WTF is going on with seedling roots growing straight up in the air?

CanadianJim said:

The two last images are what I'm talking about. If you put the seeds in the ground pointy end down, so that the root grows out straight it won't turn around like that, usually. I've planted seeds straight into the ground without cracking them by soaking first, and they only take a bit longer to pop up, and when you harvest the plants there is no bend in the tap root.
If you have had to dig up seedlings to get rid of a covert grow, you will have seen the roots. Pointy end down=straight tap root.
Pointy end up=bent tap root.
Pointy end up does help remove seed husks. I don't need scientific studies to prove what I've seen with my own eyes, but if you haven't fair enough.
Leaving a humidity dome over a seedling after it breaks the surface does make damping off more likely.

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SPLFreak808 said:

Personally i've found different results upon checking my root balls after chop. they are usually J shaped, never straight down, only my clones went straight down if i remember.

When i get home I'll slip an old pot apart and take a few pics just to confirm, It could simply be differences in the way we plant.

Sorry ltecato for the noise, really wanted to learn more about this subject.

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SPLFreak808 said:

Personally i've found different results upon checking my root balls after chop. they are usually J shaped, never straight down, only my clones went straight down if i remember.

When i get home I'll slip an old pot apart and take a few pics just to confirm, It could simply be differences in the way we plant.

Sorry ltecato for the noise, really wanted to learn more about this subject.

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SPLFreak808 said:

Well yes the tap root/roots respond to positive geotropism but physics doesn't usually allow seeds to land pointed end down, really its not a big deal as it was an opinion/theory of mine but I truly feel that through thousands of years on earth, cannabis (and many other plants) has evolved its offspring traits for better survival due to landing heavy side down like a tear drop.

Dont get me wrong though, if your tap root is already long then you have no choice but to point the tap root down, which is fine if it works out.

More random cannapics if anyone cares, im also dying to read more about this if anyone could point me to a book/study. View attachment 4374489 View attachment 4374491 View attachment 4374492 View attachment 4374493

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ltecato said:

"Geotropism" is the word I was looking for! Thanks! I knew I had heard about it in botany class but it's been a good 40 years or so.

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Skunk smell said:

I had the same problem my last few grows.After doing some research,I came to the conclusion that it was from using seedling plugs.That made sense,because I never had it happen until I started using them.Here Is some good info. https://www.growweedeasy.com/tap-root-upside-down-seedling

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ltecato said:

"Geotropism" is the word I was looking for! Thanks! I knew I had heard about it in botany class but it's been a good 40 years or so.

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