20 year old seeds are popping!!!

thenotsoesoteric

thenotsoesoteric

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben said:
Here's a germ archive I wrote years ago. In a nutshell - no domes, no misting (you're inviting pythium rot) and NO paper towels! I wrote it for newbs. The principles are what's important.
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Germinating Cannabis Seeds (for Bio Growers)

Your seedlings will be alot better off if you germinate directly in soil - less handling and mechanical disturbance means less chance of physical damage to the plant's taproot (and roothairs) and less food reserves used to position itself due to the natural hormonal influence called Gravitropism. That translates into less food reserves used and increased seedling vigor, especially in the very early critical stages of seedling development.

This is my foolproof method for Cannabis Seed Germination in soil:

First, if harvesting seeds from my own crosses, I air-dry newly harvested seeds for a couple of weeks, and then store them in the refrigerator with a little rice. Cold-treatment seems to increase viability and germination rates, especially with indica-dom strains. I almost always get a 100% germination rate with quality seed stock.

Soak the seeds in plain water for 12 hours prior to planting to hydrate them, which will speed up germination. In general, good seeds will sink, bad seeds will remain floating (they contain air, not an embryo). I first sterilize seeds in a bleach solution (1 Tbsp. bleach/1 gallon of water) for 1/2 hour to kill any fungus residing on the seedcoat.

Sterilize enough *damp* fine soil with heat to germinate all of your seeds. You can do this by treating the damp soil to temps of (no more than) 180F for 20 mins in a conventional oven, or in a microwave oven on high for 2 minutes, while stirring a couple of times. Your goal is to get and hold the entire soil mix's temperature at 170F to 180F for about 20 minutes which can be monitored with a probe type thermometer. Let the mix cool thoroughly. This will insure that damp-off fungus spores have been killed in the soil mix. Make sure the soil mix is light and humusy (not real coarse). You can add a little sand or vermiculite to aid in drainage and weight.

Buy some white 20oz styrofoam "drinking glasses", commonly called "Styro-Cups", and punch holes in the bottom (and side bottom) for drainage. I use a red-hot ice pick for this. These containers are 6 1/2" tall and will allow ample room for the taproot to grow before cotyledon emergence which will increase your seedling's vigor. The taproot (radicle) is already at least 4" long at the point of emergence - don't restrict it (in order to maximize seedling growth rate). Styro-Cups can be found on the shelf displaying picnic items at your local grocery store.

Fill the pots almost to the top with your soil mix, water well to settle the mix, take a pencil and make a small hole about 1/4" to 1/2" deep, NO deeper, and drop *one* seed in. Cover the seed with fine soil, only enough to top up the hole, firm lightly with your finger, and lightly water until water runs freely thru the drain holes. Place in a warm spot around 80F/26C. Do NOT cover the cup with saran wrap or anything else. The seed has been hydrated from the soaking and will germinate soon. This container should not require further watering until the seedling is up and running.

During the first couple of days, mist the top soil surface lightly (if need be), never allowing the top to crust over, but not to the point that the medium stays waterlogged which will invite pythium rot (damp-off). "Less is more" at this point. Do NOT water this pot any more until the seedling is up, and only if it needs it at the point of emergence. Again, no need to cover with plastic wrap as the radicle (taproot) will grow at least 4" before the cotyledons emerge from the soil. IOW, even though you can't see it, the plant's root is seeking and finding moisture at the container's lower soil levels. I cannot emphasize this enough. The seedling will emerge anywhere from 2 to 10 days from the time you sowed it.

That's all to it! With good care, your faves will be ready to transplant within 1 to 2 weeks, and will easily slip out of the "cup" with a solid rootball that will never know it's been disturbed if potted up gently and quickly. Move up to a final pot of 3 to 5 gallons to sex and finish.

