friction2k

its been about 10-11days since i started to germ my skunk #1 seeds. 2 of the 5 popped, 3 are still in a towel on a heating pad. i've read that if a seed dosen't germ in 2 weeks, its most likely dud but i know theres something brewing in these seeds. i gave them the water cup test and they do sink so there must be an embryo.

also i've read grow journals about skunk seeds taking forever to pop, could this be because of the sativa genetics?
how much longer should i wait before i trash my seeds(which i would hate to do)?
is there any way to help the tap root move out by cracking the shell?

thanks guys, happy growing.

Gr0wer

OK so first of all I know a lot of people use the towel method but that actually isn't the best way. I always put seeds in a small cup filled with good soil mist them from time to time and wait for them to come out on their own. It was also in a article from Soft Secrets that the paper towel method is actually worse then just put them In a cup (most of the ppl use this method so they don't need to wast any soil on bad seeds.

Also the seeds have three different ways of pre-germ stages (because they have to spend the winter in the nature). That is way some seeds need to go trough a cold period before they are able to pop. If seeds look healthy then they should pop(90%), if not then you are probably doing something wrong,

If stage of pre-germ is finished then seeds take a week or so to germ max.

And as I know there is little difference between strains in the germination phase...

This is my


Gr0

__________________

bluebloodletter

For sure, some strains will have tougher shells and may require skuffing for them to break open. Thicker shells, larger/smaller seeds(more or less starting resources), there are a ton of genetic variables. There are a lot of variables in breeding and one can only keep track of so many of them.
The sink/float theory though, is false. It only means that the shell is open somewhere as to allow water in. It may or may not be because of an embryo.
You should be able to get eight or nine out of ten, if your not, I would rethink my method. As long as its warm(not hot, those shells are like little ovens, so not directly on the heating pad), and damp, you shouldn't have too many problems.


Skuffing::
Get a little box, and put a little piece of sandpaper on the bottom, then put your seeds in there and slide them around for a minute, it should weaken the outer shell just enough to improve those germ rates.

johnny-0

I disagree with GrOwer-The paper towell method has worked for me everytime.Bagseed or the best genetics you can buy.pop-pop-pop!

friction2k

appreciate the input guys--

in the past, towel method has worked great for me with about a 90% germ rate.
these skunk#1 seeds i picked out of my breeder pack were pretty small, they all were kinda small. 2 of them did pop, so obviously i do got something working. I'd just hate to call it quits on these last 3 since i would hate to lose the potential genetics and it would save me some seeds.

going on day 11, they're on a heating pad stacked on CD cases to make it warm, and not hot(heating pads can get toasty). I'll give them another week before i throw the towel in.

patience is a virtue

toshiba

the sink test is nothing to go by, that means nothing

if you want, you can take tweezers and crack them open a little, its nerve racking becuase you can squish them and the fact that its not human nature for the seed to have that, but i have and others have had success with this, when u crack it then see inside to see if theres any white going on,


seeds have so many variables to them its hard to get to specifics, if they pop they pop, and if not could be becuase of many things..... sounds to me you just got bad luck

good luck