Are my seeds to old?

[Weedgrodamus]

I planted 5 seeds from Bergman's lab on the 20th (plugs GWE option #1 in a germinator) I checked them after 1 week and not even a taproot.
I put another 5 seeds in a glass of water yesterday (GWE option #4) the seeds are still floating!
The beginners guide says they should sink after a few hours.
Are my seeds bad or old? I have 10 more seeds left, is there any other test I can do?
I need any suggestions, I'm pissed that I will be weedless for extra weeks because of Bergman.

[Gordo41]

I planted 5 seeds from Bergman's lab on the 20th (plugs GWE option #1 in a germinator) I checked them after 1 week and not even a taproot.
I put another 5 seeds in a glass of water yesterday (GWE option #4) the seeds are still floating!
The beginners guide says they should sink after a few hours.
Are my seeds bad or old? I have 10 more seeds left, is there any other test I can do?
I need any suggestions, I'm pissed that I will be weedless for extra weeks because of Bergman.

try gently shaking the water in the glass and see if the seeds sink.
they should go to the bottom.
I do mine in a glass for 24 hrs then into grow plugs in coco. Never had a seed not germ.
How long have you had the seeds and how were they stored?

[Royal Nugs]

Yeah, sometimes you have to push them down a bit and they will go down. You may have bum seeds too.

I too use plugs, they work great for me. I like to rinse them and squeeze a few times in distilled water. I then squeeze most of the water out and pop the seed in 1/4-1/2" deep. Then tweeze off a corner of the plug and cover the whole. I then put them in a planter tray uncovered, in the dark with temps at 75-80 and humidity at 30-60%. Gotta keep it moist but not wet. Let the plug dry out a bit and spray with distilled water.

They usually pop in 2 days, 3 max.

[Weedgrodamus]

try gently shaking the water in the glass and see if the seeds sink.
they should go to the bottom.
I do mine in a glass for 24 hrs then into grow plugs in coco. Never had a seed not germ.
How long have you had the seeds and how were they stored?

It worked, they sank. I planted them the hour they arrived.
I will give it a few more days. :/

[steve]

Plant in soil "side-ways" this insures germination rate of 98%

[Weedgrodamus]

Plant in soil "side-ways" this insures germination rate of 98%

I thought it should be root first? Is that incorrect?

[VietVet72]

Root first if the tap root is showing, if no tap root, I've read sideways, I've read doesn't matter how it's dropped in, and I've read pointed end down.
For my first grow I used various germination techniques to see which was best. Dropping into soil, lightly covered, and kept moist. Took 5 days to pop up. The other way I did that worked faster was to place the seeds in water overnight, then in the morning placed in-between two paper towels folded up on a plate, then spray until towels wet but not dripping water, place another plate on top. Then into a cupboard for two days. I then use tweezers to gently place into root starter cube that's been soaked. I make sure the hard shell is showing on the top of the soil, cover with cling wrap. I did a lot of seeds successfully that way. Sorry for such a long blah blah blah. But that's what worked for me and I'm known for killing already dead plants.

[Weedgrodamus]

Root first if the tap root is showing, if no tap root, I've read sideways, I've read doesn't matter how it's dropped in, and I've read pointed end down.
For my first grow I used various germination techniques to see which was best. Dropping into soil, lightly covered, and kept moist. Took 5 days to pop up. The other way I did that worked faster was to place the seeds in water overnight, then in the morning placed in-between two paper towels folded up on a plate, then spray until towels wet but not dripping water, place another plate on top. Then into a cupboard for two days. I then use tweezers to gently place into root starter cube that's been soaked. I make sure the hard shell is showing on the top of the soil, cover with cling wrap. I did a lot of seeds successfully that way. Sorry for such a long blah blah blah. But that's what worked for me and I'm known for killing already dead plants.

Thanks for lengthy explanation, it was very clear, I greatly appreciate it.

[steve]

when you plant it side-ways one doesn't plant it up-side down as per conventiontal method - round side up - pointed side down - some time a tap root will not find it's way

[insomniaczzz]

We used 9 month old bag seeds. I paid no attention to what direction seed was pointed when planted. Didn't soak first, but used one of those germination kits with a dome. No heat mat. 21 seeds, they all sprouted within two days of each other, about day 4 or 5 I think. Ended up with 8 girls, 3 of which hermied on me. At first I was disappointed at the ratio, but ended up being glad I only had 5 plants to take care of.

[NebulaHaze]

I second the paper towel technique if you've tried other ways and it hasn't gone well for you. I feel like different methods work better for different environments, but most people have good luck with this!

