Lowryder germination problems...urgh

[mountainman]

Ok, so germination is about the easiest part of growing. I've had near 100% gemination rates with 4 other strains, the only times I lost plants is when they dried out due to stupidity on my part.

But, with lowryder I've been having problems that are quite surprising. 4 seeds planted into peat in 6 inch rockwool cubes with DWC and I've found that they pop up slightly, and then just slow down. One has come up, but its cotyledons are all messed up. One other looks like it MIGHT come up, but I dunno. They've been going for 8 days now. I've never had anything take any longer than 4 days to completely come up and unfold its cotyledons. Anyone know why I'm having this problem? I just used my typical starting method.

I have started some more. To restart, I soaked a couple seeds in a thrive-alive B-1 solution until they sank (about 8 hours) and then put them into a paper towel. I'll see how this works.

"The Student", do you have any input? I feel quite stupid for having these problems. It's frustrating since they're somewhat expensive seeds.

[The Student]

Hey Bro,

Interesting situation here.

The first thing that comes to my mind (which could be way off) is that perhaps you are dealing with some pH issues.

I have found LR to be quite delicate when it comes to pH.

I will be following your thread to see if you have any better luck with your second round of seeds.

Your method sounds very close to mine, so I see no obvious reasons for your problems.

What were the other strains that you ran?

Keep the Peace

[mountainman]

My ph runs between 5.77 and 6.0, automatically adjusted constantly by a ph doser. The previous strains were White Widow, Northern Lights, Mexican Sativa, and Ice.

[mountainman]

How fast should they be germinating?

[The Student]

From before I soak until they have produced a tap root is usually around 2 full days.

I then put them in the chosen medium. From there it is usually around 1 1/2 to 2 days for them to poke above ground.

From their they go just like any other.

I really don't know, now knowing that your pH is in check. Perhaps the beans themselves are on the "iffy" side.

Let me know if you do not have any better luck.

Keep the Peace

[mountainman]

Yeah, they may be iffy. But now after soaking them last night and having them in a paper towel since last night, one already has a taproot of a millimeter or so. I'll probably transplant to peat pellets in a mini greenhouse in the morning until they pop above ground, I'll definitely keep you posted, afterall you're the Lowryder guru.

As a special precaution, I checked the calibration of my ph doser, however it's perfect when I calibrate it using calibration solution, so that's not an issue either.

Fortunately, I don't have to keep everything on schedule for flowering. Also, the one that I thought might pop and make it is showing more and more green on the seed that's coming up, although it's still very slow.

Now, off to do a reservoir change.

[mountainman]

Ok, so I got one beautiful taproot yesterday evening, that one went right into a peat pellet. Then this morning there was great healthy taproot on the second seed. That one went in this morning too. I should start to see green this evening or tomorrow morning! They're acting more like other seeds I've started now that I'm really babying them.

[The Student]

Awesome,

I am glad to see that they are starting to come around for you.

Nothing worse then spending your hard earned money on seeds that you can not get to sprout.

I am glad they are on the right track.

Come on ladies..

Keep the Peace

[DoctorFeelGood]

Where did you get your seeds from?
DFG

[mountainman]

Seedboutique, under the highbred.net and Joint Doctor name.

[The Student]

One of the only official distributors I might add.

Good on you mountainman. What did they send ya for freebies?

Keep the Peace

[mountainman]

Mist of destruction :-D I think I might actually start giving away some of my freebies soon though, someone I know plants on their land, about 1000 Acres :-D

Still no green sprouting yet, hopefully when I get back this evening :-/

[newgoal300]

planted 10 lows all ten popped 8 were female one was a twin, used peat pellets and the mini greenhouse, worked great, got 14grm average on each

[mountainman]

Newgoal, what sorta lighting did you grow them under?

[mountainman]

This morning I got rid of the seeds that I figured weren't coming up. I broke them open where the taproot came out, and it seemed that the insides were cooked. Perhaps the HPS light killed them?

