Germinating 15 year old seeds: No luck with many methods

This is my first post, just looking for any advice from someone with experience. I have read everything I could find on the subject. These seeds were stored in an airtight container in a file cabinet, temps never got very high. I have about 20 seeds left to attempt to germinate, I have tried about 20 so far with no luck. One seed (NCGA) did crack and show a tap root with the water method but when I put it in soil it just receded almost all the way back into the shell (I checked it after 2 days). I have pried open the shell and left the embryo just under the soil.

I have tried:
Water method, soaking for 24 hours in distilled water, with and without a 30 minute presoak in a dilute solution of Eco-Nereo kelp. Most seeds did sink.

Strainer method

Papertowel method

Direct sow method, with 1 hour, 6 hour, and 24 hour soak. None worked

I read somewhere that you can manually crack the seed (very carefully) after a 24 hour soak. If anyone has done this I am curious how I could properly crack the seed manually? Use a razor blade or maybe try to get a pick inside and pry it open? These seeds do seem very tough. If I could even get one or two of these to pop I would be stoked! Any ideas would be appreciated.

Next I am thinking of doing a 24 hour soak then putting them in soil under a humidity dome/Saran wrap and risking the mold factor.

The seeds I have are:
Brothers Grimm In/Out mix
NCGA Primo mix
NL #5
Bubbleberry x Williams Wonder
Fighting Cockerel

take the seeds put in a glass of water when they sink then put in paper towel moisten then put seeds in paper towel on a plate wrap with Saran Wrap put in dark warm place 80-85 degrees wait up to 7-10 days. Look for condensation developing good luck.

A heat mat helps enormously if the weathers on the cool side. $25 at my local hydro store.

Cascadian said:

These seeds were stored in an airtight container in a file cabinet, temps never got very high.l

Click to expand...

Humidity probably did though, store in fridge with desiccant.

Thanks, I do have a heat mat, I forgot to mention it. When I direct sow or when I am soaking they are on the heat mat and covered for darkness.

Humidity probably was an issue with storage, in the future I will definitely be storing in the fridge with desiccant.

I just started soaking 1 BG (last one) and 2 NCGA's and will use the paper towel method on top of my fluorescent lights (kept dark) in my veg room, thanks for the suggestion.

This is my first grow since I bought all these seeds 15 years ago. I have 6 clones going now (Jack Herer, Harlequin, Jilly Bean, Sugar Plum, Purple Diesel, and Purple Kush) and 5 CBD Crew SNS Widow seedlings (popped within 48 hours in soil after a soak) I hope to do some crosses with some of these older seeds.

I am really hoping I can get some of these to germ, but just in case I am going to pick up some Jack the Ripper X Purple Urkle and Plushberry X Headband seeds later today in case that doesn't happen.

Any other ideas on how I can get these old seeds to germinate? I will try anything at this point, I am not very optimistic.

Have you tried using the scuff method ?

Thanks, yet another thing I forgot to mention! I guess I didn't want my post to be too long. I have been using the scuff method, rolling up a tube of sand paper and shaking the seeds for about 2-3 minutes. Recently I have also been taking the seed after that treatment, holding it and lightly scuffing off some of the tip and on each side of the seem of the seed. Only lightly though, it did seem to help with the NCGA seed that sprouted. I was a little more aggressive with the scuffing on that seed. I think some of these seeds are viable but just weak. Not sure how to baby them along, which is why I am using the shotgun approach trying multiple methods.

ImSoCuteAndDying5150 said:

Have you tried using the scuff method ?

Click to expand...

cool nice one!!! never knew that one!!! thanks

I convinced myself the NCGA seed would die under the soil so I repositioned it at the surface with the top of the embryo getting some light and covered with saran wrap with holes punched for air. I will update if I get any of these old seeds to make it to the seedling stage.

Thanks for the help

Dude stop wasting ur seeds and try reading up first...read,read,read,read and read

Cascadian said:

This is my first post, just looking for any advice from someone with experience. I have read everything I could find on the subject. These seeds were stored in an airtight container in a file cabinet, temps never got very high. I have about 20 seeds left to attempt to germinate, I have tried about 20 so far with no luck. One seed (NCGA) did crack and show a tap root with the water method but when I put it in soil it just receded almost all the way back into the shell (I checked it after 2 days). I have pried open the shell and left the embryo just under the soil.

