Massive issues germinating..

So I have some older seeds that were given to me from my Dad, they are some of the nicer mid 90's strains but the seeds themselves are about 10 years old. I am aware that the age of the seeds makes it harder due to shells hardening. but I've tried about 20 seeds already in 3 different methods without any success.. 1) Classic paper towel method 2) Shotglass of water till seeds sink then a paper towel, 3) peat moss cubes/Rockwool. So far no success.

These seeds were stored correctly as well, at least to my understanding, cool and dark container...Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

Metalhead.

saintmetalhead said:

So I have some older seeds that were given to me from my Dad, they are some of the nicer mid 90's strains but the seeds themselves are about 10 years old. I am aware that the age of the seeds makes it harder due to shells hardening. but I've tried about 20 seeds already in 3 different methods without any success.. 1) Classic paper towel method 2) Shotglass of water till seeds sink then a paper towel, 3) peat moss cubes/Rockwool. So far no success.

These seeds were stored correctly as well, at least to my understanding, cool and dark container...Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

Metalhead.

Click to expand...

Google search for hydrogen peroxide soak for seeds.
It can help soften the shell and also sterilises all the germs.
You can also use a match box with sandpaper to scuff the seeds surface before hand.

Gibberellic Acid "GA3" might be your best shot. There's a wealth of information online about it's usage. One of it's uses is assisting in the germination of old seeds. You can get it on Amazon, ebay, etc... It not very expensive for a small bottle. I'd try a GA3 soak and then straight into small pots of soil. Skip the paper towel nonsense.

Good luck

I scuff old beans in a medicine bottle with a piece of sand paper rolled up inside
Drop in seeds and shake, shake , shake
Take the beans and place in a glass of water with h2o2 24 hours
Any that sink have potential place in paper towel or permanent media

Herb & Suds said:

I scuff old beans in a medicine bottle with a piece of sand paper rolled up inside
Drop in seeds and shake, shake , shake
Take the beans and place in a glass of water with h2o2 24 hours
Any that sink have potential place in paper towel or permanent media

Click to expand...

+1 on this

The abbraisive crap on a match box works great too. If they still wont pop after soaking, put em back in the bottle and shake again

Without sounding like a dick but, have you tryed just putting them straight into moist soil/coco?

Keeprollinup said:

Without sounding like a dick but, have you tryed just putting them straight into moist soil/coco?

Click to expand...

Not recommended. I tried this very thing 3 years ago and not one popped. I always germinate directly in soil. I recommend trying some proven method of increasing your chances.

Here's my germination method. Though I havent tried this with really old seeds but it works with seeds freshly harvested. My germination rate is 100%

First lets examine the morphology of cannabis seed

If you look at the cutaway...the root cap and cotyledons meet at the pointy end of the seeds. IMO, the pointy end of the seed determine the germination/dormancy of the seed. Some seeds just have really thick pointy end, some are thinner. The pointy end hold the seed together. If the pointy end doesnt open, the seed will not germinate. Needless to say, we want the pointy end to open to let the root cap come out (germinate)

1. The crush test...by pressing the seed between your fingers. If it crushed, its no good. If it stay intact, you have a good seed.

2. File off the tip of the seed....that's right folks...by filing off the tip of the seed, you remove the glue/lock/dormancy (figuratively speaking) of the seed, hence it makes it easier for the seed to open. Using emery board (if you dont know what this is....ask your wife/girlfriend) file off the tip of the seed until you break through the perianth. It would only take a few stroke of the emery board to break through, so be careful.

Correct way to file off the tip


Wrong way to file off the tip


If you see white stuff, you went too deep and most likely you have damaged the root cap or cotyledon. Surprisingly though, this will still germinate but the growth would be funky. So try to avoid filing too deep.

3. The soak test and beginning of germination.... drop the seeds in water. Any seed that doesnt sink in a couple of hours is no good (some may take a bit of push to sink). In 24 hrs, the root caps will start to emerge.



4. At this point, the seeds can be directly planted in your favorite medium or finish it in paper towels or however you plant your seeds. Once the root cap is out...it's ready to grow.

This technique is an old technique, it is use in germinating hard shell fruit seeds.
If you dont believe it, try it in one seed, 24 hrs you will see root.
I've been using this method for several grow now, I havent have a single seed failed to germinate.

xtsho said:

Gibberellic Acid "GA3" might be your best shot. There's a wealth of information online about it's usage. One of it's uses is assisting in the germination of old seeds. You can get it on Amazon, ebay, etc... It not very expensive for a small bottle. I'd try a GA3 soak and then straight into small pots of soil. Skip the paper towel nonsense.

Good luck

Click to expand...

