Germinate old seeds

[CannaR05!]

Hi there,
I am new grower whos just getting started and i have some old seeds that i am trying to get to germinate, but unfortunately i have not had much luck. Right now i have one seed i planted directly in moist soil (I used Fox Farm Ocean Forest) about 1cm deep and I keep the temp to about 75F and between 70-80% humidity. Its been in soil for about 6 days now and nothing has happened yet. I have 2 other seeds in a paper towel that i keep moist and also in the above temperature and humidity levels and those are about 48 hours in. and the last seed i have a shot glass with 3 parts Reverse Osmosis water to one part 3% hydro Perox. and that will be soaking for 24 hrs by the time i get home also at the above Temp and humid levels. Does anyone have any other tips or tricks to get old seeds to germinate?

P.S. I do not know anything about these seeds. Only that they are an indica strain.

Thanks!

 

[Doug Dawson]

I would bring the temp up a few degrees to 78 or 79 and as a last resort you could try scoring the outside of the seeds with the striking part of a match book cover. I have never had to do it but some do. It can help with old seeds that won't pop sometimes.

 

[CannaR05!]

ok thank you. With the matchbook cover method do i just gently scrape the seed along the strike like a match? how long would i do that on a seed for?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I would bring the temp up a few degrees to 78 or 79 and as a last resort you could try scoring the outside of the seeds with the striking part of a match book cover. I have never had to do it but some do. It can help with old seeds that won't pop sometimes.

I had a hard time germinating some old Hindu Kush two grows ago,last grow I scuffed the seeds up with sandpaper and 2/2 popped great

 

[CannaR05!]

WubbaLubbaDubDub: Can you explain exactly what you did?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

You want to see the outer shell scratched to the point where your like ‘yep water should get in there pretty decent’
I soak my seeds in a shot glass of water for 12-24 hours in a dark warm closet then go to wet paper towel until they pop,then immediately go to soil when the taproot is out.
-edit-You want the waxy protective shell scratched up

 

[Doug Dawson]

ok thank you. With the matchbook cover method do i just gently scrape the seed along the strike like a match? how long would i do that on a seed for?

Yes, just gently scrape along the striking surface. You are basically making it easier for the plant inside to break the shell open. Here is a link to a site that shows some pics for you. It's very easy. Just be gentle.

Marijuana Germination Overnight by Scarifying Seed Shell

There are few things as disappointing as seeds that don’t sprout. You’ve invested your time and money to obtain the best seeds you can find, and you want every single one to grow into a beautiful plant. But germination can be tricky, thanks to the tough outer shell on cannabis seeds. We’ll show...

howtogrowmarijuana.com

EDIT: Welcome to RIU

 

[CannaR05!]

Yes, just gently scrape along the striking surface. You are basically making it easier for the plant inside to break the shell open. Here is a link to a site that shows some pics for you. It's very easy. Just be gentle.

Marijuana Germination Overnight by Scarifying Seed Shell

There are few things as disappointing as seeds that don’t sprout. You’ve invested your time and money to obtain the best seeds you can find, and you want every single one to grow into a beautiful plant. But germination can be tricky, thanks to the tough outer shell on cannabis seeds. We’ll show...

howtogrowmarijuana.com

Thank you very much for your advice and help! I will try it out today and let you know what happens

 

[CannaR05!]

You want to see the outer shell scratched to the point where your like ‘yep water should get in there pretty decent’
I soak my seeds in a shot glass of water for 12-24 hours in a dark warm closet then go to wet paper towel until they pop,then immediately go to soil when the taproot is out.
-edit-You want the waxy protective shell scratched up

When they are soaking in the shot glass, do you wait until they sink to the bottom or just let them float? How much time do you put them in the paper towel for?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Usually they float when put i put them in the shot glass, I kinda stir them around and get them wet with my finger.
If they sink I pull it out and throw it in a wet/damp paper towel in a ziploc bag or tupperware container in a warm dark closet.open the bag or container once a day to let it air out.
There is no set time in the paper towel. Whenever they pop open and a taproot pokes out I throw if in some soil with some Myco in the hole.
-edit- I don’t always wait for them to sink before going to paper towel.but if they do sink I pull them as soon as I see them.

