germinating seeds

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
Hi i have searched and searched this site about germinating and havent really found that much info

i have read about paper towel methods water in a cup method, all in dark placed with about 75- 80 degree temperature seems like a good temp

but what about how wet they should be.

i have germinated in a cup with water and it was done in 2 days

planted it in a hydrofarm pellets and added water, worked great the first time, but i was doin hydro and had to carefully take out the roots and all

well this is the second time and i have put them in pellets and 6-7 days still no sprout.

then i read that best way and only way it should really be done was to put the seed straight into medium and add water

but how much water.. there have only been articles but what way is a fool proof for dummies germinating techinque that is they way it should be done.. temps amount of water kind of water.. also if you try searchin germinating there is almost no title that matches
 

gator8

Member
Hi i have searched and searched this site about germinating and havent really found that much info

i have read about paper towel methods water in a cup method, all in dark placed with about 75- 80 degree temperature seems like a good temp

but what about how wet they should be.

i have germinated in a cup with water and it was done in 2 days

planted it in a hydrofarm pellets and added water, worked great the first time, but i was doin hydro and had to carefully take out the roots and all

well this is the second time and i have put them in pellets and 6-7 days still no sprout.

then i read that best way and only way it should really be done was to put the seed straight into medium and add water

but how much water.. there have only been articles but what way is a fool proof for dummies germinating techinque that is they way it should be done.. temps amount of water kind of water.. also if you try searchin germinating there is almost no title that matches
I'm with you about the germinating.Got my seeds to sprout in paper towels...put them in rockwool and into grow pellets.They were doin' good but they all fell over...Whats up with that?
 

doc111

Well-Known Member
Hi i have searched and searched this site about germinating and havent really found that much info

i have read about paper towel methods water in a cup method, all in dark placed with about 75- 80 degree temperature seems like a good temp

but what about how wet they should be.

i have germinated in a cup with water and it was done in 2 days

planted it in a hydrofarm pellets and added water, worked great the first time, but i was doin hydro and had to carefully take out the roots and all

well this is the second time and i have put them in pellets and 6-7 days still no sprout.

then i read that best way and only way it should really be done was to put the seed straight into medium and add water

but how much water.. there have only been articles but what way is a fool proof for dummies germinating techinque that is they way it should be done.. temps amount of water kind of water.. also if you try searchin germinating there is almost no title that matches
You can use something like vermiculite that holds moisture. You don't want them to be swimming but don't let them dry out! Best of luck my friend.
 

tone702

Well-Known Member
I usually just throw my seeds into damp paper towels, and then into a plastic sandwich bag... couple days later ive got roots formed, then I just throw em into the medium I use
 

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
You can use something like vermiculite that holds moisture. You don't want them to be swimming but don't let them dry out! Best of luck my friend.

can i use that even with hydro.

the pellets hold moisture but i dont know how much moisture needs to be held.

im afraid of over watering and underwatering

the seem to still be semi moist after 2 days of no water my first batch was watered much more with a bit of water in the tub and grew fine. this time is just less water in the tub. im sure i never waited till it was dry and its definalty less water than last time.
 

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
i know that works.. but also i heard bad things about doing that way and it isnt the best but is almost the most used way.
 

doc111

Well-Known Member
can i use that even with hydro.

the pellets hold moisture but i dont know how much moisture needs to be held.

im afraid of over watering and underwatering

the seem to still be semi moist after 2 days of no water my first batch was watered much more with a bit of water in the tub and grew fine. this time is just less water in the tub. im sure i never waited till it was dry and its definalty less water than last time.
Make yourself like a germination pocket (just enough vermiculite to surround the seed like a cocoon). That should keep the seed moist w/o it drowning. You can use a humidity dome to help keep in the moisture or just check on 'em a lot to make sure they don't dry out.
 

doc111

Well-Known Member
i know that works.. but also i heard bad things about doing that way and it isnt the best but is almost the most used way.
I just usually put them into some jiffy mix or something and water them. Easy and have near 100% germ. rate.
 

