To soak or not to soak is the question!

Sooooo, after 3yrs of cyber stalking this website (w/o an account) and growing one full term batch of cannabis seeds, I find myself back here again ready to start growing.
This time around I decided to NOT soak my seeds (not long anyway, maybe an hr or two. Just long enough to get them a little plump but not too much that they rot (had experience with that in the last 2 batches).
I'm curious as to what other people think about soaking the seeds for 24hrs. I personally noticed that sometimes I was careless and left them in too long, around the 36-72hr mark it kinda becomes mushy.... So I'm curious if this step actually matters in the germinating process?
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(Hope this makes since kinda h!gh rn.) Also no I didn't get any of the seeds I have from dispensary or nursery... I got them from friends or my own batch of weed.)

kitty's.katnip420 said:

Sooooo, after 3yrs of cyber stalking this website (w/o an account) and growing one full term batch of cannabis seeds, I find myself back here again ready to start growing.
This time around I decided to NOT soak my seeds (not long anyway, maybe an hr or two. Just long enough to get them a little plump but not too much that they rot (had experience with that in the last 2 batches).
I'm curious as to what other people think about soaking the seeds for 24hrs. I personally noticed that sometimes I was careless and left them in too long, around the 36-72hr mark it kinda becomes mushy.... So I'm curious if this step actually matters in the germinating process?
.
.
.
.
(Hope this makes since kinda h!gh rn.) Also no I didn't get any of the seeds I have from dispensary or nursery... I got them from friends or my own batch of weed.)

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I do it occasionally mostly i just put em straight into wet paper towels in a tub works fine unless its landrace or old seeds they better popping directly in dirt

No soaking. Seed in moist medium and wait.

Welcome Kitty,

With the high cost of quality seeds we certainly want to strive for a high germination rate. Wet paper towels has always worked well for me and here is about 20 of them which all but one sprouted in 24 hours. The one stubborn seed took another 3 days but finally popped. Have also tried planting directly in potting mix but had very poor results with that method.

I would recommend that sometime you order a few of the new strains out and give them a try and the feminized option has saved me a lot of time and work.

Here's the thing:
A seed has a waxy coating, to protect it from the elements and environment until it finds a wet spot on the ground to sprout.
The water must soak through the waxy coating and into the outer shell to trigger it to sprout, indicating a good place to begin life.
When a seed gets old, the waxy coating is more akin to shellac, and can be quite difficult for the water to get through.

Soaking your seeds does more than one thing. It lets you complete the initial soaking process, and it lets you separate infertile seeds from the beginning, so no blank pots.

You toss the seeds in a bit of water with a small squirt of peroxide.
The peroxide cleans away any hitchhiking fungus spores or harmful bacteria.
Occasionally, you tap the seed as it floats upon the surface, waiting for it to sink.
when the waxy outer coating is penetrated, the seed will tend to fall to the bottom of the cup. At this point take it out and place it in paper towel, or leave it until it has a tail. If you leave it, make sure it does not drown, because they can. They need oxygen. Only allow a tail to form before removing it and planting it.
If you use the paper towel method, do not allow the paper towel to be too wet for the same reason. Make sure to remove the seeds before they grow into the paper towel.
When handling sprouts, avoid touching the root. They are growing very fine root structures that you cannot see, and rough treatment will damage root development.
Edit: for older seeds, draw a sharp penknife along the edge of the seed, to scratch lightly and create an entry to the water. No damage to the seed, just a scratch along the edge to break the coating.

Here's another tip.
Place the paper towel in a ziploc baggie and hang it from a pushpin in a warm place, so the taproot grows straight down and doesn't try to twist in circles.

Here is a good guide for germination without any bro-science BS: https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide

Rurumo said:

Here is a good guide for germination without any bro-science BS: https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide

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IF you grow in soil, and IF you are growing from plants bred and grown in soil, and IF you idolize the guys at Mandala, then eat that up.

Damn, looks like I've been doing it wrong for over 20 years ....but bro-science is confusing and too much handling. I've been planting my seeds in prepared medium and smoking a joint. I don't think I'm gonna give up 99.9% germ.
It really is as simple as that.

