need a push in right direction

I think I have a pretty good setup so far, but I've lost 4 seeds already and i'm trying to germinate my last one via papertowel method. I haven't been able to get a root out of a single seed, but after 2 days or so i'll put the seeds in soil under 2 6500k CFL's for 18 hours. I have a fan running, and i am sure taht i'm not over watering. can anyone help?

what soil are you using? dont say MG

i'm using potting soil out of my family's personal growing supply.

stang said:

i'm using potting soil out of my family's personal growing supply.

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scratch up the seed by rolling it on sandpaper, then put on a ceramic plate cover about 3 times with paper towel then cover with a smaller plate, then stick it ontop of your dvr or cable box for a couple days once they sprout, put the seed in soil and put a cfl 2 inches from it the heat coming off the bulb will help germinate

i germinated many and quickly by taking two paper towel wetting them both and placing the seeds in the middle of the two. Then place the wet paper towel in between two places two keep them dark and humid. put the plates in a dark place for a couple days. check to see if the water dies up and if it does wet it again. I swear by this method.

You could always just make a small hole in your soil and drop the seed in the hole. Good luck. Try to get some more fluorescent tubes in your grow room if you can to keep the stretch to min.

i've been putting them in a plastic bag and zipping it up, then sticking it between two towels for warmth and putting it in my bedside nightstand.

im for the paper bag method as well

if your familys supply of soil has nutrients or compost in it, this could be what is killing your seedlings before thy crack the surface. i cant think of anything else you could be doing wrong. try putting the seeds in a little cup or shotglass of regular soil for a week or 2

stang said:

i've been putting them in a plastic bag and zipping it up, then sticking it between two towels for warmth and putting it in my bedside nightstand.

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I always germinate right in the soil. RW for hydro.

It could be just a bad batch of seeds you have.

I've found germinated seeds under the floor mat in my car.

i've left the seeds in the towels for a few days and no sprouts. also my soil seems to dry up really quick. i'm not quite sure where i'm going wrong.

stang said:

i've left the seeds in the towels for a few days and no sprouts. also my soil seems to dry up really quick. i'm not quite sure where i'm going wrong.

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if you do my plate method the water evaporates to te top of the other plate and it drips back to the towel keeping it really moist

i always keep the bag of paper towel and seeds on top of the cable box with a plate covering them.

heat is a factor alot of people forget

ok so i switched up the setup, i put it between two plates behind my dehumidifier (dark, and its pretty warm behind it) even though its a dehumidifier it should be okay right?

im not sure, it might dehumidify your paper towels quick, try the cable box, sterio or the computer

use a spray bottle to spray down the soil when getting dry. Add some peat moss to your soil for water retention, you could also use perlite as a growing medium. Its got a neutral ph.

If you're having trouble germinating, it's most likely an issue with either moisture or tempature. I would forget the paper towels and just put the seed into your medium, and maybe seran-wrap over the top to keep it humid if your soil's drying out too quickly. Most people in this thread are telling you to stick with the towels, but it really only adds an extra step and extra chances for mis-steps by using them.

Also, a planted seed does not need light before it breaks ground. The light doesn't tell it which direction to grow, that's what gravities for, and any heat from the bulb is most likely just going to dry the top of the soil too fast.