Seeds won't germ/tiny sprouts after 4 weeks and multiple methods

T

TheInsider

Member
This is my second grow, and it's using the Aerogarden Deluxe. First grow yielded 4 very decent plants, but many lessons were learned and this time I've got a better grasp of the life-cycle.

I started with all seeds in shot glasses, and soaked until they sank upon tapping.

I next put them in rockwool in my Aero around 4 weeks ago, and so far most have failed to germinate.

I have:

1 x Cheese (tiny root growth)
3 x auto Afghan Kush (1 has a tiny deformed stem, with half a leaf, quite shrivelled, others still seeds)
2 x auto Lady Gargar (1 grown huge and looking fantastic, the other just has a tiny root sprout)

So after the first week only 2 plants were showing leaves. Then after the second week I became worried and carefully examined the rockwool for the other 4. I found 2 were all seeds, and so took them out and attempted the paper towel method, which has don't absolutely nothing.

Two of them just have tiny little root sprouts of no more than 1" in length.

Annoyingly as they all share the same reservoir I've had to expose them to the same strength nutes as the big plant, which is going so damn well it's puzzling why the others can't perform too. I've kept nutes at 40% strength, but really need to raise that now.

So I'm stuck as to why there may be an issue. Let me list a few differences/key points between this time and last, in case they may be the reason:

  • Using grow tent
  • It was summer last time
  • Poor airflow as opening the windows would make it freezing
  • I used Aerogarden foam for germination last time (no shot glass/towels etc.)

Is there anything obvious you guys could suggest which may be worth addressing? Here are some general points of note regarding the set-up:

  • 24 hours of light
  • Standard 3 x 27w CFL lights
  • No filter
  • pH of around 6.0

Thanks so much in advance. :)
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
TheInsider said:
This is my second grow, and it's using the Aerogarden Deluxe. First grow yielded 4 very decent plants, but many lessons were learned and this time I've got a better grasp of the life-cycle.

I started with all seeds in shot glasses, and soaked until they sank upon tapping.

I next put them in rockwool in my Aero around 4 weeks ago, and so far most have failed to germinate.

I have:

1 x Cheese (tiny root growth)
3 x auto Afghan Kush (1 has a tiny deformed stem, with half a leaf, quite shrivelled, others still seeds)
2 x auto Lady Gargar (1 grown huge and looking fantastic, the other just has a tiny root sprout)

So after the first week only 2 plants were showing leaves. Then after the second week I became worried and carefully examined the rockwool for the other 4. I found 2 were all seeds, and so took them out and attempted the paper towel method, which has don't absolutely nothing.

Two of them just have tiny little root sprouts of no more than 1" in length.

Annoyingly as they all share the same reservoir I've had to expose them to the same strength nutes as the big plant, which is going so damn well it's puzzling why the others can't perform too. I've kept nutes at 40% strength, but really need to raise that now.

So I'm stuck as to why there may be an issue. Let me list a few differences/key points between this time and last, in case they may be the reason:


  • Using grow tent
  • It was summer last time
  • Poor airflow as opening the windows would make it freezing
  • I used Aerogarden foam for germination last time (no shot glass/towels etc.)


Is there anything obvious you guys could suggest which may be worth addressing? Here are some general points of note regarding the set-up:


  • 24 hours of light
  • Standard 3 x 27w CFL lights
  • No filter
  • pH of around 6.0


Thanks so much in advance. :)
Click to expand...
Maybe you just got some bad genetics ??? I use paper towel method and they always pop ..
 
LorDeMO

LorDeMO

Active Member
Most probably bad seeds, dude. Contact the site you bought them from and demand new seeds or your money back.
 
T

TheInsider

Member
If the seeds produce a tiny sprout root, is that still potentially "bad seeds", or does that only apply if they don't pop at all?
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Well you shouldnt be adding nutes either when they pop you should just be using PH water untill they develop a good root mass.
 
CONNISSUER

CONNISSUER

Well-Known Member
your temperature is proboly too cold for the seeds to really germinate. Try germinating in a warmer area, lyk on top ov your water heater or sumtin
 
L

leftreartire

Active Member
i find it hard to believe that you purchased from 3 different places and none sprouted. so i would rule out bad seeds. if you smoke the nicotine on your fingures could have killed each seed if it had popped when you were putting them into the cubes. smoking and young sprouts dont get along at all. i use rockwool also and i like to just soak my cubes in water for a day and then place my seed right into the cubes. i figure i had to only touch the seed one time and it is in its perminate home from the moment it starts it life. i feel the less i have to handle it the better. i put the cubes into a dome and just wait and watch good fresh seeds will be up in just 2-3 days and if your curiuos to see if the popped you can just peek in the hole with a magnifying glass.
alot of the time i will use tweezers to try and never touch the seed ever. also if one does pop up after a week or so i will pluck it out with tweezers and reuse that cube for another seed or clone. most times i will even put the cube into the 3" net pot i am going to grow it in with pea gravel then place my seed in. i have read on how important that tap root is and i do my best to try and let it do its job the best it can
 
T

TheInsider

Member
CONNISSUER said:
your temperature is proboly too cold for the seeds to really germinate. Try germinating in a warmer area, lyk on top ov your water heater or sumtin
Click to expand...
I've had them above the water heater, and even on top of the Aerogarden lighting hood, which is really warm (I wrap in a cover so the heat isn't direct).

