mine are in between paper towels(3 skunk and 3 mandala mix) and i just seen a little white tail on 2 of em. should i put them in dirt right now or let them go for a bit?...this is my first time tryin to plant a seed.
Hey cosmiccowboy. Forgive my fanatasism. Germinating cannabis is a touchy subject for me and ill explain... but first let me answer your question.
Seeds should be removed from any status of "presoaking or cracking" the very second the hull splits and if possible, even before the little tail sticks out. Tinkering with seeds that have germed and have long tails = runts. The more you can avoid fiddling with them when they are in that state, the better.
Now for the rant.
The practice of soaking seeds in paper towels is probably the most destructive and ineffective practice ever imparted to cannabis growers. Cosmicowboy, i promise you their isnt a single professional breeder in business today that uses that approach or that would recommend it for their seeds, yet it persist.
At the very least, buy a sponge and cut it in half, place the seeds in between the 2 sponges(antibacterial) and add 2 tablespoons of water to the sponge halves. This will at least provide the air and moisture levels that are required to germinate and will prevent the seeds from drowning. If you have a fish tank, put the sponges in a tupperware bowl with a top a let them float in your fish tank which is a constant 76 degrees. Better still, buy a little tupperware box, a small aquarium heater and float your seed box in it. This will provide constant temps at the right level.
The prefered method of germination that ANY plant expert would give you would be to plant the seeds in fine,airy soil, butt down and water thourougly. Then place under metal halides until they sprout. Seeds need 3 things to germinate and perform.
1. Moisture,(not water)
2. Warmth, (76-78)
3. Light stimulation.(There is a reason seeds sprout under the springtime sunshine.)
You can see how the paper towel method may be lacking.
Sorry, i cant help myself and seeds are so expensive..