Paper towel method not working???

420rival

420rival

Member
Ok so I've had some problems with a few of my seeds either being dead or breaking due to lack of light as soon as they pop the soil, but I started to germinate some seeds and try have been in the paper towel method (2 seeds for a few days and 1 seed I started last night) I put them in my laptop case it's a little one with a Cotten inside for my Mac book, and I placed them on a shelf about a 60 watt cfl for heat. They aren't popping the shell yet are they dead? I've had other pop on 12 hours. How long should wait? Can I take them out and drop them in a glass of water?
 
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tomascat

Well-Known Member
choose a darker seeds and soak them in water overnite, viable ones should sink. i use a small lidded container, line d with a paper towell sprayed damp. put in seeds, cover with another dampened towel , wait till u see the white tap roots pop then plant um 1/2 inch deep...all done
 
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spek9

Well-Known Member
Damp paper towel in a ziploc bag, put in the cabinet above the fridge for 36 hours. I have three at home I need to plant today after I get home from work.

I've had very near 100% germination rate with this method.

-spek
 
sunni

sunni

Administrator
Staff member
you did what?

this is how i do it, wet paper towel, seeds, cover seeds with plates place in cupboard check next day. popped.
 
canefan

canefan

Well-Known Member
some seeds are much harder shelled than other, thereby requiring more time to crack. I am currently germing some colombian gold and lamsbread, 3rd day they are just cracking tonight. The shot glass is great for overnight, I do this on some of these harder shelled strains but for me I like them cracking in the papertowel. LOL whatever works best for you is the right method.

Welcome to RIU I hope you enjoy it here
 
Dogenzengi

Dogenzengi

Well-Known Member
I like to put my seeds in water for 12 hours then I move the sinkers to a wet paper towel in a sandwich bag.

I use two paper plates to hold and keep out light, two pieces of scotch tape to hold it closed.

I just put it out in my garage in the dark.

The Key thing is the Temp, 80 degrees is perfect and your seeds that sank will pop in 24-48 hours.

peace,
DZ
 
TheSnake

TheSnake

Well-Known Member
pour a glass of water, dump your shit in it, put it in a drawer, and check it in two days and plant the ones that have roots. done.
 
dannyboy602

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
bass1014 said:
temps temps temps are the key to a proper germination..
Click to expand...
temperature is only half the equation. Moisture is the other half. I used to use paper towels but then I would forget to keep them moist enough. Really its so much easier to plant them and use a heat mat used for germinating. I don't mind waiting a few extra days.
 
Vindicated

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
The paper towel method works great for a lot of people, but others like myself do better using the old school method of sowing directly into dirt. A quick soaking is fine, but extended soaking puts the seed at risk for developing rot and mold. Here is what I do:

Soak seed in cup of room temperature water for 5-10 minutes. Then get a container, fill with a sterile medium made specially for germinating seeds (Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix or Fox Farm Light Warrior work good). Soak the medium until you see water draining off, and allow excess water to drain for several minutes. Finally, poke a half inch hole, drop seed, pinch hole closed and place under 24hr lighting.

When seed pops there will be no stretching. Just tight compact seedlings. At this point I'd set the lighting to a timer. In 2-3 weeks start the hardening off process if planning on growing outdoors.
 
roseypeach

roseypeach

Well-Known Member
I TOTALLY agree with Vindicated!!!!

Germing in soil is not as hard as ppl think. I just pop my medium in a solo cup, wet it some with kangaroots, and toss the bean in a little hole. I place a plastic 'hoodie' on the cup so I can see through it. Stick it under a light and within a day or two, maybe three, pop!!!!!!
 
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new2420grow

Active Member
Vindicated said:
The paper towel method works great for a lot of people, but others like myself do better using the old school method of sowing directly into dirt. A quick soaking is fine, but extended soaking puts the seed at risk for developing rot and mold. Here is what I do:

Soak seed in cup of room temperature water for 5-10 minutes. Then get a container, fill with a sterile medium made specially for germinating seeds (Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix or Fox Farm Light Warrior work good). Soak the medium until you see water draining off, and allow excess water to drain for several minutes. Finally, poke a half inch hole, drop seed, pinch hole closed and place under 24hr lighting.

When seed pops there will be no stretching. Just tight compact seedlings. At this point I'd set the lighting to a timer. In 2-3 weeks start the hardening off process if planning on growing outdoors.
Click to expand...

I too have just been putting my seeds directly into soil. I don't even soak them first. In the last couple of months, I've put 7 seeds directly into soil, 6 sprouted with 2-4 days. The one that didn't sprout was one of the bag seeds. It's kinda old school and isn't fancy, but in my limited experience, it has worked for me. Plus, if they haven't sprouted in a few days, you can reuse the soil for the next one. One of my ladies that is in her 2nd week of flowering is a bagseed that I put in place of the badseed that didn't sprout and she is going strong.
 
Vindicated

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
Another trick I learned from the nice people on the gardenweb forums is sowing them, without presoaking the soil or the seeds. Placing the container outside in December and letting mother nature handle it all. Winter sowing was the nickname given to this method. Not for those with a few seeds, but great time saver for the home breeder.
 
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BSD0621

Well-Known Member
If you have a cable box place the paper towel a plastic bag. Make sure the paper towel is moist and the plastic bag is air tight. Come back in 2 days and they should be ready to plant into soil. Good luck! :peace:

Also, pick brown seeds with black spots on them. Not white or green ones ;)
 
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