Germination Problems, I need real Help!

I am having some real problems germinating my seeds. I have done every single method in the book. The seeds crack, small root appears, then stops growing! These root taps should keep getting longer, but there not. I mean there shorter than 1cm. So Great right, NO. I place into cup of Fox Farm soil thinking hey, the root tap is out and seed cracked open, leave it in the soil, kept moist with Humidity dome on them for 2 weeks under a good light setup! Nothing! So I got pissed and searched for the seed in the soil and comes to find out the seed is the same as when I took it out of germination! No growth! PISSED

Now This already Happen Too 1- Red Dwarf(auto), 2-White widow seeds, 12-Deimos(budda seeds), 2- White Castle seeds.

Now that is a lot of seeds the Broke its seed shell, root tap appeared, suddenly stop growing. Left for days. Nothing. Planted, seed still the same as when I put in after 2 weeks!
Wat the HECK!!!!!!!!!!
++REP for this Help! Real Help I need! Anyone run into these problems?

What are your Temps lookin like I was havin the same problem(my box was hitting 90 95) so maybe that could be it???

maybe germs are the problem. when you use the paper towel method; do you pour boiling h20 on it, and wait for it to get to room temps, then put the seeds in? this would eliminate the germ competition at least. I have started doing it like this cuz i had some germination problems in the past.

Make sure your not using the soil that has nutes in it because that kind of soil is to strong and can kill your seeds. Use a seedling soil that has no nutes in it.

When I planted my seeds I made sure that the top of the seed is showing but the taproot part isn't but also I took the shell off and I had no problems with the plants.

Also I use the water in a bowl method so that I don't have to worry about keeping a paper towel moist and I used room temp distilled tap water that I left sit out for 24 hours.

What kind of Fox Farm soil are you using? Are you feeding the seedlings any nutes? How deep are you planting them in your medium are you covering them up tightly? I have never had a problem germinating seeds. I dont understand how this can be so hard for some people. You must be doing something wrong. You need to give us more info and details for anyone to be able to help you.

Exactly what toolage said that is what im reffering too. If you are using FF happy frog for seedlings you will be good but for example FF ocean forrest which has nutes in the soil that can be burning your babies. Like I said please give us some more info.

I have gone with the paper towel method and it has always worked for me.

I just get the towel wet, fold it up twice, in last fold add seeds, put towel in ziploc bag then you can put seeds in a dark closet or on a window shelf. Both have worked for me. As soon as I see the taproot, into the soil it goes. Usually takes 2-3 days. Have had them pop in 24 hours...

It is the FF soil if you are using Ocean Forest. Use the FF Light Warrior for seedlings.

i know you don't want to hear this, but...i'm pretty sure your seed is dead...

i had that happened to me a while back mainly because i was giving it too much attention... and probably damaged the growth but picking, nipping, and checking the medium every other day...

...my advice...

once the seed cracks (in distilled water, or paper towel, or even straight to grow medium) just leave it alone... i lost over 300 dollars learning to leave it alone...

... now, i plant straight to medium and leave it alone, (so far 100% germination across the board knock on wood) ...

Ive never had a problem germinating good seeds. That being siad , I have had a problem germinating bad seeds. The problem your refering to is from a combination of the seeds being too old and not stored properly, so there already damaged in the embreyo stage , it`s not your falt, start questioning the bank the seeds came from, some of them sell stock over six years old and stored incorrectly for long term shelf life

shaney said:

Ive never had a problem germinating good seeds. That being siad , I have had a problem germinating bad seeds. The problem your refeering to is from a combination of the seeds being to old and not stored properly, so there already damaged in the embreyo stage , it`s not your falt, start questioning the bank the seeds came from, some of them sell stock over six years old and stored incorrectly for long term shelf life

Click to expand...

Yes this is so true...

One of my first posts here on RIU was almost the same as the OP, I had always grown from clone and was wasting expensive seeds, started poppin lots of bag seeds to figure it out and now I have a damn near 100% success every time.
Lots of people have made good suggestions already but I'll add my 2 cents...
Get some cheap peat pucks....50 for about $2.50, start soaking your seeds when they crack wet the peat puck and squeeze out about half the water, stir up the peat so its loose and airy, just barely press your seed into the surface and leave a little sticking up as another poster said...then just barely cover it with some loose peat from the sides of the puck, keep the temps between 75 and 85F, if the surface of the puck starts to dry out just mist it very litely but dont soak it....on average I see sprouts breaking the soil in 3 days after planting, I know there are exceptions but after 6 days I'd think theres a problem but thats just me.
Things I learned....too hot = dead (did this with a heat mat) , to cold and they just dont grow. Too wet and they rot, this is why you plant shallow and in airy soil, oh and loose the humidity dome for sprouting seeds they just get damp off disease and rot.
9/10 times I end up helping the seed case off my sprouts, I dont know if its from planting shallow and theres just not enough resistance to help take it off or what but this is just what worked for me and like I said I was in your situation not long ago myself and now I feel like a seed sprouting god most of the time, gl to ya!

taipanspunk said:

... now, i plant straight to medium and leave it alone, (so far 100% germination across the board knock on wood) ...

Click to expand...

Just like mother nature intended Only reason I pre-soak and watch for the seed to crack is just to make sure it was viable in the first place....with known good seeds straight in they go, less chance of any damage to a tender tap root

Use happy frog soil it works great for seeds . No dome just water plant seeds and wait. Works everytime if the seeds are viable.

For me I used Jiffy Pucks and 100% of them grew and I only lost 1 seedling because it wasn't strong enough to live.

I'm still lost! Now I'm going to place my 2 white widow seeds in a moist paper towel, place in black bag and place on top of my 250HPS hood! Is this a good idea or will it get to hot for the seed?

It might get to hot for the seeds.

i bet you millions of people have put seeds in a paper towel,use tap water and 24-72hrs you should have enough root to plant.....now if the seeds are no good...well you know what happens..........its not rocket science to pop seeds............especially mj...its a weed ...............BUT the seeds have to be good...................just my opinion, doesn't mean i am right

I had mixed results with the paper towel method. Straight into soil is just so easy and natural.