MarsHydro New Growers Guide. "BRUSH"Strategy: 5 Tricks About Germination Will Greatly Increase Your Rate

[Marshydro]

You may have a long way to go before you get chunky buds, but the start always comes first in the whole cultivation process. According to a small survey, a surprising number of growers were found to be stuck on the first step - germination and seedling - leading to eventual abandonment. Therefore, we consulted several experienced cultivators and came up with 5 tips that can significantly improve your germination rates - what we call the "BRUSH" strategy, as they are:

• Handle Seeds With Proper Tools
• Upgraded Your Germination Method
• Seedling Heat Mat
• Roots Off The Floor
• Beware of overwatering

Handle Seeds With Proper Tools: NO BARE HANDS

1) Seed storage: “DDC” Principle
Seeds, especially rare seeds, are too expensive to lose. As long as you don't sow the seeds immediately after you buy or breed your own, you need to keep them properly in case they turn into bad seeds.

“Dark, Dry, Cold” is the major rule for stocking any seeds at any time as seeds turn alive when exposed to light, water, and warmth. For long-term storage, store your seeds in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge and take them out when you decide to plant them. This mimics the season change from Winter to Spring.
2) Do not handle seeds with bare hands
Seeds and seedlings are vulnerable to all kinds of pathogens like bacteria and fungus, which, unfortunately, cluster on human hands. Handling seeds with your bare hands is like giving them a bath in a germ colony. Please use clean and disinfected gloves or tweezers instead.
Upgraded Your Germination Method: Innovative Tricks

1)Upgraded Paper Towel Method
If you’re new to the Paper Towel method, before you read the following sentences, please learn about General Paper Towel Method in advance. Otherwise, you may find it hard to figure out what we’re talking about.

Upgrade Point 1: Utilize Hydrogen Peroxide

Spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide for disinfection and softening. The recommended concentration is 1%. Sprinkle 2-5 drops on a wet paper towel to kill some fungi and release water and oxygen as it decomposes.

Upgrade Point 2: Pre-treat "Old" Seeds

Sometimes it is necessary to rough up or scrape old seeds by putting them in a small container and shaking them with a small piece of sandpaper, which softens and weakens the shells and makes them easier to germinate, which is very useful for old seeds.
2)Upgraded Soil Method
Likewise, please refer to General Soil Method before reading the below tips.

Upgrade Point 1: Small Greenhouse

Place the seeds in the soil, fill a 30 ml syringe with warm water at 75-85 degrees Celsius, apply a drop of superthrive(growth promoters) and pour it thoroughly in the soil around the seeds, then spray the inside of a clear plastic cup with water and place it over the seeds, burying the edges in the soil.

Upgrade Point 2: Aloe Vera Fertilizer

Use fresh aloe vera in the spray mixture

Aloe vera fertilizer is commonly used as a natural rooting hormone to promote seed germination and rapid root development. It has many benefits, including antibacterial properties and increased resilience, which we won't go into here so look it up yourself if you’re interested. What we are discussing here is its dosage.

Use about ¼ cup of churned fresh aloe vera per gallon of water/mixture. Just add it directly to the water/mixture, but remember to use it within 20 minutes after the churn.
Seedling Heat Mat: Consistent Wake-up Warmth

The best temperature to germinate Cannabis seeds is 25° C / 77°F

A stable external environment is crucial, regardless of the method you use for germination. A warm and moist environment is the wake-up signal for seeds. If the environment changes on the way out of sleep, the seed quickly stops sprouting and dies.

Perspective cultivators will have multiple heat mats for different uses, such as seedling, propagation, root cutting - anywhere mild and flat warmth is needed.

Mars Hydro has made temp-controllable and temp-visible heat mats. Please see Mars Hydro Heat Mats for details and purchase.