I store the damp paper towel and seeds in one of the air-tight 420 jars.

I've now again changed the paper towel to stop mould/musty smell, and put it next to my US power converter, which emits a little bit of heat.
 
T

TheInsider

Member
leftreartire said:
i find it hard to believe that you purchased from 3 different places and none sprouted. so i would rule out bad seeds. if you smoke the nicotine on your fingures could have killed each seed if it had popped when you were putting them into the cubes. smoking and young sprouts dont get along at all. i use rockwool also and i like to just soak my cubes in water for a day and then place my seed right into the cubes. i figure i had to only touch the seed one time and it is in its perminate home from the moment it starts it life. i feel the less i have to handle it the better. i put the cubes into a dome and just wait and watch good fresh seeds will be up in just 2-3 days and if your curiuos to see if the popped you can just peek in the hole with a magnifying glass.
alot of the time i will use tweezers to try and never touch the seed ever. also if one does pop up after a week or so i will pluck it out with tweezers and reuse that cube for another seed or clone. most times i will even put the cube into the 3" net pot i am going to grow it in with pea gravel then place my seed in. i have read on how important that tap root is and i do my best to try and let it do its job the best it can
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't think it's the seeds. It's got to be something I'm doing. I don't smoke at all, so it's not nicotine. I use a Volcano vape for "toking", so there's not even a remote chance.

Having gone straight for the rockwool myself (after 12hrs/24hrs in the shot glasses), I was hoping that was that. Only in desperation - after 2.5ish weeks - have I attempted something else.
 
CONNISSUER

CONNISSUER

Well-Known Member
TheInsider said:
I've had them above the water heater, and even on top of the Aerogarden lighting hood, which is really warm (I wrap in a cover so the heat isn't direct).

I store the damp paper towel and seeds in one of the air-tight 420 jars.

I've now again changed the paper towel to stop mould/musty smell, and put it next to my US power converter, which emits a little bit of heat.
Click to expand...
Well they must be bad genetic or old bad seed sumtim because ive recent germed som seed in the cup of water method, and they cracked in about 3days
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
TheInsider said:
Yeah, I don't think it's the seeds. It's got to be something I'm doing. I don't smoke at all, so it's not nicotine. I use a Volcano vape for "toking", so there's not even a remote chance.

Having gone straight for the rockwool myself (after 12hrs/24hrs in the shot glasses), I was hoping that was that. Only in desperation - after 2.5ish weeks - have I attempted something else.
Click to expand...
Maybe try a different approach? Try using rapid rooter plugs? I use a file and lightly file my seeds, a little trick I read in the growers Bible written by Jorge Cervantes.
 
T

TheInsider

Member
Rawness said:
were did u buy from?

i having the same problem i tried shot glass towel now im using the dome method click my thread link https://www.rollitup.org/marijuana-plant-problems/379273-need-help-seeds-not-germinating.html


i dont know why they wont sprout the root came out a little i have it in a food container in my drawer with lots of cloth under and over it cause its cold here in ny
Click to expand...
I bought from Everyonedoesit.com, and herbiespicknmixseeds.com, plus another place, whose name escapes me.
 
T

TheInsider

Member
BeaverHuntr said:
Maybe try a different approach? Try using rapid rooter plugs? I use a file and lightly file my seeds, a little trick I read in the growers Bible written by Jorge Cervantes.
Click to expand...
I've never heard of rooter plugs. Are they suitable for hydro? I heard or something similar sounding for soil.

Yeah, I've read about filing seeds before, but I also read people saying they've just chucked them in soil and it's worked 99% for them for 20 years etc. etc., so I think there's a fundamental issue with what I'm doing.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
TheInsider said:
I've never heard of rooter plugs. Are they suitable for hydro? I heard or something similar sounding for soil.

Yeah, I've read about filing seeds before, but I also read people saying they've just chucked them in soil and it's worked 99% for them for 20 years etc. etc., so I think there's a fundamental issue with what I'm doing.
Click to expand...

Rapid rooter plugs work really well a lot of growers make the switch from rock wool to rapid rooter ..
9-05.jpg
 
T

TheInsider

Member
Interesting... I'll have to Google places which sell them in the UK. Thanks for the tip!

I was perhaps mistaken when I thought the switch from crappy foam to rockwool was the big improvement. Meh.
 
T

TheInsider

Member
I just searched for rapid rooters and they appear to be soil. Is that right? Cause that won't go with my hydro system.

I think I'm doing something wrong, as last time they worked great in a poorer grow medium (bog-standard Aerogarden foam). I've made it warmer in the room now, but still only two plants visible, and one of those looks like a twig. One is massive. Very odd.
 
L

leftreartire

Active Member
like i said before i would try with my next set of seeds to get them into their perminate home right away and plant them in your system and just wait. i feel the less you handle them the better off they will be
 
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