Seeds not germinating
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Make sure paper towels arnt to wet if u can wring a bunch out by balling it up in ur hand it's to wet next time add some h2o2 1 teaspoon to 4oz or so of water also kelp I personally use which seems to work well for me
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They need warmth ~ 80°F I don't believe in that method even though lots of peeps do it that way.
I know that a lot of growers swear by it and their proof is the fact that many plants survive the technique but unless seeds are old or have been stored poorly soaking seeds is not needed and can drown them. Then because they need the instant gratification of seeing the tap root they germinate them in paper towels. If you look at a tap root under 200x magnification you will see the “root hairs” that grow laterally out from the tap root. These become the plant’s uptake roots. They will grow into the fibers of the paper towels and are ripped off every time the seedling is move or the towel is opened – ouch. Then when transplanting it is very easy to bump the tap root tip and damage it or kill the seedling – Why?
Put the fresh or properly stored seed ½” deep in a Rapid Rooter, Root Riot, rock wool cube or similar or right in the soil. Don’t use Jiffy peat pots the PH is too low. Keep moist – not wet, and ~80°F, 60% humidity with your blue (veg) lights on and they will germinate if viable. I use 25% strength week one nutrients with a little kelp to moisten my starter cubes. Most strains will germinate in 5 to 7 days. Some strains take longer than others. The African sativas can take 21+ days so be patient. If your seeds are not fresh or have been stored poorly an 8 hour soak in a weak kelp solution can encourage germination. Kelp has natural Gibberellic acid GA3 which is a growth stimulator.
5 plus year old seeds require special treatment. As the seeds age the outer shell becomes denser making it harder for water to penetrate and stimulate the growth. A slight scuff on a piece of super fine sand paper or the striker on a match book will cut into the surface of the shell. The idea is to make sure the seed gets enough water inside before it drowns. A few minute rinse in H202 will sanitize the outside of the seed. Then proceed as above.
Old TimingMan germinated 40 year old seeds using this method:
“ Old TimingMan
I wish there was a easier way but so far my best luck has been scuffing them in a sandpaper tube, letting them set in a H2O2 bath for an hour while plunking them down every 15 minutes, and then using the GA3 at a rate of 500 PPM in distilled water with temps at the 80 degree mark from soak to sprout.”
I know that a lot of growers swear by it and their proof is the fact that many plants survive the technique but unless seeds are old or have been stored poorly soaking seeds is not needed and can drown them. Then because they need the instant gratification of seeing the tap root they germinate them in paper towels. If you look at a tap root under 200x magnification you will see the “root hairs” that grow laterally out from the tap root. These become the plant’s uptake roots. They will grow into the fibers of the paper towels and are ripped off every time the seedling is move or the towel is opened – ouch. Then when transplanting it is very easy to bump the tap root tip and damage it or kill the seedling – Why?
Put the fresh or properly stored seed ½” deep in a Rapid Rooter, Root Riot, rock wool cube or similar or right in the soil. Don’t use Jiffy peat pots the PH is too low. Keep moist – not wet, and ~80°F, 60% humidity with your blue (veg) lights on and they will germinate if viable. I use 25% strength week one nutrients with a little kelp to moisten my starter cubes. Most strains will germinate in 5 to 7 days. Some strains take longer than others. The African sativas can take 21+ days so be patient. If your seeds are not fresh or have been stored poorly an 8 hour soak in a weak kelp solution can encourage germination. Kelp has natural Gibberellic acid GA3 which is a growth stimulator.
5 plus year old seeds require special treatment. As the seeds age the outer shell becomes denser making it harder for water to penetrate and stimulate the growth. A slight scuff on a piece of super fine sand paper or the striker on a match book will cut into the surface of the shell. The idea is to make sure the seed gets enough water inside before it drowns. A few minute rinse in H202 will sanitize the outside of the seed. Then proceed as above.
Old TimingMan germinated 40 year old seeds using this method:
“ Old TimingMan
I wish there was a easier way but so far my best luck has been scuffing them in a sandpaper tube, letting them set in a H2O2 bath for an hour while plunking them down every 15 minutes, and then using the GA3 at a rate of 500 PPM in distilled water with temps at the 80 degree mark from soak to sprout.”
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I've tried a few methods involving paper towels and a pre-soak. In my (admittedly novice) experience, the simplest (and my most successful) method is to drop them straight into moist soil. That't not to say the other methods don't work, but -- especially when starting out -- I think a lot of these other processes just introduce too many extra opportunities for new growers to make mistakes.
No other prep beyond wetting the soil down (I usually thoroughly saturate to runoff and then let it sit for a few hours) and making sure your environment can stay within the ranges prescribed above in this thread. Seeds like it moist and room temp to warm. No need for light for the first 48 hours or so if going straight to soil. Just get your environment sorted and maintain those ideal conditions.
If humidity is an issue (i.e. if you don't have a humidifier), some plastic wrap or a transparent cup over your planted seed can help retain moisture in your soil.
I usually turn my lights on after the 48 hour mark and see activity within a day.
Good luck!
No other prep beyond wetting the soil down (I usually thoroughly saturate to runoff and then let it sit for a few hours) and making sure your environment can stay within the ranges prescribed above in this thread. Seeds like it moist and room temp to warm. No need for light for the first 48 hours or so if going straight to soil. Just get your environment sorted and maintain those ideal conditions.
If humidity is an issue (i.e. if you don't have a humidifier), some plastic wrap or a transparent cup over your planted seed can help retain moisture in your soil.
I usually turn my lights on after the 48 hour mark and see activity within a day.
Good luck!
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It's an advantage to have grown up in a large farming community, growing weed for 40 years in corn fields. I germ every plant by planting in moistened warm medium at 1/2" under 24/0 t5ho. Wait 2-4 days. 99.9% success rate. As above posters mentioned, any other way exposes too many possible miscues. I do nothing extra regardless the seed age...recently popped a 9 yr old seed with above method. No soaking, paper towels, or fertility chants.
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heya growmie, been a minute
fwiw, i jus soak me beanz for 24h in spring water, then into the dirt they go...no paper towelz 
i keep the soil misted & 2d later, they sprout...hazn't failed me yet 
pppheya growmie, been a minute
Thanks my friend! I put them in soil last night. Now the waiting game.
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