The Future Of Seed Germination is Here! - Page 2

Diamond Dave · 07-28-2009, 12:09 PM

There are obviously many different techniques with many different modifications to each. Everyone of course needs to pick which one they think is best or works best for them.

I have tried the straight to soil method and had mixed results. As I did with several other methods. This method works best for me.

In the last go around I just let the seeds that popped within 12 hours soak. I was curious what would happen. I checked every 12 hours. At hour 48 two of the three taproots had completely separated from the seed. I planted them in Jiffy's. Next day they were already poking through the soil.

So in three 3 days I had sprouts. I have never been able to do that with the paper towel or direct to soil method.

DD

Sso · 07-28-2009, 08:49 PM

°whats best depends on the situation.

is it humid or not too dry, not too hot?

straight to soil.

if its a bit dry, you will have to keep that pot wet. and if its a bit dry, that can be alot of work or you will lose seeds.

the towel method is a bit better for dry and hot.

plus you can check the seeds to see if they are duds or done.

if its very dry and hot, put the towel (paper usually best) in a baggie or whatnot.

but neither paper towel method or soil or any other are 100% or even close.

too wet towel or soil ? seeds rot.

too dry , seeds die.

plus.

all seeds are not equal. a perfectly good looking seed can be a dud.

lately i just plonk em straight to soil. im always home so i can keep em moist.

moist but not wet, thats one of the keys.

temperature of 20-28c 24-25 is fine.

you can use a extra heatsource (old pc monitor f.e)

but then you will have to watch the moisturelevel more closely.

but you will never ever get 100% seed rates, not in the long run.

you can put a slight layer of sand on top of the soil, that keeps the moisture in there.

toshiba · 07-29-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countyspud

I respectfully disagree with natures method. Natures method produces germ rates fare smaller than human intervened methods. In nature how many randomly dropped seeds actually germinate? Not many.

What we as growers should aspire to IMHO, is to produce the optimum conditions to achieve as close to the impossible 100% germ rate as you can.
Sure in nature, one can plant a seed outdoors, come back 3-4 months later and harvest some buds (sometimes) but what I want are buds with the highest possible yield and the maximum amount of potency so I try to reproduce what are generally considered to be the optimum conditions to achieve that with respect to temperature, humidity, light duration, PH, nute concentration, etc, etc.

Please stop passing off the fallacy of "well just let nature take it's course" because you are not helping newbies especially, by misleading them in such a way. If pure nature was the best way to germ seeds and grow them to harvest then we really wouldn't need grow forums at all would we?

I have found over the course of about 5 years of germinating many many seeds for the test purpose of germinating seed only, "natures method" works perfectly fine. when I say natures method yes we are modifying it as nature would drop seeds on the surface and the plant would die falling on top of the seeds covering them, and yes I'm usign a heat mat and so forth....

this is why natures method works better, simplicity is best, well, simple. popping a seed in "soil" is cutting out many steps from other methods. I have gotten better rates starting in soil then any other method, so I don't understand why humans made so many other methods when the simplest method works the best as there are better germ rates and it is less time consuming ..

yes, there really should be no need for a germination forum as it can be summed up in a couple sentences how to start a seed, or if people want other options to write them up and lock this forum, seed starting is the easiest of steps of growing a plant..

I'm not sure how you say I'm not helping newbies, I was giving them my knowledge what has worked the best for me over many years, some things are just simple..

CaractacusPotts · 07-29-2009, 11:12 AM

I don't grow in dirt and don't care too, at least not indoors any longer. So thanks for the method. I am going to try it and and use a piece of cardboard between the heat plate and the glass. I germ at 85 - 95F when I germinate. Less than 85F is certainly NOT a hoyle number in my book, especially with sativas or sativa dominant hybrids. Most successfull germs I have had, even with indicas, is 88F, right where I keep my water bed which is where I have been germing my seeds 20 yrs.

toshiba · 07-29-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

There are obviously many different techniques with many different modifications to each. Everyone of course needs to pick which one they think is best or works best for them.

I have tried the straight to soil method and had mixed results. As I did with several other methods. This method works best for me.

In the last go around I just let the seeds that popped within 12 hours soak. I was curious what would happen. I checked every 12 hours. At hour 48 two of the three taproots had completely separated from the seed. I planted them in Jiffy's. Next day they were already poking through the soil.

So in three 3 days I had sprouts. I have never been able to do that with the paper towel or direct to soil method.

DD

diamond, keep doing what your doing if it works for you, and thank you for a detailed write up

just keep in mind when talking about germ times / rates is many things :

-moon phase
-water PH / temp
-humidity
-add ins? seaweed / LK / B-1 / compost tea / worm castings /
-temp of soil
-date of seeds
-storage of seeds ( air / light / temps )
.. ....

I have have seeds sprout in 12 hours, and have had seeds sprout in one week, and everything in between.

Diamond Dave · 07-29-2009, 05:09 PM

I know the heat (101.3) is not causing any issues with the seeds popping. I am curious however if the heat could be stressing them out early and causing them to go male or hermie?

Of the 50+ seeds I have "tested" most I just tossed after they showed a tap root. I did however grow out 3 bagseed plants and 4 "feminized" SSH from cs.com. Out of all of those I am left with just 1 bagseed that is blooming. All the rest were male.

Knowing the poor genetics from cs.com I don't hold this as much of a test. And I did get 1 out 3 from the bagseed. Had it been one more seed the other direction I would be pretty happy.

Just curious if the heat during germination could have made this happen.

DD

toshiba · 07-31-2009, 02:02 PM

^ yes stress turns a plant male. I have no clue on your setup, temp / pot size / humidity / lighting / lighting color / water quality / soil ........

fem SSH ? a rip-off of shanti's work ?

stick with seed boutique , try out chimera or SOL or DJ for some top notch genetics

Diamond Dave · 08-25-2009, 04:24 PM

One footnote to using this method. Do not put the seeds directly into 101 degree water. You will "kill" them.

I popped a batch of seeds the other night in under 24 hours like normal. I had another set of seeds I wanted to sprout so I used the same water from the last batch. Not one seed from the four I put in there popped.

It seems the 101 degree temp is not an issue as long as there is a gradual rise in temperature based on my previous successes. So make sure you put the seeds in room temperature water and then turn on the USB coffee warmer.

DD

kontroversy · 08-28-2009, 08:44 PM

I am looking forward to seeing your m/f ratio after this as I will be germinating for the first time after this harvest. I am also wondering if an easy way to dial in temps would be to add layers of foil to the plate until you get to around 80F?

Lastly, if you have 80ish degree ambiant temps and you get your cup to room temp if thats all you need? I have never seen this...."drowning" method before, thanks for any input

bagabones73 · 09-13-2009, 02:33 PM

i just put my seeds in RW starter cubes (after ph soaking) - keep the RW moist and on heat mat with thermostat

i keep a thermometer in RW to guage temps since the heat mat thermastat isnt accurate and its been a no brainer

no nutes no presoaking seeds - just water the RW and keep warm

honestly - this was and still is the easiest part of the plant life in my experience

maybe ive been lucky but i dont like the idea of all the extra steps taken when i can just leave them alone and they do what they do

im guessing but i would say i get 8 or 9 out of ten to germ no problem

only thing negative i can say is the heat mats break on me every so often

seems liek someone could make a better quality one

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