Seed germination explained for a idiot!

Captain Fap

Captain Fap

Well-Known Member
Hey guys and gals! I'm a beginner grower who has one successful harvest under my belt. I seem to do a fair job at the overall growing of cannabis, the only downfall I have is seed germination. I've already killed some great strains and I've read and study seed germination for hours and hours. Still I just haven't had any luck. I've tried multiple methods from water cup, paper towel, seed to soil, and the only one that worked for me was letting my seeds germ in a coco propagation kit while in my tent at around 75 degrees. Well I tried it again and I just killed off $200 worth of seeds!!! This time just no action from all but one and it seems stunned (no increase in growth for 4 days).

So let's start with what I know/do. I lightly water my coco enough to moisten it throughly, I have it on a seedling heat mat under a t5 light at the moment running 18/6. No nutes, clean distilled water, seeds are not pre germ'd, seeds are planted maybe 3mm deep and I lightly sprinkle coco over it and gently flatten the soil medium. I didn't pull the soil back till day 4 to see if any progress on select seeds (not all of them). The seeds looks like they tried to open but after a week and half of sitting in soil the insides are mushy and white/yellowish. Previous tries I had fungi looking white stuff coming out of the seeds but none of that this time. The one seed that did hatch isn't doing to good. Very heathly looking minus what looked like white lint at the ends of the seedlings leafs.

So what Im asking is... What the hell am I doing wrong?! Lol. I just ordered more seeds and I really would like for these to come out like my last grow. Any advice is welcome.

Also I keep hearing people say you can't have to soil to wet, or too dry so is there actually a measent of how moist the soil should be, I do much better with numbers lol thanks!
 
Lo Budget

Lo Budget

Well-Known Member
IMGP7641.JPG

I use MG seed starter in party cups. I pre-soak the beans first (~24h) then plant. There's usually nothing going on yet btw, so I just lightly spray the soil where the seed is. Enough to keep it from getting dry, not super soaking wet. I check every day or oftener? depending on temps, etc. If anything looks dry (it darkens w/ moisture, lightens as it drys), I spritz. Around the seed, not the whole cup. As they sprout I increase the amount and area I spray.

I just started some a week or two ago, I'll post a pic in a bit. I had one not germ so one seedling is a few days between her sisters, so you'll see the difference in size & the moisture levels in the cups.

I've not tried or researched coco, does it change shade w/ moisture?I Until the seedlings get a couple of sets of true leaves I can't/don't give them enough water to use weight as a gauge. After that, they can take quite a bit more, as I use the sun as much as possible and it's hot as hell here right now. :mrgreen:
 

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Captain Fap

Captain Fap

Well-Known Member
Maybe I'll have to lay off the water. After about 3-4 days I'll mist the top of the coco, maybe I'm misting a little too much lol
 
Flash63

Flash63

Well-Known Member
You need to rinse the coco ( check e.c.)making sure the coco is fully saturated,then plant your seeds.Make sure the medium stays moist if not wet.And lose the heat mat your killing them ( cooking them).I just germinated some Bodhi Goji og...if you want a pic I will.
 
Captain Fap

Captain Fap

Well-Known Member
Ok, never heard to flush the coco! Going to do that this go around. I got the heating mat and I can barely tell a difference in heat. It maybe feels like 80 degrees. My basement is kept cool, Around 68. I have a dual t5 hood over the seeds and I keep the clear lid on till I see one sprout. I will usually remove the lid once a day to circulate fresh air into the dome. Should I lose the dome? I've heard some people say they use it and others say it causes too much humidity, I just keep it on to allow the temps to be a little warmer but never have I had it get hot. I think I'll stick a temp gauge in there to see what it's really getting up to high. What would be a good temp to shoot for?
Thanks for all the help so far guys!
 
Captain Fap

Captain Fap

Well-Known Member
Thank you, good hands they are lol. I use soil for my grows but favor coco for seedlings, it's water retaining properties are great! I had bad luck with seeding in soil, but from the looks of it I might not be so good with coco either lol.
 
sno capz

sno capz

Well-Known Member
I germ by simply using a cup, distilled water that's pH'ed to 5.8 then i place em in a dark cool cabinet usually for 18-24 hours til a taproot begins to appear... Then i place them in a coco plug under a 2 foot x 4 bulb t5 about 10-12 away from the top of my plugs. My plugs sit in a run off tray with a seedling mat underneath at 80f. Once it breaks ground i generally remove the heating pad and lower my T5 to about 4-6 inches away from to of the seedling... Seems to me your over involving and over thinking this process
 
sno capz

sno capz

Well-Known Member
Captain Fap said:
Thank you, good hands they are lol. I use soil for my grows but favor coco for seedlings, it's water retaining properties are great! I had bad luck with seeding in soil, but from the looks of it I might not be so good with coco either lol.
Click to expand...
Pre-soak your coco plugs in pH balanced distilled water and if you can get your hands on it put a few drops of worm tea into the soaking solution.... Soak plugs for 15-20 before sowing the seeds
 
slowandsteady

slowandsteady

Well-Known Member
I'm a soil guy like Lo Budget and his method sounds very close to exactly what I do. just started some kandy kush that's about 3yrs old and they're doing great. Have you tried starting them upstairs first then going to the basement? And just my opinion Lose the heat mat.
 
