Germination help.

[Pita]

Hey guys. As some of you may know, this is my first year growing anything. Since I had most of my orange Habs. under control, I decided to try to grow a bunch of O.Habs. and Hungarians from seeds. I got one of those long window planters and filled it up a little ways with soil, planted and marked the seeds, covered the top with some cling wrap and set it on a heat mat at ~80 Deg F. Three days later I find everything inside growing white fuzzy mold. (At least I got something to grow! :lol: ) I had another setup going like this one, only using the tray for the planter and some paper towels. Smelled nasty.

I had tried the paper towel method with the habs that I put in that window planter and all had sprouted or started to. They were at least opened up. I'll try to salvage those. I wanted to use seedling trays but no one had anymore in stock.

What methods do you guys find work best? Do you presoak the seeds? Are there any bits of advice on germination?

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate it.

Pita

[RingburnDave]

http://www.ringburn.net/2008/07/chilli-seedlings-update/ here's my germination setup. a mini-greenhouse from the local garden place, a heat mat, jiffy pellets and a thermometer.

Works great, i try to keep the jiffy pellets damp but not wet. I've never pre-soaked any seeds, but I found that fresh seeds (straight from a pod) sprouted much faster than dried...

[talas]

Heres fatails germination guide..:)

Soil..

http://fatalii.net/growing/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26

Hydro..

http://fatalii.net/growing/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=61

[rainbowberry]

I don't soak my seeds and use the paper towel method because I'm nosy and like to see what's going on. Also like RingBurnDave said fresh seeds will germinate quicker.

[Chiliac]

I do saok my seeds, it has always worked well for me.

[talas]

Think soaking them when there in the soil and having the temperature just around 27-29 is the best bet..But must always be what is most successful for each person..and trying everything is a good idea to see best results ;)

[QuadShotz]

When I started out, I created a great deal of moldy dead crap too.

Then, I learned to adjust temps better, and only keep 'em moist..NOT wet.

Plant only a couple mm deep, just barely cover them. Keep 'em at a soil temp of between 75-88F and use bottled water or otherwise purified. Ya wouldn't belive the organisms and other crap in tap water. Plus, letting tap water stand allows the chorine to bleed off. (if you have that)

Having a heat mat really helps keep the temps nice. I've managed without one so far by using shallow trays like the stryo ones that come under meat and thinly layering damp soil with the seeds in, then covering with plastic wrap and sticking on top of my floros. Stays about solid 85F up there.

Using a good non-soil mix like my trusty Pro-Mix helps if ya use soil instead of Jiffy's. DO NOT use soil w/ added fert like 'normal' Miracle Gro as it'll burn them.

Plus, my MG ended up having weeds in it. Ugh.

No ferts until first true leaves, and only diluted then.

Most all of this stuff I learned here and from (much) trial and error. :)

GL,

-QS

[Pita]

When I started out, I created a great deal of moldy dead crap too.

Then, I learned to adjust temps better, and only keep 'em moist..NOT wet.

Plant only a couple mm deep, just barely cover them. Keep 'em at a soil temp of between 75-88F and use bottled water or otherwise purified. Ya wouldn't belive the organisms and other crap in tap water. Plus, letting tap water stand allows the chorine to bleed off. (if you have that)

Having a heat mat really helps keep the temps nice. I've managed without one so far by using shallow trays like the stryo ones that come under meat and thinly layering damp soil with the seeds in, then covering with plastic wrap and sticking on top of my floros. Stays about solid 85F up there.

Using a good non-soil mix like my trusty Pro-Mix helps if ya use soil instead of Jiffy's. DO NOT use soil w/ added fert like 'normal' Miracle Gro as it'll burn them.

Plus, my MG ended up having weeds in it. Ugh.

No ferts until first true leaves, and only diluted then.

