My Seeds Won't Sprout.

Well it's been a really hectic effort to get one to sprout, all in vein. I really need help on why my seeds won't sprout from the soil. I germinated them in a paper towel, and waited for the taproot to get somewhat long. After planting, nothing. The seed completely stops growing every time. I've even planted a seed that was freshly germinated, still growing, and it still stopped growing. Can anyone give me some suggestions?
 

THCBD

Active Member
place the seed in the soil as gently as possible, some people use tweezers. i just pat a couple cm of dirt on top, just pat as in one finger lightly once. i water immediately but not directly where i placed the seed. they pop up every time.

you mentioned that you let the taproot get a long. how long? i usually put them in soil as soon as it pops out, right after the shell cracks open.
 
place the seed in the soil as gently as possible, some people use tweezers. i just pat a couple cm of dirt on top, just pat as in one finger lightly once. i water immediately but not directly where i placed the seed. they pop up every time.

you mentioned that you let the taproot get a long. how long? i usually put them in soil as soon as it pops out, right after the shell cracks open.
I usually let them get as long as my index fingernail. I've tried planting them at different lengths, but nothing happens, they still stop. I felt like it was soil temperature problem, but adding heat didn't work either.

It's weird, I do EXACTLY like you do to sprout them, but mine just stop growing immediately as soon as they get in the soil.
 

Apex3030

Member
how long did u germinate for? is ur soil full of nutes ? do u smoke cigs ? and maybe touch ur seed with ur fingers unwashed?
lhow long was the tap root b4 u planted in soil?> where did u get your seeds ?
i wait till the tap root is about a 1/4 of inch long then i move her into the soil.. root down and dont bury the pod "the seed"
24 hour light or 18/6 up to ya.. or leave it warm n dark untill u see it starting to open up then give it light so it can start growing.
what kinda light are u using ?
 

MuntantLizzard

Well-Known Member
Never use a paper towel, always strait into your growing medium.
Papers towels are for TESTING the germabilty of old seed stock.
 
how long did u germinate for? is ur soil full of nutes ? do u smoke cigs ? and maybe touch ur seed with ur fingers unwashed?
lhow long was the tap root b4 u planted in soil?> where did u get your seeds ?
i wait till the tap root is about a 1/4 of inch long then i move her into the soil.. root down and dont bury the pod "the seed"
24 hour light or 18/6 up to ya.. or leave it warm n dark untill u see it starting to open up then give it light so it can start growing.
what kinda light are u using ?
I germinated them for 2-3 days, my soil has no nutes, I don't smoke cigs, and I did touch them with my fingers unwashed, but would that matter over the span of 3-4 seeds? I mean my hands were in different levels of clean with each seed. I got my seeds from The Attitude, which by the way I must say I was disappointed because I found 2 of the seeds crushed when they came in. I'm not burying it, I'm barely putting it under the soil, it's not too deep at all I'm positive. I'm using 3 CFL's, 18/6. I do leave those on when I put the seed in. Should I turn them off?
 

Apex3030

Member
hrm bad seeds? sounds like u did everything right.. 3cfls for 1 little seed? might be drying the root and pod out. what kinda cfls?
u should also maybe do alittle research on the strain and see what they like..
try again.. maybe get a seed starting kit. they always work. alot things can come into play.. maybe ur paper towles have something on them during the process of making them,and its being absorbed into the plant? are u using tap water>? have u tested ur water ?
sorry wish i could help some more..
where or what kind of soil? after when u think its dead or is.. what does the root look like and did it grow ne more once put into the soil?
maybe wait another day or soo for the root to get abit longer..
the soil should be loose. not packed into tight.. things u probably alrdy know. u just got to troubleshoot everything..
 
hrm bad seeds? sounds like u did everything right.. 3cfls for 1 little seed? might be drying the root and pod out. what kinda cfls?
u should also maybe do alittle research on the strain and see what they like..
try again.. maybe get a seed starting kit. they always work. alot things can come into play.. maybe ur paper towles have something on them during the process of making them,and its being absorbed into the plant? are u using tap water>? have u tested ur water ?
sorry wish i could help some more..
where or what kind of soil? after when u think its dead or is.. what does the root look like and did it grow ne more once put into the soil?
maybe wait another day or soo for the root to get abit longer..
the soil should be loose. not packed into tight.. things u probably alrdy know. u just got to troubleshoot everything..
The CFL's are 3x26W 6400K bulbs. I don't think it's a dryness problem, I put a dome over the pot on one of the seeds to hold moisture in, and still death. I haven't tested my water, although that could be the problem. My roommate uses our tap water, and his plant got pretty large. It's pretty confusing. These things just don't wanna grow.
 

aint got a scooby

Active Member
Im new to this but once you put them in the soil were did you put the pots? was it warm? were i kept my pots it was roughly 80f. I used the pre-soak method, planted them in well watered soil when the seeds cracked and put them under the cfls with no cover. They all sprouted, i did use ph adjusted tap water though that was sitting for 48hrs+. I dont think your tap water first time would do that though. someone correct me if im wrong.
 