DrBuzzFarmer said:

IF you grow in soil, and IF you are growing from plants bred and grown in soil, and IF you idolize the guys at Mandala, then eat that up.

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I grow in coco and just drop in. That’s a good story you tell though.

Oldreefer said:

Damn, looks like I've been doing it wrong for over 20 years ....but bro-science is confusing and too much handling. I've been planting my seeds in prepared medium and smoking a joint. I don't think I'm gonna give up 99.9% germ.
It really is as simple as that.

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See, the problem is, most people here are growing a seed or two. They push them in the dirt and hope. Frequently messing up poorly created amateur timelines.
If they start with a guaranteed sprout, they can plan effectively.
You don't know how old the seeds you buy are. They made sprout in a day, maybe a week, maybe 12 days. In a paper towel, you know by third or fourth day, and you are on with the grow.
All the seeds pushed into cups of soil that don't sprout, almost always reappear halfway through the next grow under the plant you just started.
It's simply a good habit for newer growers, and makes timelines happen for experienced growers who have timetables.
If you are sitting in your recliner and have a few plants to tend, play a waiting game, why not?

Everyone has a technique they prefer to use. Of course, do whatever works. I had always planted seeds in either rock wool when I did dwc and then soil when I switched to organic soil mix. Then I tried soaking in water and fulvic acid after reading about it somewhere . I tried soaking 3 separate times with not very good results, so I switched back to planting directly in soil and it always works for me. I get my soil moist first, then sprinkle Bio-Ag VAM in the hole before I drop in my seed. When the seed germinates the tap root grows through the VAM. It works for me but like I first said, everyone does it their own wsy. Good luck!

Soaking seeds or sprouting in a way you can visually see them open is an absolute must for all the new growers
Don’t believe me just watch their patience waiting on clones to root

For one: holy cow, I didn't expect to get any responses on this. All the tips were so great!! I appreciate I'm already looking into buying some seeds from a seller I follow on IG. I'm also buying Fox Farm's Indoor Potting Soil, a bag of perilite -- I'm still indecisive about buying nutrients! My bf says I shouldn't but I want to, my last batch kinda struggled without nutes. Truthfully they almost didn't make it to the finish line (long story short: my kitten tried to eat my plants!). But that's probably a whole 'nother topic in itself!

I planted a seed in a shoelace.


If seeds are good they will sprout with any type of moisture. Good luck.

kitty's.katnip420 said:

Sooooo, after 3yrs of cyber stalking this website (w/o an account) and growing one full term batch of cannabis seeds, I find myself back here again ready to start growing.
This time around I decided to NOT soak my seeds (not long anyway, maybe an hr or two. Just long enough to get them a little plump but not too much that they rot (had experience with that in the last 2 batches).
I'm curious as to what other people think about soaking the seeds for 24hrs. I personally noticed that sometimes I was careless and left them in too long, around the 36-72hr mark it kinda becomes mushy.... So I'm curious if this step actually matters in the germinating process?
.
.
.
.
(Hope this makes since kinda h!gh rn.) Also no I didn't get any of the seeds I have from dispensary or nursery... I got them from friends or my own batch of weed.)

Click to expand...

I vote for water germ. 3% spritz of H2O2 and 72 F minimum. 24-36 hours for most seeds. Forget wondering if a seed has sprouted underground. That's rookie stuff.

Nothing fancy. Just some screened bagged soil to get rid of any big chunks. Fill small nursery pots with soil, plant seed, give a small amount of water. Keep warm and damp.

I don't know why it works but it does.

xtsho said:

Nothing fancy. Just some screened bagged soil to get rid of any big chunks. Fill small nursery pots with soil, plant seed, give a small amount of water. Keep warm and damp.

I don't know why it works but it does.

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Why get rid of the bigger chunks? How big we talking?

PadawanWarrior said:

Why get rid of the bigger chunks? How big we talking?

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I just use a screen that makes it about the same size as starter mix you can buy. I just screen regular potting soil. Most has chunks of stuff in it.

xtsho said:

I just use a screen that makes it about the same size as starter mix you can buy. I just screen regular potting soil. Most has chunks of stuff in it.

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Are you talking about wood chunks and bark? What do you do with the chunks?