How long to soak seeds?

2beanklm

Active Member
thought i might try soaking for germination instead of paper towels. how long do you guys going this route let them soak before the soil?
 

Jerry Garcia

Well-Known Member
thought i might try soaking for germination instead of paper towels. how long do you guys going this route let them soak before the soil?
Unless they are older seeds you don't need to soak them in anything.

I just put mine in a moist cup of soil and let it do it's thing...don't make it harder than it is with paper towels and soaking!
 

feva

Well-Known Member
well im new and just did mine but i let them soak till they craked then planted. I took water that set out for a couple days droped in seeds 2nd morning after they cracked
 

dukeofbaja

New Member
I used to do paper towels but tried soaking and like it. I usually just soak them for 24 hours in a warm dark place. After 24 hours, I check them. I tap them softly to see if they sink. If they do, I plant it in soil and it usually sprouts in a day or two. If the seeds don't sink after 24 hours, I check again at 36 and 48 hours and do the same. If they have not sunk after 48 hours, I usually plant them anyway, but rarely do they grow.
 

BKCSG

Active Member
out of 200 quality seeds i've never had one that hasn't germinated and i've always put them directly into the soil. I never even touch the seeds, i just tip the bag it came in and let it fall into the little hole in the soil i made. I've never understood why people soak or use the paper towel method. In my opinion, the more you handle the seed, the greater the chance of wrecking the seed. Plus, you risk hurting the tap root when you transplant. Just do it in the soil... its how she likes it ; )
 

dukeofbaja

New Member
So true BKCSG. I just stick seeds for my veggies into the soil and they seem to do well, I have never kept track of it though.
 

BKCSG

Active Member
I put them right into the soil and they sprout 2 1/2 to 3 days later. From what some of you are saying is you soak the seed for 24 hours and then plant it and 2 days later it sprouts? what am I losing by going directly into soil exept the chance of fucking it up? The paper towel method and soaking are neat little tricks, but why chance it and for what? to me its not worth it even if it speeds the process by a day. Its an f'ing seed.. it needs moist soil and warmth, thats it.
 

siccmade420

Active Member
sorry but im gonna throw a question out there....you can stick a pot of soil with seeds planted in it and leave it in a warm dark place until they sprout?
 

Someguy15

Well-Known Member
I like soaking them til they sink (12-24 hrs) and then strait into root riot (rapid rooter, ect) cubes. I put them under the light so it's slightly warm and they pop in 2 or less days.
 

Jerry Garcia

Well-Known Member
seems to me you would have alittle head start if you soaked them for 24 hours
This plant is going to take months to grow...why do you need a head start?

out of 200 quality seeds i've never had one that hasn't germinated and i've always put them directly into the soil. I never even touch the seeds, i just tip the bag it came in and let it fall into the little hole in the soil i made. I've never understood why people soak or use the paper towel method. In my opinion, the more you handle the seed, the greater the chance of wrecking the seed. Plus, you risk hurting the tap root when you transplant. Just do it in the soil... its how she likes it ; )
YES.

The only time soaking is really beneficial is when you're using OLD, DRIED seeds. But even then, if you plant them directly in soil and water them in, they will probably absorb the same amount of water.

If you bought seeds from a reputable seedbank then you can assume they are fresh enough and will germinate fine. If you found some 8 year old seeds in your sock drawer then maybe soaking them for 24 hours wouldn't be the worst idea.

But really, if you let the taproot grow directly into the soil without handling it, you will VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE ALL stress and produce a healthier seedling.

Plus, IT'S MORE WORK!

Just put the seed 1/4 inch below the surface of the soil. 1/4 inch is pretty shallow...DON'T PLANT TOO DEEP. Just poke a hole, drop the seed and cover it up. Orientation doesn't matter...gravity will tell the root which way to grow. Then fully saturate your medium and place by a light source. In a few days your seedling will sprout.

Don't mess with paper towels.

Don't drown your seeds in water.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.
 

2beanklm

Active Member
need a head start because my last grow went longer than expected and my window to finish the next grow is june first. after that the temperture in my grow room will reach above 90 degrees on a hot day without the lights on and i can't afford to run lights and an air conditioner.
 

2beanklm

Active Member
sorry but im gonna throw a question out there....you can stick a pot of soil with seeds planted in it and leave it in a warm dark place until they sprout?
Don't be sorry dude. thats a good question. from what i understand they don't need light until they get above the soil.
 
hi im bearly starting to get into this stuff so im kinda iffy about alot of the info ive seen im just a simple dude looking for a way out of buying my own as i have no money for it then i thought about tht story about give a man a fish feed him for a day teach a man to fish feed him for a lifetime so yea this is sorta my position im not looking to sell and become some sort of rich pot dealer jst a person with a bud plant u kno what i mean lolz so yea here is what i got to work with a pot soil sandy dirt from out side i got tress growing in the back so im thinking about getting the dirt close to the tree k im pretty sure i can buy a lamp with 400 wat bulb and im thinking about making the little shelf for the bud with some wood and carbord boxes using imagination here lol dnt judge me ^^ ive made more with less lol so yea any one got any tips to help me amp up the chances for success
 

jamboss

Well-Known Member
hi im bearly starting to get into this stuff so im kinda iffy about alot of the info ive seen im just a simple dude looking for a way out of buying my own as i have no money for it then i thought about tht story about give a man a fish feed him for a day teach a man to fish feed him for a lifetime so yea this is sorta my position im not looking to sell and become some sort of rich pot dealer jst a person with a bud plant u kno what i mean lolz so yea here is what i got to work with a pot soil sandy dirt from out side i got tress growing in the back so im thinking about getting the dirt close to the tree k im pretty sure i can buy a lamp with 400 wat bulb and im thinking about making the little shelf for the bud with some wood and carbord boxes using imagination here lol dnt judge me ^^ ive made more with less lol so yea any one got any tips to help me amp up the chances for success
No you pig.
 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
I've germinated other ways but I like planting in soil. I use a heating mat for that purpose. The fastest I ever saw any signs of life was two days. I put the small pots on a heat pad i use for my back. Brought the soil temp up to like 75F. Seeds only need warmth and moisture.
 
Top