Germination Mishap

[Bush Grower]

Ok.. I have grown before and germinated seeds a few times and I've never had this happen and wanted some input.

I put 5 seeds in a moist towel in a tubberware container friday. I was busy all weekend so I left them in there and wasn't able to do anything with them untill today.

Well, I go to get them out of the tubberware and I guess they got a little light and all but 1 had grown their cotelydon leaves already. I went ahead and planted them taproot down with the leaves above soil. I watered the soil and misted the leaves.

think they'll live? I am gonna be pissed if I lose all but one of my blueberry seeds

 

[Weedninja]

Cotyledons are normally hidden inside the seed in early germination, but they are there.
The main problem IMO with paper towel germination is fungus. By leaving them in longer, you may have made it more likely for them to suffer from damping-off fungus.
But for what its worth, I think that most if not all will make it.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Maybe, maybe not. The seed has a limited amount of energy. Once cracked, the plants have 24-48 hours to find: anchorage, food and water, or they'll die. Your's may be too far gone.

This is why I never use paper towels. I plant in my final grow medium and diluted nutes. From the moment the seed cracks, it has everything it needs. Not just to survive but to flourish.

If you're going to use towels, you need to keep them under sharp surveillance. Start inspecting @ 24 hours and AT LEAST every 12 hours thereafter, if not 8. Once the seed cracks get it out of the towel. Waiting to see roots wastes the limited energy the seed has, invites fungus and promotes tap root destruction.

 

[bounty29]

If you're going to use towels, you need to keep them under sharp surveillance. Start inspecting @ 24 hours and AT LEAST every 12 hours thereafter, if not 8. Once the seed cracks get it out of the towel. Waiting to see roots wastes the limited energy the seed has, invites fungus and promotes tap root destruction.

Well said.


24 hours after putting them into the paper towels, and 60 hours. All went into coco minutes after the last picture was taken. I wouldn't want the tap roots to get any longer before transplanting them, it's just asking for trouble.

 

[Bush Grower]

Well... I lost one because I drowned it with soil while watering and was digging around for it and ripped off the leaves on accident.

It looks like the others will bounce back. They are responding to light and I have seen a little bit of growth!

One of them was not as far along on the germination with no leaves, so he's still under the dirt... he should pop up soon.

I should of transplanted 'em this weekend, doh! Oh well... looks like 4/5 will live.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Weedman Herb]

You really must take the time to do this properly. Bad things happen to those that grow in a halfassed manner. Remember how it felt when you thought there was a chance you were going to lose the Blueberry sprouts and take steps to Never feeling that way again.

 

[Core]

should't be a problem.....aslong you are carefull with them seedlings...but as you may have noticed they are very fragile...even when you drown one with a bit of soil it will pop up when it settles roots....so its like Weedman herb is saying....gotte do this properly...:smile:

 

[GET MO]

I always use paper towl method and usually wait for um to come out the shell all the way before I put um in the dirt, then put um in with the starter leaves exposed and it works fine.