New Grower Why do people germinate cannabis seeds in paper towels?

[AutoCritique]

I can place a seed (cannabis, tomato, cucumber, whatever) directly into soil, keep it moist and warm and they grow every single time.

Only time I germinate on paper towel is to find the most viable beans from plants that went to seed, the ones that pop 1st with the most vigor, for outdoor photo grows, slow popping beans get tossed.

Maybe I answered my own question, idk, just curious on people opinion.

 

[Trapper]

I imagine it's equal parts curiosity and wanting to confirm viability prior to putting it where one can't see it until it surfaces.

One would hate to just sit there for 5 or 6 days...waiting, not wanting to dig in there just in case something could still happen.

It's a way to confirm the seed is viable without having to wait in the blind.

 

[Dark Matter]

I think maybe you did.. I do it in paper towels because its much easier to check if it is ready to go into soil... rather than putting it in soil and wondering why it has not came up... makes you wanna go poking round in the soil to see what's going on then you could upset it that way.

Ya get me?

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Damn you 50 lol

 

[fweedom]

I used to germ in paper towels, not to find the most vigorous it just had always worked for me and i literally had 100% success that way so i stuck to it for awhile...But i now put the seeds directly into moist soil... I only do this because i used to sometimes drop the seeds when moving it to the pot from the paper towel with tweezers and would be worried i damaged it or about damaging the taproot so i find it easier for me to just put it in the soil and wait Both ways are good though :Sharing One:

 

[Magic]

I use a shot glass of destilled water, keep in a cool dark place. Have near perfect germ rate, only one didn't germ and I think it was the breeder not me. I like using the open cup method because its easy to see what's going on with the seed.

 

[pop22]

I'm undecided. I've tried all three: paper towel. shot glass of water, and direct to soil. So far, the direct to soil hasn't done well for me. about 90% on paper towel ( seed viability not germ method was at fault ). I've only done a few in the shot glass, with one failure ( Gigabud, never germed at all ). Dropping some in a shotglass right now, but I think I like the paper towel method best, as I can control the environment best. I put the baggie with the paper towel in in, inside a folded bath towel. That help maintain even temp and complete darkness.