Hey Roseman, looking good!! I'm just about 3 days behind you, as my seeds TODAY have just begun to crack open (at least 2 of them).
I wanted to share a quick thought on seeds while we're all on the topic:
That is, I had these 2 seeds (don't know what they are but they are from a "Club" in Cali) and they are 2 years or older, probably 2.25. Anyways, I tried to germ them about a month ago before I decided to take some time off and revamp my grow accoutrements. Anywho, I germed them on a wet paper towel for 2 days and then put them in soil. I waited a week and kept it moist - NOTHING. I literally gave in and dismantled the pots and soil, filtered them through to find the seeds, and after about an hour found them both (AMAZINGLY!!)
Fast forward to 3 days ago. I took those 2 same seeds (which I had kept who knows why) and 2 new seeds (from the same 2.25 year old batch I had from when I left Cali) and put them in WATER (as YOU suggested). That's right, a container with a sealed lid. I actually LOVE to use those BUBBLES you get up front in those Wal-Mart candy/toy machines - the ones my daughter has like a hundred of by now. She gives them to me and I find all sorts of uses for it (mostly related to Marijuana of course). Anyways, I had that sealed full of water for 3 days with 4 seeds. Yesterday I moved it to less light and more warmth (garage cupboard) and today I have 2 cracked seeds/sprouts peeking out. The ones which sprouted both were the ones I tried before - likely because the shell was already mostly weakened from a previous germination attempt. The other 2 likely are another day or more away but I'm just glad I finally got the 2 seeds to sprout. Who knew a seed could go through so much deprivation (2.25 years) and then a failed germ attempt and then STILL be able to germinate!! MARVELOUS!! Life is just amazing!!
Anyways, I just thought I'd share. DON'T GIVE UP IF YOU DON'T SEE SPROUTS IN 2-3 DAYS, KEEP WAITING!! Dark + Warmth + 100% Humidity/Moisture = THE KEY!!
So now I am soaking my Rockwool (also overnight) in ~ 5.5 pH water. It is cold and I think it will go up (it rarely goes down) so it might end up being ~6.0 after the night, who knows. Anyways it is good enough for a Rockwool pre-soaking!
Which leads me to my question TO YOU - You show rinsing your Hrydroton - I will do that soon as well, but I noticed you are NOT rinsing with pH nuetral (or ~6.0 pH) water... WHY IS THAT?? The Hydroton rocks surely hold a TON of water (hence the name, right?) so I would imagine that hydroton-contained water will affect pH to some degree, no?
Just a thought... I might plan to pre-soak/rinse my Hydroton in ~6.0 pH water if that is the case - what do you think?
Thanks again!!
), I didn't want too, but I knew I had to do a reservoir change to get the situation back under control. Not only that, I just got back from Lowes, Wally World, & the Local Hardware store w/ the exact setup as yours......
