Germination issues

[OverGrown]

I soak for 24 hours then take two plates and saturate a paper towel, I then place the towel folded on one of the plates. Then I drop the seeds down spread em out and cover with other the plate and done. 72 hours from drop you have this....

 

[MrWeebs]

You don't put another piece over them?

 

[GoAuto6]

22/22 100% germ

Any damage to the tap root will kill it off, airborne bacteria will kill it, strait to soil is the best in my opinion and I've done it like this for the last couple hundred plants in the last 4 years. I lost more seeds with the paper towel method the first year I started back when I didn't make my own it got expensive. It doesn't hurt to try new things when the old thing isn't working.

 

[James197467]

I've always soak mine and water for 18 hours pop them on a plate in a folded up wet paper towel and put them in my dark warm closet and 2 days loud later they sprout and are 1" to 3/4 of an inch long.
Make sure the paper towel stays nice and damp.

 

[Simplicio]

I love Rapid Rooters.
Germination has never been easier or more successful for me using them:
1. Put a few RR crumbles into the pre-existing hole to reduce depth.
2. Throw in dry seed any which way, about 1/4 inch deep, and cover with more RR crumbles. No soaking or paper towels.
3. Cover seed with more RR crumbles.
4. Put RR into a small container, cup, etc.
5. Keep about 1/8 inch of approx 6.0 pH water in the bottom of each container.
6. Move to final destination after they sprout. I've seen a believable opinion that says to move them right after they sprout, and not wait for roots to show.

The sprouts are very delicate for awhile, so be careful not to feed more than a tiny amount, if any, or shine too much light on them.
The biggest problem for me has been getting healthy sprouts used to their new conditions.

 

[lunarman]

I have had epic issues with Germ and popping a seedling up. Tried lots of different methods too.

What @bignugz420 said about using paper towels is what I think too. I want to see the progress of the tap root as it germs. You can't see it if its in the pot medium. Rapid rooters can work and you can see whats happening if you slit it open down the side so you can open up the plug to look at the seed. But to me paper towels are better.

You're probably overwatering those plugs. They should not be too wet or you'll drown the seed and just a complete lack of oxygen. I've done that and sure enough seeds don't germ in the plugs. I tossed my rapid rooters out. Just don't like them when it comes to moisture management.

Couple of germination references for you. One is growweedeasy's website. There is a germination tutorial on that site that is pretty good and covers about 5 different methods. And Mephisto Genetics has a guide on growing with their paper towel method for germination. That is what I like. Fold up paper towel, lightly spray water but don't soak that paper. Just slightly moist is what you want. Then insert in a baggie and then insert it in a towel and put it some place with about 23 degrees Celsius. Make sure you are checking that temperature and make it constant. You'll have tap roots on all beans in 2 days and some nice longer, fuzzy tap roots in 3 days. also use tweezers to handle the seeds so you don't contaminate them.

After that theres lots of options. I like to put them in clear (so I can see the roots develop downwards and to the sides) solo cups. Full of coco or peat or dirt. And again, don't soak them. I find it helps to get air in the cup so it dries faster and is less likely to end up drowning the beans. So I poke holes all over the cups. Lots of drain holes in bottom. Precharge the cups a couple of days before with a bit of water and put them in the tent to get them to temperature. Don't let the cups dry out, and dont soak them. You can also water by dunking the bottom inch of the cup in to water for a couple of seconds and it will pull up water thru the drain holes. That way you're making the roots go down seeking moisture instead of watering from the top. I keep them in cups for about 7-10 days and then transplant to pots. And again, precharge the pots before hand but not too much water. And get the pots to temperature before transplanting. And you should be able to not water for about 5 days. Just let the roots go seek moisture down low. Make them work for it.

I have gone thru the learning curve and still on it. So I am no pro. But like to share what ive learned (the hard way). For me it was always too much moisture when germinating and being a seedling. Its an important, sensitive phase of the grow. Good luck.

 

[MrWeebs]

I love Rapid Rooters.
Germination has never been easier or more successful for me using them:
1. Put a few RR crumbles into the pre-existing hole to reduce depth.
2. Throw in dry seed any which way, about 1/4 inch deep, and cover with more RR crumbles. No soaking or paper towels.
3. Cover seed with more RR crumbles.
4. Put RR into a small container, cup, etc.
5. Keep about 1/8 inch of approx 6.0 pH water in the bottom of each container.
6. Move to final destination after they sprout. I've seen a believable opinion that says to move them right after they sprout, and not wait for roots to show.

The sprouts are very delicate for awhile, so be careful not to feed more than a tiny amount, if any, or shine too much light on them.
The biggest problem for me has been getting healthy sprouts used to their new conditions.

No lid?