How many of these old seeds, stored 20 yrs in bad conditions, will germinate?

How many seeds, stored for 10 yrs at room T and 10 yrs in an attic, will produce exactly 2 plants?

  • 1

    Votes: 8 26.7%
  • 2

    Votes: 2 6.7%
  • 3-5

    Votes: 3 10.0%
  • 5-7

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • 7-10

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • 10-12

    Votes: 2 6.7%
  • 12+

    Votes: 5 16.7%

  • Total voters
    30

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
I used a spray type cloner but didn't really rate it, the rock wool was always drenched and it wasn't the quickest at rooting, I've recently tried a bubble type with great results.

That said I can't see a use for it with seeds?
 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
15ml
Sorry about the late update. Time goes by so fast, and nowhere had h2o2.



Somehow I divided the number of seeds in the op. Out of 66 seeds, only five were crushed by rolling. Or a bit under 8%.

In the name of science the following treatment was given to sets of three seeds.
1) straight into a glass of water
2) straight into a glass of diluted h2o2 (15mL per 300mL)
3) soaked in diluted h2o2, then in 15mM iba, both for 30-45 min, and left in a glass of diluted h2o2
4) treated as above but planted directly into a 75:25 mix of potting soil:vermicompost

So far 48h have passed - all of the seeds sunk between 12 and 24h although the untreated ones in h2o2 keep floating back up. No seeds have cracked open. Temperature is a constant 26-28 degrees.

Should I move them to plug trays to get them some oxygen or give them another 48h submerged?

If in the end nothing germinates, the remaining 61 seeds will be tested in this way, or 15 by each method. Any changes I should make to the methods?
What strength is your H2o2? Normally 0.5ml per litre in the tank @17.5%
For seeds I'd normally use 2ml per litre + 0.5ml nitrozyme, roots in under 24hrs isn't unusual.

I've tried mixes of up to 50ml per litre for bugs and it burns your skin and bubbles and fizzes when you apply it
Imho 17.5% 30ml I think it'll burn the tap root its strong stuff?
 

vitalsine

Well-Known Member
Check out the Seedcracker made by Woodshed. You can find them on Instagram. They had some for sale on Harvest Mutual today too, not sure if there are still more... if you order it on Harvest Mutual it comes with a pack of seeds. $55
 

Igor95

Active Member
How do you set that up for seeds?
Try to understand the essence of the photo ..
I will try to answer a specific question.

Works great for me, a maximum of 48 hours at a temperature of 78.8 and roots 3-4 millimeters! The first time I check after 24 hours, and I understand how many hours they have left until the desired root length Perhaps once you need to add water to the original level. I start by soaking the seeds in water for 6 hours.
20201102_142048.jpg20201102_142601.jpg
 
Last edited:

DarkWeb

Well-Known Member
Try to understand the essence of the photo ..
I will try to answer a specific question.

Works great for me, a maximum of 48 hours at a temperature of 78.8 and roots 3-4 millimeters! The first time I check after 24 hours, and I understand how many hours they have left until the desired root length Perhaps once you need to add water to the original level. I start by soaking the seeds in water for 6 hours.
You're just popping seeds.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Sorry about the late update. Time goes by so fast, and nowhere had h2o2.



Somehow I divided the number of seeds in the op. Out of 66 seeds, only five were crushed by rolling. Or a bit under 8%.

In the name of science the following treatment was given to sets of three seeds.
1) straight into a glass of water
2) straight into a glass of diluted h2o2 (15mL per 300mL)
3) soaked in diluted h2o2, then in 15mM iba, both for 30-45 min, and left in a glass of diluted h2o2
4) treated as above but planted directly into a 75:25 mix of potting soil:vermicompost

So far 48h have passed - all of the seeds sunk between 12 and 24h although the untreated ones in h2o2 keep floating back up. No seeds have cracked open. Temperature is a constant 26-28 degrees.

Should I move them to plug trays to get them some oxygen or give them another 48h submerged?

If in the end nothing germinates, the remaining 61 seeds will be tested in this way, or 15 by each method. Any changes I should make to the methods?
I would get them into a medium asap, soaking more than 24 hrs isn't good. Good luck!
 

DarkWeb

Well-Known Member
Check out the Seedcracker made by Woodshed. You can find them on Instagram. They had some for sale on Harvest Mutual today too, not sure if there are still more... if you order it on Harvest Mutual it comes with a pack of seeds. $55
I saw those for sale........so I tried my micrometer. Didn't work. The seeds are definitely viable, insides look like any fresh seed.
 

Cappuchino

Well-Known Member
Drop them in a glass of water and put in dark place. Ones that will float after 24H wouldn't make it.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I get the best results in root riot cubes or rapid rooters, but do give them more than a few days to sprout in them. Pre-sprouting seeds outside of a medium isn't the best way to do it. These guys have great germination advice-they don't like soaking seeds, and I don't either if they're fresh, but the studies on h202, liquid kelp, and fulvic/humic acid, speak for themselves. https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide
 

myke

Well-Known Member
I have some old seeds also,gibbrillic (sp) acid was mentioned.No idea if it works.
H202 how much if i have 29% stuff ?
 

HappyAl420

New Member
Quick poll for you. These are some (33) old seeds that have been in storage since the early 2000s. Until 2k14 or so they were stored at room temp and low humidity. 2014 until now they were stored in an uninsulated attic, ie -40C in the winter and +40c in the summer with widely varying humidity.

My question is simple; how many seeds should be put in a glass of water so that only 2 germinate and none have to be destroyed because of the legal plant limit?

Will post updates so you can see if you were right.

View attachment 4720227

If anyone is interested the seeds are all mixed but are mostly white widow and blueberry kush, probably some og kush and northern lights too. Came from a variety of sources including growers and bag seed.
Like finding buried treasure. Hoping all are good
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
germination station
99% success;)
Good for you! I don't understand why anybody would ever need this sort of thing? You could get the exact same result by filling a bag with perlite and adding some moisture.

Paper towel method doesn't work anymore? Typically 100% success rate at room temp. If you want to root old seeds, use GA3.

Soaking seeds in kelp/Humic mix will also help assist sprouting/rooting.
 

Igor95

Active Member
Good for you! I don't understand why anybody would ever need this sort of thing? You could get the exact same result by filling a bag with perlite and adding some moisture.

Paper towel method doesn't work anymore? Typically 100% success rate at room temp. If you want to root old seeds, use GA3.

Soaking seeds in kelp/Humic mix will also help assist sprouting/rooting.
No other method worked as well as this 10/10. Paper towels often have bacterial contamination and root seed will rot.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Good for you! I don't understand why anybody would ever need this sort of thing? You could get the exact same result by filling a bag with perlite and adding some moisture.

Paper towel method doesn't work anymore? Typically 100% success rate at room temp. If you want to root old seeds, use GA3.

Soaking seeds in kelp/Humic mix will also help assist sprouting/rooting.
Never had a seed not pop using paper towel method so not sure what you mean by it doesn't work any more but hey, whatever works for you.
 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
Fwiw If you use H2o2 with a paper towel it will react with the paper reducing any benefits being organic, H2o2 binds to organic material you want that to be concentrated on the seed instead of reacting with the paper and dissolving the elevated oxygen away.


I have some old seeds also,gibbrillic (sp) acid was mentioned.No idea if it works.
H202 how much if i have 29% stuff ?
Is your H2o2 for cooking or gardening?
The stuff I buy is only 17.5% I wouldn't mind a more concentrated one = half the price or twice as much lol
 
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