whats the best way to germ. seeds???

Im going to start growing outdoors in march or april. What is the best way to start the seeds and how many should i start? and can i put them in the ground right after they sprout?

stillsmokin said:

Im going to start growing outdoors in march or april. What is the best way to start the seeds and how many should i start? and can i put them in the ground right after they sprout?

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well ive done quite a bit of reading lately, and just recently sprouted some seeds. what i did was place some paper tissues down and a plate, wet the tissues in luke warm warter place the seeds on top of the tissues then place more tissues on top and wet slightly.. place another plate over the top and put it in a dark place at room temp...

ive not actually grown out side yet but i read on here the other day, sprout your seeds as normal and keep them in veg untill march, but at some point they will need re-potting.. but repot them in plastic pint glasses, so you can get a good root system going.. then in march pretend your going fishing, load up your tackel box with all your plants, good size takel box could hold 40 pint glasses i reckon, so thats fourty plants.. but remember to prep your spot befor you take your plants to your chosen location.

im still learning at the mo as well mate.. im not saying any of the above is right but it might give you and idea and im sure someone will pop up with a better one.. proberly mogie

hey iv found the best way is to get some cotten wool put it in a egg carton(not plastic)then place your seeds on the cotten wool the cover with a very thin layer of cotten wool...gently water(but make sure there is no exses water and don't let it dry out)then put on a nere a window that gets at least 8-12hours of sun.wait till thay sprout then plant with the carton and cotten wool (it will disolve as the roots break through)

There are different methods that prove successful:

Seeds can be placed between folded, wet paper towels that are kept moist and warm in an area between 70-85 degrees, such as on the top of the refrigerator. After a period of 48 hours to 2 weeks, the vast majority of viable seeds will crack open with a white root tip emerging. At this point, the seed is gently placed in the growing medium approximately 1/2 inch deep with the root tip pointed downward.

Seeds can also be placed directly into the grow medium with the pointed end facing downwards to germinate without the transplanting step. The medium is kept uniformly moist until the young seedling emerges on the surface.

It is not necessary to provide light before the seedlings break the surface, but it is beneficial to have strong light present from that moment forward to prevent excessive stem elongation.

Fluorescent lighting is satisfactory with cool white or higher color temperature tubes being preferable. Metal halide lighting is beneficial, if heat and moisture are monitored.

*Seeds prefer high light conditions once they have become rooted. They will stretch under most floroescents.

How can I increase the germination rates of my seeds?
Contributed by: Lord Of The Strains
Submitted: March 30, 2004

Pre-soaking your seeds before planting them is a terrific way to ensure a greater germination percentage and faster germination rates. There are a few different methods of soaking seeds; the two most popular being the “Paper-Towel Method” and “Standard” (soaking in a cup or similar object), both of which yield similar results if done correctly (taproot emerges in approx. 24 hrs.)

NOTE: Regardless of which method you employ, seeds should be soaked in a dark, warm environment for the best results. Once the taproot (tiny, white root-tip) emerges from the seeds, they are ready to be planted into the growing-medium.

1. Paper-Towel Method:

MATERIALS: Paper-towels (at least 2 sheets), 2 plates/dishes (or similar object), warm water.

PROCEDURE:

It involves placing the seed(s) onto a damp paper-towel (which is placed on a plate/dish, or similar object), and covering them with another damp paper-towel.
For best results, use water that is a bit warmer than room-temperature (to compensate for any drop in temperature), and cover the plate/dish with another plate/dish (to prevent heat from escaping, as well as protect the seeds from light).

Also, using more than one sheet of paper-towel above and below the seed(s) will yield better results, as well as adding more warm water to the paper-toweling/bottom dish before covering the whole arrangement with the optional second plate/dish.

WARNING: It is imperative that the seed(s) are removed from the paper-toweling as soon as the taproot(s) has/have emerged; If the seed(s) is/are left to soak for too long, delicate micro-roots can be torn when the seed(s) is/are removed from the paper-toweling, which will temporarily retard germination/growth as well as stress the plant (which could possibly result in an unfavorable male/hermaphrodite).

2. Standard Soaking

MATERIALS: Cup/mug (one that retains heat well; i.e. ceramic coffee cup), plate/dish/lid (big enough to cover cup/mug/etc.), warm water.

PROCEDURE:
In this method, the grower places his/her seed(s) in a cup/mug of some sort, which is filled with warm water. I use a ceramic coffee cup - as it is a good conductor of heat - and I cover it with a ceramic plate (again, to prevent heat from escaping, as well as shield seeds from light).

For best results, use water that is a bit warmer than room temperature (again, to compensate for any drop in temperature). It is normal for the seed(s) to float on the surface; just let it/them soak for a while then give it/them a little tap to make it/they sink (the best, most viable seeds will sink to the bottom). Although it is virtually impossible to over-soak seeds using this method, seeds should only be soaked until the taproot has emerged.

