Seeds won't germinate

HI folks,

I've been trying to germinate seeds in a wet paper towel, which has been successful numerous times. One of these popped right away, but I have 3 that are especially tough. Two of the seeds have been cooking for close to 2 weeks.

Should I give up on them, or is there some magic out there to get them to sprout?

TheOneTheOnlyCoop said:

HI folks,

I've been trying to germinate seeds in a wet paper towel, which has been successful numerous times. One of these popped right away, but I have 3 that are especially tough. Two of the seeds have been cooking for close to 2 weeks.

Should I give up on them, or is there some magic out there to get them to sprout?

Click to expand...

Throw them out take the loss and start over I no it's a bummer but just move on your wasting time 2weeks way to long. I just drop mine in a cup of water for a day max2 days in the water then switch to the paper towel for a day or two if I don't see it come open in those 3-4 days I'm done with that seed

Be sure you wring out those paper towels to not be dripping wet.
scuffing the seeds in a matchbook with some 180 sand paper in the bottom can help (put them in and shake for a minute).

Be SURE you do not use bottled, distilled, or tap that has set out to get rid of Chlor. Those have little to no dissolved oxygen in them! The seeds NEED that to pop and to carry on!

Soaking is fast becoming something the top seed breeders tell you NOT to do....That's for the reason I gave you above! a few drops of H2O2 can help a bit,,,,,Be sure they're in a warm but not over 90F spot....If you use a heating mat for seedlings....Put a towel over it and then place the container on that.....helps to make sure they don't get too hot!

Put seed in hole and keep temps around 78 degrees.

TheOneTheOnlyCoop said:

HI folks,

I've been trying to germinate seeds in a wet paper towel, which has been successful numerous times. One of these popped right away, but I have 3 that are especially tough. Two of the seeds have been cooking for close to 2 weeks.

Should I give up on them, or is there some magic out there to get them to sprout?

Click to expand...

(Take a sniff. Is it funky? If so discard them. If not...remoist a fresh towel and try with fresh water).

Don't throw them out. Just put them in cups with soil and see where that goes. In stead of wasting money try a different route if after a week no go then chuck. Experiments are fun.

I had 2 seeds do the same thing. Took like a week in the paper towel and didn't pop. I did what Master Miller suggested and they sprouted in a day.

I'm no scientist or botanist but I believe the seed needs to be comfortable to sprout. Paper towel route is great, tried and tested for many years but I always come back to how mother nature does it. The seeds need A) Media B) comfortable temps C) moisture. Everything inside that tiny little seed will provide it with what it needs until those cotyledon's sprout. Then it's pretty much smooth sailing. I'll admit. I remember 9 months ago when I started my whole indoor cultivation I was so anxious and impatient and scoured the Internet to find out if I was doing ok and now I treat it like it's just another step in my day.

The more input I kept giving my plants during my first grow only hurt them(nutrients, water and constantly touching and moving). My second grow I gave them very little input (nutrients, water, touching and moving only when needed) and my results were night and day.

I'm using a Jiffy greenhouse from Walmart with a heating pad to germinate all of my seeds even to root my clones and pepper plants

Nice. Cheap and easy is never a bad thing.

Honestly. I bought my pvc, para cord, trellis nets, material for my diy air pots and buckets for the local box store. Gotta do what you gotta do.

ThatOneGuyOverThere said:

I'm using a Jiffy greenhouse from Walmart with a heating pad to germinate all of my seeds even to root my clones and pepper plants

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Just a question I just started on this forum not long ago and posted a grow journal. Can you access it someone said it was not accessable.

ThatOneGuyOverThere said:

I'm using a Jiffy greenhouse from Walmart with a heating pad to germinate all of my seeds even to root my clones and pepper plants

Click to expand...

That's a recipe for damping off. You've been warned.

Sorry. Got ya.

BabyAndaconda420 said:

Throw them out take the loss and start over I no it's a bummer but just move on your wasting time 2weeks way to long. I just drop mine in a cup of water for a day max2 days in the water then switch to the paper towel for a day or two if I don't see it come open in those 3-4 days I'm done with that seed

Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know!

MickFoster said:

Put seed in hole and keep temps around 78 degrees.
View attachment 3877568

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Cool!

MasterMiller said:

Don't throw them out. Just put them in cups with soil and see where that goes. In stead of wasting money try a different route if after a week no go then chuck. Experiments are fun.

Click to expand...

Super-fun!

ThatOneGuyOverThere said:

I had 2 seeds do the same thing. Took like a week in the paper towel and didn't pop. I did what Master Miller suggested and they sprouted in a day.

Click to expand...

Yay!

MasterMiller said:

I'm no scientist or botanist but I believe the seed needs to be comfortable to sprout. Paper towel route is great, tried and tested for many years but I always come back to how mother nature does it. The seeds need A) Media B) comfortable temps C) moisture. Everything inside that tiny little seed will provide it with what it needs until those cotyledon's sprout. Then it's pretty much smooth sailing. I'll admit. I remember 9 months ago when I started my whole indoor cultivation I was so anxious and impatient and scoured the Internet to find out if I was doing ok and now I treat it like it's just another step in my day.

Click to expand...

Thanks!