Dead or alive ?

sensimilius

Active Member
Hey guys. Planted a seed directly into soil 1 cm deep and been steadily spraying with RO water as soon as the soil starts drying. I'm used to seeds sprouting 3-4 days after planting. I was told wait a week. Now that it's been 10 days, I figured It probably had died from the cold water I soaked it in before planting or something (winter temps). So I uncovered it using a toothpick. What I found was the head about 3/4 out the shell pointing down and the taproot was out (brown colored I guess from the soil). I thought I'd give it a hand and very slowly removed the shell. Couldn't tell if the taproot had lodged in the soil so I very gently yanked at its neck and it held to the soil. I didn't know what to think, so I just covered it back. What do you think ? Could I have killed it by uncovering, tampering with it ? Is it even still alive ? What would you do in my shoes ? This is my first time growing in winter and heating is sub-par where I am yet according to my meter, temp averages at around 70F and humidity 50% in the place I'm growing.
 

HydroKid239

Well-Known Member
Hey guys. Planted a seed directly into soil 1 cm deep and been steadily spraying with RO water as soon as the soil starts drying. I'm used to seeds sprouting 3-4 days after planting. I was told wait a week. Now that it's been 10 days, I figured It probably had died from the cold water I soaked it in before planting or something (winter temps). So I uncovered it using a toothpick. What I found was the head about 3/4 out the shell pointing down and the taproot was out (brown colored I guess from the soil). I thought I'd give it a hand and very slowly removed the shell. Couldn't tell if the taproot had lodged in the soil so I very gently yanked at its neck and it held to the soil. I didn't know what to think, so I just covered it back. What do you think ? Could I have killed it by uncovering, tampering with it ? Is it even still alive ? What would you do in my shoes ? This is my first time growing in winter and heating is sub-par where I am yet according to my meter, temp averages at around 70F and humidity 50% in the place I'm growing.
Keep it moist and warm. Try and get temps above 75F and raise humidity. If you have a small bucket, fill 1/2 way with water and dip atowel in it.. then drape the towel over the rim of the bucket while the rest of it is still in the water. Should bump you up another 10-15%.
 

sensimilius

Active Member
I never understood "over love" until I started this hobby.
No shit wouldn't mind shedding this tendency at some point though


Keep it moist and warm. Try and get temps above 75F and raise humidity. If you have a small bucket, fill 1/2 way with water and dip atowel in it.. then drape the towel over the rim of the bucket while the rest of it is still in the water. Should bump you up another 10-15%.
So it isn't dead I'm guessing. Would spraying the soil with warmer water help at all ? What about light ? I currently got under this 50W led thing. First winter grow btw
 

HydroKid239

Well-Known Member
No shit wouldn't mind shedding this tendency at some point though




So it isn't dead I'm guessing. Would spraying the soil with warmer water help at all ? What about light ? I currently got under this 50W led thing. First winter grow btw
I wouldn’t say warm.. more towards room temp. I would also heed previous advice at starting a new seed in advance if things don’t work out.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Hey guys. Planted a seed directly into soil 1 cm deep and been steadily spraying with RO water as soon as the soil starts drying. I'm used to seeds sprouting 3-4 days after planting. I was told wait a week. Now that it's been 10 days, I figured It probably had died from the cold water I soaked it in before planting or something (winter temps). So I uncovered it using a toothpick. What I found was the head about 3/4 out the shell pointing down and the taproot was out (brown colored I guess from the soil). I thought I'd give it a hand and very slowly removed the shell. Couldn't tell if the taproot had lodged in the soil so I very gently yanked at its neck and it held to the soil. I didn't know what to think, so I just covered it back. What do you think ? Could I have killed it by uncovering, tampering with it ? Is it even still alive ? What would you do in my shoes ? This is my first time growing in winter and heating is sub-par where I am yet according to my meter, temp averages at around 70F and humidity 50% in the place I'm growing.
Did you water the whole container you planted in first? Sounds like it dried out to me as the tap root should be bright white.

