seeds gone dark black in paper towel, help me save their lives

Hello, I am sorry if this is not the place to post and I know the germination has been discussed so much... but I don't know how much time I have left to save their lives. This is my 3rd grow now. Bought a 300$ worth pack of seeds, kept it in a dark cool place inside 4 ziplock bags to store them safely, opened the pack and placed 20 critical kush (and 3 other seeds from before, other seedbank) from barney seeds on germination between 2 paper towels in a zip lock bag and opened the zip lock bag from one side to have a little air, then put it on a plate 8cm (3 inches) above a heating mat at temperature ~25-27C (77-80 F) in a dark place, covered with aluminium foil to be completely dark for them. In 36 hours the seeds have gone dark black color and not even one sprouting. There is still moisture in the paper towels, the towels are not cold but also not too warm on touch, somewhere between. Did anyone have such problems? Should I put them in the soil under light? Or put them in a cup of water? Might be dead seeds?

Thank you!

You don't have to put all that much effort in popping a seed. Anymore I just drop them in a cup of water for a few hours and place them a quarter inch deep in a solo cup of soil. Or a peet/coco/rockwool pellet. The medium should be moist. Not soupy. Place it in a warm dark place like a cabinet or something for a day or two. Then move them to a windowsill whether they've popped or not. Although I've also had good results just setting them in a windowsill from the get go. A good viable seed will pop within several days. I went through a time where I lost a bunch of seeds. I figured out that I was overdoing everything. Trying too hard. That paper towel method. It seems to work. I did it once or twice a long time ago. I don't know what advantages if any, that method offers. Perhaps someone else will chime in on that.

If it were me. I would put those in a cup of soil or grow pellet and set them in the windowsill. See what happens. Remember. Moist. Not drenched and soupy wet.

At the end of the day, not all seeds may be viable. That's why when I buy seeds. I usually buy different strains/breeders.

Good luck.

Hey GrowUrOwnDank,

Thanks for your reply. I have to admit I had more luck germinating seeds in first 2 grows than lately, I don't know if it might be the reseller as it's difficult to order seeds here via mail.

I will listen to you and place them in the soil - coco 80-20 mix in solo 0.5L cups and water them before, place them in a warm place for 1-2 days and then under 250W HPS.

I have many holes in the solo 0.5 cups so they shouldn't be soupy wet as all unneeded water goes out.

Should I maybe try watering the soil with mycorrhiza fungus (advanced nutrients piranha)? It helps extending roots.

Also, is it normal that they go dark black color?

Will keep updated, thank you man!

s0m3b0dyz said:

Hey GrowUrOwnDank,


Should I maybe try watering the soil with mycorrhiza fungus (advanced nutrients piranha)? It helps extending roots.



Will keep updated, thank you man!

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You should not need anything added to the soil but water. There are no roots yet just a seed.

Ok, thank you for your reply, I will keep updated.

s0m3b0dyz said:

Ok, thank you for your reply, I will keep updated.

Click to expand...

I agree, I wouldn't complicate it anymore than just plain water. I usually put small seedlings in a windowsill that doesn't get a full blast of sunlight. Then under a CFL. And graduate up to an HPS. If you go directly under that HPS hang it high and try not to push too much light and heat at it until it's got a couple of nodes.

The first several years my seeds ALWAYS popped. Then I went through a period I couldn't get anything to pop. Then I started trying too hard, because of the failure. Kept the medium too moist thinking that may help. And even used a heating pad because I read it somewhere. They were from different breeders as well.

Anyway. Still haven't figured out why I had such a dilemma. I did read that certain machines in the post office could render seeds unviable. I don't know that I believe it for sure, but it's as good a theory as any other. So. I went back to my most simple methods again and it's working. I'll just keep doing what works ya know. If paper towel works for you that's fine too. For me. It's just gonna be to soak em and put in moist soil from now on tho. And make sure they don't get too cold.

Not sure about the black color.

Good luck bro!

In my experience a black seed is a dead seed. Usually from being to wet or to warm or both. I know it sucks but you learn from mistakes. Just my opinion!!

Thanks for reply, 8 seeds came out and put them in the soil, waiting for the rest to come out. I made the temperature a little higher, it may be that. Also, the black seeds are popping too, I mean all of them were black later. It might take a few more days, every day 3-4-5 come out.

GrowUrOwnDank said:

You don't have to put all that much effort in popping a seed. Anymore I just drop them in a cup of water for a few hours and place them a quarter inch deep in a solo cup of soil. Or a peet/coco/rockwool pellet. The medium should be moist. Not soupy. Place it in a warm dark place like a cabinet or something for a day or two. Then move them to a windowsill whether they've popped or not. Although I've also had good results just setting them in a windowsill from the get go. A good viable seed will pop within several days. I went through a time where I lost a bunch of seeds. I figured out that I was overdoing everything. Trying too hard. That paper towel method. It seems to work. I did it once or twice a long time ago. I don't know what advantages if any, that method offers. Perhaps someone else will chime in on that.

If it were me. I would put those in a cup of soil or grow pellet and set them in the windowsill. See what happens. Remember. Moist. Not drenched and soupy wet.

At the end of the day, not all seeds may be viable. That's why when I buy seeds. I usually buy different strains/breeders.

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Lol.. put wet soil in the dark for a couple days.. that's smart..
Op. I use the paper towel way. Always works. Wet the paper towel. Ring it out and put the seed in it. Put towel in ziplock. Check in couple days.