Germinating old seeds...???

MrVega2

MrVega2

Well-Known Member
Any suggestions... Tips ... Experience...???
I have a stash of older seeds...A variety of good genetics...But they're 3-4-5 years old... They've been kept in a dark dry space...My usual method is the ole paper towel in a saucer technique but that ain't seemin to do it...I've had one pop out of like 8 I've tried...Jus wonderin if any of y'all have any experience or ideas of a bttr method to sprout these gems...
 
Final Phase

Final Phase

Well-Known Member
You might have better luck letting them float in a glass of water for 12 - 24 hours then take out and use paper towel method. I used to be nervous putting them in water like that as I worried they would drown... *) The ones that sink have a better chance of being viable.
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
Final Phase said:
You might have better luck letting them float in a glass of water for 12 - 24 hours then take out and use paper towel method. I used to be nervous putting them in water like that as I worried they would drown... *) The ones that sink have a better chance of being viable.
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I'd place them in the dark (cupboard) and soak them in a glass of water (up to 48 hours) until they pop open. Then plant them directly into your medium of choice.
I don't trust paper towels.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
3-5 years isn't long. I have seeds that old I just put in soil and pop them. It depends how they are stored. Store them in a cool dark place and add dry uncooked rice to keep moisture out.

You can soak them in water or scratch them up. Line a match box with sand paper or roll the sand paper up in a tube with the grit in. Insert seeds and shake for a bit. It scratches the seed up and allows more moisture in.

I have even opened the seed seams with a blade on stubborn ones.
 
CannaBruh

CannaBruh

Well-Known Member
Float in a cup of water in a warm place, dark if you like but it doesn't seem to matter light/dark for me.

12-48hrs in the water, sink or float, you're looking for that split in the shell on one end.

IF after the 48hrs they do not split, I will give them the finger squeeze in hopes to manually split that end. Be careful of smashing, we aren't trying to smash but split with some pressure. Sometimes they need help splitting open, some people use sand paper but I find you can just crack the shell with a pinch, then back into the water for a few hours.

Small tupperware with moist folded paper towel, seedling heat mat, and exchange air often and they will even start growing in there ready for transplant.

From my experience, if stored well, there is no limit to the shelf life of seeds.
 
MrVega2

MrVega2

Well-Known Member
I've always used the paper towel method and always had good results...I've also popped em str8 in some dirt n had success as well...Got a few floatin in a cup of water now... We'll see what happens...I understand we're jus lookin for a split...That's all I ever go for...After I see the split I waste no more time in the towel I jus pop em str8 into my soil...This batch given me some probs tho...I was thinkin it may b their age ...I've had em in an Altoids can in the closet for a few years and some were a couple years old already when I stored them away... There's abt 200seeds several diff genetics and I'm in no rush so I've got time n seeds to play with...I've got one from that batch goin in the closet now jus tryin to get somthin goin to follow her up ...I appreciate everyone's response and shared experiences...
 

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whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Bareback said:
I've had seeds as old as nine years pop. Warm water with a little rooting powder. 10% popped , they were my late brother's and that's the only reason I tried to pop seeds that old .
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I have a bag of seeds I got from an old timer. Been after them for years. I know them to be ten years old and the guy says some are 20-30 years.

I popped a few and they sprouted. They were in a cedar box in a basement.

Seeds can last a long time if stored right. I have a lot of flower, vegetable and cannabis seeds saved for when shit its the fan.
 
Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
I have a bag of seeds I got from an old timer. Been after them for years. I know them to be ten years old and the guy says some are 20-30 years.

I popped a few and they sprouted. They were in a cedar box in a basement.