I start my seeds in 3" nursery pots and soak it good when when I put a seed in. Then I keep them in a humidity dome until they sprout so it takes a few days before spraying the tops. My last 3 all came up within 80 hours. Fem autos called Mazarilla by Urban Legends. Spraying 2 of them now with STS to force pollen to make more fem seeds of the same for outdoor planting this June.

:peace:
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
No shit wouldn't mind shedding this tendency at some point though
So it isn't dead I'm guessing. Would spraying the soil with warmer water help at all ? What about light ? I currently got under this 50W led thing. First winter grow btw
Room temp water is fine. That's the temp it's all at anyhow. Doesn't need light until it sprouts above the soil but handy to have over it to keep things warm and give it light the second it emerges so it's not stretching up any more than it has to.

:peace:
 

sensimilius

Active Member
Room temp water is fine. That's the temp it's all at anyhow. Doesn't need light until it sprouts above the soil but handy to have over it to keep things warm and give it light the second it emerges so it's not stretching up any more than it has to.

:peace:

yeah that's what I'm thinking, the extra warmth could help


Did you water the whole container you planted in first? Sounds like it dried out to me as the tap root should be bright white.

I start my seeds in 3" nursery pots and soak it good when when I put a seed in. Then I keep them in a humidity dome until they sprout so it takes a few days before spraying the tops. My last 3 all came up within 80 hours. Fem autos called Mazarilla by Urban Legends. Spraying 2 of them now with STS to force pollen to make more fem seeds of the same for outdoor planting this June.

:peace:

Absolutely. I always water the medium before planting and spray the surface a couple times after covering the seed. I also saran wrap the pot to preserve humidity. I'm pretty positive its just the damp soil giving it that hue. I mean I could see the white beneath the brown. Guess I'll just leave it there, see how it goes. Not really in a hurry. It's expensive seed though, wouldn't want it to go to waste :? I'll try to take a couple snaps if I end up exposing it again
 
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Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
Hey guys. Planted a seed directly into soil 1 cm deep and been steadily spraying with RO water as soon as the soil starts drying. I'm used to seeds sprouting 3-4 days after planting. I was told wait a week. Now that it's been 10 days, I figured It probably had died from the cold water I soaked it in before planting or something (winter temps). So I uncovered it using a toothpick. What I found was the head about 3/4 out the shell pointing down and the taproot was out (brown colored I guess from the soil). I thought I'd give it a hand and very slowly removed the shell. Couldn't tell if the taproot had lodged in the soil so I very gently yanked at its neck and it held to the soil. I didn't know what to think, so I just covered it back. What do you think ? Could I have killed it by uncovering, tampering with it ? Is it even still alive ? What would you do in my shoes ? This is my first time growing in winter and heating is sub-par where I am yet according to my meter, temp averages at around 70F and humidity 50% in the place I'm growing.
I'm in the same boat, already lost 2. Only thing I can guess is to cold.
 

sensimilius

Active Member
pathogens in soil
once it sprouts, it should crack away the seedshell within a reasonable time
but hard to observe that buried under soil
wet kitchen paper/ towel in a zippo or a tray under foil gives better opportunity to watch & can be sterile
Yeah I'm sticking to paper towel method from now on. Tried it on my first two grows. Worked like a charm. All grows after that I planted directly in the medium to keep it 'natural' or whatever. They seemed to sprout much faster that way btw. But that was in the hot season.
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
I'd look into the paper towel method as others have mentioned. I've had a lot more success planting an already tapped seed into coco then misting with RO until it's decently sized.
 

Stuck27

Well-Known Member
your 2 cents on what caused this ?
I think herb is right about the restart.. I germinated a couple seeds in my cupboard. It was colder in there and 2 popped white, 2 were brownish. They two that were brown were definitely stunted. I took 2 more seeds and put it in a warmer area. Had no problem with them, they grew great. From that I just gathered that if any of my seeds roots are brown, restart. Could be wrong but this is what I'm going to do, not worth waiting 2 weeks just to see that they die or are stunted
 
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