I have tried:
Water method, soaking for 24 hours in distilled water, with and without a 30 minute presoak in a dilute solution of Eco-Nereo kelp. Most seeds did sink.

Strainer method

Papertowel method

Direct sow method, with 1 hour, 6 hour, and 24 hour soak. None worked

I read somewhere that you can manually crack the seed (very carefully) after a 24 hour soak. If anyone has done this I am curious how I could properly crack the seed manually? Use a razor blade or maybe try to get a pick inside and pry it open? These seeds do seem very tough. If I could even get one or two of these to pop I would be stoked! Any ideas would be appreciated.

Next I am thinking of doing a 24 hour soak then putting them in soil under a humidity dome/Saran wrap and risking the mold factor.

l

Click to expand...

I highly recommned to file the points of seeds and put into with any herb seeds that sell one dollar pack at any local store it will help germinate better and if the seeds are still somehow stubborn to open the tap then you have to squeeze seed gently ( using your thumb and finger ) and recycle water for every two or three days. I had some old seeds that forgetten in the storgate for long time...most of seeds was germinated good by this method. I learned from other two seasoned growers at the Riddlem3 site.

BTW your strain list sounds dank !

Good luck

can i ask why you are using 20 year old seeds?? i mean were the genetics so boss/rare that you cannot find them at a seed bank like attitude or a similar strain? i know they cost but man nowadays the seeds they seed out are damn good, i ordered ONE of several kinds and so far only 1/8 fem. seeds have not popped and been planted, 4 are doing awesome and the other 4 have been done and curing, The genetics are out there, also 20 years alot can go wrong even in airtight container, obviously something got to these, rather it be some kind of temp or humidity/germ or even just simply shelf life of them, I wish you luck, i understand its a pain to buy seeds but provided you know how to clone and all the good stuff, IT IS WORTH IT GOOD LUCK though brother!

brew a good tea-

it will make the seed live.

use regular method. paper towel maybe? but use the tea.

Scuff
soak in a Cloning/Rooting Solution like General Hydroponics Rapid Start is some good stuff, until the seed drops to the bottom 12-24hrs.
Paper towel soaked in cloning solution, wring out. zip-lock bag in a warm dark place like on top the water heater. 12-48hrs you should have sprouts.

Try not to touch your seeds. you've got salts and what not on your hands. use a tweezers.
LOL treat the seeds like hits of Acid LOL

You could also try soaking them in a H2O2 and water solution - this seems to helps some vedg. seeds

Just a thought, but won't the product of any of these twenty year old seeds likely be inferior plants?

Thanks for the ideas, I am currently using a mild Kelp/Humic acid tea to soak. Should I add worm castings to the tea? I don't want to burn/shock them. I will experiment with a stronger tea.

I will get some rooting solution and try that method with the solution in the paper towel as well.

PeaceGrow,
I am trying to germ 15 year old seeds because 2 of these seed packs come from breeders no longer in business (Brothers Grimm and NCGA) BG made Cindy99 and NCGA developed Blue Widow. Also in my seed list is a true NL #5. These genetics cannot be found in a seedbank and could contain a gem. I have 11 plants from good genetics started 6 are ready to flower but will just have to get supercropped and veg as the seedlings get big enough to flower everything and get some interesting crosses. Can't wait to clone/cross some of these rare genetics if they can germ.

Peace,

bro all your genetics sound amazing im new to growing just about to finish my first grow man im hoping to one day be on that level of crossing....post some pics if you get them to go

I will try to H2o2 as well thanks for the tip, I remember reading about that somewhere else as well.


I don't think the age of the seeds will effect the genes? Not positive on that but pretty sure. The product of these plants will be seeds (which will be grown out if the smoke is good), I just need the genes. You are right that the seedlings may be slow to start etc. but that is a result of the condition of the embryo in the old seed not the genes in the plant itself.

I'm thinking the plants may be slow growing, malformed and possibly never reach maturity. If you can get any to grow at all. I have to admire your perseverance, tho. Good luck!