1stCrop
03-08-2006, 03:20 AM
Hows this for the basic forums first post.
Germinating Seeds 101
Germinating seeds a quite the simple task, although one of the most important aspects of the growing process. Lets face it, you paid big bucks for that pack of seeds and if the seeds don't germinate you cant have a grow. Seeds probably average 5-10$ each so you should make the most of them.
There are many different technics for germinating your seeds. The one that seems to be pushed the most is the moist paper towel and plastic bag method. When I purchased my first seeds the were was a paper included that suggested using this method, so I did. I used this method for a couple years with fairly good and consistent results. I had about a 80% rate of germination and about 90% of those turned into plants. For every 10 seeds I would end up with about 7 plants. Not to bad, but could be better.
I started looking into it and there was another method that I have read about and wanted to try. The shotglass water germination method. Another simple germination method. Simply fill a shotglass with water and drop some seeds in and leave them. Supposedly a day or two later you should have germinated seeds. If I remember correctly I had a 50% or less rate of germination and I don't remember how many of them grew up. That's why I only did it once.
A little more reading led me to believe that the most superior germination method was the one that I knew how to do all along, the just plant it method. No way I said, that cant be best, that's how my 2nd grade teacher had us plant our pea plants. I gave it a try and low and behold 100% germination with 100% healthy plants. I have since been using this method for the last year and plan on continuing with it because I feel it's the best and most consistent.
Its actually a little more complicated then just plant it, but simple none the less. The first step is to fill a shot glass with water. If you have super thrive, thrive alive, kelp, or another MILD fertilizer or root hormone now would be a good time for a drop or two. I would rather use nothing then a full strength fertilizer. I personally use a couple drops of maxicrop kelp with a NPK value of .1-0-1, very mild.
Next step is to drop in your seeds. If germinating multiple strains make sure to use different shotglass with labels if you want to know what your growing and smoking. Once there in there let them soak for 12-24 hours. I have done both and have not noticed any difference. I like to have them on a heating pad for this step so there in MILDLY warm water, low will be fine.
You should get prepared to plant them by gathering a couple things: You'll need containers, tweezers, a paper towel, soil, pearlite, spray bottle, and a pen or pencil. The soil and pearlite are the most important. Make sure you use a soil that is void of ANY nutrients as they will burn your seeds and seedlings. I like to go heavy on the pearlite for my seedlings so they have no restrictions on there root growth, about 50% pearlite. The containers are simple red party cups with holes poked in the bottom. The paper towel, tweezers, spray bottle, and pen are just to make life a little easier for you.
Now that your ready to plant them bring your shotglasses and the heating pad to wherever your working. Fill your cups with the soil mix and give them a good soaking with the spray bottle. Make sure it's enough water to at least wet the top half of the soil. Once all the cups are full and watered take the pen and dig out small holes about 1-2 inches deep, one per cup.
Next take the paper towel and fold it up. Place it on top of the shotglass, go the sink, and just dump the seeds on the towel.
Take the tweezers and one at a time pick the seeds up and drop them in the holes. It doesn't matter which direction or angle they lay, they know what to do. Cover them lightly right away. Then spray the soil down to let it naturally compact around the seed. Repeat this for the rest of the seeds.
Now take your heating pad on low and set up the cups on top of it. I have a tray I sit the cups in and sit the tray on the heating pad so it doesn't get wet. You don't need any light for the germination process but it wouldn't hurt anything if they were under a light as long as the heat is under control. If you have them under a light they are going to require more water.
Your going to have to water them with the spray bottle twice a day at least because of the heating pad. If you have them under a light you can figure on doubling the frequency of the waterings. It is very important not to let the soil dry up. They need a moist warm environment to thrive
Now you just wait for them to pop up. Ten days at least before you worry, but I seem to average 4-5 days. If you chose not to use light, as I do, you need to know that after the seeds pop they will want light within a couple days.
I have all my seeds that pop grow up healthy. There seems to never be any that pop and then die off. That use to happen to me all the time when using the paper towel method.. I think it's because sometimes when transferring the seeds from the towel to the container the tap root gets a little manhandled. About you thought you did it perfect but it could have been damaged in the soil during compaction.
