two more paper towels and then put them on top of my fridge...ive left some that long thay have small leaves on them and a root over 2inches long.... ;-)
 

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the tips.

The one seed I had left of this strain popped out bigger than the other two I used tap water to germinate them in. Not a lot but noticeable.
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
well if it happened to u then i guess now ive heard of it happening ;) ...id say 95 percent of the time that happens tho its grower error
 

deza

Active Member
i waited until the 'tap root' became a root itself and grew atleast 1cm long.. i planted the seed in moist soil root down with HALF THE SEED above the soil surface..
that way the root is in soil and protected and the seed doesnt need as much energy reaching the surface.. i just misted the seed with water to loosen the shell and yeah. they popped!

thats the only way i got mine to sprout! i had the same problems as you!
 

Spelljunkie

Member
I ruined my whole first batch of premium seeds by trying to germ in a paper towel - they rotted. That method is ONLY for bagseed - IF at all. Bagseed has less moisture because it has been through the whole drying/curing process. The seeds you buy are harvested and bagged fresh, so they have all the moisture they need. You simply need to put them in about 1/2 soil and wait about 3-5 days and you will see them starting to break surface. I know its not as satisfying not seeing them pop, but believe me, I have not lost a single seed since that harsh lesson (had to wait another couple weeks for another batch to arrive and get it right - not to mention the $70 in rotted seeds). Discovered that method works the same for bagseed, also.

So long story short, PLANT your seeds and lightly water to keep moist. Your patience will be rewarded bongsmilie
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
ill give the best advice someone has ever given on this site right now!!! ready - experiment and find what works best for you lol ....spelljunkie i use papertowel in a cup every single time and my germ rate in the past has been near perfect maybe you got a bad batch? i no thats cliche but id hate to blame you and not the seeds ;) ..however i do have to say i usually buy seeds randomly and let them sit around for quite a while..my problem with your method is if you dont pay enough attention and let them dry out in their little starter pot then thats game over! to each his own
 
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