So, I've grown for a long time and I've always used the paper towel method to pop my seeds. I bought some seeds for this go around and boy, I'm having TROUBLE! I've got one small plant in my tent now, working on its 3rd leaf set, growing just fine. But I can't get any of the others to get going. I started with the paper towel, once I could see a small tap root, I planted them in my medium and placed a small LED over the small cups. Nothing! (But the one I mentioned) I think this is because I was using Happy Frog soil to sow the seeds in, after popping them. It was probably too "hot" for a young seedling. So I went online and ordered Root Riot Plugs and a humidity dome with a controlled heat mat under it... the dome has 4 small led lights incorporated into the air vent. The heat pad has a thermometer/thermostat that sticks into one of the soil plugs, in order for the heat pad to cut on and off and keep the soil at 77-80F (which BTW works to the freakin T) Cannot wait to get some clones in this dome.... Anyhow, here's my question!!! Once I have a tap root from the paper towel and then get them inside the root right plug in the dome.... do I cut the lights on? And at what rate? 24hrs a day? Or should I go with what I veg with, which is 20hrs of light and 4hrs of darkness? I would assume the lights should be on, as that's kinda how mother nature would work, right? TYIA for any info.... learn something new every day!
Why are you starting them in a paper towel? Just stick the seed in the root riot.........no unnecessary handling. I only use a light to keep temps up.........otherwise, lighting is not necessary until it sprouts.
60 to 77f temps to pop them. After planted 24 or 18 hours lights . 24 is better opinion. Amount of light zero if there not hatched . After hatch very weak lighting I like paper towels . Or rockwool. Paper towels always work well.
Yea i think im going to just throw the next one into the root riot. I just like knowing that its actually cracked lol... i understand light isnt necessary, but its not going to hurt right? Tap root is already out of the seed some, when it was put into the root Riot cube... Yea, as I told the other fella. The only reason I even use the paper towel, is to be positive that the seed is "alive". The heat mat works really good and has literally kept the cube soil 77F. But if they're in the root riot cube, it wouldn't be getting light until it broke the soil anyhow.... right? That's kinda what I was asking
light wont hurt , but it wont do anything can use it for a heater . Issue with those cubes your using . Dont they get to soggy for you ? For a seed . They get totally soaked less successful rates of gem seeds Paper towels you should be up near 100 % rate . Side note . HMMMMM. cloning . paper towels wrap the stem well with . Put the stem towel into a bag . I wonder how well it would work never tried that . This damn cold sucks . Comes and goes .
I've always cloned by just putting the cuttings into a cup of water in the tent lol. I've never had one not grow roots. That said, I'm not germinating them in the cube. I germinate in a paper towel and then I put them into the Root Riot cubes. You don't even water the cubes, they come pre soaked (if u will). They dont feel very wet, but if u squeeze one, it's definitely got some moisture in there
I don’t know exactly what your paper towel method is but I suspect it was like mine. I did a major change in seed starting and I will never go back. It still uses a paper towel but it’s a process. First I make a 10-1 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide and soak the seeds in this for an hour or less and then wrap the paper towel around them and put the paper towel in a ziplock and put the bag in total darkness. 2 days!! Look for the video on YouTube about it. God I love YouTube
youtube is lacking an adult section. They could charge just a buck a month to unlock it . I know it be the best homemade videos
Bro, I found the same thing and every one of my seeds has germinated since posting this. Screw those Root Riot things. Prolly good for clones, but killed like 3 seeds of mine
I add a wick of (P towel/string/whatev) of some sort to the zip lock/P towels & the seeds won't dry out. This inside a box for darkness. Peroxide??? IDK my beans usually have tails 1" in 2 days with peroxide & in 48 hours without peroxide.
fwiw I soak the beans for 12 to 16 hours in ro water. I then place them in the pot I plan to use. Place a clear plastic cup over area as a humidor and keep this warm with lights on. In a few days I have sprouts. Simple and easy. I used to do a lot of steps to germ seeds. I found the less input by me the better.
Dang. How do u do it exactly? Id love to use them, but the PT has been my only sure fire way thus far! None of my seeds even showed roots of much of anything using the root riot. They just turned black and died from what i could tell?? Actually not a bad idea either, hence why i tried the root riot cubes at first. I like it, because I'm not a fan of transplanting or handing my babies any unnecessary shock - figured sprout em in those and then put the whole cube right into my final pots. I soak my seeds in H202 in a shotglass, until I can tap them and they sink. I then throw them in a few layers of wet papertowels, which gets laid into a small humidity dome (cheap tupperware container basically) - and then set it on top of a seed starting heating pad. I like the heating pad... because my 100yr old house STAYS cold and chilly (living on the bay). This thing has a probe that i can stick between the paper towels, with the seeds, so that the heating pad will keep that probe exactly whatever degree I set it to (80F seems to work the best)! I leave them be and keep moisture in check every day, using the spray bottle. Once they've literally almost shed their shells. Then I put my lil sprout in a seedling tray, which sits in the same type of humidity dome (without the dome though) full of wet Happy Frog. I put them on the floor of the tent until they show their first true leaves. Then and only then, are they transplanted into their final airpots.... Thank got ive got 2 plants going now and 3 other seedlings, working on they're first true leaf sets. I'm going to have to buy another airpot. Lol I finally have 1 plant and 4 sprouts!
There's no trick to it. First.......wash your hands. I never handle seeds without clean hands. I soak the rooters in plain tap water. I squeeze out the excess. Usually I ream the hole a little with a sterilized phillips screwdriver to give the seed a nice channel. I place the seed in the hole and tear off a small piece of rooter to cover the hole. No soaking or paper towels.........no extra handling..........jut plant it. Then I place it in a drawer at room temperature. A couple of times a day I put a few drops of water with an eye dropper to keep it hydrated (not soaking). In 3-4 days they all sprout. I do peek at them after a couple of days to see their progress. After they sprout I place them in a solo cup and under the light. This is 2 weeks from sprout.