Seedling questions I don’t get itttt

So weirdly enough I’ve germed three seeds perfect length and all looked good at the time. Each I planted in my happy frog soil final pot ofc. None sprouted out of the soil, and no they aren’t too deep as I made sure they’re 1/2 inch. Also I’ve watered once per day as always. Yet none popped and also all the taproots turned brown/died. Am I missing something? Five gallon buckets, fox farm happy frog, my small lights are on until they were to sprout then move to a bigger light. I just can’t understand it… all germinated seeds look super healthy then I plant them super gentle and cover easily then days later all are dead. I’m losing my shit tbh.

This is the problem. Even if you have germed and planted without them dying in the past, you were lucky. I have yet to complete the process but I am compiling a seedling tutorial for those that grow in soil. For the first 2 weeks, seedlings do not need water. Seedlings should be started in a solo cup or something small. At about 2 weeks, they can then be transplanted to their final home if that is how you do it. Seedlings get all nutes needed for the first 2 weeks from the coty’s. 80% humidity and 80ºF are the targets to try and maintain for those 1st 2 weeks. The tap turning brown is called damping off. I use HF too along with OF and CL from FF. I have not had a seed or clone die on me yet.




I moisten the soil the seed is going in at the same time I drop the bean in the water. Once I see the tail, I plant in the premoistened soil and do not water her while she is in the dome or a domed environment. Hope this helps! One last thing, putting a germed seed in a 5 gallon bucket right out the gate is another problem. Start in the solo and then transplant to the 5g when she has a few sets of leaves.

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Here’s what I do, and it’s simple. 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. Here’s mine a couple days after it came up, and two weeks later after transplant.


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As a seedling it has no roots to drink water. Do t water it . It will take all water thru its 1st leaves.


Just mist the inverted cup with water.

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Not trying to be a smart ass but why does the ilgm website even have special instructions to water twice daily if that’s not what you do and I’ve been doing it once lol.

What medium are they talking about? If coco maybe every day but in soil just dampen soil before planting. But there are many different technics find one that works for you. My technic was learned here.

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Currently made a greenhouse over it with cling wrap and poked holes in it for air. Also sprayed water in the soil all around except on the seed area.

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Seedling is dead sigh. I just don’t get it… thanks anyways guys!

Were they warm enough? You could try using regular seedling potting mix just to germinate them, as it’s finer. Just moisten it a little before planting and just barely cover the baby. The direction you plant the tap root shouldn’t matter but in this case I would be sure to point it down. Keep her snug and humid. Some do take longer than others, but keep up the consistent care until they pop.

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Yea it’s never been cold but around 72 or so. I know ideal is 80 etc. I keep them consistently taken care of and have never had seed issues before which doesn’t make sense they usually sprout fine just a weird streak of 3-4 not breaking soil and I’ve always done it the same way which is why I’m so lost I guess. You mist daily? Or mist the soil heavy when planting then leave alone? Thanks!

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NO WATERING YET! Just (at the most is to mist soil if very dry.) Mist inverted cup until 2nd serated leaves show up.at this point i drip a few drops of water run off my finger tips and continue misting until leaves reach the cups edge. Remove inverted cup and start very lite watering of plant.

From your post i believe you are drowning your seedling. Using this technic i have never had seedling issues. Just satisfy yourself and just pull a seedling out of the ground and look at the roots, before the serrated leaves show up there will be NO roots of any consequence. No roots it cant drink except from the atmosphere. This is when i remove “dome” and start watering sparingly at first.

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I’ll add a tip i learned here as well, plant germinated seed in a clear solo cup and nesstle into a red one so you can lift the clear cup and inspect root grouth for proper time for transplanting.



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Mine go directly into their forever home from the jiffy pot. As soon as they break the surface they are hit with light fans to encourage strong stalk growth, 24 hour light throughout vegetative stage, misted several times a day with a sprayer. Keep the jiffy pot moist to encourage decomp so when transplanted the roots grow through it. My issues are more with ph, but that is now under control. :call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2:

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I have the potting mix just adequately damp, usually in a small plastic seedling cell that you buy in trays. They have good drainage for when the baby pops, but until it does I just add a couple of drops of water over the site every now and then. I keep it in the tent. I find the seedling will grow fast in one of those cells and forms a root system quickly that is easy to pot up. I prefer to use smaller pots in early veg and pot up when roots peek through the drainage holes. But as soon as she’s out she gets regular watering.

I should add that I live in a very humid zone.

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Yea both seeds are dead weirdly one had two small roots coming out of the tap root and the other was just dead.

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Overwatering and damping off a bean happens a lot. Next round plant when ready in premoistened soil. NO WATER FOR A WEEK!!! Dome if dry climate. The tap will reach out for water as pot dries up top. If dome then only spray inside of dome. Biggest problem i have noticed is overdoing a seedling by too much love. Plant it…forget it. Check every other day. Hard watering begins after several good nodes develop. Then…unless living soil…you can start your wet/dry cycle. We all kill a few.

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In my humble opinion don’t worry about how often you water, just pay attention to how moist the soil is. It should not be damp and it should not be dry. The right amount of water in soil will make the soil moist, like a wet sponge that had the water rung out of it. Also make sure you let the water drain out of the bottom of your container/pot. Sometimes seedlings die without a clear reason while others thrive.

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It takes time to get the watering thing down. I worked at a plant nursery for a year and had my own garden, I can say something as simple as watering does indeed take months of practice.

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