Seeds can last a long time if stored right. I have a lot of flower, vegetable and cannabis seeds saved for when shit its the fan.
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The cedar is a good idea, I had a bag in a brief case and tiny insects eat the insides but they were shit seeds so no lost
 
K

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
I haven't kept my seeds the best i could :/ warm bedroom closet sealed in metal tins with whatever few desiccants came in packs.. Not worried about light or moisture but what about warmth alone. How long do you guys think until i start seeing a drop in germ rates regardless of what i do? Oldest are 2012 done 2013 most are 2014 and newer
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Bareback said:
The cedar is a good idea, I had a bag in a brief case and tiny insects eat the insides but they were shit seeds so no lost
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I use air tight pill bottles and add dry rice. I also store in a basement.
kermit2692 said:
Those damn paper towels, so untrustworthy :D
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I plant straight to soil. Every added step can damage root hairs and allow pathogens and bacteria in that cause damping off.
kermit2692 said:
I haven't kept my seeds the best i could :/ warm bedroom closet sealed in metal tins with whatever few desiccants came in packs.. Not worried about light or moisture but what about warmth alone. How long do you guys think until i start seeing a drop in germ rates regardless of what i do? Oldest are 2012 done 2013 most are 2014 and newer
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How warm? In the 60's is fine. A little cooler would be better. The fridge works great.
 
Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
MrVega2 said:
These we're given to me by an "old timer" ...He had been Savin them over the years from diff smoke he'd ran across that he thought was good n was lucky enuf to find a seed or two in the sack...First one I ever popped turned into a Purple monster...I have no idea what strain
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Beautiful simply beautiful
 
MrVega2

MrVega2

Well-Known Member
kermit2692 said:
I haven't kept my seeds the best i could :/ warm bedroom closet sealed in metal tins with whatever few desiccants came in packs.. Not worried about light or moisture but what about warmth alone. How long do you guys think until i start seeing a drop in germ rates regardless of what i do? Oldest are 2012 done 2013 most are 2014 and newer
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That's how I stored mine...In a tin...In the closet...Round 2013...And it seems as though my germ rates have dropped...I know mine weren't always in the best temps for long term storage tho... I'd say it got pretty hot where I was keepin em in summer months
 
OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Does nobody scarify seeds to help them soak up water and sprout?

You just cut a piece of sandpaper to line the inside of a pill jar. I use 150 grit cause I had it handy, and gently shake the seeds back and forth for a full minute. Under a scope you can see tiny scratches evenly all over the surface. Then I just plant mine right into screened ProMix and cover the top of the seed starter pots loosely with plastic to keep the top of it moist. Take the cover off as soon as the first one sprouts and set them under a CFL taking care to spritz the soil over the ones that haven't sprouted yet so they don't dry out. I couldn't get some 8 yo beans to pop with the water soak and got the last few up and growing that way so that's the way I do them all now. I've never used the paper towel method as it's so '70s so once they pop in water and have a little tail they should go straight into grow media.

Never handling your seeds with bare hands is a good idea too. The oils from your skin can make it hard for water to soak in and make them sprout.

For storage I put them in a vial then keep the open vial in a sealed jar with desiccant for a couple weeks to a month then cap the vial and keep that in the jar with desiccant at room temp.

Beans01.jpg

:peace:
 
MrVega2

MrVega2

Well-Known Member
OldMedUser said:
Does nobody scarify seeds to help them soak up water and sprout?

You just cut a piece of sandpaper to line the inside of a pill jar. I use 150 grit cause I had it handy, and gently shake the seeds back and forth for a full minute. Under a scope you can see tiny scratches evenly all over the surface. Then I just plant mine right into screened ProMix and cover the top of the seed starter pots loosely with plastic to keep the top of it moist. Take the cover off as soon as the first one sprouts and set them under a CFL taking care to spritz the soil over the ones that haven't sprouted yet so they don't dry out. I couldn't get some 8 yo beans to pop with the water soak and got the last few up and growing that way so that's the way I do them all now. I've never used the paper towel method as it's so '70s so once they pop in water and have a little tail they should go straight into grow media.

Never handling your seeds with bare hands is a good idea too. The oils from your skin can make it hard for water to soak in and make them sprout.

For storage I put them in a vial then keep the open vial in a sealed jar with desiccant for a couple weeks to a month then cap the vial and keep that in the jar with desiccant at room temp.

View attachment 3867524

:peace:
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Thanks man...That's some good advice for germination and storage...I like it
Gotta few in some water now if that don't work ima try the sand paper trick...
 
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