Welcome To My New Journal - OMMSOG

[Closet Farmer]

Hey there Buddy! I have been having an issue lately with getting my seeds to germinate. I think I have some old seeds or ?

I use the plate method. I wet some paper towels and place the seeds between the plates. I like to place the plate on top of a semi warm surface. The plates do not allow any light in. The seeds that do crack do within 24 to 48 hours. Then I have some seeds that just sit there in the same environment that was successful for the other seeds. Effffers!!! They just sit there like mice turds!

How long to you give a seed to germinate before you give up?

 

[OldMedMan]

Nice dude ,this morning i was thinking of lighting one up ! but since i quit smoking ciggies i thought lets stop all !

But Damn i miss being waisted doing jack all day and watch a good movie .

Nowadays i'm just being a pain bumping in all of the threads that are going on here

OH! Man! Stopping Ciggies Yes, but mmj...never! I just watched a TV show loaded....best way to watch it!

Well, being a pain sounds good too!

 

[OldMedMan]

Hey there Buddy! I have been having an issue lately with getting my seeds to germinate. I think I have some old seeds or ?

I use the plate method. I wet some paper towels and place the seeds between the plates. I like to place the plate on top of a semi warm surface. The plates do not allow any light in. The seeds that do crack do within 24 to 48 hours. Then I have some seeds that just sit there in the same environment that was successful for the other seeds. Effffers!!! They just sit there like mice turds!

How long to you give a seed to germinate before you give up?

Hi CF! That's the way I did it too and stared to have trouble just like you have.
My solution came from Xlr8. Here is what he posted in his journal:

How I germinate seeds:

I really like Rapid Rooter plugs. I've been germinating seeds in them since I started growing, and now use them for cloning, too. They're great as they can be used to germinate for soil or hydro, and easy to use. They contain important micronutrients and beneficial organisms to stimulate rapid root development. They have a really nice balance between moisture retention and airiness.

Here's my process:

I soak seeds for a few hours in a glass of RO water. The Rapid Rooter is soaked overnight in a glass of RO water.

Making sure my hands are clean and sterile, I shake the excess moisture out of the rapid rooter, or give it a gentle squeeze. Basically, you want them to be "moist" but not soaked/saturated.

I take a sterile tweezers, squeeze it together, and I stick it into the hole of the rapid rooter while I gently twist it around some. I've had better luck if I deepen the hole slightly, and loosen it up a little inside the rooter plug. You could also use a pen, etc. Basically, just loosen it up and make it about a 1/4" deeper than they come from the factory.

I use a clean pen cap as a tool to scoop the seed from the cup of water, and place it into the rooter. I used to do the "paper towel" method of "pre-germinating" seeds, but it is better to plant them directly in the rapid rooter (or whatever medium you use). You will have better success, and quicker development if you skip the whole paper towel thing, in my experience. When putting it into the rooter plug, I put it in pointy end up (hinged end down). Positioning it this way will allow the taproot to make the turn it needs to, and will put the seed in a better position to succeed and remove it's "helmet".

I place the seed about half way down into the rooter (again pointy end up) and then I tear a small piece of rooter plug to cover the hole on the rooter. It should not be "jammed" in there, but placed in somewhat loosely. The hole should be fully covered to not allow light in.

I place the plug in a humidity dome, under t5's. I don't use a seedling heat mat (only for clones and not directly under). I mist the dome periodically, but high RH isn't needed to germ seeds. The rooters shoudn't be allowed to fully dry, and should be moistened periodically with plain RO water.
Pre-soak seeds in glass for a few hours
Pre-soak rooter plug 12-24 hours (probably doesn't need to be that long)
Use RO water from store - do not PH balance it
Shake/squeeze out excess moisture in the rooter
Use a tweezers or pen to loosen up the hole, and make it slightly deeper.
Position seed in the rooter plug, pointy end up
Cover the hole on the rapid rooter plug by tearing a small piece of the plug, and loosely covering the hole.
Place rapid rooter, with seed in it, inside humidity dome, under flourescent lights (I use T5's).
Rooter plugs should be moistened with plain RO water periodically, but only moistened
Heat mat is not needed - and it can dry the rooter plug too fast. Humidity only needs to be around 50%. I just mist the humidity dome periodically.
No nutrients are needed with seedlings until the 3rd set of true leaves.
I transplant when roots are showing through the bottom and sides of rooter plugs

I've had 100% success over the last year or so this way. There are lots of ways to do it successfully, this is just mine. X

 

[Closet Farmer]

Its funny! I have went several years without a seed problem until now. The seeds I am having issues with are old.

