Hi guys, ive been stalking the forums for close to 5 years now, but this is my first post, ive finally got round to growing and my seeds arrived a couple of days ago, now the place where I will be growing is different to my current address, so I can only b there once a day, the way I was thinking to achieve 100 percent germination is as follows, Step 1 - Boil bottled evian water and allow it to cool until its lukewarm, I will be using the paper towel method, in which case brings us to step 2 - Seeds on paper towel on plate, fold over towel, sprinkle water, cover with other plate, now step 3 - the way I was hoping to get optimum heat, is by placing the plates underneath a 400w hps in my tent, so the plates on the floor and the hps pulled all the way to the top of the tent for heat
Germination techinque
- Thread starter topdawg09
- Start date
protracting
Active Member
I'm not sure about using the light's heat to pop the seeds quickly. I got all my seeds to pop in under 24 hours using the towel method. I put my container in my entertainment console next to the cable box. It was a constant 79 degrees and I rotated the box every 8 hours or so. I used a Tupperware container and cracked the lid open for a second every time I rotated. I'm new at this so I hope others will chime in, but it worked for me...good luck.
topfuel29
Well-Known Member
IMO- use a cloning/rooting solution. I would use distilled water. I would also use a zip-lock bag instead of paper plates. It's warm enough on top of the fridge or on top your water heater. cover the zip-lock bag with one of your paper plates to keep it dark.
Good Luck on Your Grow.
Good Luck on Your Grow.
new growers almost nearly always mess up when they use the paper towel routine. Just read around n u will read the same ol story over n over. A plug, rockwool cubes or a cup of soil are all hard to mess up n have worked for quite some time now
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Well-Known Member
I don't know why some people want to make germination more complex than it is, when actually it can be so easy and effortless
Dr. Jekyll
Step 1 - boil bottled "Evian" water, what makes that brand name so special? why boil it? overkill maybe?
Step 2 - if you do use a paper towel, use a bleach-free one, but why use a damn paper towel at all, just stick the seed in the medium
Step 3 - now that is just plain stupid to use a 400 watt HID to germinate seeds. You want a warm consistent heat source without light, the top of your fridge will likely have enough heat to pop them
Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll
Step 1 - boil bottled "Evian" water, what makes that brand name so special? why boil it? overkill maybe?
Step 2 - if you do use a paper towel, use a bleach-free one, but why use a damn paper towel at all, just stick the seed in the medium
Step 3 - now that is just plain stupid to use a 400 watt HID to germinate seeds. You want a warm consistent heat source without light, the top of your fridge will likely have enough heat to pop them
Mr. Hyde
nevyn
Member
That's good info to know mate, thankls
EDIT: I am leaving this thread now, I see our friends are back.
Things just get complicated with them around, lolif that is the info u choose to use then I understand your reasoning behind asking the question. A seed only needs warmth, moisture, n time to pop, thats it. While the paper towel method does work, it isnt the easiest/ best way n it wont give a higher germ rate. A conditioned 3x3 rockwool cube on my water heater for 2 days is my #1 choice, virtually foolproof, soil cut with perlite is my #2, guess jiffy plugs/rapid rooters would be next n paper towels are last in my personal germ rates. Seed germination is simple, veg n flower are only slightly more difficult, the harvest, drying, n cure are the most difficult thing n they are pretty simple. Safely getting equipment, disposing of excess material after harvest n the stress of the last 2 weeks of the grow is the hardest thing I deal with. But thats just meThat's good info to know mate, thankls
EDIT: I am leaving this thread now, I see our friends are back.
Nullis
Moderator
You don't generally need paper towels to germinate quality/fresh seeds. Also Cannabis is not an aquatic plant, it comes mostly from temperate or semi-arid regions. That said, they in no way prefer swampy conditions. Roots actually require oxygen. Additionally, while boiling water might help to kill any potential pathogens it also removes the oxygen from the water. The warmer water is, the less oxygen dissolved in it. Bottled water has already been filtered/sanitized- and is just fine for plants.
I think some people like the paper towel method because it is hands-on and lets them feel like they are taking an active role in the seeds germination. The seedling/tap root would rather not be disturbed, though- it is averse to being handled and roots don't particularly like light.
I just recommend straight to soil/less or potting mix, in a container at least 4". Pre-moisten the mixture with a spray bottle [if necessary], put the seed sideways in a shallow hole (.3-.5" deep). Water thoroughly, maintain soil surface temp of at least 72*, up to about 80. Wait. Seedling emerges in 3-7 days typically. I would not advise using Jiffy/peat plugs (can be too acidic) or even Rapid Rooter plugs because they're aren't big enough to accommodate the tap root (it will pass right through and hang out the bottom). Also, if you grow in a potting mix/soil with beneficial micro-organisms (such as mycorrhizal fungi) the young seedling can foster the symbiotic relationships as soon as possible.
An HID bulb is likely to produce more heat than necessary for germinating, and it will cause whatever media you're using to dry out quicker.
