Best germination method
- Thread starter kmoo
- Start date
kevin
Well-Known Member
i'm sure i was trying to teach them to swim, that's one good thing about the rapid rooters, no chance of over watering.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
soak seeds in water for 24hrs, place in soil not to far down without touching with your hands, 3/5 days later baby.
jwop
Well-Known Member
there are "professional gardeners" all over this forum that use paper towels and ONLY paper towels
to answer your question "what's the point" ... the point is ... because it works ... and works just as well as your method
your thoughts on this matter are simply LUDACRIS
LUDACRIS
New Member
(posted by boneman).
What happens if one uses pre-germination methods?
1. Soaking seeds in water/wet paper towels is a method which can be used for old seeds (3+ years) that are drying up and losing germination power; and for pure land race equatorial strains such as from Africa. Both factors do not apply to our seeds. Fresh seeds have a healthy embryo whose cells are filled with water. But excess water causes the cells to bloat, depletes oxygen and leads to the tissue rotting away before the seed embryo can germinate. Old seeds have lost water in the cell tissue, the embryo starts to shrivel, which is why germination rates drop the older the seeds are. Therefore, old seeds (ie. 3+ years) can soak up more water before adverse conditions cause them to rot. This is one of the main reasons why various seed stock reacts differently to pre-germination methods. Especially novice growers make a lot of mistakes with pre-germination methods such as soaking seeds in water for up to 1-2 days. Even if one chooses to pre-germ seeds it has to be done correctly.
It is in a growers best interest to choose a germination method with the lowest risk of complications. Because we want customers to have the highest success rate possible we recommend the most convenient and safest method. This does not mean it is the only option. We simply believe it carries the lowest risk. In fact, planting seeds directly in the substrate is also the most plant friendly method for any type of seed stock. The reasons are explained below in paragraph 2 & 3.
2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
Germinating cannabis seeds is not difficult. All you need is some basic information on what is important and everything should work out fine.
Like writing an english paper...keep it short and keep it simple.
out.
What happens if one uses pre-germination methods?
1. Soaking seeds in water/wet paper towels is a method which can be used for old seeds (3+ years) that are drying up and losing germination power; and for pure land race equatorial strains such as from Africa. Both factors do not apply to our seeds. Fresh seeds have a healthy embryo whose cells are filled with water. But excess water causes the cells to bloat, depletes oxygen and leads to the tissue rotting away before the seed embryo can germinate. Old seeds have lost water in the cell tissue, the embryo starts to shrivel, which is why germination rates drop the older the seeds are. Therefore, old seeds (ie. 3+ years) can soak up more water before adverse conditions cause them to rot. This is one of the main reasons why various seed stock reacts differently to pre-germination methods. Especially novice growers make a lot of mistakes with pre-germination methods such as soaking seeds in water for up to 1-2 days. Even if one chooses to pre-germ seeds it has to be done correctly.
It is in a growers best interest to choose a germination method with the lowest risk of complications. Because we want customers to have the highest success rate possible we recommend the most convenient and safest method. This does not mean it is the only option. We simply believe it carries the lowest risk. In fact, planting seeds directly in the substrate is also the most plant friendly method for any type of seed stock. The reasons are explained below in paragraph 2 & 3.
2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of its life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
Germinating cannabis seeds is not difficult. All you need is some basic information on what is important and everything should work out fine.
Like writing an english paper...keep it short and keep it simple.
out.
LUDACRIS
New Member
why would that be LUDACRIS ?????????.
and "the point is" to avoid losing seeds and messing about.
paper towels.
.plant them directly into the soil and they will sprout in 3-4 days everytime for me.
never had a seed not sprout.
LUDA.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
WHY WHY WHY not, gives me 100% success, and am ''No 1'' so why try harder ?no no no robin.
CHRIS.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
I read your post Lud, i still feel its best to soak to soften the shell, i take your point though ok, lets say both ways work and one way is not the exact way, as there is no exact way just the common sense way, but i respect your word mate, i know you know your onions and you grow some bad ass gangster shit, so i respect your view, ive tried both methods and both have worked well for me.
LUDACRIS
New Member
what do you mean by "try harder".
(1)pot filled with moist soil (2) plant UNGERMED seed/s 5mm deep and viola.
so tell me whats easier mate.
CHRIS.
LUDACRIS
New Member
when you plant the UNSOAKED seed/s into the moist soil it soaks and softens the shell.
hence the need NOT to presoak or germ with towels.
LUDA.
Green Cross
Well-Known Member
I personally prefer the paper towel method, because you know the seed is viable when you plant it in the soil. No wasted space on non-viable seeds
grobofotwanky
Well-Known Member
Heated little debate we have here. Before you know it somebody will be asking if they can germ in piss......oh wait. lol. Sorry, had to say it.
dbodabomb
Active Member
what up kremnon. and you use hydrogen peroxide huh. ill have to try that... but i just use rockwool and put them in that
Jerry Garcia
Well-Known Member
I agree with Ludacris on this subject. As many have said on this site, there is no paper towel fairy in nature going around germinating seeds. And seeds that fall into pools of water don't germinate. Moisten soil and put the seed 1/4-1/2 inch down and don't touch it again until the seedling pops up. I like to put them under lights immediately after planting, but most say you don't need to until it breaks the surface.
The only advantage I can see for NOT using this method are...1) You've got a handful of old seeds and want to ensure they CAN germinate before you waste a pot and soil...2) You've got old seeds and you are trying to moisten them up for 24 hours to try and assist in germination (like Boneman's post said above).
