I just recently purchased a bunch of seeds to try my hand at, and everything is going famously with all the seeds I bought from here except these @#$% Banner seeds. I only bought 5 and 3 have failed miserably. so I have 2 lonely Banner seeds that I hope to get at least 1 harvest from, but I’m not holding out too much hope, perhaps someone can point me in the right direction. 1st attempt, I floated in plain water for 24hrs. then it went into a moist paper towel in a baggy, and nothing. then I floated a second seed in a glass with a drop of h2o2 for 24hrs. then popped into the baggy and paper towel and nothing again. so lastly I tried just the wet paper towel and baggy with still no tails (although the last try did split and show some white but alas no tails). So here I sit all broken hearted with 5 beautiful lil seedlings started from the other strains I bought, but no Bruce Banner sativa to grow. If theres anyone out there who can point me in the right direction I would be eternally grateful and will name my next child after you if you can get these Banners to pop for me. remember I only have 2 left so…
Are they not cracking at all? Or are they opening, but nothing happening? Some beans/strains are just slower than others. If they aren’t cracking at all, may just need to wait it out. I’ve read of growers scratching the seeds lightly on an emery board to roughen the shell a little bit. I’ve personally used tweezers and barely squeezed seeds open from the ends that were being stubborn, and placed then in a moist paper towel with success. Felt like an ER surgeon after those couple times.
But if they are opening, and nothing happening, I would contact the supplier. If they are ILGM, they are really standup about seed replacement.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the reply. I have only purchased from ILGM so far. I still have the last 2 I tried in moist paper towels in baggy, one of them has been there over a week. I’m keeping them damp and dark, but just sitting there. even the one that split isnt hatching. I did try cracking the 1st one, but i smooshed it by accident, oops that one was on me. I did read where someone made a little tube out of 150 grit sand paper then put there seeds in the tube and shook it for some time to scuff tough seeds, perhaps I’ll try that. I just dont want to waste my time if these Banners are just no good I’ll go elsewhere to find some that will pop. I’ve searched here and found quite a few folks who are having probs with them, I dont want to give up on them but…
Do you know the temperature of the water you soaked them in, and also the temp while they were in the paper towels? High 70’s F will get the job done, but low 80’s speeds the process up quite a bit and makes successful germination more likely.
75f and I use remineralized 7 stage RO water. hopefully thats not the problem. I went to a lot of trouble to get that exact filter because it puts mag and such back in the water after it takes it out lol. Thanks for the reply!
Get some fox farm happy frog soil, and solo cups. Moisten the soil, and fill the solo cup. Plant the seed directly into the soil (not very deep), spray a little water on it to settle the seed, and stick a baggie over the top to make a little greenhouse. Keep it warm, and it should break ground in about 3 or 4 days. Stick it under your light on low power, and don’t water until dry. 100% for me. And my is Steve when you get ready to name your next kid 
I would try that if I grew anything in dirt but corn and beans (wink). I’m trying the sterile rdwc route first so I have like zero supplies for dirt growing, and I already named my second kid Steve (after my bestie as a kid), so there you go. I dont get it tho. I started 6 seeds (thats the limit here in Mo.), and all 5 of the others had tails the next morning. Bruce is just being a pita.
Thanks for the reply, if I go the dirt path I’ll definitely give this a shot.
I’d see if you could bump your temperature up a little for germination. I have extremely high success rates with seeds, and it seems the hotter it is the faster they sprout.
Seeing as how you’re not having success with any of the BBs, I’d say you may have a “bad batch” and I would contact Customer Service for replacements.
I just grew an ILGM BB auto last grow and she popped and grew just fine. I germinate in a damp - not soggy/wet - paper towel in a bag in my closet. I skipped a day checking them (day 3) and by day 4 they had sprouted (I also had a Critical Mass seed in there) and cast their helmets. Oops! I stuck them in coco immediately - and very nervously. The rest was history.
I moved them to a heat mat (indirectly), what would you say optimum temp for bud germination would be?
yeah I need a lot of room for user error here lol, I’m kinda trying to perfect it as I learn it. So I lean heavily on vids and vlogs. but some things just have a learning curve that has to be dealt with hands on.
You have to be careful with the heat mats because they typically don’t say how hot they get, just a certain number of degrees above the ambient temp in the room.
I like to keep the water for the 18 hour soak between 80 and 84F, and the same temps in my tent while I’m waiting for them to sprout from the solo cups.
The details of how I start my seeds and raise my seedlings is in my current journal. Here’s a link if you want to check it out.
I do the paper towel method with well water at a ph of 7.4, sandwich bag in the cabinet above the fridge, stays very warm and completely dark, 24 hours later I have a small tap root just starting I pop it in soil and 24-48 hours later I have a seedling. Works very well for me, I haven’t had a seed failure in almost two years. I store all my seeds in the fridge.
You do Jack and coco correct? You mind telling me your measurements? I’m gonna try one jacks runs because iv never used it.
My plan was 3.6g 1.2g 2.4g in mixing order.
@Autos-only, sorry I can’t help on that one my friend, I use Advanced Nutrients.
I was planning on giving Jacks a try a few grows ago, but I got upset with their customer service and ultimately I decided to just stick with what I know.
What are you using currently? Other than the high price, I think AN is awesome. My plants love it, and I have my routines all worked out.
That’s right! You use AN. I remember now. Iv use AN many years ago. Currently using organics, living soil, Gaia green, TM7. Stuff like that. I like it and enjoy it just wanted to try jack because iv never used it. I did ask one of the guys at my current hydro shop and he said jacks sounds terrible inside… but I really just take local growers here with a grain of salt…
I hear you, it’s easy to get mixed or conflicting opinions just about everywhere these days. That being said, there are so many experienced growers here in the forum who say Jacks works excellent that I have to believe it’s true. I’m thinking maybe by next year I’ll forget that I got pissed at them and be ready to give it a go, lol.
@Cap_Ron That’s very true! And I appreciate your input, maybe @MidwestGuy could give some input? The only reason iv questioning this mixture is I only had a ppm of 740 before ph adjustment… it didn’t seems enough for once a day feedings… maybe for 3-4 times a day. I’m just looking for some input as to what to expect I’d rather know now and make a plan.
thanks, Ill give it a read.