The ones I'm currently starting are under flouros and being kept cooler. Hopefully that makes the difference. Still no cotyledons yet, keeping my fingers crossed.

[mafia819]

HPS could cause infrared over-heat on your seeds and kill them quite fast. So rule of tumb is avoid HPS to start seeds and use floros at 2 - 3'' over the plant canopy to maximize lumens absoption by the plants. Also, push seeds 1'' in the ground so they are covered by soil OR in darkness if you germinate using moist paper towel...(Germinating seeds in darkness is what gives the nicest results) Keep soil moist but NOT damp. Keep em groing under floros till they are 2 weeks at least, earlier is too risky and could burn the seedlings causing stress and plant stunts...

Hope it helps! :)

Happy Growing & Good Luck! :thumbsup:

[mountainman]

Still nothing, fingers crossed.

Mafia, I've had pretty good luck moving other seedlings to HPS within a day of sprouting. As long as it's not right down on them right away, they love it!

[newgoal300]

i used fluro's to germ them and when they were ready they went under a 1000w mh, which everyone said wouldn't work well but i'm very impressed and proud of my first grow. i see no need for a hps after this, but the experimenter that i am i'll go buy a hps and try that too, just to compare. and then i'll have both to use if i see a distinct difference

[mountainman]

Ok, so one of the seeds seems to be coming along slowly, I don't think it's dead. Hopefully it shows it's head tonight, but these seeds are being really damn slow. I just don't get it at all. Another one changed the direction its root was growing and started going up. Most bizarre thing ever. This is five days so far.

[mountainman]

Would it be at all worth it to load them with Thrive Alive B1 or Earth Juice Catalyst? If so, how much?

[Ze w33d Farm3r]

Ahhh you bout the beans from seedboutique?

Im thinking bout buy som lowryder too, Im assuming that your in the US of A so how long did it take for yours to arrive? on their website it says something bout between 7-28 days?

[mountainman]

Seedboutique delivers very quickly. 7-28 days is assuming that you could live in any country in the world. But, you should see seeds that you order arriving in about a week.

[Ze w33d Farm3r]

ah oki thats good cause ive try to order from different sites and haven't got the seeds/poor customer service! also since im still a bit unfamiliar with US pricing for seeds is $50 per 10 about average?

[mountainman]

For lowryder, yes. $50 for ten seeds is the cheapest.

[mountainman]

No luck yet really, but perusing highbred.net for a bit suggested that lowryders take a while sometimes. There should be no way that these could have fried, since they're not under HPS yet. I measured, and they're at about 30 C inside the greenhouse.

I've got all six of my remaining seeds planted now. <crossing fingers> My hydro system is ready to go.

[mountainman]

Ok Student, here's a question that I'd like answered please.

The two that I started germinating when I decided to retry have succumbed to root rot. I think the peat pellets are holding too much moisture in. I'm trying to save one that seemed to have a chance, but it's a longshot.

I pulled out the four remaining seeds which are about to pop (except for one which has just barely popped) and put them in a sparingly damp paper towel. I'm thinking I'll try germinating these in a better draining mixture, I've got some peat moss that doesn't like to hold much water. Sound like a good idea? I wanna get these ones to live, cause I don't wanna have to drop another $50 on lowryder seeds :-/

[chisme]

docterfeelgood i gotta say that avatar is wicked!

[mountainman]

Ok, so I'm germinating right now with bottom heat in a small greenhouse in a better draining mixture. One just popped the surface of the soil an hour or so ago! I think I've found my lowryder germination method.

Peat pellets = bad for lowryder. Northern Lights, White Widow, Mexican Sativa, or Ice don't care, but lowryder definitely does. I'll probably use a better draining mixture for all seeds from now on, regardless of strain. If all goes well, I'll have four popping by the end of the week.

Student - I'll keep you posted and send some pics.

[mountainman]

Ok, one seedling's cotyledons are starting to open and turn green, the other one should also do the same soon. It looks like these two will make it. Hopefully I'll have another two popping up soon also.

Pics coming once they're transplanted to hydro and hps in a day or two.