sno capz

sno capz

Well-Known Member
slowandsteady said:
I'm a soil guy like Lo Budget and his method sounds very close to exactly what I do. just started some kandy kush that's about 3yrs old and they're doing great. Have you tried starting them upstairs first then going to the basement? And just my opinion Lose the heat mat.
Click to expand...
Heat mats are fine depending on what the temps are... I run One only because even though my room stays at 75f the plugs themselves become very cool and if they are then the seed will not sprout
 
Flash63

Flash63

Well-Known Member
I put these down on Thursday morning,had them on the shelf above the t5s till they sprouted,then under the 6 bank of 2ft t5s I do this with great success regularly,( I am a seed poppin fanatic).image.jpgimage.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
 
sno capz

sno capz

Well-Known Member
Captain Fap

Captain Fap

Well-Known Member
Nice setup flash!

I have a second floor that usually stays slightly warmer during the day but my kids bedrooms are all upstairs so that's a no go, basement is my lab lol. Just grabbed a thermostats for my heating mat, never hurts to have a little extra control, I may also take the advice of losing the mat but this time I would like to keep it, if I fail again then it gone!
 
Lucky Luc

Lucky Luc

Member
Captain Fap said:
Hey guys and gals! I'm a beginner grower who has one successful harvest under my belt. I seem to do a fair job at the overall growing of cannabis, the only downfall I have is seed germination. I've already killed some great strains and I've read and study seed germination for hours and hours. Still I just haven't had any luck. I've tried multiple methods from water cup, paper towel, seed to soil, and the only one that worked for me was letting my seeds germ in a coco propagation kit while in my tent at around 75 degrees. Well I tried it again and I just killed off $200 worth of seeds!!! This time just no action from all but one and it seems stunned (no increase in growth for 4 days).

So let's start with what I know/do. I lightly water my coco enough to moisten it throughly, I have it on a seedling heat mat under a t5 light at the moment running 18/6. No nutes, clean distilled water, seeds are not pre germ'd, seeds are planted maybe 3mm deep and I lightly sprinkle coco over it and gently flatten the soil medium. I didn't pull the soil back till day 4 to see if any progress on select seeds (not all of them). The seeds looks like they tried to open but after a week and half of sitting in soil the insides are mushy and white/yellowish. Previous tries I had fungi looking white stuff coming out of the seeds but none of that this time. The one seed that did hatch isn't doing to good. Very heathly looking minus what looked like white lint at the ends of the seedlings leafs.

So what Im asking is... What the hell am I doing wrong?! Lol. I just ordered more seeds and I really would like for these to come out like my last grow. Any advice is welcome.

Also I keep hearing people say you can't have to soil to wet, or too dry so is there actually a measent of how moist the soil should be, I do much better with numbers lol thanks!
Click to expand...
3 easy step first put seeds in water over night this in the morning the seeds should be at the bottom. Second take the seeds out of water place in between two moist paper towels carfully put the paper towels in a freezer bag and keep in a dark drawer or dark room and in a day or two they should sprout .Last carfully with a tweezer take the sprouted seeds and plca the seed root down less then a inch deep into your medium keep moist not damp n good luck it works for me n it will work for you.
 
daybreaker

daybreaker

Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried the scuffing method with light grit sandpaper?Im a little anxious,its been 5 days and nuthn has popped yet.My method is soil as well but I use the plastic 1x1 inch 6 hole thingy.Also how many days goes by when your like ,fuck it?The seeds are pineapple fields,oregon huckleberry and monster bite.I have 5 more orders coming so I wanna get this figgered out prior to even planting these.
 
Flash63

Flash63

Well-Known Member
daybreaker said:
Has anyone tried the scuffing method with light grit sandpaper?Im a little anxious,its been 5 days and nuthn has popped yet.My method is soil as well but I use the plastic 1x1 inch 6 hole thingy.Also how many days goes by when your like ,fuck it?The seeds are pineapple fields,oregon huckleberry and monster bite.I have 5 more orders coming so I wanna get this figgered out prior to even planting these.
Click to expand...
Never did the sandpaper thing,I would assume it's for old seed.5 days is concerning usually up in3-4 days.....just to clarify I start my beans in coco not soil.
 
daybreaker

daybreaker

Well-Known Member
I hear its good for seeds that have harder shells and sometimes people will pas that info along.if they don't pop today ima have to setm aside and try a different method.
 
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