Attention to all cloners/germinaters

aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
If you are using a three piece clone box such as humidome, a media tray, and a runoff tray...try this:

A few months back i bought a plastic organizer box with lid from walmart and hole sawed a few holes in the lid...just big enough for foam grow plugs. Added an airpump and filled with water... cuts about 2 weeks off clone time! Also, 1. i dont ever need a humidome, 2. no misting, 3. no replacing perlite or other media, 4. no constant watering everyday. TAKES CARE OF ITSELF- you will have a beautiful set of roots in as little as a week to two weeks....some claim a few days! I have a 100 percent clone ratio right now....when i was using humidome it was around 75 percent.

Cloning time varies greatly from strain to strain...i have found some strains that take only a week (super silver haze) and others more like three weeks (bubba kush)

Im sure someone has done this in the DUI section....but for all the people who havent explored this far....start lookin for a tutorial!
____

Also, why germinate? (i need a good answer) Does this help with anything? Nutrient uptake in early veg or what? Early established root depth?

Lately i have been just adding seeds straight to soil, no harsh transplating....I have sprouts in two days....three days and four days. With transplanting i find it takes much longer and is quite a labor intensive process (when compared)

I am up for debate....as i would like to hear someone elses side to this to learn something new. I am only stating what works best for me and am quite aware there are other tricks out there that may help others do better in there own sitution.
 
moash

moash

New Member
cool
i have made a little bubble cloner out of a tupperware container before...they work good
as for germinating,instead of throwing them in media and hoping for sprouts...u can use paper towel,etc. to see which ones sprout for sure
 
sirwolf

sirwolf

Active Member
thanks, ill have to give that a try. as for the other bit, i just plant the seeds. id rather not transplant if i dont have to. i can be patient and wait for them to pop. if they dont, ill plant another.
 
phyzix

phyzix

Well-Known Member
aeviaanah said:
Also, why germinate? (i need a good answer) Does this help with anything? Nutrient uptake in early veg or what? Early established root depth?

Lately i have been just adding seeds straight to soil, no harsh transplating....I have sprouts in two days....three days and four days. With transplanting i find it takes much longer and is quite a labor intensive process (when compared)

I am up for debate....as i would like to hear someone elses side to this to learn something new. I am only stating what works best for me and am quite aware there are other tricks out there that may help others do better in there own sitution.
Click to expand...
That I know of germination in a paper towel, cup, shot glass, ect. offers no advantages over traditional germination (in your growing medium - rockwool, soil, etc.).
 
aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
moash said:
cool
i have made a little bubble cloner out of a tupperware container before...they work good
as for germinating,instead of throwing them in media and hoping for sprouts...u can use paper towel,etc. to see which ones sprout for sure
Click to expand...
this is the method i used to use....now i use small dixie cups, put one seed in each...and choose the seedlings i want to keep from there. when you transplant from paper towel to media you are risking those that did sprout. this is where i lost alot of seedlings...from the transplant. do you remove from paper towel or just put paper towel inside of soil? this may work better, i have never tried this.

i have also found sprouting outdoors is alot faster.
 
aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
sirwolf said:
thanks, ill have to give that a try. as for the other bit, i just plant the seeds. id rather not transplant if i dont have to. i can be patient and wait for them to pop. if they dont, ill plant another.
Click to expand...
your welcome...try using the small dixie cups (the ones some keep in the bathroom for mouthwash) you can just throw the whole thing away as soil is no longer sterile.

