Putting the germinated seed in the A/G pod?

What's the proper way to put a germinated seed in the AeroGarden pod? I've been looking for answers everywhere and i couldn't find anything except one thread, and I'm not sure if i did what i read right or not, it was saying i should slice the sponge pod in half like a Hotdog bun and insert all the root came out of the seed inside? it's confusing for me i KILLED 2 plants already after the established 1 set of leaf, they both die after 8 days or so.. Is it maybe some of the room was exposed to the light? I'm using bottled water and lowering the ph with hp down, as low as 5.6 - 5.9 .... the strain are white widow.... any recommendations?

Owais: once it's germinated, it's not easy. It's much better to start the seed in the pod like A/G tells you to. It's time to RTFB because A/G gives excellent seed planting instructions in you owner's manual and you can access the same information on line at their web site.

It can be done but it's very tricky The tap roots often break just looking at them. You can soften the pod by soaking it in a glass of warm water for about a half hour but you'll still have to poke a hole in it. Some people use nails but I like a skinny 99 cents store bar-b-cue shishkabob skewer. Don't poke it all the way through, only as deep as the tap root is long. Slip it in gently into the hole then gently press the pod back together so it's snug around the tap root.

Next time follow A/G's instructions. Push the seed in at least as deep as it is long, pointy end down, below the surface, cover it with the label and I leave them in irrigated total darkness with the light cord to the hood disconnected for 24 hours. Then you can hit them with light on the tomato schedule or go with a progressive light schedule.

Killing them after 8 days? Are you changing you nutes weekly? What's your ppm's? The pH should be 5.5 to 6.0, ideally 5.8. What nutes are you using? I hope you're not using A/G's nutes. They're not really suitable for what we're growing. You can get a Technaflora's, "Recipe for Succes," starter/sample kit from most hydro stores for about $30 and that will last you a long time in an A/G. It comes with everything you'll need form seed propagation to harvest. Just watch you pH real close because it can change real fast in that little reservoir. If you know what you're doing, growing in an A/G can be a lot of fun but if you don't it can be nothing more than frustration. It sounds like you already got a taste of that. I hope this helps. HSA

I think the method i have used of inserting the germinated seed in the pod was totally wrong, first of all the i didn't make a hole to insert the seed inside, i made only a very tiny one and during the growth of the plant the root was exposed to the light, and then i read somewhere i should slice the pod like a Hotdog bun to make it easier for the root to get through it down to the reservoir but i think that was too late and it never get to the reservoir, I didn't start using any nutrients, i read that i shouldn't use nutrients before 2 weeks of planting the seed, I already have (flora series) floragrow, florabloom, floramicro but i didn't use it yet... I germinated another seed about 5 days ago and when it was ready i inserted the seed inside the pod, the shell of the seed is about half an inch deep and covered the hole with small piece from the sponge of the pod, so far the growth seems quite fast comparing to my first 2 trials and much healthier, I use bottled water that have a ph of 6.5 but the air stone I'm using is decreasing the Ph down to 5.9 - 6.0, I have ph down so whenever it will go up i'll add a drop and it will decrease it for about .5 , ppm is the only thing i haven't check, is it necessary to have a ppm meter? the bottled water i use have 2.0 sodium, i think that's not bad isn't it? Anyways i haven't find alot of information about ppm, the water i'm using has 0.2 calcium, 18 magnesium <0.1 potassium <0.01 iron <6.1 bicarbonates 68.3 sulphates, 1 chloride 0.1 nitrates <0.01 flourides 116 solids maybe you are good with these numbers and can give me a hint, and yes i got so frustrated because I've been struggling for about a month for just get through the seedling phase but apparently it wasn't an easy experiment for me... here's a pic of my third trial, it's 3.5 days old, should i start using the nutrients 2 weeks after the day i planted the seed? or whenever it get the first full set of leaves? any other recommendations is appreciated, thanks HSA

AG makes this almost idiot proof. I only use AG nutes and mine are doing great. Now into flower time.....and they are growing like weeds I think some people here want to overcomplicate things. The AG Elite is made for this little hobby, not for just the yield or dank factor. It's fun, the 'new' AG liquid nutes are great for this system as they also have an absorbence material built in so although less total PPM, they are more 'drinkable' for the plants. 3 plants max, 14 weeks total growth, 3 little hobby crops a year. Have fun!

Does she look healthy? She's about 4 days old from planting, Any idea what's the black spots on its right leaf?!
P.S: I have the lights/pump 24hrs a day, 2 Cfl's of 26watts and 2 of 32watts

looks pretty...

thanks! i felt like you complimented my daughter lol

Now the black spot got worse and even the other leaf got some... is that something to worry about?

is that light/heat stress?