Starting Seeds

[ilovetoskiatalta]

I want to start a thread on different seed starting techniques. Starting seeds is my biggest challenge.
Hoping to see how others have had success. This thread is basically about making sure I don't fuck up @BobBitchen Slymer seeds(Maybe this will turn into a journal).
@Mohican @ttystikk @Bubby'sndalab @ColoradoHighGrower @TintEastwood @jigfresh any help with technique is appreciated.
I have used the paper towel method, glass of water, directly in soil, in coco.
I have read about a diluted H2O2 solution to clean soften seeds. Also wondering about heating mats.
I am not into gimmicks, most successful method has been paper towel into soil starter mini six trays in a humidity dome.
Thanks,
Alta

 

[bernie344]

Germination box, heatmat, coco in small pot or cup, T5 light 24 hours after popped.

 

[Frankly Dankly]

This will probably sound insane, but my germination rate has skyrocketed with only one change. I used to use water soak until I saw a good tail, but had damping problems, same with paper towels. Now I soak for about 24 hrs, then take the seed and turn it sideways, and crack it gently with my teeth. Not opening it, just till you hear the shell snap. My grandma used to do it with various types of seeds, so I figured fuck it, why not. After that, it goes straight into soil. Sounds stupid, but it’s worked for me.

 

[bernie344]

This will probably sound insane, but my germination rate has skyrocketed with only one change. I used to use water soak until I saw a good tail, but had damping problems, same with paper towels. Now I soak for about 24 hrs, then take the seed and turn it sideways, and crack it gently with my teeth. Not opening it, just till you hear the shell snap. My grandma used to do it with various types of seeds, so I figured fuck it, why not. After that, it goes straight into soil. Sounds stupid, but it’s worked for me.

You got that right.

 

[xtsho]

Good seeds straight to soil. Water them in. Done.

It's a simple as that. There is no magic. A good seed will grow.

 

[Mad1operator]

Propagating kit. My seeds start popping about 48 hours after i drop em. They stay about 7-10 days before i put them in their 1st pot. I havent lost one yet. I do use a heat mat, my medium and a cheap light on a 18-6 timer. Hope it helps. Good luck!

 

[natureboygrower]

Seed depth is important when planting. The soil/medium helps the seedling shed it's shell when planted deep enough. If planted too shallow you get a lot more of those seedlings that grow straight up with the tightly closed shell around the top. I can't remember what member on here posted that, but I took that advice and have had less issues with that happening.

Edit to add I use moist paper towels in a ziplock baggie, placed in a Tupperware, put in a upper kitchen cabinet with an under cabinet light on 24 hours a day. Dark inside, warm on the bottom sounds way more complicated than it is lol

 

[GrownAtHighAltitude]

Some good tips from Joe Pietri (he just happens to have a few good ones).

Germination Tips

For fresh seed or old seeds, we use pinto bean juice. We first soak dried pinto beans in PH water for 24 hours and then strain off beans and use that water for germination. This adds natural nutrients and for old seeds this softens the shell covering making it easier for embryo to grow free. The older the seed the harder the shell.

Germination Protocol

1. Rough up seeds using screen or sand paper lined match box, shot glass filled with 2/3 distilled water 1/3 hydrogen peroxide wash seeds rinse with distilled water.


2. Tall glass filled with distilled water and 1/2 TEASPOON organic sugar soak seeds over night at the same time with another tall glass filled with distilled water add handful of dried pinto beans soak overnight. Next day separate pinto beans from Pinto bean juice, then remove seeds from 1st glass of sugar water and add to pinto bean juice for 24 hours. You should see embryos that are now receiving nutrients from bean juice. Great method for older seeds, we have cracked 50 year old seed using this method.

 

[BobBitchen]

I do straight into soil/peatpots/heat mat, no dome

 

[Rurumo]

For fresh seeds, direct to medium, uncovered, keep warm 78-80 is perfect. Best guide https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide
For old seeds nothing works better than an h202 soak-I do it with all seeds just to head off any damping off issues, but it's not necessary for a newbie.

 

[ilovetoskiatalta]

For fresh seeds, direct to medium, uncovered, keep warm 78-80 is perfect. Best guide https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide
For old seeds nothing works better than an h202 soak-I do it with all seeds just to head off any damping off issues, but it's not necessary for a newbie.

what strength h202 at what ratio to h20...I did not read your link yet. Thank you for all input. To any following the heat pads are on 24/7? I have never used one.

 

[Rdubz]

The way I go about it is drop them in RO PHed temp at least 70 for 24 hr then I wet paper towel same water and wrap em N Bag em and I set them on top of my T5 for warmth I don’t have heating pad so it works anything giving a little heat 2-3 days and they should be long enough to put in perlite or rockwool what ever your choosing another day or 2 then I put them in my cloner

 

[themda]

I like to build a small nest and squat on top of them for warmth and protection until I have a magic bean stalk

 

[ColoradoHighGrower]

I am not into gimmicks, most successful method has been paper towel into soil starter mini six trays in a humidity dome.

