Need some advice on seed starting!! Few pics.

So I have no problems germinating my seeds, I use the paper towel method and have great success getting the seeds to sprout their little root. I then use tweezers to gently place the seed into a pete pellet that is soaked with water that has a ph of about 6.5. I then place that into a loaf pan with a plastic cover, to keep high humidity. I place the pan under the lights in my grow box and the temp is between about 86 and 91.
One seed broke the surface then stopped. The two in the picture have been in there for 10 days with no results. I have obviously had seeds start before, but I have way more fail than not.
Any advice is welcome, i'm struggling here and it seems so simple

http://mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide

You dont need that much humidity and you need a lot of fresh air. Read this, it works, people make a lot of mistakes when germinating. Remember also your seedlings need some type of nutes, after some roots grow immediatly move them too new soil.

Cool! I checked out that website and according to them, almost everything I was doing was wrong. I am going to try there way. So many people use so many different methods, its hard to keep up!

My guess it that you're leaving the pellets too wet. After you've got them wet, squeeze the excess water out of them, fluff them up a little,(the pellets will be compressed, so, a nail works good to break 'em up again) then put the seed in. If the pellets are too wet, the seedling will drown, then rot.


Another option.... a party cup with some soil, is a safer way to go, especially if you're new to the game.

I did squeeze the excess water out of the second set of pellets before putting the germed seed in. That was the one that sprouted but never got out of it's shell. A little while ago I put a seed directly into a small cup of Fox Farm ocean forest soil, and watered it. Is this soil ok to start seeds? Or is it too strong?

^I've heard of some strains being sensitive to OF soil, but I've never had a problem with it, and have tried about 10 different strains. Makes me wonder if those guys added extra nutes, which is a no-no.lol Nowadays, I use Happy Frog for my seedlings and clones, just to play it safe, then go with a HF/OF 50/50 mix, when they are bigger. Honestly, I'd start using the OF, if I were you, and save the peat pellets for cloning. The soil will work great, I can practically guarantee it. You should still germ them first. Also, don't bury them very deep, approx. 1/4". If you go to deep, that can stop them from breaking the surface, too.


That one you had that sprouted and didn't come out of it's shell, could've been a bad seed. I've only had two of those, personally, and heard them called "sucker plants", but don't know much more than that, other than that they are genetically fucked-up seeds,lol and are pre-destined to fail. That could've been what you had, it happens sometimes.

Thank for the help! I have two seeds germing now. So i planted the one seed straight into the soil with no germing. The other two should be ready for soil tomorrow, and i will plant those. Thanx again!