Just drop them in some soil and let it go. What is so hard about that?
The only advantage I can see for NOT using this method are...1) You've got a handful of old seeds and want to ensure they CAN germinate before you waste a pot and soil...2) You've got old seeds and you are trying to moisten them up for 24 hours to try and assist in germination (like Boneman's post said above).
Just drop them in some soil and let it go. What is so hard about that?
ROBINBANKS
New Member
I get you dude, i think we go on what we get taught, and at the school of hardcore weed i was told to soak. i was told it gives them a slight better chance because of the softer seed shell after a soak, but ive tried your method aswell and both ways work fine, so its a case of, if it aint broke, why fix it.when you plant the UNSOAKED seed/s into the moist soil it soaks and softens the shell.
hence the need NOT to presoak or germ with towels.
LUDA.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
I get you aswell dude, but in nature seeds can still fall onto a wet surface and germ fine, many things happen in the wild and one of the most important things to happen is rain, rain is just as important as the sun.
LUDACRIS
New Member
SEED VIABILITY.
Fresh seeds have a waxy glimmer and a hard, intact shell.
Colours range from a buff through a dark brown, and from light grey to almost black colours. Often seeds are mottled with brown or black spots, or lines on a lighter field.
Green or whitish seeds are usually immature and will germinate feebly if at all.
Shiny, very dark brown or black seeds often mean the contents are fermented and the embryo is dead. Fermented seeds crush easily with finger pressure and are hollow or dusty inside.
Brick or compressed cannabis seeds must be checked as seeds that are bruised or crushed are not viable.
LUDA.
Fresh seeds have a waxy glimmer and a hard, intact shell.
Colours range from a buff through a dark brown, and from light grey to almost black colours. Often seeds are mottled with brown or black spots, or lines on a lighter field.
Green or whitish seeds are usually immature and will germinate feebly if at all.
Shiny, very dark brown or black seeds often mean the contents are fermented and the embryo is dead. Fermented seeds crush easily with finger pressure and are hollow or dusty inside.
Brick or compressed cannabis seeds must be checked as seeds that are bruised or crushed are not viable.
LUDA.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
As ive said mate ive never had any probs with a little soak or just putting direct into moist soil, i have had trouble in the past with rockwool, so all i do these days is start in soil, when they show i remove from the soil (very carefully) and split the rockwool in 2, and place the root in the middle and join the rockwool back up tie with a little string and place into the larger rockwool, seems to work, i call it kidding them on.
LUDACRIS
New Member
2. Placing healthy & fresh seeds in water/wet tissue can lead to the development of fungi or bacteria on the seed hull. Lack of oxygen and contaminating substances in the water/wet tissue promote fungal growth which can be transported to the substrate later on. Often the seed simply rots away if left for too long in a glass of water, or wrapped up in wet tissue.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of it’s life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
3. Once the seed sprouts in a glass of water or paper tissue it already has the taproot growing out of the cracked seed hull. While transplanting the germinated seed it is very difficult, indeed impossible, to prevent damage to the delicate taproot. Many sprouted seedlings handled in this way show retarded development, or even simply fail to appear out of the substrate after transplantation. Handling seedlings this way can impair the health & vigour of the plant for the duration of it’s life cycle - especially if other disturbing factors occur during the early stages of growth.
Professional horticulturists rarely use pre-germination methods to actually grow out the seedlings because of the shock suffered from transplanting them. For example, we use the paper tissue method only as a quick test for germination rates of aged seed stock from our genetic repository. This allows us to see beforehand how many seeds we have to put in soil to get the amount of plants we require for breeding projects.
ROBINBANKS
New Member
Cannabis Seeds Germination
How to germinate cannabis seeds properly.
How to germinate cannabis seeds properly.
During cannabis seeds germination, the cannabis seed awakens from its inactivity. Water is essential here, for as soon as the germinating cannabis seed has absorbed a sufficient amount of water, the seedling begins to form its root system. Next it breaks through its shell. There are various possibilities for the process of germinating cannabis seeds :
Pre-soaking - Put some moist tissues on a plate. Put the seeds on top of them and then put a layer of moist tissues on the seeds. Cover the plate with another upturned plate, so that the seeds are in darkness and the environment remains moist. Put the covered seeds in a warm place (21°C). Check the seeds every day, sprinkle the tissues if necessary and carefully transplant the seeds when they open and the tip of the root becomes visible. Put the germinating cannabis seed in a growth medium (soil or rock-wool), approximately the size of the seed under the surface (about 5 mm).
Sowing in the growing medium - Place the seeds under the surface in the growing medium at approximately the size of the seed. Regularly sprinkle the growth medium with water, but make sure that the soil or the rock-wool does not become too wet. The seedling uses the spare food present in the seed for growing. Air is very important for its metabolism. So make sure that the soil remains sufficiently airy. One of the characteristics of rockwool is that it retains much air. Make sure that the rockwool is not standing in water and that the excess water is able to drain away properly. Rockwool has a fine germination climate for the seeds. Remove the cover as soon as the seedlings reach above the medium.
Outside growing - Although it is possible to have the cannabis seeds germinate immediately outdoors, the germination percentage will be considerably higher if you first germinate indoors. From April to May the ground temperature is not yet ideal. Regularly put the emerged seedlings in a place where they can get used to outdoor conditions.
Young seedlings - The young plants are still very delicate. Therefore you should not place them in direct sunlight or just below a 400 Watt lamp. This might cause burning. Provide young plants with nutrient water and add Boost to strengthen the root system.