I personally wouldn't bother with the GA3...I tried and tried last winter on old seeds. The dosage is supercritical. Yes...you can force a seed to pop using it...but the seedlings won't survive. My experience was that they expended all their energy growing wild curley Q roots till they died.
JD

JohnDee said:

I personally wouldn't bother with the GA3...I tried and tried last winter on old seeds. The dosage is supercritical. Yes...you can force a seed to pop using it...but the seedlings won't survive. My experience was that they expended all their energy growing wild curley Q roots till they died.
JD

Click to expand...

Yeah the dosage is tricky. And different sources are different strengths even if they say 90%. I've used it on old seeds and not just cannabis and I think it helped. But it's a very fine line where it helps and then you've gone too far. It's something I shouldn't have brought up in the newbie section.

Youtoube scuffing. Thats what you need to do.

saintmetalhead said:

So I have some older seeds that were given to me from my Dad, they are some of the nicer mid 90's strains but the seeds themselves are about 10 years old. I am aware that the age of the seeds makes it harder due to shells hardening. but I've tried about 20 seeds already in 3 different methods without any success.. 1) Classic paper towel method 2) Shotglass of water till seeds sink then a paper towel, 3) peat moss cubes/Rockwool. So far no success.

These seeds were stored correctly as well, at least to my understanding, cool and dark container...Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

Metalhead.

Click to expand...

Might be a bit old....

hotrodharley said:

Not recommended. I tried this very thing 3 years ago and not one popped. I always germinate directly in soil. I recommend trying some proven method of increasing your chances.

Click to expand...

Not recommended? It's natural for a seed to germinate this way. it's the way I do it every time will 100% success so don't tell me it's no recommended.

Keeprollinup said:

Not recommended? It's natural for a seed to germinate this way. it's the way I do it every time will 100% success so don't tell me it's no recommended.

Click to expand...

You’re successful in germinating 20 year old seeds this way? Bullshit. I germinate only in soil eh? Try educating someone else. Including yourself. You’ve never done it with seeds that old that were stored poorly.

hotrodharley said:

You’re successful in germinating 20 year old seeds this way? Bullshit. I germinate only in soil eh? Try educating someone else. Including yourself. You’ve never done it with seeds that old that were stored poorly.

Click to expand...

O shit I apologise couldn't remember what post this was I understand what your saying now. Just ignore me my bad.

Keeprollinup said:

Without sounding like a dick but, have you tryed just putting them straight into moist soil/coco?

Click to expand...

yes i have and nothing at all ,

Well i guess im just skunked and need new seeds, i just tried another 10 seeds with hydrogen peroxide, another 10 with scuffing and shaking and just plain Jane plopping them in soil, and nothing. i guess its just not meant to be lol.

saintmetalhead said:

Well i guess im just skunked and need new seeds, i just tried another 10 seeds with hydrogen peroxide, another 10 with scuffing and shaking and just plain Jane plopping them in soil, and nothing. i guess its just not meant to be lol.

Click to expand...

Have you cracked any open to see what they look like inside?

Xs121 said:

Here's my germination method. Though I havent tried this with really old seeds but it works with seeds freshly harvested. My germination rate is 100%

First lets examine the morphology of cannabis seed
View attachment 4348046
If you look at the cutaway...the root cap and cotyledons meet at the pointy end of the seeds. IMO, the pointy end of the seed determine the germination/dormancy of the seed. Some seeds just have really thick pointy end, some are thinner. The pointy end hold the seed together. If the pointy end doesnt open, the seed will not germinate. Needless to say, we want the pointy end to open to let the root cap come out (germinate)

1. The crush test...by pressing the seed between your fingers. If it crushed, its no good. If it stay intact, you have a good seed.

2. File off the tip of the seed....that's right folks...by filing off the tip of the seed, you remove the glue/lock/dormancy (figuratively speaking) of the seed, hence it makes it easier for the seed to open. Using emery board (if you dont know what this is....ask your wife/girlfriend) file off the tip of the seed until you break through the perianth. It would only take a few stroke of the emery board to break through, so be careful.

Correct way to file off the tip
View attachment 4348072

Wrong way to file off the tip
View attachment 4348073

If you see white stuff, you went too deep and most likely you have damaged the root cap or cotyledon. Surprisingly though, this will still germinate but the growth would be funky. So try to avoid filing too deep.

3. The soak test and beginning of germination.... drop the seeds in water. Any seed that doesnt sink in a couple of hours is no good (some may take a bit of push to sink). In 24 hrs, the root caps will start to emerge.

View attachment 4348076

4. At this point, the seeds can be directly planted in your favorite medium or finish it in paper towels or however you plant your seeds. Once the root cap is out...it's ready to grow.

This technique is an old technique, it is use in germinating hard shell fruit seeds.
If you dont believe it, try it in one seed, 24 hrs you will see root.
I've been using this method for several grow now, I havent have a single seed failed to germinate.

Click to expand...

Giving this a try now will report back

xtsho said:

Have you cracked any open to see what they look like inside?

Click to expand...

Yes , most are still a active seed inside, white meat, but nothing seems to be popping.