phyzix said:
That I know of germination in a paper towel, cup, shot glass, ect. offers no advantages over traditional germination (in your growing medium - rockwool, soil, etc.).
Click to expand...
i agree. your avatar is awesome! did you take this picture?
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
This question of germ or not has gone on for as long as Dudes have been growing weed. The paper towel method "works", but it is NOT natural or ideal. The little tap root that appears, is covered with microscopic "hairs", that are VERY fragile, and easily destroyed during transplantation.
Think about this: Cannabis has been growing on it's own for thousands of years, NO soaking, NO paper towels, NO hormones, NOTHING!
Just place the seed 1/4 inch into good medium, and let her "rip" as nature intended Wishing all, Good luck & good grow.......BBbongsmilie
 
moash

moash

New Member
aeviaanah said:
this is the method i used to use....now i use small dixie cups, put one seed in each...and choose the seedlings i want to keep from there. when you transplant from paper towel to media you are risking those that did sprout. this is where i lost alot of seedlings...from the transplant. do you remove from paper towel or just put paper towel inside of soil? this may work better, i have never tried this.

i have also found sprouting outdoors is alot faster.
Click to expand...
i remove from the towel and set it on top of the hydroton
 
CaliforniaGlad

CaliforniaGlad

Member
Burger Boss said:
This question of germ or not has gone on for as long as Dudes have been growing weed. The paper towel method "works", but it is NOT natural or ideal. The little tap root that appears, is covered with microscopic "hairs", that are VERY fragile, and easily destroyed during transplantation.
Think about this: Cannabis has been growing on it's own for thousands of years, NO soaking, NO paper towels, NO hormones, NOTHING!
Just place the seed 1/4 inch into good medium, and let her "rip" as nature intended Wishing all, Good luck & good grow.......BBbongsmilie
Click to expand...
Thank you for your post. I now understand that it may have been the 'fine hairs' sticking to my paper towels instead of a lack of water.

I see your points and I will try your method in the future, however, I have seen the benefits soaking my seeds for 24 hours offers. The hard shell is softened and sometimes a tiny bit of 'white' can be seen between the slightly opened shell halves.

So I will continue to soak, but move my seeds directly to 'soil' directly after soaking (instead germinating in towels). The one other benefit the paper towel approach offers is that one can easily see how to orientate the seed into the fresh soil so the chance of planting seed upside down or on it's side into the soil is eliminated.

A bit of reading tells me seeds should be planted with the "point DOWN*" so if I follow that rule that may not be a problem at all. As always, I will not handle my seeds at all, but I will use sterilized tweezers instead.

I remain,
SOGLAD

PS, Thank you for your insight, Aveiaanah! POINT DOWN it is!
 
CaliforniaGlad

CaliforniaGlad

Member
HOWDY!

Thank you for your post. I would like to duplicate what you have done, but can you please tell us more about the plastic organizer box you used? Do you have a manufacture name and model number? Can you tell us the size, capacity and is the box clear or dark? How large is your pump and are you using a air-stone? Also can you please tell us more about the foam grow plugs you used? Are they really foam or are they neoprene?

A photo or two would help, but are not mandatory if you can help with the details?

Thanks again for your very interesting post!

I remain,
SOGLAD

aeviaanah said:
If you are using a three piece clone box such as humidome, a media tray, and a runoff tray...try this:

A few months back i bought a plastic organizer box with lid from walmart and hole sawed a few holes in the lid...just big enough for foam grow plugs. Added an airpump and filled with water... cuts about 2 weeks off clone time! Also, 1. i dont ever need a humidome, 2. no misting, 3. no replacing perlite or other media, 4. no constant watering everyday. TAKES CARE OF ITSELF- you will have a beautiful set of roots in as little as a week to two weeks....some claim a few days! I have a 100 percent clone ratio right now....when i was using humidome it was around 75 percent.

Cloning time varies greatly from strain to strain...i have found some strains that take only a week (super silver haze) and others more like three weeks (bubba kush)

Im sure someone has done this in the DUI section....but for all the people who havent explored this far....start lookin for a tutorial!
____

Also, why germinate? (i need a good answer) Does this help with anything? Nutrient uptake in early veg or what? Early established root depth?

Lately i have been just adding seeds straight to soil, no harsh transplating....I have sprouts in two days....three days and four days. With transplanting i find it takes much longer and is quite a labor intensive process (when compared)

I am up for debate....as i would like to hear someone elses side to this to learn something new. I am only stating what works best for me and am quite aware there are other tricks out there that may help others do better in there own sitution.
Click to expand...
 
aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
CaliforniaGlad said:
Thank you for your post. I now understand that it may have been the 'fine hairs' sticking to my paper towels instead of a lack of water.

