Good Germination methods

Discussion in 'First Time Marijuana Growers' started by anothersmoker, Mar 1, 2002.

  1. the cheapest method is.......... using about 3 layers of paper towels. Wet them well, squeeze the extra water out so that the towel remains wet but not dripping with water. Then put the towels on top of a dish or plate (you need 2 identical ones). Put 3 more layers of wet paper towers on top of the seeds so that the seeds are completely covered. Then use the other dish and put it on top so that no light seeps through. Leave it alone for atleast 18 hours (haven't seen any germinate faster) and check if it's germinated by lifting the towels then closing it again. Some people suggest leaving the plates on top of cable boxes (since it's warm) and that would increase the speed of growing. I have no experience with this but feel free to try.
     
  2. i do basically the same.. i put the paper towels in a ziplock bag full of air, and then I put them next to a hot air vent. I read somewhere that they do germinate faster when in a warm enviroment, which makes sence for strains that are from hotter areas of the world.
     
  3. maybe you dont want to go with soil,but this works....
    topsoil/perlite/manure,50/50 soil and perlite and some' about 1/3 manure mixed real nice.then spoon your new dirt into the peatcubes, make a small whole with a pencil or other "probe' place your seed in the lil hole cover gently,water thourghly place saran wrap over the whole deal and turn up the heat a nice 80 t0 90degrees for a few days. remove saran wrap from over any new sprouts as soon as you notice them. seems to me this works very easily.
    good luck
    peace
     
  4. oh yea i forgot....in the dark....saran wrap/warm/dark :)
     
  5. Germination Info

    Storage; Seeds can and should be stored in a refrigerator if they are not going to be used right away. The best storage method is to place seeds in a film canister with a few grains of rice (uncooked rice will absorb moisture). Place canister with contents in the refrigerator and they should have a shelf life of two years or more. The longer you wait to use your seeds, the greater the chances of germination rates lowering. If you wish to store for longer periods of time, then you can freeze them but make sure they are well dried before doing so.
    Germination; There are many different methods but this one is tried and true. It's easy enough for the new grower so it is highly suggested. Before you start, place your seeds in the refrigerator overnight. This will help induce a better germination rate. If using very fresh seeds, make sure they are allowed to dry for at least two to three weeks before using.
    You will require; 1 liter of distilled or bottled water such as Naya, 1/2 teaspoon of bleach (regular bleach, not the one for colors), 1 zip lock bag (sandwich size), 1 J-Cloth brand dishtowel or a clean piece of loose knit cotton. I prefer the J-Cloth as it can retain moisture yet it is also very porous.
    Mix the bottled water with a half a teaspoon of bleach. By now you are thinking “Bleach? That is going to kill my seeds”, well don't. This subject has been debated but never proven. Chlorine is already present in tap water, and many have germinated using tap water. The reason for the bottled water is to avoid using too much chlorine as well as avoiding any impurities that can be found in tap or well water. What the bleach will do is prevent mold from growing, as you will be storing these seeds in very humid conditions for the next few days to about a week. This amount of bleach will not harm nor affect the seeds at all.
    Once the mixture is ready, take your J-Cloth (check Wal Marts if you still don't know what a J-Cloth is) and fold neatly into four so it fits into the zip lock bag. Submerge it into your mix of water and bleach and let soak. Remove it and wring out the excess water. The cloth should not to be dripping wet, just wet to the touch. Seeds require air as much as they require water. Over watering can and will prevent seeds from opening. Carefully take your seeds and place them inside the fold of the J-Cloth. Spread them out and fold over the J-Cloth. Place inside the zip lock bag and blow some air inside, seal and now just look for a warm place to keep the bag. The top of your refrigerator should work fine but just make sure it is not in direct sunlight. The darker the area, the better. Make sure you do not have cold or are smoking when you blow air into the bag. Germs and carbon monoxide can kill your seeds.
    Check every 12 hours to see if any seeds have exposed their taproot. If so, carefully transplant into your medium. Blow some more air in the bag and seal if there are still seeds that have not opened. Some seeds do take longer than others to germinate so you should give it at least two weeks before you can be certain remaining seeds will not germinate. Please take note that if the seeds open and a taproot starts, the seed is fine. Once transplanted, if there is a problem with the seedling, it is not because of the seed. There is a problem with the rest of your procedure. Blaming the seed is really not the way to go. Different strains need different conditions so be careful with which strain you work with and how to maintain it. Some prefer less nutrients than others, this is relative to the strain you are growing and data should be kept to support each different strain you attempt.
    You can also add to the mixture of water a few drops of Fish Emulsion or Super Thrive. This will cause the taproot to grow much faster so keep it well monitored. Do not wait too long to transplant as the seedling will have a harder time breaking through soil if transplanted with a very long taproot


    this is usually sent along with orders from many reputable seed companys..


    I have persnonally have used kotex femine pads(thin maxi) for many years with great results,,,I cut them in half and separate the layers..placing the seeds in between. they are designed of course to hold fluid(water in this case).

    You all may giggle now.....lol

    [​IMG]
     
  6. well i have some seeds that have germinated but i have noticed that there are hairs on the main shoot............i was thinking it was mold or could it be the begning of the roots? im me with ur answer or ill check back in a little bit


    Thanks all
     
  7. Seeds+Ziplock+Damp paper towels is what works for me. Just keep in the dark a few degrees above room temp. Everyone has there own methods out there, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it........
     
  8. #9 hatchit_13, May 17, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 17, 2009
    After a few failed attempts this is what worked for me. 2-4 paper towels wet with distilled water and wrung out gently. Fold to the size of a sandwich baggie and place a minimal amount of seeds, (no more than 10) onto the towels and refold. Flatten the towels gently to ensure good contact with seeds, then place in Ziploc. I only seal the Ziploc about 90% leaving one corner open slightly, then place in a warm, dark environment about 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit. I haven't really read anything about too warm an environment but from my personal experience with other seeds (veggies, etc..) it seems that if the heat is left on after the first seeds pop it causes stretching, ie; the plant grows rapidly but does not produce a real set of leaves until the plant may be several inches tall which is obviously undesirable. Any debate on this is welcome as I'm pretty green to the scene and this is just my recent experience. Good luck and happy growing!
     
  9. #10 iAMdela, May 17, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 17, 2009
    There is a sticky thread at the top of this page that is called Germination 420. Please read the stickies before posting threads. This question has been answered, and that's what the stickies are there for.
     

  10. Yeah this guide is great. I used it for two seeds on Friday, and one of them as shown taproot today (Sunday) the other one is still sleeping but the guide does tell you that it could be longer than a couple of days.
     

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