Germination techniques

JimmyHamilton21

JimmyHamilton21

Active Member
So I have always either just planted my beans in generic potting soil to start or wrapped them in a paper towel and soak in water and then seal up in a zip lock bag and hide it in a drawer.

So my ? Is the more I read I hear about people "soaking" their beans for a day and then planting. Are you soaking them in a glass of water until they crack and then planting them in your medium?

my methods have worked for me in the past but always looking for ways to improve my game.
 
If it works keep doing it.
Sure there are lots of ways to crack seeds but use what works for you.
I have used the soak seeds for 24hrs then into paper towel till tap root starts then into soil.
Been using the same method for around 15yrs not going to change unless it stops working for me.
 
well I just put 4 beans in a paper towel wwxbb saw the seeds open up with a tiny tail and put them into peat pelts jiffy ones 3 days later and still nothing any advise would be great. as i really dont want these to spoil, i have them under 2 18w flouros. ? should i turn off the light. I have them in a warm place.
 
beeralot said:
well I just put 4 beans in a paper towel wwxbb saw the seeds open up with a tiny tail and put them into peat pelts jiffy ones 3 days later and still nothing any advise would be great. as i really dont want these to spoil, i have them under 2 18w flouros. ? should i turn off the light. I have them in a warm place.
Click to expand...
Be patient
 
I held a seed in my mouth under my tongue for about 2.5 days until it popped once (always chewing on something, I've actually got a seed in my mouth atm but I'll probably swallow it).....not worth doing with 6-12 or more seeds at a time. Was just a fun little test. I actually use moist toilet paper in a bag for the majority of my seeds. I like the T.P because it hugs tighter to the seeds and I can clearly see when the taproot starts to creep out from the bulge of the seed without opening the wrap 500 times a day going..........ok now I'm 100% sure this time it they will be ready........
 
I won't use the girly scented TP for my seeds.....I don't know that it would do anything with the added perfume but I figure why risk it eh?
 
JimmyHamilton21 said:
So I have always either just planted my beans in generic potting soil to start or wrapped them in a paper towel and soak in water and then seal up in a zip lock bag and hide it in a drawer.

So my ? Is the more I read I hear about people "soaking" their beans for a day and then planting. Are you soaking them in a glass of water until they crack and then planting them in your medium?

my methods have worked for me in the past but always looking for ways to improve my game.
Click to expand...

Not until they crack. just until the seed sinks. Its soaked up enough water to start germination.
I only use that method on seeds I've produced. The soaking your seeds in water until they sink is just a old school method to separate the good viable seeds from the bad seeds that still float after 12-24hrs.
your seeds from a seed bank have almost a 100% germination rate. I sow those seeds to soil or grow plug.
If you want to go through those extra steps its not gonna hurt anything. Just remember the less you have to handle the seeds the better.
 
The expanding peat pellets from Jiffy suck for germination. They hold way too much water. I've had great success with the paper towel method...
 
Thanks for all of the advice. I have usually just planted bag seed from some good buds, but I placed my first seed order the other day and got them and just wanted to make sure. First times knowing what strains and characteristics I have will help me along the growing process I hope as well.

i am doing my four Cinderella 99 and the two freebies that I got from attitude, N. lights X Skunk and critical super silver haze. All are fem so hoping for good success!
 
I have always just soaked rock wool for 30 minutes in 5.5ph water with 2 drops of Super Thrive or 1/2 tbs cloneX to 1 gallon than just dropped my beans in, get damn near 99% germ rate.

I recently made some crosses to I tested my beans in all methods and found something interesting out. When soaked in a glass of water (distilled) for 24 hours than put in a paper towel, those beans sprouted faster than beans put straight into a paper towel. Furthermore beans soaked in water for 48 hours showed tap root faster than 24 hours, so I concluded regardless of your germination method a presoak speeds things up, that said I would rather not have to place my sprouted seed into rock wool I'd rather just start in rock wool, but for soil I would go ahead and start in paper towel. It's hard to not mess up the tap root putting it into rock wool imo.
 
My method is to just fill up plastic cups or planting containers at least 4" tall, with moistened Sunshine Advanced Mix #4. Then I stick my finger in the center of each, just up to the first knuckle or about half inch deep. Next, I throw the seed(s) in the hole(s), cover up and water thoroughly. They go under a waiting 4-tube T5 fixture and that's it.

In three (3) to four (4) days I have seedlings good to grow.
 
put seed in medium (soil, rock-wool, peat plug, etc) with pointy end down......apply water..... place in dark warm environment.......wait until it sprouts......place under light source
 
Indoor Sun King said:
put seed in medium (soil, rock-wool, peat plug, etc) with pointy end down......apply water..... place in dark warm environment.......wait until it sprouts......place under light source
Click to expand...


That step is not necessary when putting the sead in a medium, I always put seed in rock wool and than drop a T5 about 18" above it.... never failed to get germination.
 
^ I also just place them under a T5 about a foot away. In the winter I might use a heat mat especially at night. Once they begin to sprout I move the fixture down to a few inches away.
 
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