Tip: use a soft towel between the heat mat and your seed container can relieve the heat impact on seeds and low down the stress.
Roots Off The Floor: Away From Unforeseen Cold
This trick is particularly for those who germinate in winter or in a dank and cold environment. Young seedlings are easy to die without a proper environment. It's hard to realize that ground or tabletop temperature can remain extremely low for a long time, which can easily slow the growth of seedlings or kill them outright. In addition to a heat mat under the containers, keeping your roots off the floor can be a great tip to avoid the impact. Risers should do the trick

Besides, running led grow lights at night could be another great tip to maintain the warmth and save electricity!
Beware Of Overwatering: No Spoilers, No Harm
Seedlings need a small amount of water because they haven’t built up a robust root system that more water is taken in from the air. Roots soaked in water are highly susceptible to decay that leads to an end of life. Maybe you love your babies but don’t spoil them, they will drown.

One seedling needs about 200-300ml water, and water frequency depends on ambient humidity. There’s a simple tip to check if the seedling needs water that raises your containers up and feeling the weight. If lighter than usual, your seedlings are probably asking for water.

Keep In Mind The “BRUSH” Strategy For Better Germination And Seedling
“Beware of overwatering”, “Roots off the floor”, “Upgrade your germination methods”, “Seedling heat mat”, “Handle seeds with proper tools”. Keep in mind these 5 tips and utilize them when you germinate seeds and take care of seedlings, you will see significant progress in the sprouting rate. Of course, if you need more tricks welcome to look through Mars Hydro or contact us directly, Mars Hydro professional staff would always be willing to offer help.
Also, a heartfelt thank you to the growers on Twitter who have provided us with helpful tips. May everyone enjoy every sea of green.

 

[brodie1104]

Great info very helpful

 

[Required]

Thank you for the info

 

[Deetoxx]

The hardest part of growing, getting them started after that it's all uphill Lol

 

[ethanjones]

Thanks for the excellent info, @Marshydro. I am sharing it with my buddies.

 

[Olderfart]

You may have a long way to go before you get chunky buds, but the start always comes first in the whole cultivation process. According to a small survey, a surprising number of growers were found to be stuck on the first step - germination and seedling - leading to eventual abandonment. Therefore, we consulted several experienced cultivators and came up with 5 tips that can significantly improve your germination rates - what we call the "BRUSH" strategy, as they are:

• Handle Seeds With Proper Tools
• Upgraded Your Germination Method
• Seedling Heat Mat
• Roots Off The Floor
• Beware of overwatering

Handle Seeds With Proper Tools: NO BARE HANDS

1) Seed storage: “DDC” Principle
Seeds, especially rare seeds, are too expensive to lose. As long as you don't sow the seeds immediately after you buy or breed your own, you need to keep them properly in case they turn into bad seeds.

“Dark, Dry, Cold” is the major rule for stocking any seeds at any time as seeds turn alive when exposed to light, water, and warmth. For long-term storage, store your seeds in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge and take them out when you decide to plant them. This mimics the season change from Winter to Spring.
2) Do not handle seeds with bare hands
Seeds and seedlings are vulnerable to all kinds of pathogens like bacteria and fungus, which, unfortunately, cluster on human hands. Handling seeds with your bare hands is like giving them a bath in a germ colony. Please use clean and disinfected gloves or tweezers instead.
Upgraded Your Germination Method: Innovative Tricks

1)Upgraded Paper Towel Method
If you’re new to the Paper Towel method, before you read the following sentences, please learn about General Paper Towel Method in advance. Otherwise, you may find it hard to figure out what we’re talking about.

Upgrade Point 1: Utilize Hydrogen Peroxide

Spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide for disinfection and softening. The recommended concentration is 1%. Sprinkle 2-5 drops on a wet paper towel to kill some fungi and release water and oxygen as it decomposes.

Upgrade Point 2: Pre-treat "Old" Seeds

Sometimes it is necessary to rough up or scrape old seeds by putting them in a small container and shaking them with a small piece of sandpaper, which softens and weakens the shells and makes them easier to germinate, which is very useful for old seeds.
2)Upgraded Soil Method
Likewise, please refer to General Soil Method before reading the below tips.

Upgrade Point 1: Small Greenhouse

Place the seeds in the soil, fill a 30 ml syringe with warm water at 75-85 degrees Celsius, apply a drop of superthrive(growth promoters) and pour it thoroughly in the soil around the seeds, then spray the inside of a clear plastic cup with water and place it over the seeds, burying the edges in the soil.