Good luck,
Uncle Ben
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That is the most over blown instructions for germinating seeds I've ever seen. Please tell me how the paper towel method is bad. Never once had to go through the lengths you describe to get weed seeds to sprout and grow. Hundreds of beans and a decade of success with a paper towel. It's not rocket science, hell in nature they go through much worse.
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
thenotsoesoteric said:
That is the most over blown instructions for germinating seeds I've ever seen. Please tell me how the paper towel method is bad. Never once had to go through the lengths you describe to get weed seeds to sprout and grow. Hundreds of beans and a decade of success with a paper towel. It's not rocket science, hell in nature they go through much worse.
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1. I explained why and began with this - "Here's a germ archive I wrote years ago. In a nutshell - no domes, no misting (you're inviting pythium rot) and NO paper towels! I wrote it for newbs. The principles are what's important.

2. No one in the real world of horticulture uses a paper towel to germinate a seed. It's a stupid practice, but what else is new in this cannabis world of cultural quackery?

3. It's not about germinating a seed. A fuckin' monkey can germinate a seed. (Well, most monkeys can anyway.) The issue is about giving the seedling a head start as opposed to using a paper towel by some jerk who just has know what's going on. It's like a selfie - the picture and posing on Facebook becomes more important than (enjoying) the event itself.

Since some can't or are too lazy to use the SEARCH feature, we've had this discussion before - https://www.rollitup.org/t/germination-rates-and-poll.852842/
 
indicat33

indicat33

Well-Known Member
It always amazes me, the Lengthy Pontifications that take place on these forums about popping some seeds. LoL, i find this to hold true, always: If your seeds are healthy & viable.. then a retarded chimp could germinate them. Ya drop the seed in some de-chlorinated tap water (my ph=7) and put in a dark warm place. Germination always occurs withing 2-4 days when fresh. Obviously, with old seeds, more care is required, but anyone with common sense can figure out how to pop them, provided they are still Viable. Anyway, :peace: and happy growing.
 
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thenotsoesoteric

thenotsoesoteric

Well-Known Member
bellcore

bellcore

Well-Known Member
This reminds me of Geraldo opening Al Capone's secret hideout on live tv. I hope you do find treasure and not rusty old beer cans. :clap:
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben said:
1. I explained why and began with this - "Here's a germ archive I wrote years ago. In a nutshell - no domes, no misting (you're inviting pythium rot) and NO paper towels! I wrote it for newbs. The principles are what's important.

2. No one in the real world of horticulture uses a paper towel to germinate a seed. It's a stupid practice, but what else is new in this cannabis world of cultural quackery?

3. It's not about germinating a seed. A fuckin' monkey can germinate a seed. (Well, most monkeys can anyway.) The issue is about giving the seedling a head start as opposed to using a paper towel by some jerk who just has know what's going on. It's like a selfie - the picture and posing on Facebook becomes more important than (enjoying) the event itself.

Since some can't or are too lazy to use the SEARCH feature, we've had this discussion before - https://www.rollitup.org/t/germination-rates-and-poll.852842/
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I've said on here before. I grow a garden and flower beds, hanging pots. I don't buy flowers I grow from seed to save money.

I ask, how dumb do you think I would look if I used a paper towel and crawled around the garden with tweezers?


For all that read this. Besides old seed stock any healthy seed can go strait to dirt or cube or what not.

It is a seed designed to grow in dirt, it does not need help. The more steps you add the more damage you do to fine roots.

Cannabis growers are the only ones to use paper towel except in 4th grade science.
 
numberfour

numberfour

Well-Known Member
Good luck OP, oldest seeds I have are 10 years old and were the results of a good friends breeding project. I have one in flower now, blueberry x exodus cheese.
 
thenotsoesoteric

thenotsoesoteric

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
I've said on here before. I grow a garden and flower beds, hanging pots. I don't buy flowers I grow from seed to save money.

I ask, how dumb do you think I would look if I used a paper towel and crawled around the garden with tweezers?


For all that read this. Besides old seed stock any healthy seed can go strait to dirt or cube or what not.

It is a seed designed to grow in dirt, it does not need help. The more steps you add the more damage you do to fine roots.

