Ethylene Gas Seed Treatment for Improved Germination and Feminization

[A4]

Someone just told me they've had old seeds take five months to germ. :jaw:

I don't know how anyone would have the patience to wait five months. I toss mine at 7 days if I don't get germination but I am quite the impatient type.

 

[Grow-Da-Herb]

05/22/13 Trial #2

Well, I decided not to continue with these for another 29 weeks !!! Curiosity got me as to if there was anything at all alive inside the seed shells and was very much surprised with what I found. When I gently cracked the seeds myself, 80% of the seeds that were soaked for 72 hrs in distilled water had 'white' embryonic matter inside. Only 15% of the H2O2 soaked seeds had 'white' embryonic material. The remaining seeds either would not crack even with heavy pressure or when cracked had black or dark brown (dead I suspect) matter inside.

I selected eight of the healthiest cracked seeds with white embryonic matter, undamaged from manually cracking, and buried them 1/2 inch in sterilized peat. Time will tell !!!

Next trial run, I am going to need to find a way to overcome these extremely hardened seed casings. The 'scarification' technique for 15 seconds was obviously inadequate. Suggestions anyone ????

 

[phoenix rising]

Try filing the edges Grow da herb. I file the most pronounced edge of the seed and then the very pointy end.It seems to help ALOT with tough seed casings. don't go to deep,just till you see the brown layer under the shell,if you see white you went to deep.

 

[Ilynnboy]

Dam GDH,
I was pulling for you hard man.
Every time I see your thread pop up I am hoping for good news.
I am having germ problems myself.
Good luck on getting the spark of life in those little embryos.

 

[BUSHDOKTER]

I use some sand paper rip off a lil piece and fold it i use a 150 or 220 grit anything bigger the grit may catch on to piece of the shell and break a piece of might be ok f you have enough seeds but i rather the ^ grit..tried 400 grit but too small for me seems to more polish the seed case and those usually didnt germ with that one..do the sides of the seed that would open and lightly on the point. Have you tried some Kelp in your water? either soaking them for some hours to a day or just germin them in it..works for me even the mix of kelp and h2o2..I dont use paper towel anymore since I use cotton i find here no prob tried those Cotton pads for cleaning the face worked good 2 with water h2o2 or the kelp mix...HOPE u can get some germs man...

 

[Grow-Da-Herb]

Try filing the edges Grow da herb. I file the most pronounced edge of the seed and then the very pointy end.It seems to help ALOT with tough seed casings. don't go to deep,just till you see the brown layer under the shell,if you see white you went to deep.

Sounds like a plan phoenix rising! I'm going to pick up some fine files this weekend and start practicing, or maybe a cheap rotary tool with sanding drums. Got tons of seeds to learn on.

I use some sand paper rip off a lil piece and fold it i use a 150 or 220 grit anything bigger the grit may catch on to piece of the shell and break a piece of might be ok f you have enough seeds but i rather the ^ grit..tried 400 grit but too small for me seems to more polish the seed case and those usually didnt germ with that one..do the sides of the seed that would open and lightly on the point. Have you tried some Kelp in your water? either soaking them for some hours to a day or just germin them in it..works for me even the mix of kelp and h2o2..I dont use paper towel anymore since I use cotton i find here no prob tried those Cotton pads for cleaning the face worked good 2 with water h2o2 or the kelp mix...HOPE u can get some germs man...

Thanks BUSKDOKTER! I've made note of your Kelp and H2O2 suggestion. After seeing most of my H2O2 seeds brown/black inside, I think I'm going to stick with distilled water for my next trial. Where does one find the Kelp you are referring to?

Dam GDH, I was pulling for you hard man. Every time I see your thread pop up I am hoping for good news. I am having germ problems myself. Good luck on getting the spark of life in those little embryos.