Most all of this stuff I learned here and from (much) trial and error. :)

GL,

-QS


Haha, no worries about my "tap water"! I have a rediculous house water purification system. The thing takes everything out. I'm allergic to flouride - makes me really sick- and they put it in water. Took me a LONG time to figure out why the heck I felt like I was going to die for that whole period of time! The system takes out the flouride/chlorine/other junk that ya don't want. So I would hope that it is something that you can use on plants! I was stupid and used MG for the soil anyways so It's not that big of a loss

When I try to germ. seeds in paper towels, I just slide them under my ball python cage because they have heat mats glued on the bottom. It's a nice 80-90*F depending on where I put them. It seemed to work well, for those poor moldy Habs at least :(

Well guys n gals, on the bright side, there is a pepper sprouting in one of my hab pots. :shocked: Weird right? And that soil is MG. It seems to be doing alright. Maybe I'll get it out of that crap and put it in some natural organic soil I have. What do you think?

I still need to get some pics up. I keep saying that but I haven't. Its not me being lazy, I swear! I have to borrow a camera.

Pita

[hixs]

Hey good luck pita and keep with it.What i`ve noticed is there are so many ways to do it.I use all natural creek sediment and nothing else and love it.I do pre soak but thats what I learned when a brat.a tomato and no luck. You`ll get your answers here. That python might get a lil pissed if he gets ahold of hottie!

[klyth]

Hi Pita. They're seeds. They want to grow. Just leave them be. No need for plastic wrap, etc. Just stick the seeds in dirt - don't cover them too much - and use your best judgment with the watering regimen. I was watering once a day or once every other day. You want them ALMOST dry before you water again, not bone dry. And it wouldn't hurt to put them in a room with a fan (or outside) to protect against mold.

I had a problem with fungus so I started mixing Hydrogen Peroxide with my water and that helped a lot.

Bottom watering is also helpful.

[talas]

Hi Pita. They're seeds. They want to grow. Just leave them be. No need for plastic wrap, etc. Just stick the seeds in dirt - don't cover them too much - and use your best judgment with the watering regimen. I was watering once a day or once every other day. You want them ALMOST dry before you water again, not bone dry. And it wouldn't hurt to put them in a room with a fan (or outside) to protect against mold.

I had a problem with fungus so I started mixing Hydrogen Peroxide with my water and that helped a lot.

Bottom watering is also helpful.

Useful advice Klyth my best germination has been with dirt Compared to rockwool,Riot Cubes etc nice and simple :rolleyes:

[allXbutXgone]

anytime i grow anything i germ the seeds just like klyth said to,
just plant them at an appropriate depth for the seed, make sure the soils good and its not packed overtop, and water appropriately and keep under light. ive never used syran wrap or anything like that and id say my success rate is like 95% for getting seedlings. just make sure you keep your area temp controlled.

Good Luck!

[Pita]

Hey good luck pita and keep with it.What i`ve noticed is there are so many ways to do it.I use all natural creek sediment and nothing else and love it.I do pre soak but thats what I learned when a brat.a tomato and no luck. You`ll get your answers here. That python might get a lil pissed if he gets ahold of hottie!

Well, with the aquarium, the heat pad is glued underneath the bottom of it, and it is raised about an inch and a half. It gets a good 80-90 under there and seems to have worked its magic on the seeds I salvaged from my "science project". I have 2-3 more that have sprouted since being under there. Lucky for my python, theres no way he'll get to them, unless he can phase through glass and unzip a bag!

Thank you all for the helpful tips!
Pita

[Pita]

I've noticed something weird when germinating seeds. The ones from my hab plants start germinating within two days..and seeds out of habaneros bought from jewel mostly are not germinating (only two that are just starting to sprout).

I do have a question though. One of my seeds was sprouting really strong and then it kind of died out and turned brown - what causes that? The others by it are doing just fine.

OH My pretty massive hab plant has a couple fully bloomed flowers! TONS of budding ones too! :D

[Brokensea]

18 days ago I took a small tray of Jalapeno seeds that had been stored in an airtight container for 2 years, soaked them in tap water (our tap water has been measured at better quality than the bottled stuff the French sell you) for 24 hours, covered the dish with a 1/2 inch dirt and left it in the sun.

2 days later I repeated the process - this time using seed potting mix, and egg cartons as seeding trays. The second set was my other varieties of seeds - stuff I did not grow myself. So have no idea on their potential.

