Help with germinating

[sloskank]

Hi everyone,

I cant figure out why my seeds wont "grow". Normally, I've been germinating them in peat pellets directly. I had no problems..

Now I did it the same way..all of the seeds germinated, but that was it. They died after making the root tip a few days later.
I tryed again. I germinated the seeds in paper towels, and it was a great success. They all (10 of them) germinated after 24h, with root tips at least 0,5 cm long. Then I planted them into peat pellets. And after 3-4 days only 3 or maybe 4 plants are showing signs of normal growth (growing the first two leafs,getting bigger etc...) the others are kinda like they are frozen in the state they were planted.. And I cant figure out why, wtf. The temperature is around 25,26 degrees celsius and the air humidity from 70-80%, the lighting regime is 18/6, I keep the soil moist regurarly...

Am I doing anything wrong or...?

Thank you

 

[noyd666]

two failures in peat, to wet? not all seeds are perfect.

 

[The_Protege]

You have to have the peat pellet sitting on top of the next growing medium so the tap root can penetrate that unimpeded.

The tap root will come from the bottom of the pellet before you see leaves come out the top.

 

[sloskank]

two failures in peat, to wet? not all seeds are perfect.

I already thought about the fact that the pellet/soil is too wet but I doubt that, as far as I remember from previous grows I always kept the soil wet about the same as here..but im testing and reduceing the water, in case of that.
And I also know that all seeds aren't perfect, but its quite unlikely that from different packs of 5 seeds of JH, 10 seeds of ES and 5 seeds of TC only 3 or 4 plants are good...

You have to have the peat pellet sitting on top of the next growing medium so the tap root can penetrate that unimpeded.
The tap root will come from the bottom of the pellet before you see leaves come out the top.

Thats not it either, the tap root isn't even growing, I gently removed the soil around the seed to take a peek, and the tap root is just as big as it was 4 days ago when I planted it. It dosent look sick (yet) or anything, but it literally does nothing, even the seeds are cracked just as much as they were and not a bit more.


Is it possible, that the seeds encountered a shock from too high temperatures in the grow box, if they are like 30 degree celsius? Just checked my thermometer and it says the max T was 30,4°C... probably just after I planted them and I was not at home until day 2, because I check multiple times during the day and there's no way I didn't noticed that... is this maybe the reason? could those 5 degrees make such a difference?

 

[socialist]

It could just be bad luck. I had a run of bad luck with 2 different strains doing pretty much the same as yours last month. now everything is fine with the seedlings I just sprouted.

 

[sloskank]

well I certanly hope so

 

[foomar]

I gently removed the soil around the seed to take a peek, and the tap root is just as big as it was 4 days ago when I planted it. It dosent look sick (yet) or anything, but it literally does nothing, even the seeds are cracked just as much as they were and not a bit more.

Used two makes of peat pots by the thousand in general greenhouse propagation with good results for years , then had a similar problem with several species and cuttings , the water squeezed out was pH 3 - 4 which may have been the cause , and they seem easier to drown than other options.

Planting scrap seed into straight horticultural peat replicates the damage , no taproot forms and the seed leaves open underground.

Switched to root riots and went straight back to 100% changeing nothing else , they seem more reliable and cheap enougth in bulk to justify the expense for posh seed .



Peppers get 35 C in the propagator and canna alongside still pop fine and fast at this high temp , as long as they never ever dry out , so doubt they were cooked at 30.

 

[Jnugg]

Get some Rapid Rooters a seedling tray & humidity dome.Start by placing seeds in a moistened (but not overly wet) paper towel and place in a small sandwich baggie,check in 24 to 36 hours.After the seeds have cracked and show a 1/8" to 1/4" tap root place in Rapid Rooter plugs that have been dunked in water pH'd to 6.5 and squeezed until Field capacity (until only a few drops come out,do this before placing the seeds in them) and cover with a small piece of the plug but not too tightly.Same thing for Root Riot plugs...works every time.

 

[Bumbastiklas]

Just wet the soil, let it stay for about 24 hours, also put the seeds in tap or distilled water for 12 hours and then place them into the soil. Cover the pot with plastic and wait. I have 100 percent germination every time.

 

[sloskank]

thank you all for the advices!

 

[rangergord]

Humidity dome? Are you using one. Because even if your air temp is balmy without a dome evaporative cooling can lower the temp at seed level resulting in poor germination. I also use an electric seed starting mat under my tray. This is almost foolproof.

 

[Drift13]

I use a heat pad and dome when popping beans. I start with putting seeds in water till they sink. Then into a papertowl till the tap root is atleast 1/4" long. Then into my potting soil on heating pad under dome under shop light. Water ph'd to 6.0. Works very well for me.

 

[macumba]

i'm trying peat pellets for the first time, let you know in a few days if anything comes from it

 

[Bumbastiklas]

Again. Germinating in soil worked 100 percent. All of 4 seeds sprouted today, after 3 days in soil with plastic and 40w bulb above to increase the temp. I recommend.

 

[Bumbastiklas]

And yeah, some say that the soil shouldn't be soaking, bet mine's are always very very wet and seeds hasn't any problems with germinating.

 

[foomar]

Fresh stock will usually make it even in poor conditions , would avoid over wet conditions with older seed as they are prone to damping off and often less vigorous from storage.

By far the largest cause of seedlings failing is sitting in stagnant compost after cracking open , other species are more or less tolerant but it is generally accepted that overwatering is a bad thing for most plants.

 

[Javadog]

Get some Rapid Rooters a seedling tray & humidity dome.Start by placing seeds in a moistened (but not overly wet) paper towel and place in a small sandwich baggie,check in 24 to 36 hours.After the seeds have cracked and show a 1/8" to 1/4" tap root place in Rapid Rooter plugs that have been dunked in water pH'd to 6.5 and squeezed until Field capacity (until only a few drops come out,do this before placing the seeds in them) and cover with a small piece of the plug but not too tightly.Same thing for Root Riot plugs...works every time.

This pretty much nailed it for me.

I have only taken clones once, but I took about 35 AK-47 and 10 Somango
clones and 100% grew to success.

Good luck,

JD