What do you think the best way to germinate is??

Iam interested to start this thread on the best method of germinating seeds. i want to do this because i used the wet paper towel method and only got 6 out of 9. not horrible but i hear people doing 100% or close to it all the time. the seeds i used were bought from a great site, so i assume it was my error. the next time i buy seeds its gonna cost me like $130 cnd and i want to make sure i do it better.

I use the wet paper towel method and I always get close to 100%...shoot, I cant remember when I havent gotten one to crack open using that method.

The paper towel method should be done by moistening the paper towel wit a sprayer, putting the seeds on it, placing another moist papertowel on it, and placing a bowl on top to keep it dark ALSO keep it on top of a heating pad or something thats warm like a ps2 or something , ive read that 85-90f temperature is the best to keep the seeds at.


Cheers

it doesnt have to be dark, mine are always on my windowsill, but i use the paper towel method too. ive had 100% with this way.

DaBeatGoezOn said:

The paper towel method should be done by moistening the paper towel wit a sprayer, putting the seeds on it, placing another moist papertowel on it, and placing a bowl on top to keep it dark ALSO keep it on top of a heating pad or something thats warm like a ps2 or something , ive read that 85-90f temperature is the best to keep the seeds at.


Cheers

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This is EXACTLY how i did it, every step, i only got 6 out of 9

Paper towel method works for me. 95% germ rate

I've been soaking them over night in a cup of water, then putting in a wet paper towel in a baggy and placing on top of my cable box for warmth. Works well. Some have opened in the cup of water actually.

Or just the paper towel in a baggy method. Always has and always will work.

i soak them for 24hrs in a cup of water and then i stick them in conditioned rockwool and cover them in a dome and set them on my heat matt.Works awesome.

I use rockwool cubes in one of my clothes closets, in a big ziplock or tupperware, moistened. Got all my MJ's to germinate... as well as tomatoes, basil & pumpkin seeds. The only one that didn't germinate was a pumpkin seed and that's because it was split before I put it in there.

I'm currently trying to germinate San Pedro Cactus in both rockwool AND fox farms potting soil... been almost 2 weeks and still no dice. I hear these things are a bitch to germinate...

Oh well... Good luck & PEACE.

I'm running 100% this year and probably 99% over all the years. This is what I do. Sterilize a glass in the oven and then fill with distilled water. Always use distilled so you know the PH is exactly neutral and there aren't any chemicals, minerals, pathogens or spores involved. I do five to ten at a time and space the process out to a batch a week, some are my strains and some from other breeders.

Take the glass and put it in the microwave and boil the water just to make sure and then let cool to room temperature.

Let the seeds soak for 4 to 6 hours. While you are doing that take a plate and paper towel that has been folded into 4th and soak with some distilled water and place that in the microwave and nuke till it is steaming hot. That will kill off any mold spores. At the same time take a glass pyrex bowl and heat it up in the oven to about 300 degrees.

Cover the plate with the bowl and let it cool down. I try and keep everything at around 80 degrees.

Now after the seeds have soaked take a spoon (don't touch the seeds) and place the seeds between the folds of paper towels and recover them with the bowl.
In the meantime start soaking some peat pellets, again using distilled water and a sterile plate.

Check every 6 hours or so. They will pop very fast, as soon as you can see a tap root, using a sterile knife, place the seed in the peat pellet about 1/2" deep. Recover with the bowl. Number the plants in the order of popping and keep notes of the different genetics.

So by now you can see I'm fanatic about making sure everything is sterile, the ph is perfect, the seeds or seedlings are never touched. The peat pellets are moved to pots with good potting soil at about day 5. After the first 5 finger leaves are forming feed with a very mild solution food (very mild!) like a 4/12/0. The idea is to really develop good roots and stems at this point. Always use distilled water until they are big enough to handle stress.

In 30 years (even before microwaves!)I rarely get a seed that won't pop. Never had mold or any other nasty problems. And rarely lose a plant after they are put in soil. After they are moved outside is a whole different story!

Also I should mention....don't give up! Keep trying for at least a week. Sometimes the laggards have the more interesting genetics.

So i'm still hearing alot of love for the paper towel msg, i think i might try the in a glass of water method next time, just cause i never tried it before, i'm all about tryin a new method. and yours foz thats very detailed, i'm gonna use most of your steps. also i hoper people keep em comin, the more different the better!

DaBeatGoezOn said:

The paper towel method should be done by moistening the paper towel wit a sprayer, putting the seeds on it, placing another moist papertowel on it, and placing a bowl on top to keep it dark..

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Sorry but I don’t agree. If you read about using a paper towel pros say use three or four sheets and fold them so they are thick and put them in something like a Tupperware container and soak them and pour off any excess water and then place the beans in and fold the paper towel over and seal the lid and just check it like once a day, if it takes longer than a day, and that is what I do and it works great. I get near 100% germination, usually 100% but with an occasional failure of a single bean, and I have never had any problem at all doing it that way.

paper towel > fool proff

Step 1: Throw the lil suckers in a cup of water
Step 2: Begin muttering incantation "I think it will, I think it will, I think it will...." until root emerges


.....works every time

9inch bigbud said:

paper towel > fool proff

Click to expand...

Yep, papertowel method works great. And as long as we are on the sterile theme. Anyone ever sterilize thier potting soil? I do. Spread it on a cookie sheet, about 2 or 3 inches deep, put in the oven at 275 to 300 deg. When steamy, about 30 minutes or so. The house will stink, but you will have basic store bought soil that has no bugs! Happy Trails

Oh I forgot to mention the "smoke a dube, sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle the blood around the shop" part.

Also the the paper towel is dripping wet, but don't leave them in long after popping. If you live in a place where there are lots of mold spores floating around you really have to be vigilant. I remember years ago we would add a little bleach to the water. I don't do that anymore...trying to stay as organic as possible, plus don't want any blond plants hanging around disrupting the peace