Upgrade Point 2: Aloe Vera Fertilizer

Use fresh aloe vera in the spray mixture

Aloe vera fertilizer is commonly used as a natural rooting hormone to promote seed germination and rapid root development. It has many benefits, including antibacterial properties and increased resilience, which we won't go into here so look it up yourself if you’re interested. What we are discussing here is its dosage.

Use about ¼ cup of churned fresh aloe vera per gallon of water/mixture. Just add it directly to the water/mixture, but remember to use it within 20 minutes after the churn.
Seedling Heat Mat: Consistent Wake-up Warmth

The best temperature to germinate Cannabis seeds is 25° C / 77°F

A stable external environment is crucial, regardless of the method you use for germination. A warm and moist environment is the wake-up signal for seeds. If the environment changes on the way out of sleep, the seed quickly stops sprouting and dies.

Perspective cultivators will have multiple heat mats for different uses, such as seedling, propagation, root cutting - anywhere mild and flat warmth is needed.

Mars Hydro has made temp-controllable and temp-visible heat mats. Please see Mars Hydro Heat Mats for details and purchase.

Tip: use a soft towel between the heat mat and your seed container can relieve the heat impact on seeds and low down the stress.
Roots Off The Floor: Away From Unforeseen Cold
This trick is particularly for those who germinate in winter or in a dank and cold environment. Young seedlings are easy to die without a proper environment. It's hard to realize that ground or tabletop temperature can remain extremely low for a long time, which can easily slow the growth of seedlings or kill them outright. In addition to a heat mat under the containers, keeping your roots off the floor can be a great tip to avoid the impact. Risers should do the trick

Besides, running led grow lights at night could be another great tip to maintain the warmth and save electricity!
Beware Of Overwatering: No Spoilers, No Harm
Seedlings need a small amount of water because they haven’t built up a robust root system that more water is taken in from the air. Roots soaked in water are highly susceptible to decay that leads to an end of life. Maybe you love your babies but don’t spoil them, they will drown.

One seedling needs about 200-300ml water, and water frequency depends on ambient humidity. There’s a simple tip to check if the seedling needs water that raises your containers up and feeling the weight. If lighter than usual, your seedlings are probably asking for water.

Keep In Mind The “BRUSH” Strategy For Better Germination And Seedling
“Beware of overwatering”, “Roots off the floor”, “Upgrade your germination methods”, “Seedling heat mat”, “Handle seeds with proper tools”. Keep in mind these 5 tips and utilize them when you germinate seeds and take care of seedlings, you will see significant progress in the sprouting rate. Of course, if you need more tricks welcome to look through Mars Hydro or contact us directly, Mars Hydro professional staff would always be willing to offer help.
Also, a heartfelt thank you to the growers on Twitter who have provided us with helpful tips. May everyone enjoy every sea of green.

Great information, thanks for putting it together. Re. peroxide, I now give all my seeds a couple hour soak in full strength 3% before placing them between moist cotton to develop tails. I don't have the link handy, but going to full strength was because of a recent experiment in which different peroxide treatments were used on both old and new seeds. the experiment also tested stronger peroxide, but 3% looked like a reasonable sweet spot to me, and that is what is easily available, so that is what I have gone to. The new seeds in the test did not really need 3%, but it was a significant advantage to the old ones, and no problem for the new ones. I tried full strength for the first time this grow, and had excellent results.

I also abrade all my seeds before soaking, again not likely needed by the fresh seeds, but no problem for them, so I just do them all.

 

[PuffPasties]

Great guide. Thanks for the knowledge!

 

[Olde School Player]

Great tutorial!
I recently replied to a new grower who had experienced a whole batch of (10? 12?) seeds that failed to germinate.
Reproduced here for further enforcement of the ideas presented here, as well as a couple of additional pointers. My methods, while good for dirt growers, are especially effective for hydroponics growers.
Comments / questions welcomed.