Here's a quick cheat sheet for the paper towel germination method if you're interested, I do it very similarly to VietVet72!

My only other advice is to try to keep the seedlings in a warm place if possible, as they'll germinate a lot faster if it's warm

[Gordo41]

In the past i have used this method, and it works well to get the tap root showing,, that being said, i stopped using it after breaking some roots off while transferencing into grow cubes. Now i just soak them over night and put them into the grow cubes right away. They alway germinate and grow.

[Royal Nugs]

I know the paper towel method works but I've heard the root's little hairs grow into the towel and when you remove the seedling it rips those little hairs right off. I've never used the paper towel method but I feel there are better germination techniques.

I dont like how you have to handle the taproot too. I'd probably break it and try to sew it back together with my tears.

[Gordo41]

Ive had this happen on many occasions. And one of the reasons i stopped using PT.
the soaking over night and into a cube the next day or two has never let me down. No tears.

[Grower-Aaron]

Yup. I've really hurt some babies cause of the paper towel method. Rooter cubes are the best and you don't have to handle the exposed roots

[Weedgrodamus]

I'm going to start 5 new seeds this way right now, thanks!

And if my seeds stick to the paper I will razor slice the seed and paper out and let it all get planted.

[NebulaHaze]

There are tons of ways to germinate and you should definitely stick to what works best for you, but I stand by the paper towel method as one of the fastest ways to get germinated. You often have cotyledons just 3-4 days from putting the seed in the paper towel.

If anyone else is interested in using the paper towel method, I've learned if you want to transfer a sprouted seedling to a grow plug, it makes a huge difference to split the plug open on one side, from top to bottom. That way you can sort of spread it open and get access to the whole hole for the seed.

Then I gently place the seedling with root down exactly where it needs to be and gently close the rapid rooter up. I put the shell right below the surface. The plug will hold its shape like you didn't do anything and you can put it where you want.

I like this way because you don't need to "push" down on the seed and it's root. You just gently place it and I've found you almost always see leaves above ground by the next day

If you're having trouble actually extracting the seeds from the paper towel it can help to check on them often enough to move them just after they've cracked and you can see the root. If you let the root weave into the paper towel it can be a little harder to remove them. You could definitely cut out the paper towel and plant that too if the seed is stuck

But like I said, there are tons of great germination methods and there definitely isn't a "best" one

This is how I install the seed into a Rapid Rooter when when I germinate with the paper towel method:



Now gently extract the seed from its original home with a pair of tweezers making sure to touch only the shell and not the root (the root is the most sensitive part)! Now lay the seedling in the middle of your newly split open Rapid Rooter and gently close the plug around it again.



Most seedling plugs will go back into place easily, and you'll barely be able to tell it's been opened You can wait for the seedling to appear, or install the plug directly into its final destination.



You'll usually see leaves in 12-24 hours at this point since the seed is already sprouted and perfectly positioned

[Gordo41]

There are tons of ways to germinate and you should definitely stick to what works best for you, but I stand by the paper towel method as one of the fastest ways to get germinated. You often have cotyledons just 3-4 days from putting the seed in the paper towel.

If anyone else is interested in using the paper towel method, I've learned if you want to transfer a sprouted seedling to a grow plug, it makes a huge difference to split the plug open on one side, from top to bottom. That way you can sort of spread it open and get access to the whole hole for the seed.

Then I gently place the seedling with root down exactly where it needs to be and gently close the rapid rooter up. I put the shell right below the surface. The plug will hold its shape like you didn't do anything and you can put it where you want.

I like this way because you don't need to "push" down on the seed and it's root. You just gently place it and I've found you almost always see leaves above ground by the next day

If you're having trouble actually extracting the seeds from the paper towel it can help to check on them often enough to move them just after they've cracked and you can see the root. If you let the root weave into the paper towel it can be a little harder to remove them. You could definitely cut out the paper towel and plant that too if the seed is stuck

But like I said, there are tons of great germination methods and there definitely isn't a "best" one

well said and i do like the idea of splitting the rapid rooter down the side. I do that with clones also.

[steve]

Great White is a very good root stimmulator and excellent helping seedling grow spider roots. Also a 24 pre-soak before planting in soil help germination rates Any good root stimmulator with "Mychroohiza" in it; which is a fungi that promotes root development

[Grower-Aaron]

Another good one is rapid rooter. They really make em branch out and grow aggressively

[Grower-Aaron]

Rapid start lol my bad-*