Cannabis growers are the only ones to use paper towel except in 4th grade science.
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Yes, I learned the technique in 4th grade. And why would I let the tap root become exposed in a napkin. I put them in a wet napkin till they crack, no different than putting in a glass of water. As soon as the seed cracks it goes into a medium. Hard to do, I know. If people let the tap root grow out in a napkin then yes they could damage the root. But in all my years of cracking beans I have not lost one due to my paper towel method. But I have had seeds not germinate when I put them directly in dirt, and I have had beans push themselves out of rock wool when I tried germinating direct in wool. Guess I'll fuck with success because people called me an idiot on a fucking weed forum. Time to go drown myself.

And why the fuck would anyone care what the look like? You in a popularity contest?
 
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whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
thenotsoesoteric said:
Yes, I learned the technique in 4th grade. And why would I let the tap root become exposed in a napkin. I put them in a wet napkin till they crack, no different than putting in a glass of water. As soon as the seed cracks it goes into a medium. Hard to do, I know. If people let the tap root grow out in a napkin then yes they could damage the root. But in all my years of cracking beans I have not lost one due to my paper towel method. But I have had seeds not germinate when I put the directly in dirt, and I have had beans push themselves out of rock wool when I tried germinating direct in wool. Guess I'll fuck with success because people called me an idiot on a fucking weed forum. Time to go drown myself.

And why the fuck would anyone care what the look like? You in a popularity contest?
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No not a contest. I meant when I plant my garden I wouldn't soak hundreds of seeds in a paper towel then crawl around planting them. Maybe read a little closer.

I plant half inch deep. If it can not break a half inch of dirt then its a weak seed and screw it.
 
thenotsoesoteric

thenotsoesoteric

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
No not a contest. I meant when I plant my garden I wouldn't soak hundreds of seeds in a paper towel then crawl around planting them. Maybe read a little closer.

I plant half inch deep. If it can not break a half inch of dirt then its a weak seed and screw it.
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It's hard to read one paragraph any closer, brah. I wouldn't use a damn napkin for hundreds of seeds either, who the fuck would? But when popping 10-20 beans it is easy for me to place in a wet towel for 24ish hours for all beans to crack and then move to rock wool. That's my method and if I'm an idiot for that then fuck it, at least I vote.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
thenotsoesoteric said:
It's hard to read one paragraph any closer, brah. I wouldn't use a damn napkin for hundreds of seeds either, who the fuck would? But when popping 10-20 beans it is easy for me to place in a wet towel for 24ish hours for all beans to crack and then move to rock wool. That's my method and if I'm an idiot for that then fuck it, at least I vote.
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You're not an idiot. I didn't mean it to be harsh.

I understand using a paper towel or cup of water. We have two different goals. I figure on one hand you or others want every expensive seed to pop.


In the quest for fire or a good mother has different requirements. The way I do it just eliminates the weak ones right off the bat.

I usually have 90-100% germ rate. When I plant to soil half inch deep I get thicker stems.

Its my way. I was just making a comment not calling you an idiot.
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
thenotsoesoteric said:
It's hard to read one paragraph any closer, brah. I wouldn't use a damn napkin for hundreds of seeds either, who the fuck would? But when popping 10-20 beans it is easy for me to place in a wet towel for 24ish hours for all beans to crack and then move to rock wool. That's my method and if I'm an idiot for that then fuck it, at least I vote.
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I'm often the one trying to help the cry babies in the Plant Problems forum figure out why The Herd's drills didn't work out, as they just pissed off 100 bucks on a bunch of cutely named and hyped mutts hawked out of a basement based pollen chucker. Really what some of these folks need is not my advice..... it's Dr. Phil's. :mrgreen:

Me? I'm not gonna get in the way. I'm going to hydrate the seed, let it do its own thing the way mother nature intended it to be......the way "normal" greenhouse managers and nurserymen proceed. If someone wants to take the time to roll 'em up in a paper towel, unroll the paper towel, do a "oops" a couple of times, roll the paper towel back up, who am I to call them out on it?

When I really go "aw shit" is seeing this 1/2" radicle growing crooked out of the seed coat as it lays there on that paper towel trying to penetrate the paper fibers knowing that more than likely that seedling may not make it due to mechanical damage and/or excess food reserves tapped out.
 
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