 

[CannaR05!]

Usually they float when put i put them in the shot glass, I kinda stir them around and get them wet with my finger.
If they sink I pull it out and throw it in a wet/damp paper towel in a ziploc bag or tupperware container in a warm dark closet.open the bag or container once a day to let it air out.
There is no set time in the paper towel. Whenever they pop open and a taproot pokes out I throw if in some soil with some Myco in the hole.

So i guess it is a bad thing if they sink to the botttom?

 

[CannaR05!]

Yes, just gently scrape along the striking surface. You are basically making it easier for the plant inside to break the shell open. Here is a link to a site that shows some pics for you. It's very easy. Just be gentle.

Marijuana Germination Overnight by Scarifying Seed Shell

There are few things as disappointing as seeds that don’t sprout. You’ve invested your time and money to obtain the best seeds you can find, and you want every single one to grow into a beautiful plant. But germination can be tricky, thanks to the tough outer shell on cannabis seeds. We’ll show...

howtogrowmarijuana.com

EDIT: Welcome to RIU

Thank you for the warm welcome

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I just worry they might drown and not get significant Oxygen if they sit in the water at the bottom too long.but I honestly haven’t read or researched into it so I might just be paranoid

 

[CannaR05!]

I just worry they might drown and not get significant Oxygen if they sit in the water at the bottom too long.but I honestly haven’t read or researched into it so I might just be paranoid

I've looked at a few sites about germinating in water some way leave em there for 24-48 hours, others say if they sink its better because they can absorb the most moisture. another one i've read said that you can soak them in water for 7 days without worrying about them drowing. I am not sure if i trust that last one. I would think they would drown if they were left in water for that long.

 

[MR. GiggleShitz]

Three part for old seeds that have a hard time germ.
1. Clean/oxidize outer seed shell(3.5%h2o2) 10 min soak/shake
2. 12hour soak in high O2 water(build cheap elotrolizer plate---Bat/wire/graphite rods)
3. Make fresh high O2 water add 27g sugar/L
Soak till germ.
(Stop At any point of the process if the seeds germ and plant).
No reason to use this method if seeds are not old or resistant to germ...

 

[CannaR05!]

Three part for old seeds that have a hard time germ.
1. Clean/oxidize outer seed shell(3.5%h2o2) 10 min soak/shake
2. 12hour soak in high O2 water(build cheap elotrolizer plate---Bat/wire/graphite rods)
3. Make fresh high O2 water add 27g sugar/L
Soak till germ.
(Stop At any point of the process if the seeds germ and plant).
No reason to use this method if seeds are not old or resistant to germ...

I appreciate the advice thank you. Can i pick all of the supplies up at a wal-mart or do i have to go online?

 

[BMWyet66]

Seeds like warm moisture. Can sprout over night. I put them in a lid on paper towel, spray and cover with plastic wrap put under some heat..

 

[insomnia65]

I do exactly what @WubbaLubbaDubDub does, if it sinks to the bottom it usually means the seed has cracked, then I put it in the tissue etc, one thing, do not allow the tissue to dry as I did this once and the taproot came away from seed. Sometimes I allow the taproot to grow a good bit before putting in soil.

one thing you will learn, everyone has there own way to grow and all methods are valid but I would say beware of spending cash keep that for the lights and soil.

 

[CannaR05!]

Seeds like warm moisture. Can sprout over night. I put them in a lid on paper towel, spray and cover with plastic wrap put under some heat..

will that work for older seeds too?

 

[CannaR05!]

I do exactly what @WubbaLubbaDubDub does, if it sinks to the bottom it usually means the seed has cracked, then I put it in the tissue etc, one thing, do not allow the tissue to dry as I did this once and the taproot came away from seed. Sometimes I allow the taproot to grow a good bit before putting in soil.

one thing you will learn, everyone has there own way to grow and all methods are valid but I would say beware of spending cash keep that for the lights and soil.

Thank you for the advice. I've watched a couple videos where growers will leave the seed in the water and wait until a taproot develops or others will wait until the root is less than a half an inch long in the water then plant it in soil. but i will follow yours and Dub's advice and see where that leads.