Weak Germination

[Hoside]

Hey guys whats up first time posting. I am having problems germinating the seedlings that i have. I use rockwoll and what i do is i wet the rockwoll first and then add the seed 1/4" deep. I cover the hole with a piece of rockwoll then i put them in a container and close the lid. I put the container on the back of my moniter for heat and i open up the container regularly for air exchange. The rockwools are always wet as well.

Now the problem is i had a bunch of durban poisen seed and out of 12 only 1 germinated and sprouted it looked like it was bent of shape and falling over. Its been under the light for 5 days now and it hasn't even opened yet.

I even tried again using white rhino's this time three sprouted but again they looked very weak and had their seed attached to them. Just one survived while the others died. I have seen a lot of pictures on the site of sprouted seedlings that look so much healthier. Mine doesn't even have any life in them.

Can anyone please help me because this really seems like a simple thing i just cant figure out. Thank you in advance

[faeryamos]

I dont kno anything about rockwool so i dont know if this will help you, but in my opinion, with soil its best to germinate in a cup of water or wet paper towel first, than plant when the seed has opened with the taproot showing. What kind of lighting are u using?- this could play a major part in them being so weak

[gizmojr05]

i second the paper towel trick done it for years it always worked for me %90 all the time but if there still about put them in a glass of water with about an1/4 inch water leave in a dry dark place and check daily come on the seeds for ur sake. hope is with u he he

[Hoside]

I use a 45 watt cfl for the seedlings only after they sprout. (The light is about an inch or two away from the sprouted seedlings.) The paper towel method will most likely help the germination rate but my biggest problem is the lack of energy when they do sprout. They just slump over and when i do put them in the light they dont open up except for one white rhino (the only survivor). One thing i am confused about is do i put light on then when they germinated or wait until they sprouted?

[faeryamos]

it doesnt matter when they are underneath the soil- but if you have the light on when there still under the soil, the soil will get warm and will help germing then when they sprout they will have the light on them immediately. i don't know anything about the CFL's- I have heard that they work, but you may need a highter wattage- again I know nothing about them- thats just a guess