Seedlings dieing

[dddaver]

My last two Blue Dream seedlings sprouted tap roots fine but both died while trying to shed shells even before cotyledons formed. Yet another Blue Dream plant from same seed batch is doin gangbusters. I'm thinking weak genetics. Before I waste more time and effort germing another, any thoughts?

 

[aridbud]

Do you have a well? Or city water....allow tap water to sit overnight. Maybe too much chlorine in water? Did you germinate in Jiffy's? Notoriously high acidity in Jiffy pots/pellets.

 

[dddaver]

Well water. Then filtered through refrigerator, then microwaved for 30 sec in 16 oz. cups, then put through Brita filter and kept in 2 gallon tank. Thing is that has worked fine for the last few years. Before that I was getting RO water from a commercial machine but got tired of carrying all that water. I do have a ph test kit. The kind you match the color of the treated water in the vial, after putting in drops in, to a chart. I'll test it. I germinate in moist paper towels then put the popped seeds in rock wool to start. Maybe I'll try directly into soil.



Couple ideas. Thanks.

 

[Paddi]

Maybe I'll try directly into soil.

Remember: Non-fertilized soil.


P

 

[SamsonsRiddle]

Well water. Then filtered through refrigerator, then microwaved for 30 sec in 16 oz. cups, then put through Brita filter and kept in 2 gallon tank. Thing is that has worked fine for the last few years. Before that I was getting RO water from a commercial machine but got tired of carrying all that water. I do have a ph test kit. The kind you match the color of the treated water in the vial, after putting in drops in, to a chart. I'll test it. I germinate in moist paper towels then put the popped seeds in rock wool to start. Maybe I'll try directly into soil.



Couple ideas. Thanks.

direct in soil takes longer, but seems to shed the seed shell better. go against what most say and plant 1-2" deep straight to soil and most of the time the shell is shed easier coming up. may take an extra day or two, but seeds are not free.

 

[dddaver]

You were right Airbud. The filtered well water is testing highly alkaline, at least 7.6 ( that's as high as the chart goes). I'll test the unfiltered water right out of the tap and also try adding about 1/2 tsp of vinegar to a couple quarts of the filtered well water to see if I can get to at least 6.8 or so.

 

[dddaver]

You were mostly right Airbud.The problem is the water is highly alkaline instead of acidic, but got me thinking along those lines. So added 1/4 tsp of vinegar to about quart and a half of water. Too acidic. So tried a little less than 1/2 tsp to a gallon of water. I think I hit the sweet spot. About 6.7 ph. Just right. It is super cold around the states and my tent got down to 69F last night even with the lights on, so any growth slow. But I think Blue Dream sprout still alive trying to shed shell. I think a little cotyledon forming. Thanks guys...and girls.

 

[hyposomniac]

7.6 ph water isn't killing seedlings.
Too wet or too dry usually, or duds from crap genes like ya said

 

[yardgrazer]

Yeah, my well water is a little above that, never had a problem with germination. Usually I'd presume it was damping off, but it sounds like you took precautions.

 

[Dropped Cat]

Filtered water, I don't have info on Brita, have heard mixed
results on uniformity, okay to drink, but iffy day to day pH stable.

Soaking seeds in pH'd water overnight, vs the wet paper towel.

Do a test on the wet paper towel, likely alkaline due to manufacturing process.

Good thread.

 

[Mr. J]

My tap water comes out ph9. If I'm not feeding nutes, for seeds and clones for example, I don't even bother with ph because honestly it doesn't matter. Also, anyone using bottled nutes, these things are super chelated and the minerals are available to the plants at a pH that most people would think is way out of whack, and they have buffers that bring pretty much any water to within an acceptable range anyway. Most of you worry way too much about stuff that doesn't matter as much as you think it does. You're doing something else wrong or the seeds are junk. 7.6, or even 9, the seeds are living off stored energy so they aren't even absorbing nutrients so why would the pH even matter at that point? Same goes for unrooted cuts.

 

[dddaver]

This is the internets. Of course their will be differing opinions. I have to believe this ".... unadjusted tap water is often alkaline. You do want to stay in the right neighborhood. Plants don't like big pH swings. If you are going to feed at 5.8 then start at 5.8." But everybody is entitled to their opinion.



High, or low ph can restrict nutrient uptake. But I do see you're guys point that ph it shouldn't matter that much when first germinating.

 

[dddaver]

Then there's always Google. "Q: How does ph level effect seed germination? A: 1) pH will affect the activity of all the enzymes in the plant. Some will stop functioning before others as the pH is changed. 2) pH affects the availability of plant nutrients when a plant is growing in soil. 3) At the extremes, acid or alkali are just too corrosive to enable survival." I don't think they're answer directly addresses seed germination though and doesn't address the question. But it IS an answer. Just not to the question asked. Sounds like a politicians answer.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

My water is 7ph straight out of the well. I use it to germ and grow. I use the wicking method to water and if sprouts start dying it's always because of over watering so I back off on the water. Using RO water also kills my seedlings.

 

[growhigh1233]

from my observations its temp that is the most important factor when germing seeds...........i use untouched water from tap........ but always with a heated propagator and rockwool seed cubes ........refresh air and spray a few times a day ......i get exceptional germ rates and have confidence when germ testing seedlines and older seeds

 

[pongster]

You're doing something else wrong or the seeds are junk.

this,
my tap water comes at 1.7 EC, pH 8.5 hehehe i always sprout seeds with it.
if they can grow the tap root, and then can't develop the cotyledons, i'm assuming is too low temperature/overwatering/lack of light.
or the seeds are shit.
best wishes

 

[aridbud]

My water is 7ph straight out of the well. I use it to germ and grow. I use the wicking method to water and if sprouts start dying it's always because of over watering so I back off on the water. Using RO water also kills my seedlings.

Yes, you need a comfy environment with all things correct for germination...pH, temp, right water, not too much, too little. Think incubator.....Genetics play a role, but not so much in initial germination. Remember, even weeds prosper in correct environment.

 

[El Timbo]

My last two Blue Dream seedlings sprouted tap roots fine but both died while trying to shed shells even before cotyledons formed.

Sometimes they need a little help shedding the shell - either a drop of water to help soften it or a gentle removal operation with a toothpick.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

 

[Dropped Cat]

What's this "soil" thing I keep reading about here on icmag, lol.