New Grower Germination

[Shadowbuck]

Squid, thanks for the howdy and feedback. No veg and flowering section, hey? Well, I'll see if I can help you out. Ha, ha.

Shadowbuck, where were you when I was watching the Youtube video on drowning my seeds? Heh. What you describe is exactly what I saw, so chalk it up to learning. Same'll be true of each of the media I put these poor, drowned seeds into. Just figgers -- here's step 1, easiest of them all, and I screwed it up! Just wait until I get to step 2. I know you'll have plenty more to say, mr. doom. :brow:

LMAO It's all good bro. Don't worry about it man as ya still have plenty there that most def SHOULD grow just fine and treat ya right. As for the next step, don't stress too bad man as once you get em in some soil or whatever ur using and hang a light, nature will all but completely take care of the next 2 weeks for you. And that should be plenty of time for ya to research and ask questions here so by the time you do need to do much of anything to them you will have a pretty good idea of what you're doin lol

 

[wg]

Here's a post from the interactive guide by the way... !

Lesson 1 Part 2 - Germination
This Part contributed by FD

Another great read is his thread on : FD's Guide to Growing Hefty Autos in Small Places.
I know that this is something that most of you have a handle on but its something that can be the start of the end if your not careful. The question that is asked time and time again is what is the best way to start your seeds. The best that i can recommend is to germ direct to soil. There is no stress to the plant at all if this is done. The second best, the kind that if you are like me and want to see things work, is the paper towel method either on a plate or in a bag. Either of these two seem to be pretty good about getting high germ rates.

If you choose to go soil the seed only needs to be "pressed" below the soil and covered. Add your water but not to much. I can't tell you the times i have got too excited and over watered and all i got was a mushy mess. It is important to keep them moist but not wet. I have learned that less is more in this case, and in our case it doesn't take much to over water the seeds. In about three to five days i will see their heads above soil.

If you want to go with either of the paper towel methods use the same principal. If you decide to use the bag get a paper towel and a zip lock style baggy and some pH balanced water. After you have choose the seed(s) you want to start soak the paper towel and once it is soaked ring it out to just a moist/damp point. Fold the paper towel around the seed and place into the baggy. Place this in a dark warm place. If you have a laundry room or a closet that contains a water heater, this is an ideal place to set the seed to germinate. Same cane be applied with the plate. Soak a towel and then wring it out to the desired moisture level and place the seed(s) on it. Then apply another one on top of the seed. Once you have completed this cover the area with a bowl and place in the same type of area.

Usually in about a day to two days i get white tails coming out of the seeds. Once they start to show its a good idea to get them in their medium. This avoids the tap root "hairs" from attaching to the towel and causing stress when removed.

Either of these methods will produce great results. Soil is my preferred method things seem to flow the smoothest when i do it this way.

 

[Seeder]

Hey, Squid, I'm just givin you a hard time. No worries on the "missing" sections.

A pound per plant? Damn, I'm moving to Oregon just because the government says I'll grow better plants. :roflcry:

What kind of mix/ferts is the pre-fertilized mix?

Well, I don't think they're gonna be quite good enough to get a pound per plant, like the gov says. The pre-fert is just Miracle Grow planter mix. Probably not a great idea, but I wanted to give it a try with these wild seeds, just for experiment's sake, you know. Not sure I'll get any earth-shakin' results, but if I manage to kill all the seeds in one container, I'll blame it on the ferts or lack thereof. Really, I'm just feeling all this out, little at a time, and have the luxury of a bunch of sub par seeds. You guys have already been a great help in steering me right. I feel better about moving on into better seeds. I'd like to keep those alive and growin', up to your standards. I tell you, you guys do an amazin' job growin' stinky weeds.

 

[Seeder]

Here's a post from the interactive guide by the way... !

wg, thanks for the info. Glad to see how you guys are doing it. BTW, I did try searching on "germination", but I kept getting database errors. Probably just some passing thing, but that's where I just started winging it. Turns out, it didn't work out too bad ...

Houston, we have lift off


(Also figgered out how to get the pics inline, so all kinds o learnin goin on.)

Turns out, most seeds, around 70%, germinated and are coming along. Some of the seeds are years old, so maybe that's not too bad. Several are sticking their little necks up. Pretty exciting. My first time with these guys.

Here's a closer look at the stem on that little seedling above. I like the little hairs on the stem.


And here's another germinated seed, left WAAAY too long, I know. But let's take a look...

You can see all the little rootlets forming, with the eye ...


and through a microscope. The growing tip has some shorter cells.


After torturing this guy with all the looking, I planted him. Let's see if he makes it.

 

[The Squid]

I just searched for germination and found more threads than I would care to read. No worries, dude I can take it. Sprout! :thumbs:

 

[Seeder]

Heh, heh, you guys are good dudes. Thanks fer watchin me play with the beans. Walp, here's how that first, paper towel born sprout looks today. Growin in Jiffy Seed Starter Mix, which is peat, vermiculite, lime, and wetting agent.

Might of hurt him when he was sitting on the paper towel...


but now he's rarin up his head.


Hairy little beast.