How do you germinate seeds?

[seymore_budz]

Hey,

I'm about to germinate some seeds in the next few weeks and I'm interested in how others germinate theirs? I'm a noob grower but here's my technique I used last time and it worked pretty well. I had 100% success rate with germinating and they seemed to thrive.

I use 41mm jiffy peat pellets that are pre-soaked with a RO/rain water and some biosys instant tea for 24 hours.

Next, I soak the seeds in RO water with Hesi Supervit. Supervit is an old school vitamin booster with over 20 plant active vitamins and amino acids. The two interesting ones are cytokinins and gibberellins. Without going into too much details, cytokinins are responsible for cell division and gibberellins wakes up dormant seeds and speeds up germination. It's also used as a spray to turn plants hermaphrodite. GA spray used to be in all hydro shops but I don't see it so much nowadays. Anyway, that's another topic for another thread.

After the pre-treatment process is complete, I plant the seed directly in the peat and keep my fingers crossed.

Do you guys pre-soak or go straight in? Do you go straight into media or use paper towels to germinate? What's your secret sauce?

[Nanook]

I use tap water and put the seeds in a folded paper towel on a plate and check after 2 days. Needs to be about 20c in the room tho.

[Nanook]

Oooo good shout with dvd!

[Nanook]

not seen a mucky dvd in years. We don't even have dvds anymore, just the kids game boxes. In other news xnxx has an android app now Marcus, should help u

[Labs Dexter]

I soak mine in water and a little rhizotonic for 24 hours, then into a wet folded paper towel. That is then placed into a ziplock bag or any empty margarine container which is then placed on top of my Sky box.

[seymore_budz]

Thank you for all the replies. The paper towel method seems to be the favourite here. I just didn't dare last time as I was too frightened of damaging the tap root when planting into the peat.

I did notice the ones that were closer to the surface of the peat were a few days faster than the rest. I might give the paper towel method a try.

Anyone using mycorrhizal or tricaderma when transplanting the rooted seed?

[Labs Dexter]

Anyone using mycorrhizal or tricaderma when transplanting the rooted seed?

I've used mycorrhizal as well as semen, but most of the time I grow autos, so no need for either.

[Tictok]

I use cheap spring water from Tesco (it's pH 6.2), add 1ml seaweed extract to a litre of the stuff and use that to soak the seeds in (just pour a bit in a cup). Only soak for about 7hrs, then they tend to sink. From there, onto a wet paper towel (cheapest brand you can find) soaked in the same water.

Between two plates and in the airing cupboard under a couple of cushions (leopard print seems to work best).

12-24 hrs later they've popped and sent out a root.

This method was only arrived at after failing with about six different seeds which worked out expensive. So far 100% success.

[Nanook]

I tried dropping in a glass of water as well till they sank. Also worked. I've also seen 30 odd in a row fail tho think so stones you just get duff seeds

[Tictok]

I tried dropping in a glass of water as well till they sank. Also worked. I've also seen 30 odd in a row fail tho think so stones you just get duff seeds

Yup, I've killed a few that have never popped in the paper towel after a soaking. I suspected they had soaked for too long. Possibly why my latest run of success has been through soaking them for less time. Maybe.