Advice Needed

[Boogerman007]

Hello everyone. I have been a lurker for a long time, actually since OG went down.

I have what may or may not be a situation.

I germed about 25 seeds of different varieities from Seed Boutique. After they all popped and the tap root showed up I put them in seed starter mix that I used for my clones last year. That was May 8. None have come out of the soil. I have them in one of the sports bottle ice cube trays that someone here recommended as a cloner and this sits in a small plastic tub so it can wick water.

Yesterday, I took a toothpick and semi dug up one of the seedlings and it appears to not have changed one bit from when I put it in the soil.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated

 

[Boogerman007]

I should have added that I am using RO water from a high end home RO system. The only other option is softened water which I know is bad.

Also the temps in the room are about 85 and the temp of the water in the cloner tub is 80.

 

[stinkyattic]

Can you be more specific? Is your seed starter mix the same as in 'used soil', or it is just the same TYPE?
Are you simply doing a passive wick system or adding other water as well? How wet is the soil?
IMHO your temps are a hair high and I'd worry about rot above about 80'F with vulnerable seedlings. But that's just me.
Don't forget your CalMag running RO water.

I'd go to a more standard seed starting routine, using small hand-watered containers such as a nursery 6-pack that you've run through the dishwasher and filled with fresh unferted seedling mix or promix. Personally, I don't like any type of wick-watered soil setup. I feel it leads to sogginess, particularly low in the pot.

 

[Boogerman007]

Here is the link to the thread for the cloner I am using for the seedlings. It works great for clones! I had a 90% success rate last year!
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=42847&highlight=budleydoright

I would say the soil is moist but not soaked, I do have a lid for the container that holds the cloner and the water but only have it on part way.

I agree with you on the temps and have a small AC on the way to control the temps better.

I actually have a waterbed heater under the clone tub,I will turn it down to 75. What do you think? I used the tub just to make sure the seedlings soil did not get dry

The seed starter is Plantation brand Seed Starter Growers mix which is just for starting seedlings

I haven't used Cal/Mag but I did use epsom salts last year for the Mag. Maybe I wil get soem Cal/Mag.

I think I started everything last year in peat. Should I go get some and try to extract the seeds?

Thanks for your input!

 

[stinkyattic]

Looking at the cloner, I think that might be at least contributing to your lack of success. It doesn't look like something that would allow enough oxygen to the medium- I've never tried though.
Your seedling mix should be okay- if you use peat, don't forget to lime it at an appropriate level, or just go with promix since it's done already for you and the stuff is easy to find.
Be warned that Epsom salts are not a good substitute for CalMag for a couple reasons. First and most important, they do not provide the calcium missing from your RO water. Next, it is easy to OD on Epsom salts. While your plants DO need the Mg and S, they are quite sensitive to metals in the soil and I would save ES for treating confirmed Mg deficiencies. Even then, I never add it to the ferts, but instead, give a foliar of a pinch per quart spray bottle. Not precise I know, but with a foliar, if you know you are mixing it weak to being with, it's much harder to damage the plants.
You are correct that 'softened' water can be quite dangerous, since it's an ion-exchange, rather than RO or distillation process- one 'bad' ion is exchanged for a 'good' one... but 'bad' and 'good' are in relation to what PEOPLE want, not plants! You could always try taking your water right from the spigot before the softener- there should be one down there somewhere. Up to you... RO + CalMag = great 'fake' tap water and if ya gots it, use it!
Anyway I hope that is a point in the right direction.

 

[Boogerman007]

Thanks Stinkyattic!

Totally makes since on the Cal/Mag so I will order some today. Can you recommend someplace? online?

I will see if I can find a spigot before the softener.

At this point, what would you do if this was your situation? Would you risk replanting the seeds? Or would you just wait. I would sure hate to lose all of these seeds!

I am wondering if I might have them too deep. They are all over 3/8" deep at least. Should I remove some of the dirt?

 

[stinkyattic]

Oh- yes that's too deep! To add to your lack of O2 troubles... definitely don't bury them more than about a third of an inch.
I can't think of anyplace online that I've ordered ferts from, sorry... local grow shop ftw~
If those were my seeds, I'd scrape off just the top layer of soil, and lose the wick thingy. I'd also drill fairly large holes up into the bottom of the tube things. Go back to hand watering, using a dropper, turkey baster, or ketchup dispenser if you are worried about disturbing the seeds- I assume you are, because that's the only reason I can think of for trying a wick watered soil system.
Good luck.

 

[Boogerman007]

Ok I will remove some of the dirt. I will take the cloner out of the tub and will hand water.

Typically how long should it take to pop the soil? I do not want to give up but I do have more seeds.

Whats funny is I was just starting to get a little full of myself as last years gro was gr8. It's nothing like a humbling experience to make you really know how smart you really are, or in real words, how smart I am not!

I am off to go try to save them

 

[stinkyattic]

If they don't pop up within 3 days of planting a germed seed, you've got troubles. I've seen them take up to 2 weeks to germ, but after that, they still pop up quick-like.