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Round 2, here I go


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Hi Roy, this is the best guide for germination I have seen. Good read even if your finished germinating.

 

http://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide

 

Not a bad resource there, I am open to learning different techniques and arguments. I can see that if the seeds were healthy and had been kept under the soil (i.e. untouched) as they would be in nature, then directly planting them would be sensible. However, my seeds may have been old and been sitting above the ground, in a plastic bag, without any moisture.

 

So thinking about it myself, I believe the plate with paper towel or dropping it in water to soak, are methods which suit seeds that have been out of the soil and off the plant for a long time. The soaking helps speed up the process of getting water into the seed to germinate. Yeah, I could put them directly into soil, but it would take a lot longer. That is my thinking, but Im no expert.  

 

On to my seeds, I have one pop out of the soil this morning. I will leave this one under the bottle over tonight and then take the cover off tomorrow. Its going to be warm and dry for the next week or so, so now that it is out of the soil, I want it to breath the air and not get too hot under the plastic. 

 

The second seed was planted this morning. I think there was a very small root growing out, if anything. I planted this morning and now wait in hope more than anything. 

 

So I had two seeds only. One has definitely germinated, and the other is up in the air at the moment. 50% strike rate is better than last year, which was 1 out of about a dozen.

 

Some photos are attached for your viewing pleasure / information

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Best of luck Roy, when I've put bottles over germinating seeds like that in the past Ive just used the last 6 inches or so. Then maybe once a day take it off & spray inside with a spray bottle to keep the humidity up. I have no idea if its better or worse but right now in Adelaide you should be right just to leave outside somewhere where it gets a fair bit of sun & it should be right. I only spray the soil with a spray bottle to until the plant is a few inches tall. Ive had pale seeds sprout & darker seeds sprout myself. I have always been under the impression that darker seeds are better though, I guess they're formed better or something. Im sure some-one with more knowledge will be around shortly. How many seeds u got left?

 

I used the spray bottle method to water the plants in the early stages too. I am only using distilled water FYI.

 

The lighter of the two seeds was the one to drop first, interestingly. I think it was the one to germinate too,although by the time the seed germinated, the seeds were pretty similarly coloured.

 

FYI, I only have two seeds, and so far one has sprouted and the other I am waiting for.

 

gl roy. I also use this method. put them in a shot glass of boiled water (cooled to room temp) then wait for them to sink... normally 24 hours but might be more for some... once sunk then on the tissue paper. once roots have come out them I plant them. 

So far every seed I have bought has worked using this method. which has been 5 autos and a fem seed. 100% so far ;)

 

Yeah I am only using distilled water, which would be similar to the boiled water in that it is killing any living contaminants in the water. 

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I think temp ( 24-25c ) & moister are the 2 main things that will help germinate seeds quickly 

& also the placement of the seed , it needs to have good contact with the medium

making sure no air pockets around the seed otherwise takes longer 

 

if temp & moister are kept consistent germination is relatively quick in any medium

Are there pain in the arse seeds , yes , but you don't know they're pains until you try to germinate

i like the kiss method because most seeds just want to grow of any species & less extra processing the better IMHO

Edited by itchybromusic
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Yeah I am only using distilled water, which would be similar to the boiled water in that it is killing any living contaminants in the water. 

 

yeah and boiled water from the kettle is also free ;) 

 

I should have mentioned that moving the seed between the shot glass and the tissue and then planting is done with out touching it at all

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mutha-farker!

 

I came home and my seedling was looking really bad. Had fallen over and slightly changed colour (sort of blue-ish hue to the bottom of the stem).

 

I am pretty sure it didnt get any direct sunlight today, maybe in the morning it did...

 

I have given it a spray with the water bottle (not directly on the seedling but tried to water around it).

 

I am going to put the plastic bottle over it tomorrow and maybe move it to a more shady spot and hope it perks back up again...

 

SHIT!

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boiling water removes contaminants & chlorine but leaves chloramine & fluoride FWIW

  

 

Yeah, I know, hence why I said living contaminants.

 

I think distilled is going to be better as I will be able to really regulate what nutrients I feed it by adding measured amounts to the distiller water.

 

Adelaide tap water is full of added chemicals from the water treatment in this city.

 

The soil looks a little dry. I would give them a water until run off, then leave them alone until the pot gets light again. (Feel weight of pot when wet compared to when dry)

You shouldn't need the humidity dome now.

It was definitely too dry. I watered it last night, put the dome back on, and this morning it was standing up again. I'm going to leave the dome on today to try and keep the moisture in and see how it goes.

 

Luckily these plants are pretty hardy.

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