Best of the Worst?

Millo · Apr 23, 2021

Hi people. I've got around 20 seeds I need to store.
I use about 2-3 seeds per grow so in total those seeds need to still be viable after about 2-3 years.

I am planning on buying a vacuum machine ( to store them in the fridge ) but untill I do, I need a decent alternative.

Now, there are 2 options:

Inside cupboard in the kitchen:

Dark.
Temps: 21C - 27C / 70F - 80F
RH: 25% - 35%

In the cellar:

Dark.
Temps: 12C - 18C / 54F - 64F
RH: 60% - 70%

Which of those two is the least damaging alternative?
At least untill I buy the vacuum machine?

go go kid · Apr 23, 2021

in the celler, hands down the best option, place a t bag in with them to absorb any moisture

PJ Diaz · Apr 23, 2021

I store my seeds double bagged in ziplocks, then the ziplocks go into glass jars filled 20% full of white rice, then store in the refrigerator.

WubbaLubbaDubDub · Apr 23, 2021

As long as you have a quality sealing container you can put them all in that in baggies.
Mason jars work in a pinch, I use a c-vault.
Dark cool place is recommended as minimum.

You can bake rice for 20-30 mins around 250-300 and use that as moisture absorption.
I bought silica desiccant packs off Amazon and they seem to work great.

Buy a cheap analog hygrometer and temp gauge,digital suck for the fridge or freezer.
With a sealed container with the rice or silica packs you are now safe for long term fridge storage.

edited-for clarification about rice

Millo · Apr 24, 2021

Thanks everyone for the replies!

As per popular demand I will take them to the cellar.

The seeds of RQS and Kannabia are sealed shut in blisters ( like pills ) so I guess Humidity doesn't affect them, so only temps matter.

The seeds from Zamnesia, Kera and SweetSeeds come in vials with plastic/rubber plugs so Humidity might go inside over time.

I will put them all inside a Tupperware or something and I will fill that with rice.

WubbaLubbaDubDub said:
You can cook rice for 20-30 mins around 250-300 and use that as moisture absorption.
I bought silica desiccant packs off Amazon and they seem to work great.

Buy a cheap analog hygrometer and temp gauge,digital suck for the fridge or freezer.
With a sealed container with the rice or silica packs you are now safe for long term fridge storage.

Cooked rice? Really? I always thought that dry rice absorbs humidity better than cooked rice.

I might buy some dessicant packs off Amazon too, good idea.

Already have those tiny hygrometers, gotta throw one in the container as well.

go go kid · Apr 24, 2021

dry rice is too slow or slow to act, cooked rice dries out fast

WubbaLubbaDubDub · Apr 24, 2021

Millo said:
Thanks everyone for the replies!

As per popular demand I will take them to the cellar.

The seeds of RQS and Kannabia are sealed shut in blisters ( like pills ) so I guess Humidity doesn't affect them, so only temps matter.

The seeds from Zamnesia, Kera and SweetSeeds come in vials with plastic/rubber plugs so Humidity might go inside over time.

I will put them all inside a Tupperware or something and I will fill that with rice.

Cooked rice? Really? I always thought that dry rice absorbs humidity better than cooked rice.

I might buy some dessicant packs off Amazon too, good idea.

Already have those tiny hygrometers, gotta throw one in the container as well.

Take dry uncooked rice. And bake it!
Sorry I’m stoned and don’t always describe the best

MICHI-CAN · Apr 24, 2021

TY for all the methods. Mine is a mini ziplock bag inside a divided tackle box type storage container. Then a Pelican style airtight camera case in my deep freeze. No issues to date. And oddly the seeds I pulled from tackle box in the garage rafters after 20 years or more almost all germinated.

Please tell when the answer is found.

Millo · Apr 24, 2021

WubbaLubbaDubDub said:
Take dry uncooked rice. And bake it!
Sorry I’m stoned and don’t always describe the best

Ohh now I get it lol no problem :bigjoint:

Millo · Apr 24, 2021

MICHI-CAN said:
TY for all the methods. Mine is a mini ziplock bag inside a divided tackle box type storage container. Then a Pelican style airtight camera case in my deep freeze. No issues to date. And oddly the seeds I pulled from tackle box in the garage rafters after 20 years or more almost all germinated.

Please tell when the answer is found.

20 years? That's amazing!

MICHI-CAN · Apr 24, 2021

Millo said:
20 years? That's amazing!

Just dry and warm between freezing. No clue. My water germ and I get tails. Almost two weeks on a couple. Worth the effort can't buy the strains now if I had the name.

WubbaLubbaDubDub · Apr 24, 2021

MICHI-CAN said:
Just dry and warm between freezing. No clue. My water germ and I get tails. Almost two weeks on a couple. Worth the effort can't buy the strains now if I had the name.

On the older ones have you ever had a need to scarified them?
Just curious what works for other people.
Edit- what’s your deep freeze set to?

MICHI-CAN · Apr 24, 2021

WubbaLubbaDubDub said:
On the older ones have you ever had a need to scarified them?
Just curious what works for other people.
Edit- what’s your deep freeze set to?

-10 F on the freezer. Holds close to 0. And I believe in H2O2 in water. No science. Just tails from almost anything viable. And just a few years shelf life pops between 18 and 36 hours. Days add up by the years from there. And heat. I run 73F but go as high as 75 after a week or more.

Billytheluther · Apr 24, 2021

I have an upright freezer but it doesn’t read my temp.. can i use that for storage??
Im worried about the water content in them ruining everything.
Maybe im overthinking it, i think jarred up with rice would work fine

MICHI-CAN · Apr 24, 2021

Billytheluther said:
I have an upright freezer but it doesn’t read my temp.. can i use that for storage??
Im worried about the water content in them ruining everything.
Maybe im overthinking it, i think jarred up with rice would work fine

I use airtight containers. Mason jars work. There is some crazy RH activities in freezers due to opening. But solid freeze should be fine.

Homegrown Hero · Apr 24, 2021

I would store them inside sandwich bag, inside a mason jar. Rice or desiccant outside the sandwich bag. Duct tape the jar a few layers (creating total darkness inside) store in your cellar. Seems logical. The cellar is cool dark place

Billytheluther · Apr 24, 2021

Homegrown Hero said:
I would store them inside sandwich bag, inside a mason jar. Rice or desiccant outside the sandwich bag. Duct tape the jar a few layers (creating total darkness inside) store in your cellar. Seems logical. The cellar is cool dark place

You’re asking for light deprivation bro

Gemtree · Apr 24, 2021

Keep mine in sealed gallon paint cans with desiccants in the fridge

Homegrown Hero · Apr 24, 2021

Billytheluther said:
You’re asking for light deprivation bro

Putting beans into stasis isn’t a bad thing last I checked

MICHI-CAN · Apr 24, 2021

Homegrown Hero said:
Putting beans into stasis isn’t a bad thing last I checked

It's late. Too much hash and a few hours burning stems and sticks to go here. So, you are proposing I store my beans in a NO2 suspension? Only accepted forced stasis as described in science or medicine. Guess my kids next cooling and CPU upgrade maybe warranted.

LOL. But WOW!

Best of the Worst?

Which storage method is better for seeds?

Kitchen Cupboard

Cellar

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