I see your points and I will try your method in the future, however, I have seen the benefits soaking my seeds for 24 hours offers. The hard shell is softened and sometimes a tiny bit of 'white' can be seen between the slightly opened shell halves.

So I will continue to soak, but move my seeds directly to 'soil' directly after soaking (instead germinating in towels). The one other benefit the paper towel approach offers is that one can easily see how to orientate the seed into the fresh soil so the chance of planting seed upside down or on it's side into the soil is eliminated.

A bit of reading tells me seeds should be planted with the "point up" so if I follow that rule that may not be a problem at all. As always, I will not handle my seeds at all, but I will use sterilized tweezers instead.

I remain,
SOGLAD
Click to expand...
ive always thought you should put the point down...being that the taproot is first to leave shell and the point is where the seed opens from....this will allow taproot to head in the right direction right from the get go. i dont think it makes much of a difference...like burger boss stated earlier, does nature make sure the seed falls a certain way?
 
CaliforniaGlad

CaliforniaGlad

Member
WOW! Thanks so much for your input. I relayed 'tip up' because that is the way avocado trees are planted? Until now it's something I've not had to deal with so I will correct my original reply now.

Here I why I (incorrectly) posted the tip should be UP...

These posts say in part:

'The top of the seed (the "pointy end") should just barely peek above the surface of the soil.'

and

'The toothpicks should be supporting the seed so that the pointed half is out of the water and the bottom half is in the water.'

and

'The sprouting tip will come out of the pointed end, so be sure the flat end is immersed in water.'

Of course the major difference is that the posts refer to avocado seeds and not our 'other' good seeds. I surmised that the same would be true for our seeds. My bad.

Thanks again, Aveiaanah!

SOGLAD
 
aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
The reservoir i bought measures 12" x 6" and sits 4" high. Take the lid and cut circles in it just big enough for these plugs shown here, http://www.gchydro.com/ReadyGro+Super+Plugs.html You can also use rockwool but i find these grow plugs to be more durable.

After you cut your holes, you will need to drill two small holes (in the lid) for your airlines to go into...insert airlines and attach airstones. Take clones and insert into plugs...then put the plugs in the holes! Again, no spraying is needed, no humidome is needed....changing water is also not needed. After taking clones come back the next day and ensure all plugs are staying moist...you may need to move airstones around as you will notice a few may not be getting moisture. Another option is to add another airstone....or get larger airstones. Ill be here if anyone has any more questions....I apologize for anyone feeling this should be in the DIU section....i wasnt planning on making a tutorial of it.



As you can see i have the water level a little too high, i just have been lazy and havent removed some water. I also like to write the strain name next to the hole that particular strain is growing in. This helps when you are constantly taking new clones of different strains.
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
CaliforniaGlad said:
WOW! Thanks so much for your input. I relayed 'tip up' because that is the way avocado trees are planted? Until now it's something I've not had to deal with so I will correct my original reply now.

Here I why I (incorrectly) posted the tip should be UP...

These posts say in part:

'The top of the seed (the "pointy end") should just barely peek above the surface of the soil.'

and

'The toothpicks should be supporting the seed so that the pointed half is out of the water and the bottom half is in the water.'

and

'The sprouting tip will come out of the pointed end, so be sure the flat end is immersed in water.'

Of course the major difference is that the posts refer to avocado seeds and not our 'other' good seeds. I surmised that the same would be true for our seeds. My bad.

Thanks again, Aveiaanah!

SOGLAD
Click to expand...
The difference would be that a cannabis seed is quite small and light, and well able to position itself after the tap root cracks the side of the seed case. Whereas, the avocado seed, which came with a "skin & meat" case has other ways to get positioned. BB
 
aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
IMO from sprouting to harvesting....the position in which the seeds begins does not play a big role.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top