CONCLUSION:
Both of these methods are equally effective if executed correctly. Most seeds should show their taproots within 24 hrs., and all seeds should show taproots within 48 hrs. (assuming you are using good, viable seeds).

TIP: (for soil-growers)
If you want to further increase your germination rates, simply plant your seed(s) shallow; approx. 1-2 cm. deep. The seedling(s) should break the soil-surface within 24 hrs., or 48 hrs. for the most (again, assuming you are using good viable seeds – otherwise, it may take another day or two). Once the seedling(s) has/have sprouted, add a little extra soil at the base of the stem(s) for additional support and root-protection.

mogie, i read somewhere that germinating in soil at least 4" deep results in 80% female plants. any truth to that?

have you guys ever had any luck with starting a plant on a window sil? I want to start now, and transplant in late march...so is it possible?

i have grown in a window and transplanted before drochoker it is possible and to germinate my seeds i just put them directly in a bottle of water in a warm dark place for about two days and you can never go wrong

i read somewhere that germinating in soil at least 4" deep results in 80% female plants. any truth to that? Nope sorry.

hey i have just started mt germination 12hrs ago and i hope things go good i have done 20seeds and the way i am doin it i sin a cup that i put in a dark place which is my room because its always warm but i will keep you updated on how i am doin

Germ the seeds in a wet paper towel and once the tap root shows, plant them in small pots. Once the weather gets nicer, transplant them into the ground and keep your fingers x'd

put them directly in the grow medium with pointed side feaceing down. that way works the best for me

i'm a tid bit out of date i have Marijuana: The Cultivators Guide by: Bill Drake and in his book he has a diagram of seed plantings and he say to put the pointed side of the seed up because the tap root emerges and hooks down for the soil. I started 9 seeds in a paper towel, let that soak for about two days then put the seeds in jiffy peat pots point up with the tap root up and have 8 beautiful babies ( one did have some root problems, grew but was slowwwed ) to this day, but after reading this i wonder what the male/female ratio will be and if anyone has ever read this book or uses the same method and what their results were. (i have done this for the previous two years i grew outside but never took notice til now)

I Just Put My Seeds In Wet Paper Towels & Put Them In Sealed Ziplock Bags In A Warm Dark Place Then Check On Them 2-3 Days Later & Normally I Get 70-80% Sprouted Seeds..There Are Many More Methods, But This One Works For Me..

Good thread on gemination methods, will make a post this weekend with pics to show how to do it correctly, I honestly do not know why people do not soak there seeds for a short period time in lukewarm water (I use aquarium water) and then insert directly into medium/soil. In my opinion there is no benefit in germinating in paper towels deprived of nutrients only to obtain visual confirmation of eventual sprouting, to make matters worse everyone is confused on how to insert them into the medium once sprouting has comenced, up, down, right, left? They'd be better off if they were just left to sprout by themselves but we humans need to be reassured that they are alive thus we put them in paper towels with distilled water?! What nutrient vaues does distilled water have? Zilch. Last time I checked paper towels weren't too enriched in nutes either, I feel that once the bean is where it's supposed to be it can start sucking up nutes immediatley, I place them 8mm - 1/4 inch into soaked substrate and then apply droplets of aquarium watervia a plastic syringe to keep them moist, aquarium water is the best for germination as far as I'm concerned, conditioned, rich with natural micronutrients and warm, germinating directly in outdoor soil is also a cinch i you can pamper them a bit, will post a germination threas this weeked, Germination/Acclimation Station. The GERMINATOR.

paper towel method

damp, warm paper towel, darkness
fold seeds inside with even space between seeds.

is it possible to plant my sprouted seeds during the rain. because I have had sproted seeds for about 2 days and hasnt stopped raining. its not raining too hard but if i keep em inside theyll just die

I put my seeds directly into a glass of water in a warm, dark place.
I then thoroughly drench the soil I have ready in cups.
After 24hrs (no more), I put the seeds (some already sprouted) on top of the drenched soil and cover with about 1/4" of new soil.
I then mist the new soil.

I've read, even on these forums, that when you put them in paper towels, if any seeds crack/sprout, the taproot already has microscopic roots (that eventually become THE ROOTS) that are virtually invisible to the eye. Many of them attach/intertwine themselves to the paper towel. When you remove the seedling/taproot from the paper towel, some of these microscopic roots tear out. If/when they do it can set the growth rate back....very very minimally, but it can. It could be an answer to the "why isn't my seedling growing" question, which eventually kicks in and grows.

Just an IMO.

Never had an "ungermed" seed using the glass of water method.

yeah i definitely agree to just put em in soil, keep them moist but not drenched. also, seeds need oxygen, and if you soak them and wrap them in a towel it cant be good
its natures way of doing it, there are no paper towels found in afghanistan or wtv.