Okay I'm a total greenhorn to growing here, it's been 2 half days. I'm going to do a step by step process of what I did. I kept seed moist and warm in a paper towel for 24 hours and the first sign of tap root I freaked out and plant the baby tap was maybe as big as seed. Used a pen and poked down the head about 1/4th down. I did not water the pot before hand and this is an auto so I used a large pot of oragnic MG and MG perlite. So I put it in dry and poured softely with mid range Luke warm tap water. Places in a 70ish closet under 2 24wat CFLs. I start to freak because the soil doesn't dry out evenly. And I might be over reacting but it almost gets bone dry after a day. So I have been spraying water over it once or twice a day. I than added a heat pad but that only heats up the buttom of the pot. I turned off the lights and put plastic wrap to try and hold moister. I heard it can take weeks. I just want my baby to see the light. I don't wanna fail before I start. When should I start to worry? Did I do anything wrong. Should I stop watering and let I bone dry? The temp is at 60ish at night and nothing I can do right now about that besides lights and heat pad because of money.
seems to me like you crushed your sprout during planting. miracle grow sucks according to the reviews in this forum.
How did I crush it? Put in dry and dumping water will crush? I know MG sucks but I also heard success story's not everyone can drop 200$ to grow pot.
starting seeds is the most difficult part of growing hopefully the seed hasn't rotted in the soil/seed shell the heat pad is a good idea seedlings like 80f the plastic on top is good also seedlings like high humidity it is easier to start seeds in small cups or cubes so u will know if the root is growing all u can do now is wait remember a seedlings job is to establish roots first them leaves
update, I got a ink pen and was light scrapping and surface were I planted, and sure enough It touched a seed, I lightly brushed up agaisnt it and it felt solid like it was anchored in...the head of the seed is exposed. I really need to chill out, most newbies make the mistake of being over protective and metaling around the grow area, growing should be fun not stressful...i'm going to take a couple steps back and enjoy. Once I see green, i'll start a grow thread. I worried about the germ and than the sprout, it's time to sit back and let mother nature take over....
some good soil from a hydro store cost like30$ not 200. But mg does dry out super fast i used it once b4 and was havin nute problems. its do-able just really not that great. ...at all.
Germinating and Planting Seeds To germinate, seeds need moisture, warmth, and air (oxygen). Moisture Soaking seeds in water allows moisture to penetrate the protective seed shell within minutes. Moisture continues to wick in to activate the dormant hormones. In 24-72 hours, hormones activate and send signals to produce a small white rootlet (radicle). Moisture is critical now. There must be a constant stream of moisture to transport nutrients, hormones, and water in order to carryon life processes. For best results use distilled water. Letting germinated seeds suffer moisture stress now will stunt seedling growth. warmth Cannabis seeds grow best at 78F (2SoC). Low temperatures (below 70F [21C]) delay germination. High temperatures (above 90F [32C]) cause poor germination. Once germinated, move seedlings to a slightly cooler growing area and increase light levels. Avoid high temperatures and low light levels, which cause lanky growth. Air (oxygen) Cannabis seeds grow best at 78F (2SoC). Low temperatures (below 70F [21C]) delay germination. High temperatures (above 90F [32C]) cause poor germination. Once germinated, move seedlings to a slightly cooler growing area and increase light levels. Avoid high temperatures and low light levels, which cause lanky growth. Seeds need air to germinate. Moist, soggy growing mediums will cut off oxygen supplies and the seed will literally drown. Planting seeds too deeply also causes poor germination. Seedlings do not have enough stored energy to force through too much soil before sprouting. Plant seeds twice as deep as the width of the seed. For example, plant a 0.12S-inch (0.3 mm) seed 0.2S-inch (6mm) deep.
budbrownies, i may have misread but i wanted to clarify. when planting seed, you should be planting the seed in already moistened soil. (this is after you've soaked your seed in water) if you put your seed in dry soil then water that soil, the water can actually pull the seed down from 1/4 inch below surface to an inch or two, even deeper. if that happens then the taproot may not have enough strength to breach its way through the top of the soil. btw, congrats on your new plant, pops! i hope it's a girl