Yeah, works for me when needed. I ate a lot of top shelf genetics before figuring this trick out 
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I’d scuff it with sandpaper. I would probably break more seeds than I saved trying to crack the shell.
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I just popped some 12 year old seeds. But these had been refrigerated. Not left on someone’s dresser for 4 years and then sent to someone else’s disappointment.
I basically used johnny potseed’s method. Difference was 1) after soaking in water with peroxide I slit an aloe vera leaf and stuck them in there 6 hours. 2) I stuck some paper under the plastic dish I had the worm castings in and then covered the dish with a plastic bag you get at the store for veggies.
First ones popped in less than 24 hours. The rest were done before the third day.
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Weed growers massively overcomplicate seed starting. With fresh, viable seed, or even seed that’s been stored properly for a few years, sowing directly in a good, well draining soil mix should have a high success rate with seeds above ground in three to five days. Of course, it is important to be in a good temperature range. High seventies is ideal. If you’re using a propagation heat mat be sure to use a digital thermostatic controller. Otherwise it’ll be way too hot.
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Says the guy who probably never had seeds not germinate.
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Why so grouchy all the time?
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I’m with him, good seeds should pop within 3 days to 5 days max if all conditions are proper and by proper it really comes down to some soil and water
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Easy with that heat mat @spillz907
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Since getting a new batch of seeds, I probably have a 95% germination rate.
I might get some gibberellic acid to try with them later because there’s some really good genetics in there but… Yeah, this ultimately ended up being a case of banging my head against old seeds for about a month.
Although I do admit, I was using too much water to begin with. That being said a lot of people germinate in water so… Again, healthy seeds shouldn’t have problems for the most part.
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Stoked you got some new seeds that are working for you and bummed for the expensive you had to go through with your germination woes with the other seeds you had saved.
I think you speak on something about seeds that’s so true. Healthy viable seeds will usually germinate in spite of things rather than need a perfect environment for germination. I like to think that for whatever reason the universe wanted you to have the seeds you have now instead of the ones you had that didn’t germinate. That these new ones for you will have great plants that you and others will enjoy and find great utility out of. As if the universe fast tracked awesomeness to you. Many blessings and much love
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Hi overgrow.
Seems like I need help here.
I do wet towel method, but I don’t use hydrogen peroxide or anything. For some reason, the tips of the root come out darker, or brownish instead of white.
Is it normal? I’ve lost around 12 seeds so far. I seriously need guidance.
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How long are they taking to pop?
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anything past 48 hours might be over soaked. if they are hatching within 24-48 hours in water, and they just hatch a brown tail, theres something maybe wrong with the seeds is what i would suggest. sometimes u gotta blame the beans and not yourself. as soon as i get my beans i like to pop some and make sure they make a cool plant if im not sure about them really.
This is something i think is the best way to sprout, courtesy of 808genetics. I think this is pretty perfectly detailed and well put. Also, i think sometimes by putting the seed into the soil or pot, alot of the time it ends up growing better than just in water or paper towel. after 48 hours if i think its having a rough time, i usually atleast toss it in a pot to see if it helps.
Heres from 808 genetics
"We pop our seeds by doing the following:
- Float the seeds in a shotglass of water until most of them sprout or sink to the bottom of the cup. This can take 24-72 hours. (If they sink, you need to transfer them to a paper towel within 6 hours or they may become compromised.) We don’t recommend using any amount of hydrogen peroxide during this step.
- Then transfer them to a damp paper towel in a closed Ziploc bag. If the paper towel is too wet, the seeds will mold. If it’s too dry, the seeds won’t sprout. We recommend opening the bag once a day to check on the seeds and let fresh air in the bag. Temperature is important while the seeds are in a paper towel. If it’s too warm (above 77 degrees F) the seeds will rot or mold. For this reason, heat mats are not recommended.
- Place the Ziploc bag on a kitchen counter with a room temperature around 74-76 degrees F.
- Let the seeds sit in the bag for a few days (2-4 days) until they sprout a 2-3 inch taproot. Again, we recommend opening the bag once a day to check on the seeds and let fresh air in the bag.
- Plant the seeds as needed in soil, as they reach the desired size, not necessarily all at once or all in the same day.
- We plant the seeds with the tops just sticking out of the soil and place them under an LED light, about 10-12 inches underneath it.
"
-808genetics
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They sink within 16 hours, and some them pop in 16 hours.
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sounds a little inconsistent, they should consistently sprout the same too. idk but thats a judgement call you might have to make on them. you can still get great plants from the ones that do sprout tho possibly too. some seeds i made myself recently i only got 50% germ but i got a lot of plants and they are healthy . lots of males unfortunately lol
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I stopped floating and putting seeds in paper towels. I personally just throw them in some damp root riot cubes in a propagation kit with a heat mat under it. Maintain around 75° and they sprout within a few days. The paper towel method worked for me most of the time, but I found I had more consistent results doing it this way.
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Forgive me im late to the party
Im a dirt nerd…just put em in dirt
The best plants i ever started were seeds i threw off the porch into the yard/grass and forgot about amd.noticed 2 weeks later when i started mowing…
Just let mother nature do her thang!
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came here to say just ^. The ones I recently chopped, I started indoors with solo cups, and humidity domes
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Try this method.
I grow in coco so it might be a little different than starting them in soil but
I soak the seeds in a cup of water overnight usually 12 hours
then I run tap water until its as hot as it gets and pour hot water into a solo cup filled with coco. I make sure I get some runoff and the entire cup is saturated then I take a pen and poke a hole in the top of the coco about 1/4 deep throw the seed in the hole then tightly wrap the top of the solo cup with plastic wrap and put in my tent with the light set at 24 hours. As long as the temp is in the mid to high 70s I get 100% germination within 2 days.
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