Do I need distilled water to germinate seeds
- Thread starter whelk
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FirstCavApache64
Well-Known Member
I used tap water when I used to do the paper towel method. Now I just plant them straight into the soil. It's a lot less steps and works great. I'm too much of a hillbilly to know what smart water even is lol, but I'd stick to tap water unless your tap is almost undrinkable. You're just providing humidity and softening the case a tiny bit, they're not drinking it for an extended period of time.
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
I don't know why anyone uses the paper towel method. It's too easy to damage, even when it's just a little tap root. Pop that sucker in a Root Riot plug and wait until it's nice and rooty, then transplant.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
No. Yes.
Yeah I can do that but I heard the holes in them can be too deep
Yeah maybe I'll just do it that way then... Not had much experience of seeds
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
I used to have that problem with rockwool macro plugs, but I've been using the RR plugs for around a year and haven't had any issues. I also saw a pro-tip on here that I started doing where you flip the plug upside down like a pyramid and make your own hole. This makes a lot more sense to me and has been working wonderfully.
Blue brother
Well-Known Member
If you start off by putting them straight in ur soil/rockwool/coco/plug whatever you’ll never want to use the paper towel method, the main reason I like to do it this way is so the embryo has instant access to the microbes in the soil. But there’s more reasons too, this is also the most stress free foolproof method
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
ANC
Well-Known Member
Yeah it seems lol, but nature has strategies to deal with early rains that prevent all seeds from germinating at the first opportunity...
I have tested this and indeed if it is cold, it can take 10 days before you see anything above the soil line.
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
ANC
Well-Known Member
most of the time it is going to be much less... But I have seen people throw out seeds that were simply not broken through the soil yet, out of impatience... I can send you several thousand seeds if you would like to test it out.
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
ANC
Well-Known Member
there are situations where knowing how many germinated seeds you have are good from the start. Especially if you have hard plant number limits.
For me, it is more important to have natural root formation and I don't mind planting a few extra
xtsho
Well-Known Member
No
There are not many reasons why you would ever need distilled water for anything related to growing cannabis. The only reason I can think of is if you were doing a reversal and making an STS solution. That's the only reason I've ever found a need to use distilled water.
There are not many reasons why you would ever need distilled water for anything related to growing cannabis. The only reason I can think of is if you were doing a reversal and making an STS solution. That's the only reason I've ever found a need to use distilled water.
UndyToke
Member
I used to germinate them in a wet paper in a ziploc bag, but now I prefer just to plant the seeds directly into the growing medium.
There is bacteria beneficial to the growth of the plant in the seed and I assume germinating it in the place it will grow is beneficial to this microbial life and to the well being of the ecosystem I create. If I was to germinate it in water, I would use water that is pH'd at about the same level my soil/growing medium will be. So yeah distilled water would work since it comes out at 6.5 pH.
I think it's more important not to use mineral nutrients at gemination, you don't want to burn your seed.
There is bacteria beneficial to the growth of the plant in the seed and I assume germinating it in the place it will grow is beneficial to this microbial life and to the well being of the ecosystem I create. If I was to germinate it in water, I would use water that is pH'd at about the same level my soil/growing medium will be. So yeah distilled water would work since it comes out at 6.5 pH.
I think it's more important not to use mineral nutrients at gemination, you don't want to burn your seed.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Holy water only.
twalte
Well-Known Member
I use reverse osmosis water (similar to distilled) with a little Maxicrop liquid seaweed added to soak my seeds prior to planting….i ph-adjust to 6.5. Soak for 12-18 hours, then plant the unsprouted seed in Happy Frog soil about .5 inches deep. Works for me. I don’t like to mess with tap roots.
The only reason I use RO water is because my tap water contains Chloramines….which I don’t trust.
The only reason I use RO water is because my tap water contains Chloramines….which I don’t trust.