Well... the wet paper towel method is about as old school as... yeah, ME!!! And as others have indicated, Mephisto is a respected brand so I don't think your strain source is the issue. I've had issues with low yields from some strains, but in fairness I always exceeded their claimed yields. Just not nearly to my high standards of 10-11 oz average per plant. ( Pause for commercial break - all done using Mars Hydro lights & tents - so I'm not REALLY hijacking this thread).
That said, never done it, never will. I'm not going to argue with others' success, you do you, but continuing to do the same thing over & over while expecting different results is one definition of insanity (said in jest, no insult intended).
My main concern wiith the paper towel method is the fragile embryo of a seed when freshly sprouted. Having been pure hydro for over 20 years, you can see my objection... how do you put a freshly sprouted seed into anything but dirt, perlite or coco, which I don't use. And since the only dirt in my grow room came off my shoes, not gonna go there.
I'm a huge fan of General Hydroponics' Rapid Rooters. When I was a semi-commercial grower I ran clones / SOG and the rooters were a godsend for rooting clones. Since I had them I also used them for seeds, & have always had very good results. Not every seed, but a great majority (meaning I'm too lazy to go through years of grow logs to count duds).
So, if you want to change your methods, here's what works:
Soak your seeds in a shot glass with 1 tbsp bottled spring water & 1 tbsp of 3% (normal household strength) hydrogen peroxide. After a few hours, replace the H2O2 solution with pure spring water & allow to soak overnight.
At the same time, soak your rapid rooters in straight H2O2 overnight. Next morning, dump the peroxide solution & replace with straight spring water. Squeeze the plugs several times to encourage transfer of new water into the plug (the H2O2 wont hurt your plugs / seeds, but can affect you innoculant / next step. Flush it)
The grow industry is full of opportunists looking to make a quick buck, and one way they do it is sale of next to worthless additives, especially those who purport to prevent diseases in your plants. A perfect example is Hydroguard - total waste of money!!! The theory behind the product is rock solid, but in execution their product is so weak (it looks and tests like regular tap water!?) that it does nothing.
There's a YouTube video of a grower who has done the research, and proven his case that Hydroguard ingredients (based upon weight / ppm's) are more expensive than cocaine. But product theory is sound, in that the claimed active ingredient is the beneficial bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. It is a biofungicide that triggers a plant's immune responses, and prevents most fungal diseases such as those that cause root rot in plants, and stem rot in newly sprouted plants. It prevents blights, molds, rots, mildew, and other unsavory growing problems.
The product I use is made by Bonide and is sold under the trade name Revitalize. Mix 2mL in 6 oz water and soak your rooter plugs in that solution until ready to plant your seeds. If you don't have a small syringe graduated in CC's (which is the same as milliliters), 2mL is 40 drops from an eye dropper. I would also mix a drench (per package directions) to treat your soil once planted. I use 2mL per gallon of hydro solution, renewed weekly after weeks 1 and 2.
I have used this product for a couple of years and have not had a single problem with seed germination, plants damping off, stem rot, or root problems in growing plants. The product can be used in any grow medium, including pure organic grows. Cost is cheap - $15 to $20 for 16 fl.oz., which will last for many grows. The old saying comes to mind - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Back to germination:
Poke a hole in the center of your treated rooter plug (a 12 to 14 gauge insulated wire from a 12/2 Romex electrical cable is perfect size).
Using the handle end of a spoon or fork, scoop a seed out of your water soak (DON'T TOUCH THE SEED - yes, I'm paranoid, but that doesn't mean they are NOT out to get me!) and guide the seed about 1/2" into the hole you just made in the rooter plug. Pull a few small crumbs of rooter plug off the edges and plug the hole, tamping it down onto the seed with the wire. Not tight, just enough to block light from entering.
Place the planted seed / rooter plug into an alcohol-disinfected & water rinsed styrofoam egg carton (remember where chicken eggs come out of?), and place in a warm draft free area.
Heat mats are great - I use a homemade aerocloner / bubbler made from a Folgers coffee can with 2" net pots / holes cut into the can lid. I raise this off the heat mat and use a cheap floating aquarium thermometer hanging inside the can to get the temperature of the rooter plug around 78-80 degrees F. You can try sitting the egg carton on top of your cable converter box or gaming console, but check the aquarium thermometer regularly & raise or lower the carton until you get the right temp. range. But a heat mat really simplifies this.
Keep the container covered with a similar size box to keep your rooters dark until you see signs of germination. YOU DO NOT NEED LIGHT FOR SEED GERMINATION. After (usually) 3 to 5 days, the tap root will normally exit first the bottom or side of the plug, followed by the plant top about 24 -36 hours later. As soon as the plant top exposes itself, place under a 23 to 42watt (actual, not equivalent) 5,000 degrees Kelvin CFL in a clip on light or brooder reflector, about 4" from the plant. CFL's are becoming hard to come by, especially the 42Watt ones. Look up the lumens and feel free to substitute an equivalent lumen LED bulb. But try to stay with 5,000 K, and not lower than 3,000 degrees Kelvin color rating. You want "white" light for vegetative growth of the seedling.
Keep the rooter plugs watered - if they start looking brown instead of almost black, they need water. DONT LET THEM DRY OUT!!!
Once the plant shows roots out the bottom & sides of the plug, you may transplant to the preferred growing medium of your choice. Treat the freshly transplanted medium with another dose of Revitalize mixed into a weak nutrient solution.
ANNNNNND with that you're off to the races!