Today the casually sown Jalapenos are growing to 3 inches, forming new leaves each day and more Jalapeno seedlings are bursting up as well.

But no sign of any of my other seeds coming through. There were lightly covered with the seed mix dirt, watered just a little every day I'm starting to worry that they might not be going to make an appearance.

I really don't want to start digging into the pots to see if they have germinated in case of damage to the plants.

They are getting plenty of warmth - lots of sun heat and they rest on a black vinyl pad which warms them from underneath too.

I'm prepared to give them another week before I start poking in - but how long should it take for signs of life?

[AlabamaJack]

IMO 30C (86F) soil temp constant is the prime temp for germination. If you are above it or below it, the germination time will vary...this just from my experience of last years germination...others will have varying opinions I am sure...but to me, soil temp is THE most important thing for seed germination...

[Brokensea]

Thanks AJ.

They are getting some good warmth, and the weather has been constant around 16*C here the last few weeks.

I only planted 2 of each variety so I have plenty more seeds to experiment with different techniques.

[Chiliac]

IMO 30C (86F) soil temp constant is the prime temp for germination. If you are above it or below it, the germination time will vary...this just from my experience of last years germination...others will have varying opinions I am sure...but to me, soil temp is THE most important thing for seed germination...

It is, before germination, they don't need lights, you could germinate them in full darkness, but the temp must be sth around what you said. I have bought heating cables recently, wanna try them on next season's seeds.

[AlabamaJack]

I saw a study by NMSU CPI that showed the germination percentages for a couple of different kind of chilis and from what I remember, heck....I am going to try and find that study right now...back in a bit...

[Chiliac]

Dang! AJ got lost!!!!

[Pita]

Hey there! Thought I should give you guys-n-gals an update. I was able to save some of the orange hab seeds from my little science experiment and plant them along with a lot more seeds from store bought habs. My dad works for a packaging company so we have a lot lot lot of those clear food containers (kind of what you would buy pre-made sandwiches from the grocery store in). Though the soil layer is very thin, it seemed to work well.

At first, I only had 3 sprouts from the dozens of seeds I had put in there. After a good couple weeks, they just kept popping up. Now I have more than twenty little baby habs!!! I am really excited - I hope I can keep them alive XD I was thinking of getting a 4' shop light to let em grow. Not sure on t8s or t12s. Ill have to look into it. (I have to save all of my money for school, so it is a squeeze). To top it off, I had two ziplocks with seeds in some papertowels that would just not grow. I had tossed them to the side after a month or so - happened to glance over the other day and every single seed had sprouted and they're all making their way out of the paper towels! I'm so excited!

I tried to clone two of my larger plants, the ones I have had for quite a while. I'm not sure how they are doing. They're a wee bit droopy, and seem like the leaves are really thin, though they are not burning/ browning out.

Now, if any of my bigger plants would ever make pollen to set some fruit, that would be great!!

[chilliman64]

I germinate in jiffy pellets which sit in a small tray which holds 30 pots. seeds are planted about 3mm below the soil surface. the tray sits on a heat pad which is turned up to full heat (about 40 deg C) and I had 69 out of 70 jp germinate within about two weeks. last season I had similar results.

I use a mist sprayer twice a day (morning and night) and don't cover the trays with clingwrap or anything else. I have only use ziplock bags to test germination rates on any new seeds I plan on growing, otherwise I don't recommend it as a means of kicking off your seeds due to mold.

once they sprout I place them under pink grolux fluoros (2 x 18watt), I have heard them referred to as aquarium fluoros - these lights have my seedlings ready to harden off about 4 weeks after germination is commenced. to give you some idea, I set down my chinense varieties on 6th Sept and they have been hardening off for the last 2-3 weeks either under shadecloth or in direct sunlight ever since. I'm just waiting for mild conditions to plant out.

[chilliman64]

I saw a study by NMSU CPI that showed the germination percentages for a couple of different kind of chilis and from what I remember, heck....I am going to try and find that study right now...back in a bit...

I had 100% germination from my NMSU bhuts this year - 20/20