I have heard a lot about rapid rooter plugs and I have never used them. I like the idea. I will give it a try next go around! Right now, I have all the plants needed to start my next grow. I did loose 3 seeds out of 7. Ouch!

 

[Xlr8]

Closet Farmer -

I haven't tried this, but I've heard that with old seeds there is a little trick you can try: take a little matchbox and line it with sandpaper inside. Put older seeds in the matchbox, and gently shake it around for a bit. This supposedly scuffs up the casing on older seeds allowing them to germinate better... Pre-soaking in a glass of water should help, too. Good luck!!

OMM - I'm so glad if you've found my seed germination method helpful! It's worked great for me so far.

 

[OldMedMan]

Closet Farmer -

I haven't tried this, but I've heard that with old seeds there is a little trick you can try: take a little matchbox and line it with sandpaper inside. Put older seeds in the matchbox, and gently shake it around for a bit. This supposedly scuffs up the casing on older seeds allowing them to germinate better... Pre-soaking in a glass of water should help, too. Good luck!!

OMM - I'm so glad if you've found my seed germination method helpful! It's worked great for me so far.

X The first time I read your way, I made a copy for my own reference and for others. Most detailed and specific expiation I have had the pleasure to read. When I ready my seeds for my SOG, it's definitely going to be your way. Thank You, My Friend!

 

[fish cake]

hey omm.doing well I hope! so do you or closet farmer or xl8 think that if a seed hasnt germed yet that you can dry it and then use the matchbox method and try again or is it toast? I use peat pods to germ my seeds and I got a free one called caramello that I very much want to grow. I put 1 ak48 and 1 caramello in the peat pods and so far the ak has poped but the other has not. just askin.dont mean to use your thread as a faq

 

[Closet Farmer]

hey omm.doing well I hope! so do you or closet farmer or xl8 think that if a seed hasnt germed yet that you can dry it and then use the matchbox method and try again or is it toast? I use peat pods to germ my seeds and I got a free one called caramello that I very much want to grow. I put 1 ak48 and 1 caramello in the peat pods and so far the ak has poped but the other has not. just askin.dont mean to use your thread as a faq

Hey Fishcake! That is a good question. I would think the seed is toast once it has been germinating for a few days. I could be wrong though. How long have you been waiting for the Carmello to pop?

It would be an honor for anyone to have their journal be a FAQ! That is why everyone comes to OMM's journal!!

 

[fish cake]

Hey Fishcake! That is a good question. I would think the seed is toast once it has been germinating for a few days. I could be wrong though. How long have you been waiting for the Carmello to pop?

It would be an honor for anyone to have their journal be a FAQ! That is why everyone comes to OMM's journal!!

its only been 5 days but you know kinda anxouis or (how ever you spell it)lol but sure would like to see her grow. got more seeds just not that brand. when I read about it I wanted it to grow alot. but thats all I got to say about that. anyway if it dont sprout I will try that for what its worth

 

[SpiriTHC]

man this journal has all the fun in it...

I think OMM should get member of the month... again

 

[Closet Farmer]

its only been 5 days but you know kinda anxouis or (how ever you spell it)lol but sure would like to see her grow. got more seeds just not that brand. when I read about it I wanted it to grow alot. but thats all I got to say about that. anyway if it dont sprout I will try that for what its worth

After 5 days. I would be concerned too. I am going to start soaking my seeds overnight first. Sounds like you have the same problem as me. I hope I am wrong.

 

[NorCaliwood]

Drive bye Pop's hope you got your jars filling up with good med's. I'm going to order some ore Church again myself this month. I hear about them seeds Fish Cakes has. I also feel those seeds are toast. I knocied myself that if they start to grow a tail then stop shortly after that tap root starts to show, 90% die. Xlr is telling ya the truth. Least all I've read about older seeds. A match box they claim works. I've tried it before with some old stock I used to have and seemed to help raise germination rates go from 35% to about 60%. Those seeds were like 5-6 years old. Maybe older. Seeds can last for 10 years if stored rite. Dry and cool and dark. Pops; I am going to try to get ahold of ya later.