 

[Olde School Player]

"Upgrade Point 1: Small Greenhouse

Place the seeds in the soil, fill a 30 ml syringe with warm water at 75-85 degrees Celsius, ...."

No, that's 75-85 degrees FAHRENHEIT; which is 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. Happens to the best of us bi-temperature people!

 

[Olde School Player]

Continuing expansion of the hydro / DIY aero cloner I mentioned in my previous, and elaboration to Mars' original statement to beware of over watering.
Below is a pic of my DIY AeroCloner/ seed germination "system". This supports up to three seeds. If cloning, or needing more seed capacity, swap the coffee can for a 12qt plastic tote, which can support up to 15 seeds or clones. Add an air pump / stone and nutrients to a level just below the bottom of your rooter/ net pot and you will alleviate all possibility of under-:and over-watering.
In my earlier comment I elaborated on watching the color of the rapid rooter plug - if it begins to turn brown rather than almost black, it's beginning to dry out. You need to keep your nutrient solution bubbling, and near (but not touching) the bottom of your plug. Once the seed germinates and roots grow into the solution you may let the nute level drop to an inch / 2.5cm or more below the rooter. The air gap and basic hydroponic methodology insures you will not over-water the plant. This also keeps humidity at an optimal level without a humi-dome.
About nutrients for seedlings-
It's commonly believed that newly germinated seedlings do not need nutrients. While grounded in fact - the seed has just enough food in the embryo to sustain the new plant for 7 to 10 days. Just enough, but not optimal. A very mild nutrient solution with proper minerals & root additives will give your new seedlings every chance to thrive.
What's weak? Well, that's a three part answer- minerals, nutrients and additives. Good water is first. This is NOT purified/ RO, UNLESS you add 3-4mL calcium-magnesium, and 2-mL Silicate supplement. If you are on a well system, or use bottled spring water, the minerals should already be there. The above additives will bring you to approx. 250-300ppm, mostly minerals, much less nutrient content.
IF YOU HAVE A WATER SOFTENER, or your municipality claims softened water, either of those remove almost all usable calcium & magnesium from your water. Your plants NEED THIS, so buy mineral water or better still, invest in an RO filter system & add the supplements yourself.
Nutrients- I use General Hydroponic
Flora series, three part Micro, Grow & Bloom. 1.5mL each per gallon of water, which adds another 150ppm.
Additives- mainly root innoculant mentioned in my original post. Once roots show, I also add 1mL Super thrive.
All inclusive, comes to about 450-500 ppm - Mostly minerals, so actually a very weak solution.
If you need to hold the seedling in the AeroCloner system for a few weeks, add 0.5mL each / more of your three mAcro & micro nutrients once roots are established and growing into the solution. This can raise the solution strength upwards of 550 to 600ppm.
Again- MOSTLY MINERALS, weak macro & micro nutes.
I usually transplant to my hydroponics grow system around three weeks after germination. By then you will have a full thick root system about 6-8" or longer. I DO root prune to 5-6" when transplanting. I strongly believe this and the added superthrive encourage new root growth to happen quickly with no transplant shock.
And to re-iterate, a 23- to 42 watt CFL hung 3-4" above the seedling will provide all the light your new plant needs to thrive. Bright white, 5,000 Kelvin, 1600 - 2700 lumens.
You can't get a healthier seedling!