Steadmanclan
Well-Known Member
ive been preaching this method of germination for years. i just dont get why people think itsa good idea to plant seeds afterthey germinate, and run the risk of damaging the taproot when t is at its most fragile
Starting Your Seeds
- Thread starter CrackerJax
- Start date
CrackerJax
New Member
Exactly..... can you imagine if farmers did this? We'd all starve... 
CrackerJax
New Member
Yes exactly.... if you need a heating pad then don't use a tall container. I don't need one this far south but I still germ in liners.
Steadmanclan
Well-Known Member
i typically germ new starts in red plastic beer cups with drain holes
CrackerJax
New Member
I use the small ones pictured here. They are called accelerator pots and build a fantastic well balanced root system.... truly makes a plant grow faster and stronger.
Clevelandblazn5
Active Member
Great thread + rep
Chemdog
Member
it is agreeable that the paper towel method can and most likely will hurt the delicate micro roots of the taproot, but i beileve the first thing you should always do when germing seeds is a 24 hour presoak in a small cup or jar with the cleanest freshest water possible. The seeds will want to float for the first 18-24 hours , gently tap the seeds and they will sink to the bottom, if seeds do not sink it could mean the seed is a dud but does not condemn it as so. After this, the seeds can be planted pointy end down, about 3 seed lengths under the soil. I used to use the presoak and paper towel method (soaking then placing in paper towel) until one of Soma's books brought the micro root issue to my attention. Now i only presoak just like he recommends .
Steadmanclan
Well-Known Member
i even think pre soaking is overkill but hey, to each his own
Steadmanclan
Well-Known Member
i also vote for this to be a sticky
i've grown a lot of different plants myself but cannabis is something i juss started. i'm ready for the spring to get near though so i can start growing big time. the soils good here in alabama so i have to use little to no fertilizers for anything. but could i grow without fertilizers with marijuana or should i juss to be on the safe side use some anyway, i don't really know that i should trust a lot of these sites so i'm just gonna buy some local nutes. and i'll start germing in some cups full of nute juss before the season comes in so i can get a head startNo one is saying that it cannot be done using paper towels, but the odds of fungal growth and transplanting contaminants INCREASES using the towel method.
So let's say you have some trouble later on down the line with your plant. It is highly unlikely to occur to you that it all began in the very first week. Although it very well might have.
Both methods work, but one is far simpler and SAFER. Weed does not need to be primed to germinate, unless you have crappy seeds. The moisture needed for the germ is already INSIDE the seed.
The more you futz with them, the more chances of screwing it up or retarding growth, again something which may happen but go completely unnoticed by you.
I have never used the paper towel method and I always get fantastic germ. So why bother with the extra steps?
I think part of it is trying to put a mystique around weed. I've grown out literally hundreds of other types of plants, and weed is by far one of the easiest to grow.
Just stick them in and they will grow. On the forums I am always running across posts with folks who are having trouble germinating using paper towels. One of the reasons I posted this up.
If you prefer the drama and the mystique, go for it. I've got better things to do with my time.
out.
CrackerJax
New Member
If your soil is fertile and not weedy....good compost make up... you don't need any fert's at all.... they are already there. Now, you may get a bigger yield by putting extra fert's on.... but you don't have to. It's all in the soil... good soil that is.
Start composting ur lawn clippings and leaves if you want an edge up.
Start composting ur lawn clippings and leaves if you want an edge up.
LUDACRIS
New Member
CrackerJax
New Member
I go in spurts.... I've been distracted lately.
Put up 50 seeds today for my outside winter grow.
Put up 50 seeds today for my outside winter grow.
LUDACRIS
New Member
nice i am getting prepped up for some skunk and kushI go in spurts.... I've been distracted lately.
Put up 50 seeds today for my outside winter grow.
.starting soon.
CHRIS.
420weedman
Well-Known Member
While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of it’s life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
impossible ... lol
i've tried it the natural just put it in soil way ..... some seeds dont pop at all ... how long sould i wait to dig it up ?
after a couple weeks of nothing, i could dig it up to see a sprial tap root that goes no where , or just mush.
with the towel you see what germinates, then plant it tap root down . ive had 100% sucess transplanting seedlings like that.
just putting it in the soil a little moist is like shaking a magic 8 ball and waiting 2 weeks to see what it says (if anything)
impossible ... lol
i've tried it the natural just put it in soil way ..... some seeds dont pop at all ... how long sould i wait to dig it up ?
after a couple weeks of nothing, i could dig it up to see a sprial tap root that goes no where , or just mush.