This is just the method that I have found to be the best in my opinion.
Germinating Seeds 101
Germinating seeds a quite the simple task, although one of the most important aspects of the growing process. Lets face it, you paid big bucks for that pack of seeds and if the seeds don't germinate you cant have a grow. Seeds probably average 5-10$ each so you should make the most of them.
There are many different technics for germinating your seeds. The one that seems to be pushed the most is the moist paper towel and plastic bag method. When I purchased my first seeds the were was a paper included that suggested using this method, so I did. I used this method for a couple years with fairly good and consistent results. I had about a 80% rate of germination and about 90% of those turned into plants. For every 10 seeds I would end up with about 7 plants. Not to bad, but could be better.
I started looking into it and there was another method that I have read about and wanted to try. The shotglass water germination method. Another simple germination method. Simply fill a shotglass with water and drop some seeds in and leave them. Supposedly a day or two later you should have germinated seeds. If I remember correctly I had a 50% or less rate of germination and I don't remember how many of them grew up. That's why I only did it once.
A little more reading led me to believe that the most superior germination method was the one that I knew how to do all along, the just plant it method. No way I said, that cant be best, that's how my 2nd grade teacher had us plant our pea plants. I gave it a try and low and behold 100% germination with 100% healthy plants. I have since been using this method for the last year and plan on continuing with it because I feel it's the best and most consistent.
Its actually a little more complicated then just plant it, but simple none the less. The first step is to fill a shot glass with water. If you have super thrive, thrive alive, kelp, or another MILD fertilizer or root hormone now would be a good time for a drop or two. I would rather use nothing then a full strength fertilizer. I personally use a couple drops of maxicrop kelp with a NPK value of .1-0-1, very mild.
Next step is to drop in your seeds. If germinating multiple strains make sure to use different shotglass with labels if you want to know what your growing and smoking. Once there in there let them soak for 12-24 hours. I have done both and have not noticed any difference. I like to have them on a heating pad for this step so there in MILDLY warm water, low will be fine.
You should get prepared to plant them by gathering a couple things: You'll need containers, tweezers, a paper towel, soil, pearlite, spray bottle, and a pen or pencil. The soil and pearlite are the most important. Make sure you use a soil that is void of ANY nutrients as they will burn your seeds and seedlings. I like to go heavy on the pearlite for my seedlings so they have no restrictions on there root growth, about 50% pearlite. The containers are simple red party cups with holes poked in the bottom. The paper towel, tweezers, spray bottle, and pen are just to make life a little easier for you.
Now that your ready to plant them bring your shotglasses and the heating pad to wherever your working. Fill your cups with the soil mix and give them a good soaking with the spray bottle. Make sure it's enough water to at least wet the top half of the soil. Once all the cups are full and watered take the pen and dig out small holes about 1-2 inches deep, one per cup.
Next take the paper towel and fold it up. Place it on top of the shotglass, go the sink, and just dump the seeds on the towel.
Take the tweezers and one at a time pick the seeds up and drop them in the holes. It doesn't matter which direction or angle they lay, they know what to do. Cover them lightly right away. Then spray the soil down to let it naturally compact around the seed. Repeat this for the rest of the seeds.
Now take your heating pad on low and set up the cups on top of it. I have a tray I sit the cups in and sit the tray on the heating pad so it doesn't get wet. You don't need any light for the germination process but it wouldn't hurt anything if they were under a light as long as the heat is under control. If you have them under a light they are going to require more water.
Your going to have to water them with the spray bottle twice a day at least because of the heating pad. If you have them under a light you can figure on doubling the frequency of the waterings. It is very important not to let the soil dry up. They need a moist warm environment to thrive
Now you just wait for them to pop up. Ten days at least before you worry, but I seem to average 4-5 days. If you chose not to use light, as I do, you need to know that after the seeds pop they will want light within a couple days.
I have all my seeds that pop grow up healthy. There seems to never be any that pop and then die off. That use to happen to me all the time when using the paper towel method.. I think it's because sometimes when transferring the seeds from the towel to the container the tap root gets a little manhandled. About you thought you did it perfect but it could have been damaged in the soil during compaction.
This is just the method that I have found to be the best in my opinion.