This is exactly what I do everytime, and have had a 100% success rate so far. I do a paper towel soak for about 24-48hrs (mostly depends on the strain) and once they pop open and show the little taproot, i put them in pre-soaked/conditioned potting mix in a starter tray under a humididome with a heating pad under the starter tray (or small starter cups as shown in photo below). Place seeds taproot down and about 1/4 inch below surface gently covered and tamped. I use a mix of coco/sphag peat moss, perlite, promix, and worm castings with a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio. No dry nute amendments for starters. Condition/pre-soak mix with very very light mix of liquid veg nutes and calmag (~ec=.5). I use Foxfarm trio plus Orca benies. Squeez excess water out of conditioned soil mix before putting in starters, but keep it pretty wet.

Keep the inside misted for first few days till first set of leaves start to grow and then taper off humidity slowly over a few days by opening top vents and misting less. I don't water the seedlings at all for about 1week, unless the get dry and start to droop a little. I use 4-6 24inch 25w grow T5s about 6-8" above the tops (can lay the lights directly on top of the dome). Transplant up to party cups or 1-quart cups once the roots start to wrap around the starter cups' medium (~1.5weeks). Use a light dry nutrient amendment mixed into same soil mixture. Bury stems as needed if seedlings stretched for light. Clear solo cups nested inside opaque cups is handy for monitoring root growth without needing to pull out of the cups.

 

[ilovetoskiatalta]

This is exactly what I do everytime, and have had a 100% success rate so far. I do a paper towel soak for about 24-48hrs (mostly depends on the strain) and once they pop open and show the little taproot, i put them in pre-soaked/conditioned potting mix in a starter tray under a humididome with a heating pad under the starter tray (or small starter cups as shown in photo below). Place seeds taproot down and about 1/4 inch below surface gently covered and tamped. I use a mix of coco/sphag peat moss, perlite, promix, and worm castings with a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio. No dry nute amendments for starters. Condition/pre-soak mix with very very light mix of liquid veg nutes and calmag (~ec=.5). I use Foxfarm trio plus Orca benies. Squeez excess water out of conditioned soil mix before putting in starters, but keep it pretty wet.

Keep the inside misted for first few days till first set of leaves start to grow and then taper off humidity slowly over a few days by opening top vents and misting less. I don't water the seedlings at all for about 1week, unless the get dry and start to droop a little. I use 4-6 24inch 25w grow T5s about 6-8" above the tops (can lay the lights directly on top of the dome). Transplant up to party cups or 1-quart cups once the roots start to wrap around the starter cups' medium (~1.5weeks). Use a light dry nutrient amendment mixed into same soil mixture. Bury stems as needed if seedlings stretched for light. Clear solo cups nested inside opaque cups is handy for monitoring root growth without needing to pull out of the cups.

View attachment 4811483

Nice I appreciate the help, I think my mistake has been keeping thing too cool. I thought the heating mat was a gimmick.

 

[ColoradoHighGrower]

Nice I appreciate the help, I think my mistake has been keeping thing too cool. I thought the heating mat was a gimmick.

Heat definitely helps- i have an inkbird that i use for various things, comes in handy to regulate temp output of the pad. Some heat pads have built in dial controls, but mine is on/off..

 

[bonytang]

This will probably sound insane, but my germination rate has skyrocketed with only one change. I used to use water soak until I saw a good tail, but had damping problems, same with paper towels. Now I soak for about 24 hrs, then take the seed and turn it sideways, and crack it gently with my teeth. Not opening it, just till you hear the shell snap. My grandma used to do it with various types of seeds, so I figured fuck it, why not. After that, it goes straight into soil. Sounds stupid, but it’s worked for me.

Funny on the teeth but was recommended to use scissors/tweezers. RIOT Seeds did a video on this technique too it's on their youtube channel.

 

[Frankly Dankly]

Funny on the teeth but was recommended to use scissors/tweezers. RIOT Seeds did a video on this technique too it's on their youtube channel.

Another thing I recently tried is putting my cups on top of my veg light, it’s like a little heating pad and the seedlings get plenty of reflected light and I don’t have to dim the light on my bigger plants.

 

[euphoria526]

put them in a moist, not dripping wet, paper towel till a taproot shows. typically around 24-48 hours. then goes into growing medium filled solo cups on low level lights till it grows. sometimes ill put a ziplock over the cup for a day or two, then take it off so they can breath. repeat till its flourishing, then take bag off. voila!

 

[bonytang]

Another thing I recently tried is putting my cups on top of my veg light, it’s like a little heating pad and the seedlings get plenty of reflected light and I don’t have to dim the light on my bigger plants.

Heck yea that works. Vapor pressure deficit just my biggest problem rn