Soaking seeds - why do you guys do it

[Muleskinner]

Couldn’t hold back any longer, after years of seeing people on OG “soak” seeds like it’s Standard Operating Procedure. I cringe when I see this

Why would you want to do that? Cannabis grows in soil, it’s not an aquatic plant. Land-based plants don’t like being submerged in water.

a data point to consider - I just finished germinating seeds from 5 different batches in the last few months - my own 10-year old seeds and 3 breeder packs. I used direct-seed into soil and got 100% germination from all of them, 40-50 total seeds

Like most other annual seeds, cannabis seeds should be planted at a depth of twice the seed diameter - about 1/4 to 1/2 inch down. Water thoroughly. Keep the temperature at 80 degrees. My medium stays wet until the 3rd or 4th day when I again soak the pots. The plants emerge from the soil 4-5 days after sowing. I get 90-100% germination every time.

[Craigson15]

Ya i always wondered too.
I just go straight peat pellets. Soak em n keep wet first 4-5 days then let dry out until watering again.

[MadScientist]

I am guilty as charged!

I dunno even know bro. I guess bad habits die hard huh!?

I found coco not to be optimal for germination u know, so i put them in paper towels as soon as they crack, and if they don’t sprout after 48 hours i toss them. I am trying to help the seeds sprout better with the help of my little friend i got from the 'Gram…

I present to you: THE SEED-CRACKER!!!

It is a valuable tool and it does help, no more helmet-heads!

And i just placed my two Dark Devils (Sweet Seeds) and two Diesel Auto (G13 Labs) in paper towels. I mean while we are entertaining the subject! U know!

Thanks for putting this out @Muleskinner.

Sci

[Tinytuttle]

I’v been known to do both but as of lately I’v been direct seeding. If planting with a decent size tap root there’s always the chance of breaking the damn thing off ! Then your up a shit creek without a paddle!

I think there’s less chance of helmet head also IMHO!

[Fuel]

Some females produce rock-hard shell and/or hydrophobic oil and/or thick dry resin layers than are problematic when you can’t simulate with ease the guts of an animal or a 6 months season. So i soak their seeds in various liquid type, depend on what i need, to permit to penetrate/soften these shells. If i plant them like a skunk, they just rot. They are more “planned” to be worked by the nature a long time in arid zones before sprouting at the right time. Being a stoner, i’ve not this time ^^

[Northern_Loki]

Ditto. Direct sow in peat pellets. Germination rate (fresh seed tempered from the frig) has been fine for me so far.

Though, I’d consider different methods fine too.

[anon32470837]

LOL!!

I realized recently that the more I learn about growing this weed, the less I seem to know, and this thread just backs that up even more

To mis-quote from the movie ‘The Martian’ , “It’s botany, not real science.”

There are soooo many vastly different “best” ways to grow this plant - and they all seem to work!!

[Albannach]

I don’t normally soak seeds either but i have done once or twice cos they were old and difficult to germ.

[Billy]

i never used to soak seeds i just plant them and did great but i recently tried soaking some seeds and they cracked in 3 hrs i was really impressed

[Muleskinner]

With seeds that don’t germ well I do resort to the paper-towel method to avoid wasting time and space. But handling the seeds during hatching can cause trouble, sometimes I toss them in the hole and the taproot grows in the wrong direction, this never happens w/ direct seed.

this looks like a a good webpage - all germination methods accepted without prejudice!

https://www.dutch-passion.com/en/news-and-development/the-best-ways-to-germinate-cannabis-seeds/

[WMoon518]

It kinda seems natural to me. I soak many, if not most, of my Vegetable seeds as it speeds up germination.

[neogitus]

To each their own. I’ve always had better success soaking the seeds for a few hours. Almost always 100 percent success. Sometimes it’s not just water. Some people use kelp or ga3 along with the water. Is is necessary? probably not, but I do feel it speeds things up! Older seeds can be a pain in the ass. @MadScientist is that seed cracker from woodshed on IG? pretty cool. I’ve had my eye on one for quite awhile actually. It looks nice!

[Muleskinner]

when I have old seeds I make sure to use direct seed to give them the best chance at germinating and growing.

You get 100% when soaking the seeds and then direct-seeding, you get 100% when you just direct-seed…this is precisely my point. I see all sorts of crazy stuff being done on this website that is unnecessary.

People are often stunned when I tell them I use nothing but plain water on my plants for the entire grow cycle. IMO there is an entire industry of products that are completely unnecessary for growing the best possible herb. Sometimes I can’t contain myself and speak up

[Eddie.saw]

I used to soak, tgeb paper towel, then into soil once I,see a root… Now I soak then for 24 hours then put into the soil.

I,see your reasoning for saying the soak isn’t necessary but I thought giving them that soak speeds things up a little.

I haven’t done a side by sidebso next round I definitely will.

BTW, you say you use water from start to finish. Arwbyou doing no till?

[Muleskinner]

I think what I do is considered “super soil”, I make it fresh every time and use the discarded soil on outdoor beds. Basically I use quality compost and 4 added dry fertilizers in the soil and plain water the whole way. Also I use the exact same mix and nute level for seedlings and flowering plants.

[Eddie.saw]

Awesome. I just started my first ‘super soil’ and was hoping to recycle the soil since my,budget is quite low… Do you reamend for your outdoor beds?

[99PerCent]

@Eddie.saw

outdoor beds?

or into a compost where you can make a mountain of super soil

I like to soak my seeds so that I know what to expect, more or less.

[Sunvalley]

Only ever soaked really old seeds and that was in aloe gel. I also don’t germinate in paper towel… straight in to pots right off the bat… I’ve had some Cuvèe f2s that just had a thick skin and needed a scuff with some sandpaper … but that’s about it

[Muleskinner]

@99PerCent

I like to soak my seeds so that I know what to expect, more or less

I thought you did paper-towel (shammy cloth) method? that’s not the same as soaking, the paper or chamois keeps some air around the seed in addition to water

[Fewding]

I guess old habits die hard, also most of Cannabis cultivation for us regular people is pseudoscience. Ignorance is bliss and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” reign Supreme these days.

I have no issue changing my ways when presented with cold facts, but at the same time it’s more about security and piece of mind, knowing which seeds are actually viable.