Keepem Green

 

[fish cake]

After 5 days. I would be concerned too. I am going to start soaking my seeds overnight first. Sounds like you have the same problem as me. I hope I am wrong.

I did the overnite soak. hope all your seeds pop! only had one of those so kasara kasara

 

[QueenTokelove]

What a difference a day makes in this journal. When I check in, I usually have to go at least a page back to catch up. You are loved my friend and that's a beautiful thing. Like the others, I like coming here, yours is one of the first journals I go to. Just all around good vibe here. Anyhoo enough of the love fest, my last day of the internet til next month, am going to really miss you and the site during that time. At least I know I will have a lot to read by the time I get back. Be well my friend, until then....

 

[Goldengoose7]

RE: Seeds...

I've always used a pot of well hydrated Cocoblend, dropping a seed into a pen/pencil sized hole about 3/4 of an inch deep, plug with a pinch of Coco and gently water with a solution of Liquinox B1 and some Seaweed extract. (2 TBS B1 per 2 gallons - 1 TBS SE per 2 gallons - PH to 6.8)

The Cocoblend does a great job of keeping the seeds hydrated without the need to water them all the time. Maybe every other day if outdoors or every 3 if under lights. Keep the soil temp around 80 degrees F for at least 13 hours a day.

So far (knock on wood), I have had a 100% success rate with germination. I even managed to sprout some mail order seeds that had been nuked by a security scanner on their to my mail box. They all sprouted, but some of them were total mutants! LOL!

 

[OldMedMan]

its only been 5 days but you know kinda anxouis or (how ever you spell it)lol but sure would like to see her grow. got more seeds just not that brand. when I read about it I wanted it to grow alot. but thats all I got to say about that. anyway if it dont sprout I will try that for what its worth

Hi fish cake

And you too Closet Farmer

I would give that seed a few more days......I had one go 12 days before it spouted. I had forgotten about it and was going to throw it away and there it was. Just be sure it's warm and moist.

If that doesn't work then try the matchbox method. Nothing to lose at that point.

Ask any and all questions you want...that's why I'm here.

When you are posting a message and your not sure about the spelling. Right click on the word and a menu will pop up. All the way on the bottom you will see "check spelling". From then on when you misspell a word it will have a little red line under it. Then you just right click on it and you can choose the right spelling.

 

[OldMedMan]

man this journal has all the fun in it...

I think OMM should get member of the month... again

Hey SpiriTHC

It's the people like you that make it fun. Growing is serious business, but I don't see why we can't have a bit of fun along the way.

Thanks about the Member of the Month

 

[OldMedMan]

RE: Seeds...

I've always used a pot of well hydrated Cocoblend, dropping a seed into a pen/pencil sized hole about 3/4 of an inch deep, plug with a pinch of Coco and gently water with a solution of Liquinox B1 and some Seaweed extract. (2 TBS B1 per 2 gallons - 1 TBS SE per 2 gallons - PH to 6.8)

The Cocoblend does a great job of keeping the seeds hydrated without the need to water them all the time. Maybe every other day if outdoors or every 3 if under lights. Keep the soil temp around 80 degrees F for at least 13 hours a day.

So far (knock on wood), I have had a 100% success rate with germination. I even managed to sprout some mail order seeds that had been nuked by a security scanner on their to my mail box. They all sprouted, but some of them were total mutants! LOL!

Thanks Goldengoose7 !

Having a very successful and experienced grower like yourself, tell us how you germ is a plus in anyone's book!

 

[OldMedMan]

What a difference a day makes in this journal. When I check in, I usually have to go at least a page back to catch up. You are loved my friend and that's a beautiful thing. Like the others, I like coming here, yours is one of the first journals I go to. Just all around good vibe here. Anyhoo enough of the love fest, my last day of the internet til next month, am going to really miss you and the site during that time. At least I know I will have a lot to read by the time I get back. Be well my friend, until then....

Hi Queen!

Truth is when you first joined I tried to lure you over to my journal so you could join the fun. He! He! I succeeded! You have been a great friend and have added very much to my journal. I will miss you very much until you get back. Be safe my friend!

 

[QueenTokelove]

OMG OMM, did you try to lure me over? I guess I was so caught up in my noobiness I didn't even notice. Better late than never but I made it. Thanks for the kind words but what could I add or offer but a few laughs every now and then. I am glad our paths have crossed cyberly and I consider you a friend, same with thsea.