Need Advise
Have grow pot before. Did great and was 1/2 to 3/4 lb a plant, Has been a while since then. Having problems germinating not just pot seeds but veggie seeds. Working my way to be semi off grid so built a nice green house. (Easy to build if any one wants info).Any ways I always use good seed whatever I grow. Veggies last year only had 35%± germination rate with average potting soil from store. This was straight in soil method. This year went online found out how to make soil. Using for germination 50% peat, 50% coco coir, 3 cups perlite, mixed and shifted to 1/4 inch. This year veggie were ZERO %, just did testing on 4 white widow seeds , they also ZERO. (Note: WW germination start in water 3 days total dark. This time only got small 1/16 tails before putting in soil.) Got soil ph test kit and new soil has ph of 6.0. Well with in range. In my garden revert to store purchase veggie plants and they grow like a charm. BAFFLED?? This tells me issue is some type sensitivity in the delicate early seed growth stage. I live on small farm & we use well water. Want to test water ph. Just tried using soil ph test kit minus soil (not sure how accurate this is). Well water tested at 5.0, tried bottle water it tested at 5.5 all very acid. I just water germinated 4 more WW seeds in dark in well water . At 3 days 3 out of 4 did great. 3 had 1/4 to 5/16 inch tails which is what I expected. 4th had 1/16 like previous. Nothing changed between these two germination. Will try miracle grow garden soil on these next 4 when put in dirt later today. Oh by the way this is for outdoor grow.
You really shouldnt use miracle grow soil. Its not very good soil.
3 days in water is too long, you may be drowning your seeds. Try this. Soak seeds in RO or distilled water and h202 (25% of the water volume being 3% h202.) for 24 hours only. After that place seeds in a folded moist papertowel and place papertowel into sandwich baggie. From here you have options where you put them to germ. The only requirement for that space is that it be roughly 81 degrees. I use a seedling heat pad to achieve the desired temp. Should see germ and tail within 72 hours. As for what soil to plant into once seed is germmed. Anything not highly ammended will do, like jiffy seed starter or fox farm happy frog soil. Basicly just want it to be light on ammendments for seedlings . If you go inert like coco and perlite or promix you will want to use a very light nutrient solution for the seedlings. When I plant I try to plant in soil cut with 25% perlite. This cuts down the ammendments a little.
Thanks
Was only using miracle grow because wife had a few bags sitting around. I will up my perlite volume to recommend level for germination. I had vermiculite to use but could not get it through 1/4 screens. One of main reason I went to my own soil was particle size in soil especially with tomato seeds which are extremely small.
As to 3 days in water read in article on this site I believe. No biggie. I also read what you just suggested. I will cut back water time to 24 hrs with distilled water & H202.
Is H202 peroxide?
I will do paper towel trick, was trying something new because I have broke many seedlings in past. Never used it with baggie before. I like that, suspect it helps paper towel keep moisture in it. I have for good heat pad.
Very much appreciate
Thanks for quick response
Anytime growmie. Just @Docnraq if you wanna grab my attn. Happy to help.
Just to clarify as @MidwestGuy did…Miracle Grow is not bad soil, it is just not good for cannabis. The time release nutrients and pH are the big problem.
Edit: I will also add that we do have a few experienced and skilled growers that have been successful using Miracle Grow soils. The main point is that using MG soils complicate your grow. Make it easy on yourself and use one of the soils that @MidwestGuy mentioned or find one of the many threads on this site where folks have come up with soil formulations that work very well for cannabis. For me, I just use Roots Organic and grin.
I’ll like to add that what you need is a soil intended for and pH buffered for cannabis. Good examples include Fox Farm soils, Black Magic, Stonington Blend, and Roots Organics.
Great info
I keep hearing MG is best to stay away from so I will
Just this year I have started experimenting making my own soil mainly for veggie. I’ve learned germination that you have to keep the nutrients low or neutral. Seems same for pot. Never read from one of these sites so not exactly sure what nutritional limits are for maturing plants. I purchase some wiggle worm soil builder, pure worm casting, kelp meal and azomite for my garden veggies after couple weeks growth. Do you know if any of these might be helpful for pot? I have some interest in worm cast tea but have not found a good easy recipe yet
Thanks again
Suggest using a soil that is intended specifically for cannabis. Proper pH buffering is extremely important for weed.
Weed needs a nutrient balance that is not common with other plants. Use a balanced product intended for cannabis like Fox Farm, Jacks 321, or Advanced Nutrients. A runoff PPM for a mature plant should be maintained at ~1,000. When you begin feeding will depend on what soil you are using. Some of them contain nutrients the last 4 to 6 weeks before feeding is needed.
Yes you are right
I have a tendency to dig in deep sometimes because my background is IT and that is how we nerds work. I just like to know as much as i can about soil. The easy way sounds better though
Part of my concern is just that. Growing outside I want to enhance my soil. We have good soil here but a big difference in good, better & best. Thats reason I have so many question. I have a good feel for germination soil now. When I plant final spot outside I want to mixed local soil 50/50 or 25/75 with a better weed soil. 5 gal bucket for every plant can turn into is a-lot of special soil ordering on line. First day on here so have a bit of time till they go out. I will research soil mixtures.
Thanks again for your time
Okay. I have no experience outside in the dirt, but there are some growers here who do. Most outdoor growers use fabric bags. It’s difficult to manage root zone parameters if plants are directly in the ground.
My suggestion would be to use fabric bags and fill them with a weed friendly soil so that you can manage pH and PPM.
If you have a well built garden soil to plant in ground, just spade out about a cubic foot and replace with an airy potting soil blend to place your plant in. Using simply peat, coco, and perlite wouldn’t really sustain a plant because they are mostly inert. Using any of the the three alone or mixed would be considered a soilless grow by most standards. Which is fine, but needs to be cared for much differently than the typical soil grow. I also like roots organics original for this, nut others mentioned will work.
This is probably not why you’re having germination issues, but should help once you get them going. I too use wet paper towel method. Then place in ziplock bag with some air tapped in and place the bad somewhere warm like cable box or on top of refrigerator. Check after 48 hours and then every 24 hours after that. Most seeds will germinate in 2-4 days. Also be sure to handle seeds with sterile gloves or tweezers.