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
Make yourself like a germination pocket (just enough vermiculite to surround the seed like a cocoon). That should keep the seed moist w/o it drowning. You can use a humidity dome to help keep in the moisture or just check on 'em a lot to make sure they don't dry out.

hmmm i really like the idea but how much is enough vermiculite 1/2inch this all around good enough?

also that way i think once it pops out you know where the root end is and the head is and just plant it into the pellet with light.. does that sound like a good start?
 

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
also cant i just water the pellet and take some stuffing out and surround the seed the same way so it can be looser and i add water as needed

also whats the best water to use? tap water 2 days old or something like mountain spring
 

doc111

Well-Known Member
also cant i just water the pellet and take some stuffing out and surround the seed the same way so it can be looser and i add water as needed

also whats the best water to use? tap water 2 days old or something like mountain spring
Go for it. It depends on your tapwater. Have you had it tested? If your tapwater is o.k. I say use it. Mine is shit so I mix it 50/50 R/O water and tap water. I have had great success with what I use. Try different things. Try one plant on tap water and one on distilled or something like that.
 

doc111

Well-Known Member
Go for it. It depends on your tapwater. Have you had it tested? If your tapwater is o.k. I say use it. Mine is shit so I mix it 50/50 R/O water and tap water. I have had great success with what I use. Try different things. Try one plant on tap water and one on distilled or something like that.
If you use tape water you should let it sit out to evaporate the chlorine but some water has chloramine (chlorine ammonia mixture) which does not evaporate as readily as chlorine. Try to find out which one your municipal water is treated with. If it's chlorine you can let it sit over night and it's good.
 

autoflowa

Well-Known Member
Hi i have searched and searched this site about germinating and havent really found that much info

i have read about paper towel methods water in a cup method, all in dark placed with about 75- 80 degree temperature seems like a good temp

but what about how wet they should be.

i have germinated in a cup with water and it was done in 2 days

planted it in a hydrofarm pellets and added water, worked great the first time, but i was doin hydro and had to carefully take out the roots and all

well this is the second time and i have put them in pellets and 6-7 days still no sprout.

then i read that best way and only way it should really be done was to put the seed straight into medium and add water

but how much water.. there have only been articles but what way is a fool proof for dummies germinating techinque that is they way it should be done.. temps amount of water kind of water.. also if you try searchin germinating there is almost no title that matches
dude... its nothin crazy drop it in moist soil keep it warm and boom it sprouts.. takes bout 3 to 5 days for me.. let nature take its course and save ur paper towels for cleaning
 

SimplyBaked

Well-Known Member
ive done the paper towel method, got them to sprout, and then i put them in my soil and 4 days later still nothing.....
 

tone702

Well-Known Member
paper towel thing works for me almost 100% percent ..plus the seeds germ in about 2 days(the trick is I dont plant them in the soil too deep,about 1"),there are diff methods though thats just the one I use
 

SimplyBaked

Well-Known Member
yeh i didnt plant it to deep...well i hope i didnt...lol i planted a couple more today...hope they come up! thanx tho :)
 

PotHead3

Well-Known Member
i should have mentioned this is a hydro grow so there will be no soil. so i would guess replace soil with pellet jump start pellets

these are the round compact about 1/2 inch thick from the package. add water and they grow about 2.5 inch thick
 

arcticvapors

Well-Known Member
i'm no expert, but i've successfully germed a couple dozen seeds (100% of my attempts) with the paper towel method. I use filtered water that I bring to a boil and then pour over the the paper towels that I have folded into quarters, this sanitizes the paper towel. Set aside and let cool. Oh yeah, make sure your hands are clean too. grab a sandwich baggie and a paper plate. when the towels are cool, put your seeds in the middle of the folds and then place in the ziplock baggie. I close the ziplock about half way, place this on the paper plate and i put this on top of my cable box which is on 24-7 and the top of the cable box is enclosed in a cabinet so it's dark. The cable box provides the heat source. They pop their roots within 2-4 days. peace :leaf:
 
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