We have ignition!

How many times has that been the subject line for newbs who get their first seed to germinate?!

I won't have a whole beginning to end setup for a couple of months yet but I have been trying a seed at a time. If I can keep the little thing alive I will go through the steps and begin learning, I've never grown anything. So anyways, I didn't get the first one to do anything and at this point I don't remember what method I was trying. I try to read up on what to do as I attempt to do it. I soaked the second one (both Sweet Tooth #3) in distilled water until it sank when pushed down, about 12 hrs.. Then I put it in a plug
like this: http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/readygro-15x15-organic-grow-plugs-p-253.html
I had soaked and squeezed the plug with distilled water.
Now here's where I had success. Finding a spot in my house now that remains constant at 80F or so and enough humidity to keep the plug from drying out was tough. I don't yet have a veg cab. Found just the right spot for now on top of the satellite receiver. I put the plug on a bottle lid inside a small tupperware container. I fill the container with enough water in the bottom yet the raised cap the plug sits on keeps it out of the water. Then I put another identical tupperware container on top. The second one didn't do anything a day after I started this so I lightly squeezed the seed at the sides till it gave a little at the point. You can feel it pop without falling in on the contents. Pretty sweet! So I put it back and damn if the next day it didn't have a taproot poking out! Now to be honest, I gently rolled the seed out of the plug to check its progress.
I have been trying to germinate old bagseed for the last month. I went through every last one I had and after trying everything (over and over) I came to my current expert opinion that these seeds are no longer viable.
So even though I planned to wait to try the good seeds until I had a veg cab I can't let it go now!
The seed was handled as carefully as possible, never touched the taproot and got it back down into the plug nice and snug and back to its home.

Until I had to show the wife when she got home.

And then back.

Now it is over an inch out of the top of the plug with the seed husk still attached!! I have the top now off. From what I've gathered I now want to have a cooler surface and try to keep the core warm, like the 80F or so. I feel like I've been there and back already! You guys must be having a good laugh at that! So now I figured I'm going to take the worst looking seed of the bunch from the djs original blueberry that the Sweet Tooth's were the freebie for. When I say worst looking I mean primarily the color. For the most part it is colorless but not completely. The seed itself doesn't look to me like a dud. I soaked it until it would sink and this one took longer, about 16 hours. I then dropped it in point down real nice into the plug and have the cover on with a little air so I can see some condensation but so it doesn't go all rainforest, and I am content to wait. Now that I have seen over a period of time what is happening I won't tamper so much, I hereby pledge.

I have some JiffyMix seedling soil and it seems to me that I would want to put perlite and vermiculite in there too. It seems to clump up too much and hold the water when I run water through until it comes out of the bottom of styro cup with holes punched in. Is it ok to move the plugs into that soil? I have read not to consider any fertilizer until the second set of leaves appear. Is that the time to get the seedling under light? I have a 2 bulb 2 foot fluoro fixture and 2 Ott-Lite plant growth bulbs. They are supposed to be aces for veg spectrum and for now I would rig something up in a walk in closet where I can heat the space with a small space heater and get the fixture rigged up where I can put them under the light, about 3 inches away.

I would have the veg cab within a month and it would be great to at least go through the process and if they are female I would like to learn to clone with the idea of planting as many as possible out in the wild when spring gets here. I want to get a hydrohut mini and flower indoors but won't be tackling that until late spring or so.

So thats all, I intend to stick to it and it was nice to put this down, helps to internalize things. Thanks for any input!

jj

Get a 4 ft 2 lamp shoplight and when you plant the germinated seed in dirt,put it under the light.As soon as the plant comes up move the light down to about 1/2 inch above the tops,you want to grow the plant in a small 4 inch pot to 4 or 5 inches in height this way,1/2 above the plant at all times.This means you have to adjust the light up every other day or even every day with hearty strains.You cant grow a healthier small plant any better than the way I just described,I've used every wattage HID you can imagine and nothing beats a 4 ft shoplight for the first couple weeks of a plants life

sounds like you are having fun . i was addicted to germinating for a couple of weeks but i have settled down now . it's a fine hobby; enjoy.

Update:

The Sweet Tooth is about 4" tall and still has not thrown the husk. I have brushed it carefully to not stress it in any way and it does not budge so I will wait. Been about a week though above ground... The original bb seed I am trying does not appear to be sprouting (yet?).

Thoughts on the seed husk still being on?

Also, I am confused about which fluoros to use for veg cab. I have bought 4 Ott-Lite 24" plant growth bulbs. I just have one strung up in the basement and the Sweet Tooth is under it. I found out today the Kelvin is 5500-5900 and the CRI is 90-93. Do I want a Kelvin range of closer to 3000? I plan to use the veg cab for clones and moms. I also am considering returning 2 of the tubes and opting for 4 ft tubes due to reading that being the most common they are more readily avail and are less money. I can really use some direction on the cab and lighting.

Thanks!

you better help it if its not out of the shell already...they cant split the seem sometimes...thats why i scuff them

Thanks, I'll try right now.

4 inches tall and not thrown the husk?What lights are you using and how close to the plant are they,sounds like you have a maxistretcher there.

Got it off without maiming it! Guess I'll see what happens. It had taken off growing, I didn't use any light until several days after it broke ground. I was expecting it to be shorter. Since then it has grown a bit under the light which is approx. 3-4" above it. Sorry, don't have a camera right now, the cable is missing!

I have some inexpensive seeds on the way and I will work those for experience before any more messing around with the good (expensive) ones!