with the towel you see what germinates, then plant it tap root down . ive had 100% sucess transplanting seedlings like that.
just putting it in the soil a little moist is like shaking a magic 8 ball and waiting 2 weeks to see what it says (if anything)
LUDACRIS
New Member
While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
impossible ... lol
i've tried it the natural just put it in soil way ..... some seeds dont pop at all ... how long sould i wait to dig it up ?
after a couple weeks of nothing, i could dig it up to see a sprial tap root that goes no where , or just mush.
with the towel you see what germinates, then plant it tap root down . ive had 100% sucess transplanting seedlings like that.
just putting it in the soil a little moist is like shaking a magic 8 ball and waiting 2 weeks to see what it says (if anything)
done correctly it works for me everytime and have never had a seed not sprout.
you should know if your seeds are fresh and viable before planting.
old seeds can take up to 3 weeks to sprout but for me 72-85 hrs mostly everytime.
aint no paper towel faries in my crib.
LUDA.
LUDACRIS
New Member
What happens if one uses pre-germination methods?
1. Soaking seeds in water/wet paper towels is a method which can be used for old seeds (3+ years) that are drying up and losing germination power; and for pure land race equatorial strains such as from Africa. Both factors do not apply to our seeds. Fresh seeds have a healthy embryo whose cells are filled with water. But excess water causes the cells to bloat, depletes oxygen and leads to the tissue rotting away before the seed embryo can germinate. Old seeds have lost water in the cell tissue, the embryo starts to shrivel, which is why germination rates drop the older the seeds are. Therefore, old seeds (ie. 3+ years) can soak up more water before adverse conditions cause them to rot. This is one of the main reasons why various seed stock reacts differently to pre-germination methods. Especially novice growers make a lot of mistakes with pre-germination methods such as soaking seeds in water for up to 1-2 days. Even if one chooses to pre-germ seeds it has to be done correctly.
It is in a growers best interest to choose a germination method with the lowest risk of complications. Because we want customers to have the highest success rate possible we recommend the most convenient and safest method. This does not mean it is the only option. We simply believe it carries the lowest risk. In fact, planting seeds directly in the substrate is also the most plant friendly method for any type of seed stock. The reasons are explained below in paragraph 2 & 3.
2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
Germinating cannabis seeds is not difficult. All you need is some basic information on what is important and everything should work out fine.
Like writing an english paper...keep it short and keep it simple.
1. Soaking seeds in water/wet paper towels is a method which can be used for old seeds (3+ years) that are drying up and losing germination power; and for pure land race equatorial strains such as from Africa. Both factors do not apply to our seeds. Fresh seeds have a healthy embryo whose cells are filled with water. But excess water causes the cells to bloat, depletes oxygen and leads to the tissue rotting away before the seed embryo can germinate. Old seeds have lost water in the cell tissue, the embryo starts to shrivel, which is why germination rates drop the older the seeds are. Therefore, old seeds (ie. 3+ years) can soak up more water before adverse conditions cause them to rot. This is one of the main reasons why various seed stock reacts differently to pre-germination methods. Especially novice growers make a lot of mistakes with pre-germination methods such as soaking seeds in water for up to 1-2 days. Even if one chooses to pre-germ seeds it has to be done correctly.
It is in a growers best interest to choose a germination method with the lowest risk of complications. Because we want customers to have the highest success rate possible we recommend the most convenient and safest method. This does not mean it is the only option. We simply believe it carries the lowest risk. In fact, planting seeds directly in the substrate is also the most plant friendly method for any type of seed stock. The reasons are explained below in paragraph 2 & 3.
2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
Germinating cannabis seeds is not difficult. All you need is some basic information on what is important and everything should work out fine.
Like writing an english paper...keep it short and keep it simple.
420weedman
Well-Known Member
you should know if your seeds are fresh and viable before planting.While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
impossible ... lol
i've tried it the natural just put it in soil way ..... some seeds dont pop at all ... how long sould i wait to dig it up ?
after a couple weeks of nothing, i could dig it up to see a sprial tap root that goes no where , or just mush.
with the towel you see what germinates, then plant it tap root down . ive had 100% sucess transplanting seedlings like that.
just putting it in the soil a little moist is like shaking a magic 8 ball and waiting 2 weeks to see what it says (if anything)
done correctly it works for me everytime and have never had a seed not sprout.
you should know if your seeds are fresh and viable before planting.
old seeds can take up to 3 weeks to sprout but for me 72-85 hrs mostly everytime.
aint no paper towel faries in my crib.
LUDA.
i tired calling, email and fax... but they never respond.
(i dont grow my own seeds)
can you send me your seed faries ?