Germination success rate

[JackdaWack]

Ok kinda pissed over here, i got 10 B.B. seeds and 2 outa 10 actually made it, 6 total cracked and 4 never grew tap roots :S4:. I ussually do the papertowel method in a baggie and put them ontop of my fluoros cause there warm. any one have better germination methods, i know of the cup and water method but im scared of drowning the poor little guys i really need a high success rate in germination cause its a waste of money otherwise, thsi goes for all imsure. What do u guys do step by step im tired of wasting seeds.

[Uncle E]

I started 10 seeds I ordered by using the cup of water deal.Using water other then tap(I melted snow then got to room temp.),place seeds plus water in cup in a dark place.They won't drown the point here is for the seed to swell with water.As long as the seed is wet and STAYS wet you will have germination(provided you have viable seeds).So whatever you do paper towel,directly into medium of choice or cup of water seeds can't dry out.Once wet keep them wet.I had my first seed crack in 30 hrs with 7 more following a few hrs. later.The last two to crack took a little longer then the others prob.around 48 hrs.Once I noticed a seed crack I gently placed her seed deep in my medium(soil).After a few days I had sprouts.Three weeks into the grow I noticed one was lagging so out with the runt. Nine out of ten are happy and I am waiting for some preflowers.I hope my rambling helped you some. Good luck with your grow. PEACE

[JackdaWack]

yeah, i dunno what what was up the towel was consistantly damp, im gonna try the cup of water trick.

[JackdaWack]

just to show how "rediculous" i am, i went up stairs to get a cup of water and i came back with no water and a bowl of ice cream haha.:S5:

[Uncle E]

Rofl, ice cream sounds so good right now.I have none and the store is closed. :(

[SaanenGoats]

I don't know about better methods, I just got my seeds (WHOO HOO!!) and stuck four between damp paper towels in a ziplock on top of my stereo because I think that'll be the warmest overnight... I figure right on top of the heating vent might fry 'em, eh. Anyhow. The only thing I have to suggest, which I'm also doing, is to germinate them in batches instead of taking all ten at once. That way if something happens, contaminated water, overheated, underwatered, overwatered, whathaveyou... at least you have the rest to fall back on. Just my two cents. Cheerio!

[JackdaWack]

yeah i never do them all at once, the first 4 i did only got 2 and there flowering right now, and when they went into flower i saved 6 to germinate so i could get a crop cirlce, and thats where things went down hill, maybe they got to hott..

[canuck grower]

I had 3 of 4 seeds crack in a day or two day by putting them in water until they sank when pushed lightly, then into some wet paper towel in an unzipped baggy in the cupboard. I should check on the 4th tonight, but I have a feeling it'll take another day or two.

For my current grow we had nearly all of 20-something seeds germ using just paper towels. I think maybe 2-3 of them didn't go. I like the paper towel method because it works for me so far.

Could it just be the seeds? Sounds like you did everything correctly.

[stinkyattic]

If they crack but don't grow a taproot, look out for fungus as your culprit.

You can try sterilizing everything first... even rinse the seeds in 10% bleach... then rinse them off again really well with tap water.

If you use the water method, there should be enough water just to moisten the seeds but not cover them! I like the glass tubes that fine cigars come in...just a splash of water... add seeds... lay on its side in a warmish (between 75 and 85 deg F, no warmer!) place and I get taproots in less than 24h. Usually... some strains take longer.