Shmulster

Active Member
whats your growing medium (if soil what kind)? maybe its tough for the little girl to put roots in to it... and how do you keep your temps up?
 

aint got a scooby

Active Member
Forgot to mention i wrongly planted them in biobizz allmix which i found out later wasnt a good idea! But everything is good and they seem happy. I suppose it depends on the strain??
 

Apex3030

Member
The CFL's are 3x26W 6400K bulbs. I don't think it's a dryness problem, I put a dome over the pot on one of the seeds to hold moisture in, and still death. I haven't tested my water, although that could be the problem. My roommate uses our tap water, and his plant got pretty large. It's pretty confusing. These things just don't wanna grow.
dont close the dome on.. leave it a crack open so it can breath.. it will still collect moisture. use warm water and let it sit for 24hours with the lid off at room temp.. make a 4lt jug of it.. try this.. soak ur seed in water for 24hours first. in a cup fold ur paper towel and stuff it down to the bottom now wet it so the water is at level with the paper towel and place ur seed on top dont cover.. check every 4hours to make sure there is enough water.. wait till root is about 1/2 inch long then move her to your soil.. remember that moisture and warmth is still needed. try just 1 of the lights .. u dont need 3 of them just yet... what soil >? is it used soil from ur roommate? potting >? backyard ?
try flushing the soil.. 3/1 ratio i think.. 1littre of soil = 3littlres of water.. get rid of ne old nutes. best of luck to ya. probably just bad seeds or ur soil..
 
whats your growing medium (if soil what kind)? maybe its tough for the little girl to put roots in to it... and how do you keep your temps up?
My soil isn't the best, I remember thinking that when I bought it, but my roomy has had a good plant or two grow with his soil. He actually had one sprout today. My temps weren't maintained at all at first, which kept it really cold. I added a heating pad to the bottom of my pot which helped make it warm, like a good feeling warm, but still nothing. Even the seed that stayed warm 24/7 wouldn't grow.
 

Shmulster

Active Member
My soil isn't the best, I remember thinking that when I bought it, but my roomy has had a good plant or two grow with his soil. He actually had one sprout today. My temps weren't maintained at all at first, which kept it really cold. I added a heating pad to the bottom of my pot which helped make it warm, like a good feeling warm, but still nothing. Even the seed that stayed warm 24/7 wouldn't grow.
ok if youre using the same soil as your friend who had good results then it could be the cold temp killing the little guy before he gets a chance. i read that ph is not the most important thing at first although with its miracle grow you should know that that is not a good noob soil since it starts off very acidic (5.1ph if im not mistaken). I say now that you have a heating pad, water the soil LIGHTLY first, give half an hour (also should be half an hour under the heating mat) to sink in, and then take the germinated seeds (face up) and put them under a SPEC of dirt (and dont try to press down the soil or anything). Now, wait for 4-5 days before you do anything but spray the soil with a bit of ph6.5 water when its mostly dry.
This basicly worked for me (when instead of heating pad i just used my lights to warm the soil).
Good luck man and dont give up
 

hillbillybobb

Active Member
it sounds like your doing just about everything right. what strain did you get and what seed company? i gotta tell ya that i think the paper towel method is unnecessary to germinate seeds. dont take that the wrong way as i mean no disrespect to you personally, but i think that things should be a lot less complicated and diffucult when it comes to seed starting. like i said it doesnt sound like your fault but maybe try some jiffy peat pots or rapid rooters. rapid rooters r my favorite. i have had almost a 100% germ rate using rapid rooters and all i do is soak the plug down, drop the seed in, and put in a dark place until they pop. ive noticed seeds in RR pop way faster than any other way i have tried. just had a kandy kush seed pop up above ground in under 36 hours. maybe try it out and if no luck id say its the beans
 

brownbearclan

Active Member
I'm thinking it's the soil you're popping them into is too rich or the PH is too off. What I would do is after they have sprouted put them into a peat pellet, rockwool cube or rooter plug to get them going before they hit the dirt. OR just start them in one of those mediums to begin with. Whatever you do, try something different. =)

Never use a paper towel, always strait into your growing medium.
Papers towels are for TESTING the germabilty of old seed stock.
I would disagree with that, I always use wet paper towels in a sealed baggy with an air bubble in a warm spot to germ then I very gently put the sprouts into peat pellets. Works every single time.
 
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