Hey Ilynnboy! Thanks for following the thread and for your support. It ain't over till it's over! I got eight more batches of 50 seeds each already selected to keep trying different techniques. Somethings eventually gotta work! I'll probably be starting a fresh thread for Trial #3 next week.

 

[BUSHDOKTER]

I use a kelp powder from kelp4less when/if you buy it they say "Treating seeds or seed pieces with kelp prior to planting will improve seed germination, root growth, and early seedling vigor. Can treat in these ways..
Lightly mist the seeds before planting with 4 teaspoons of concentrate diluted in 1 gal of water. or
Soak seeds for 5-10 seconds with 4 teaspoons reconstituted kelp in 1 gal of water.
To make concentrate small batch..1 dry ounce kelp powder to 1 liter of water (you would take 4 teaspoons of this and mix into a gal of water for the soak or spray)
you can make smaller batches than that though.
I usually do the h2o2 fluff up some cotton from the tree or use the cotton pads I have a tray with lil circles that it fits right in bout a half or less inch deep make a layer bottom and top same as paper towel soak it in h2o2 and take a very lil pinch of the kelp and sprinkle it in the water h2o2 mix with the other laer of cotton r pad etc..fill the rest with h2o2 water mix and let it sit I get germ within a day or so. I leave it soaking as its hot here evaporates quick. I have never did the soak seeds thingy where you put the seeds in a glass of water ...havent tried that..maybe afraid to forget, knock it over or drink it...lol
But if you get it try the soak in concentrate mix for maybe a couple min. but after you have sanded or scared the seed coat.. You know been lookin into the ethylene thing and ripe apples also excrete it don't know if it was said in your thread already but maybe that could help...

 

[lr2jd]

Next trial run, I am going to need to find a way to overcome these extremely hardened seed casings. The 'scarification' technique for 15 seconds was obviously inadequate. Suggestions anyone ????

H2o2 solutions have worked fine for me for those coconut-sized seeds. Also if you grind them down the sides with a nail file there should be less resistance for the root to come out. I've tried the last mentioned method with some old sativa seeds and they all germinated quite nicely.

 

[daylighting]

I use a very sharp knife and run the blade along and scrape along the seams on both sides and the shell too until I get very fine shavings. Unfortunately the seeds I've tried that with STILL don't germ. Got some older seeds soaking right now in 1% H2O2. Fingers crossed, this strain is not available commercially!

 

[CLMonkey]

Nice trial Grow! Thank you for sharing it. As i read along the second time i noticed you seen white on a few if the beans, and i think that was from swelling due to the soak.
i was curious to why you chose 72 hours? i usually give them 2 hours after they sink in 80f water if there "fresher" seeds, and if they where older maybe 6 hours soak, then cover with enough layers of damp paper towel to block out light.. and keep them damp with a small cfl over them to simulate warmth from the sun above there heads. but i never tried any seeds that old lol
after reading this i dug through the old headbox and found a couple beans from who knows when,, as i haven't bought anything with seeds in it for years i would imagine there kinda old.
Keep up the great work! it feeds my grey mater while i cant sleep. peace and germination karma your way :karma: :smokebuds:

05/22/13 Trial #2

Well, I decided not to continue with these for another 29 weeks !!! Curiosity got me as to if there was anything at all alive inside the seed shells and was very much surprised with what I found. When I gently cracked the seeds myself, 80% of the seeds that were soaked for 72 hrs in distilled water had 'white' embryonic matter inside. Only 15% of the H2O2 soaked seeds had 'white' embryonic material. The remaining seeds either would not crack even with heavy pressure or when cracked had black or dark brown (dead I suspect) matter inside.

I selected eight of the healthiest cracked seeds with white embryonic matter, undamaged from manually cracking, and buried them 1/2 inch in sterilized peat. Time will tell !!!

Next trial run, I am going to need to find a way to overcome these extremely hardened seed casings. The 'scarification' technique for 15 seconds was obviously inadequate. Suggestions anyone ????