Germinating Seeds and Hocus Pocus

[Mañ'O'Green]

Seeds are really magical aren't they? People do all manner of hocus pocus to germinate their seeds and when they do germinate it is proof that their method is the best LMAO. No matter where they are if the correct environmental conditions are met seeds will germinate. The four considerations are: Light, moisture, temperature and time. Cannabis seeds do not need light to germinate so in this case we want dark, moisture should be damp - not soggy, temperature 75°F, Time. KISS = keep it simple silly.

Sorry Nebula my personal experience does not coincide with some of the methods you sanction. Of all of the methods for germinating seeds I have personally used ( and there are a lot of them) or read on the internet this one follows most closely the ideology I have developed over the past 40 years from my Organic Gardening adventures: Mandela Seed Germination Instructions.

I have never done it but I guess I should check the PH of the Bio Dome Starter Sponges I use since they seem to think there is a problem with Rapid Rooters?

[Royal Nugs]

I love rapid rooters. I just soak them in distilled water and squeeze out most of the water. Pop in the seed about 1/4 of the way into the plug. Keep it warm and moist and in two days you should have a sprout.

[Weed Pharma]

Hmmm- while it's true they do not need light- it is also a factor, IF the seeds sprout in the dark they will stretch, if you do not get them into light right away.
For that reason alone, I get them into light before they sprout, as I may be asleep or not able to tend to them in a timely manor.

I too, follow the Mandela instructions, yet modify the direct soil method by placing the seed in soil- in a germ fabric bag, then may or NOT be place directly in the final pot- depending on strain etc..
I get 3 day sprouting (1" seedling on day #3) with cannabis and find the germination bag retains the moisture needed for sprouting and initial seedlings.

[Mañ'O'Green]

I don't know about you but I am constantly checking for a sprout. They are not going to be in the dark long enough to get leggy.

[SiriusFourside]

Mañ'O'Green The phrase "experience does not coincide with..." doesn't equate to "does not work". I've tried every method on our germination page to successfully germinate cannabis seeds dozens of times by now. Do you have experience that says they don't work, or is it that your "method is the best LMAO"?

Edit: That last sentence reads super snarky when I was going for 'funny guy points out irony'. Absolutely zero disrespect was intended, my bad!

[SiriusFourside]

Hey, you have no reason to be sorry! I genuinely wanted to know which methods you didn't approve of and I asked in a freakin' terrible way. I was going to rewrite it once I read over my post but I was sure I was going to make it even worse. I sincerely apologize for that, good sir.

I agree with your problem with #5. I've never had a problem getting the seedlings out of the paper towel, but getting them into where they need to go can be an absolute terror. Honestly, that's the biggest problem we've had with paper towels. Seeds pop just about every time, it's moving them that ends up being dangerous.

Recently, we've started cutting the Rapid Rooter in half while leaving the other half attached (like a hot dog bun) and placing the seedling in like a hot dog and that's been working great!

That being said, a failed seedling has never hit me financially so I'd be willing to bet you've put a lot more effort into keeping germination rates at their maximum. How much more success have you had using Mandalas method? If you're getting better success rates with this method, we should cover it on the website (with credit and links to Mandala, of course).

Also, I'm not sure why that thing is showing up in your posts, but I'm looking into it now!

[Mañ'O'Green]

PS.PS. I found that my signature was pointing to a picture that is no longer available and fixed it. Thanks.

[Mañ'O'Green]

No Worries Sirius.

[Chemichael]

I read through them all as well. I finally went with this method- 2 wet sponges in a sandwich plastic tupperware- sealed- and in a warm bath- ie: a small aquarium heater in a 1-2 gallon bowl will work. The tupperware floats- the inside temp stays warm and moist from the sponge- the air pockets between the sponge helps greatly I am betting- so far- not a single seed hasnt cracked within 24 hours using this method. If you have the fish tanks- you have the gear to easily pull this off.

[Mañ'O'Green]

Ok let's get right to the point of what I believe (no scientific proof other than personal observation) anything that damages or retards the growth of the tap root, especially in the first weeks of life,will negatively affect a plant's vigor and final yield.

This is the premise for why I choose one method of germination over another. Also why I choose to start a seed right in the container it will spend it's entire life in.

In soil, in the pot it will spend it's entire life in, poke a hole .5 inch deep, place a seed point down cover loosely and water.

In top fed DWC, I use a Bio-Dome sponge supported by the expanded PH balanced clay pebbles, in the net pot, in the reservoir where it will grow it's entire life. Put the seed in the sponge point down .5" deep, tear a tiny piece of sponge off the edge with tweezers and loosely cover the hole. Arrange your top feed close enough to the sponge to keep it moist but not soggy. There is something that feels right about that top feed gently bathing that all important tap root as it grows right down into the reservoir.

Why am I such a fanatic about transplanting? Well I am not if it is perfectly timed and completed so it does not damage the tap root. The problem arises when you miss that timing and the tap root gets tangled and retarded and damaged when moved out of the container. Even most of the pots designed to be planted with the seedling retard the tap root by air pruning without you ever noticing. I have torn a lot of those pots off my seedlings to observe the roots and concluded they didn't work as I had hoped.

I have never grown in COCO so I do not have an opinion.

I was going to test the Bio-Dome Sponge's PH but for the life of me I cannot find them. They are around here somewhere. Mandala says that there is a problem with the PH of Rapid Rooters but I have not heard of negative results with them except on Mandala's website. I have never used them.

Drowning seeds in a glass of water Why? Both methods above will germinate any viable seed.

Now to the paper towel method. If you look under magnification (I have) at a tap root you will see hundreds of tiny root hairs that will become roots if given the chance. When you germinate in a paper towel those little tiny root hairs grow right into the fibers of that towel and when you open the towel zip you just gave one side of that root a wax job. Now when you pick it up zip you just waxed the other side. you may have destroyed 30% or more of your potential early root growth. Then of course there is the coup de grâce damage done to the tip of the tap root as you try to get it into your growing medium.

If there is anything an Organic farmer will learn it is that failure is inevitable; I have failed countless times but each time I learned something. I hope my past failures will help you be a more successful farmer.

[Weed Pharma]

This comes to mind!
"The master has failed more times than the beginner has ever tried." ... Bruce Lee

[Green75]

I agree 100%....no need for all the extra bullshit just plant them and water them and let them grow....

[Green75]

using paper towels....lmfao

no disrespect intended