Impact of citric acid on germination

[Tedmarx38]

Esteemed Members:

After five years and over a dozen successful grows (courtesy of your collective brilliant guidance), I still suck at seed germination. Like, really suck as in 25% of my seeds germinate.

Pls trust me that I’ve tried every method imaginable, at least six suppliers and an array of strains, various techniques, temperatures, etc so I won’t labor over a detailed list of what I’ve done.

I’ve been unable to isolate the problem so here we go again. My water supply pH is over 9.0 most days. I use pure citric acid powder (100% food grade) to lower it, and I measure with an Apera meter.

Could the problem be the citric acid itself?

 

[Fenderbender]

Pick up a bottle of real spring water. don't ph anything.
Works for me.
I avoid my tap, thriving plants it creates not.

 

[Roy Growin]

I would imagine it might cause a problem because it isn't very stable once diluted
I don't PH water to germinate, just plain distilled water

 

[Tedmarx38]

I would imagine it might cause a problem because it isn't very stable once diluted
I don't PH water to germinate, just plain distilled water

I’ll try distilled water again. For lowering pH in the later stages is citric acid is very stable. Is there something else you might recommend, is there a difference in stability between the powdered form and liquid?

 

[Roy Growin]

I’ll try distilled water again. For lowering pH in the later stages is citric acid is very stable. Is there something else you might recommend, is there a difference in stability between the powdered form and liquid?

The most simple solution is a few drops of liquid Phosphoric Acid aka PH Down
Very stable and doesn't burn your kitchen top lol
What medium are you planning on using?

 

[Fenderbender]

Why the ph-ing though? seeds can easily germinate in 5 to 8ph, so yeah in the case of 9 I get it.
But if you can pick up water that's a bit more neutral no need?
I personally prefer spring over distilled cause there's already something in there. calcium magnesium potassium, in fact last time I cracked my seeds in murky water as I added rhizotonic which has some N and lots of B vitamins and lots of other microbials, supposed to soften the outer layer as well and great white mycorhizza & trichoderma, cause I thought if it's good for the roots, let's get it on the taproot straight away, and those plants came swinging right outta the gate.

Do you crack them in paper, plastic bag or glass?

And maybe mostly check your mind.. "don't bring worries into the grow room " said by some Turban grow guru with the longest dreads and a staff but I forgot the name.
But I feel there's a lot of truth there, if you worry about the seedling process chances are higher you'll fuck it up.
These days I just do shit without fear trusting it will work, and well it seems to be working
I chuck some seeds in a glass put some crap with it wait it bit tada.. then when they're planted and come up above the soil they instantly get the big fan half an hour a day until they stop flailing about, they get generous light, I mean these things originally come from the outside, I'm sure they're used to worse.

But yeah mainly check if it's your water, mine was causing me troubles as well. In the germination department and in the giving water to the plants department.