If anything, they can be placed under a T5/fluorescent fixture (this is what I do). This keeps the soil surface temp above 72 while ambient room temps are 65-68*.
I think some people like the paper towel method because it is hands-on and lets them feel like they are taking an active role in the seeds germination. The seedling/tap root would rather not be disturbed, though- it is averse to being handled and roots don't particularly like light.
I just recommend straight to soil/less or potting mix, in a container at least 4". Pre-moisten the mixture with a spray bottle [if necessary], put the seed sideways in a shallow hole (.3-.5" deep). Water thoroughly, maintain soil surface temp of at least 72*, up to about 80. Wait. Seedling emerges in 3-7 days typically. I would not advise using Jiffy/peat plugs (can be too acidic) or even Rapid Rooter plugs because they're aren't big enough to accommodate the tap root (it will pass right through and hang out the bottom). Also, if you grow in a potting mix/soil with beneficial micro-organisms (such as mycorrhizal fungi) the young seedling can foster the symbiotic relationships as soon as possible.
An HID bulb is likely to produce more heat than necessary for germinating, and it will cause whatever media you're using to dry out quicker.
If anything, they can be placed under a T5/fluorescent fixture (this is what I do). This keeps the soil surface temp above 72 while ambient room temps are 65-68*.
Nullis
Moderator
^ Not always a good idea. I don't know what kind of seeds you use, but soaking seeds can potentially drown them. Some breeders specifically advise against soaking or paper towels. Fresh seeds should have a healthy embryo with cells full of water. With seeds much older than 3 years the cells of the embryo may have dried out some and that is an example of when soaking for a short period of time might help germination rates.
If a seed did germinate in a glass of water, it should have done so directly in media/soil as well.
If a seed did germinate in a glass of water, it should have done so directly in media/soil as well.
GKID69
Active Member
ITS FASTER GERMINATION RATE when u put it into the water then waiting for it to germinate in the soil...
Ive alrdy done so.. One seed put into the soil (Moist soil) it sprouted in a little over a week i would say..
Then the seed dropped into the water. Germinated in 1-2 days sprouted in 3-4 days..
Its pretty equal but when i did it times were faster when i plopped the seed in the water then planted it with the white root sticking out.
Ive tried so many other techniques. This one by far has not done me wrong (Yet)
Seeds may pop faster n water or a paper towel but will be rooted seedlings faster if ur not handling/transplanting them, handling equals stress n the 3 days u were ahead before transplant puts you 4 days behind before theyre rooted seedlings.ITS FASTER GERMINATION RATE when u put it into the water then waiting for it to germinate in the soil...
Ive alrdy done so.. One seed put into the soil (Moist soil) it sprouted in a little over a week i would say..
Then the seed dropped into the water. Germinated in 1-2 days sprouted in 3-4 days..
Its pretty equal but when i did it times were faster when i plopped the seed in the water then planted it with the white root sticking out.
Ive tried so many other techniques. This one by far has not done me wrong (Yet)
MoNoXiDe211
Member
I've done 3 methods and all seem to work. Paper towel to the zip lock bag, cup of water until they sprout, and just pushing them into medium is fine to.
I like the paper towel method best. Just my two cents.
I like the paper towel method best. Just my two cents.
Jack Harer
Well-Known Member
Don't over-engineer this. The paper towel/ziploc baggie atop the fridge works very well, as does just poking the bean into a starter plug or soil. Use tap water. No benefit of using RO or distilled water, nor is there any benefit to "sterilization", as has been pointed out heating drives out oxygen.I prefer the paper towel method. Why? Because I do. It's how I have always done it, and the preference isn't based on any scientific principle, it just is. Why try and fix what aint broke?
You CAN place a piece of old banana peel in the baggie with the seeds. Banana Peel emits ethylene as a byproduct of decomposition, and ethylene is known to promote seed germination (references available on request). It will inhibit seedling growth, however, so remove the peel once germination has occurred.
You CAN place a piece of old banana peel in the baggie with the seeds. Banana Peel emits ethylene as a byproduct of decomposition, and ethylene is known to promote seed germination (references available on request). It will inhibit seedling growth, however, so remove the peel once germination has occurred.
AimAim
Well-Known Member
Simplicity takes all the fun out of it. You see MJ is highly unpredictable and you have to keep an eye on every seed and keep it under your control at all times. It's not like the seeds have just fallen off the plant and grown in soil for the last few million years or anything stupid like that. Takes paper towels and boiled mineral water and some plastic bags and plastic plates and a pH meter and some other things. Soil in a cup... no way.
Roger that. Who is it that gets paid for germing my tomatoes n jalapenos? Hes a bad sum bitch because they just seem to pop all on their own. Monday they arent there n friday they are, if I ever catch that fucker diggin my seeds up n puttin em n a paper towel so they pop n then replanting em for me im gonna give him a hefty tip, hes popped hundreds of seeds for me n I never do shit, almost seems to be a natural fit. Just sayin.
Sand4x105
Well-Known Member
Sure seems like a lot of control freaks gro MJ...
Lol, im not that smart but I think his post was sarcastic