seed sprouting, wtf have I did wrong!?

Discussion in 'Growing Organic Marijuana' started by Laucass83, Nov 29, 2023.

  1. Never had issues germinating seeds. Germination rate have constantly been over 80%. Even recently had success with 12 years old seeds (from an heirloom tomato strain)...

    I'm germinating canna seeds between paper towel, that I keep between 2 saucers previously sterilised with bleach solution, then carefully rinsed and dried with paper towel. I then place the saucers on a heat mat, and just peek every 12hrs to make sure moisture is good. Used that same process a week ago like usual with 100% sucess.
    Out of a 6 seeds pack, they all turned dark brown black in the first 12 hours. 24 hours later, 2 had cracked opened but with a jeweler's loupe could see some hypha growing around seeds in the paper towels. Seeds died.
    So seeds where viable. Anyone have a clue wtf happened?
     
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  2. I've only had it happen with purchased seeds once. My guess would be the seeds were stored improperly. I always use bottled water, so I know it wasn't my water source in my case.
     
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  3. I was walking through the forest the other day and there were paper towels laying everywhere. :rolleyes:
     
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  4. #4 Laucass83, Nov 29, 2023
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2023
    I see where you are going here, as we all know coco and bottled nutes are found in the forest as well=)
    So Mick you put hem straight in the coco? In solo cups? Do you use a dome or something to cover them until they break soil (coco)? Do you pre-soak the coco with calmag or anything? I have coco and ready to try.
     
  5. I either use rapid rooters or direct into solo cup with coco. I don't soak anything or use a dome or a heating mat........I just put them in a drawer at room temperature. Rarely does one not pop in 3-4 days.
    I always wash my hands before I handle the seeds.
     
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  6. When I grow vegedables from seeds I would just stuck the seeds in the soil so why am I doing this paper towel thing with cannabis?! Does it comes from the stress of buying 15$ seeds compare to buy a pack of 100's of tomato seeds from Burpee for 2$? How the heck by now have I not figured out that Leave It The Fuck Alone was the key?!!

    Got a few dozen of seeds in a mason jar from a crop that got seeded 3-4 years ago (Congo). I'm gonna have some test to do cause cause paper towel seems useless as I know now if seeds are bad they'll die anyway. Should receive more seeds soon, some autos and photos on the way.
     
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  7. Storage
    Storage
    Storage, and the best place is the freezer, many garlic growers use the freezer for a short 2-3 days thinking they are fooling the garlic to thinking its going thru a winter season, I too use this with great effect
    Scarification few do this, line a jar with sandpaper, and shake 30secs to scratch the outer shell to allow water in

    soak in an old tea bag, they have polyphenols that are used by seeds to propel them up and out

    good luck
     
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  8. Good Luck my friend.
     
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  9. I use the paper towel method and it’s almost 100% germ rate. The key is to keep an eye on temperature. I use little plastic cases to hold a damp folded up p towel. I place these cases in a brown paper bag with a wireless temp probe. The cheap indoor outdoor type on thermometer probe. If I can maintain temps in the mid 80’s they usually sprout a tail in 24-36 hours. If the temps are upper 70’s it takes twice as long.
    There shouldn’t be standing water, but the towels shouldn’t be dry either. When I push down on the folded towel a few drops of water should come out, which are sucked back up when I remove my finger.
    HTH
    Cheers
    Os
     
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  10. ^^^^^i left out place the bag somewhere warm like on a router or near a heater or heater vent.
    I also agree that storage is key. Cool spot is key. I keep some in the fridge, others in a drawer in a cool corner.
    Cheers
    Os
     
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  11. Big thanks! Lots of valuable tricks and stuff I didn't knew. I'll start a few old seeds tonight for testing and fun.
     
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  12. A little prayer? Use the moon its a favorite with every civilization but ours , 2x times a month
     
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  13. Here are a couple pics.
    The little plastic dishes I use are cases that electrical tape comes in. They look like a Petri dish with a cover.
    I fold over a ‘vari size’ sheet of paper towel, over and over til it fits in the case. Then dampen the p towel with distilled water. If I push the p towel water comes out, release and it sucks it back up.
    I place a seed in the last fold over.
    This is folded and damp with seed in middle fold.
    Then I cover and label.
    I place my cheapo indoor/outdoor wireless temp sensor on top of case. And place the whole thing in a brown paper bag. You want it to germ in the dark, and the bag helps normalize the temp inside.
    I shoot for a warm spot that wil show 84’F on my thermometer. If it’s hotter, I wrap a dish towel around the bag to lower the temp. Monitoring the temp is huge for me, because the same spot isn’t always the same temp throughout the seasons. Sometimes on top of my router is perfect. Sometimes I set the bag on a chair by the heater.
    HTH
    Cheers
    Os
     
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  14. I use the paper towel method and fold em up into about a 2” square. Probably about six layers on each side. Wet but not too wet like Sinse mentioned. Then I stick em in a sandwich bag and make sure it’s not completely closed. Keep the house at 68F and place them on top of the fridge. Should pop tails within 24-72 hours. If I had older beans or something that gives me trouble I’d probably use a drop or two of fulvic acid in about 4oz of water and spray the paper towels till wet enough.

    Rapid rooters work too but are kinda pricey but work well if you don’t over saturate them.

    YMMV, but every single time I plug in a heat mat nothing good ever happens.
    RD
     
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  15. I don’t go to the lengths that you do monitoring temps but you’re definitely right about seasonal changes. In the summer it’s usually a bottom drawer in the kitchen.
    RD
     
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  16. It definitely takes longer, when the temps are lower. I didn’t realize how different the temps really were until I started to actually check. The thermometer helps me to keep consistent. The day before I chop a plant I start to germinate a seed. So I try and keep things pretty tight. It’s a silly little game I play.
    Cheers
    Os
     
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  17. I've read publications that state 30°C is the optimal temperature for vegetative cycle. I'm not sure if that would include seed sowing, but imagine it would.
     
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  18. yes they have, I tried during the last blood ecclipse... and the seedlings died ! I believe New Moon is the time to sow.
     
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  19. I’ve found 84-86’F usually gives me 24 hour germination. 75’F is more like 3 days. Of course there will always be stubborn seeds that take longer.
    That totally jives with 86’F/30’C.
    Cheers
    Os
     
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  20. #20 trojangrower, Nov 30, 2023
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2023
    Chandra (2009) said it depended on the cultivar. I'm still trying to find that optimization paper, so disorganized sometimez. Hey I wrote a mini review yesterday that may interest you A Textbook Comparison of EarthAlive and Oath Soil Constituents I believe you'd have something to contribute in there ;)

    edit: here is the Chandra paper: Photosynthetic response of Cannabis sativa L. to variations in photosynthetic photon flux densities, temperature and CO2 conditions
     
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