Can't get seeds to germinate...

[Euphoric7]

I have a lot of about 15 seeds left. And What I've done to some of them before is take a plastic container, put a paper towel down, put the seeds on top, spray them with water, put another layer of paper towels on top, and spray again. Then I put the cover on the container, but didn't close it, and I put it on my fridge.
The water used was basic bottled drinking water.

It's been 3 weeks and none of the seeds have germinated.

The seeds were solid and didn't crack when I squeezed them.

Any tips?

Euphoric7 Reviewed by Euphoric7 on 02-19-2008. Can't get seeds to germinate... I have a lot of about 15 seeds left. And What I've done to some of them before is take a plastic container, put a paper towel down, put the seeds on top, spray them with water, put another layer of paper towels on top, and spray again. Then I put the cover on the container, but didn't close it, and I put it on my fridge. The water used was basic bottled drinking water. It's been 3 weeks and none of the seeds have germinated. The seeds were solid and didn't crack when I squeezed them. Rating: 5

[CultureCherryPopper]

Don't put them in your fridge? I'd start with that. Also, try soaking your seeds in a glass of water for about a day. The ones that sink, place in the paper towels in a tupperware container closed, place in a stable, dark place.

[melodious fellow]

get a dish and put a layer of paper towels on bottom or a sponge

lay seeds on towel or sponge

fill dish and submerge seeds and towel in warm water. I read that adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 to the water increases germination ratios

anyway, cover with a black sock or something dark and put in a very warm place, I use a windowsill.

Almost all my bagseeds germinate every time, never fails.

[michaelpeg]

what i do is i pretty much submerge the paper towel in water and squeeze it a bit so that it wont drip by itself but it will drip if squeezed and i flod it up and put the seeds underneat a couple layers and then place on a plate with a bowl on top. i place them on my cable reciever box (refridgerator should work too) they crack almost always before 24 hours. IMO it is good to see some condensation on the bowl that is covering the plate but just my opinion i am new at this as well and according to stinky and a few others it is a good idea to scuff them a bit with some sand paper to weaken the shell a bit

[fiddyonefiddy]

i used an electrical tape case clear plastic
used the wet towel method and put it in the closet on a shelf
cooler in the closet,dark too and had good roots in three days to seven days depending on the seed.bag seeds took a lil longer than bought seeds.

[daihashi]

what i do is i pretty much submerge the paper towel in water and squeeze it a bit so that it wont drip by itself but it will drip if squeezed and i flod it up and put the seeds underneat a couple layers and then place on a plate with a bowl on top. i place them on my cable reciever box (refridgerator should work too) they crack almost always before 24 hours. IMO it is good to see some condensation on the bowl that is covering the plate but just my opinion i am new at this as well and according to stinky and a few others it is a good idea to scuff them a bit with some sand paper to weaken the shell a bit

I personally have had bad luck with placing it on top of a place that is warmer than the ambient temperature of my house. Then again I live in a place where it is pretty warm year round. Usually when I placed them on something warm I got roots that sprouted that looked like mush or they would crack.. sprout a little (like less than 1/16 of an inch.) and then by the end of the day it would retreat back into the shell of the seed never sprouting again.

That's my personal expierence with putting them someplace warm.

First I put my seeds in a cup of water and wait for them to sink over a period of 1 day. If there are some floating I get something to knock them around since sometimes they'll still float until you give them a little push.

Then I use the ziplock back/paper towel method.

I take a paper towel and fold it twice. Then I wet it and squeeze it until it does not drip on it's own but will drip if I squeeze it.

Then I unfold it once. Place my seeds in there spaced about 1 cm apart (just incase I get some crazy root growth.) and then I fold the paper towel back down on top of them.

At that point I get a ziplock bag and place the paper towel inside of it. I close the ziplock bag trying to KEEP as much air trapped in it as possible. DO NOT BLOW in there. Just try to capture the natural air.

Then I place it somewhere very dark. Like a cabinet or a shelf in my closet. Wait 1-5 days and boom. Roots galore.

I've had near 100% germination with this technique. I think it's a technique that many board members use as well.

[Euphoric7]

Don't put them in your fridge? I'd start with that. Also, try soaking your seeds in a glass of water for about a day. The ones that sink, place in the paper towels in a tupperware container closed, place in a stable, dark place.

ON the fridge, not in. And thanks for the advice, everyone! :thumbsup: