Soaking for germination

[Lew]

Also , after soaking a seed in water for 12hrs , should it float or sink and does it really matter?
Maybe after a 12hr soak it does absorb some moisture and it sinks naturally? Thanks again

 

[Rwise]

12 hours may not be enuf for all seed, depends on how dry they are inside. After being in water for a few hours I tap the seeds to try to make them sink, when they sink they are ready, but it may be 48 hours.

 

[bboyfromwayback]

I agree with Rwise, it depends on the seed. Keep an eye on them, some seeds will split open overnight while others may take a day or two. I started using the tiny water bottles, I think they’re 8oz maybe. Bought a case and just reuse them. One seed per bottle 1/4 full. Pour it right into my medium, no contact at all

 

[AccidentalGardener]

I soak till they sink, usually 12+ hours. If they still floating in the morning, I give the jar a tap, and they usually sink then.
Use old weed jars with lids. Works like a charm.

 

[quirk]

Imbibition or the uptake of water through a permeable membrane (seed coat) is the first stage of germination. As you see above, different methods are reported with great success. Know this, soaking comes with perils, less soaking time decreases those. No soaking time eliminates them. If I cannot help a grower, I will not hinder them.

 

[AccidentalGardener]

yep only want to soak them until they are waterlogged, not really cracked open. That's too long. Already drowning.

 

[Farmbuck]

I usually leave it from 14-18 hrs but no more in the glass, most will sink but sometime some will float. I gently tap on the floating ones and 99% of the time they will sink at the bottom of the glass. I just finish 3 days ago with 24 beans and only 2 were floating. I did the "tap" and the 2 sank.

 

[Floopydoop]

I use the tried and true from the dark ages. Damp paper towel in a ziploc baggie in a dark spot. Couple days is usually all it takes to get a root. Good Luck!

 

[gbauto]

My usual routine is soaking the beans in a shot glass overnight.
Then they are dumped onto a paper towel(seeds and water from the shot glass) and that is placed in a sealed Tupperware bowl.
I will normally get the beans to sprout in a few days and then into a rapid rooter.

 

[D.A.A.S.69]

It doesn't matter if they sink or float ,they will do one or the other, if the seed is good,
way I do mine is drop them in a cup of water, for 18-24hours, to so call wake them up, some by that time already have split open a little, some have not split by that time.
But they go directly into their pots anyway, an in a couple of 2-3days ,they come up.

 

[Xena]

That’s how I did mine this time. Dropped in shot glass just after midnight Monday morning and then right into final pots Monday night and kept damp and one was up last night and the other up today.

 

[D.A.A.S.69]

Yeah, no stress that way Xena, they might not grow as fast that way, in their final pots,,,then if in Dixie cups, but they still get on with the program, if not overwatered..
GoodLuck
HappyGrowing