Planting

BobNarley · 05-31-2008, 10:09 AM

Planting
Growers usually figure that ¼ - V3 of the seeds they plant reach
maturity. Usually 40-50% of the plants are male. The best females
are chosen for continued growth during early growth but after the
plants have indicated.
Most fresh seeds have a very high germination rate, usually
about 95%. However, older seeds (more than 2 or 3 years old) or
seeds imported from foreign countries where they undergo stress
during curing, may not fare so well. They have a higher percentage
of weak plants and they are subject to disease. Sometimes virtually
all of the seeds from a batch of imported marijuana are dead.
Intact seeds which are dark brown or grey have the best chance
of germinating. Seeds which are whitish, light tan or cracked are
probably not viable. Most guide books suggest that growers plant
the largest seeds in a batch, but the size of the seed is genetically as
well as environmentally determined and does not necessarily relate
to its germination potential.
If the seeds are fresh, they can be planted one per container.
They may be planted in the container in which they are to grow to
maturity or in a smaller vessel. Some growers find it more conve-
nient to plant the seeds in small containers to save space during ear-
ly growth.
Seeds with a dubious chance of germination are best started in
tissue and then placed in pots as they show signs of life. The wet
tissue, napkin or sponge is placed in a container or on a plate, and is
covered with plastic wrap. The seeds are checked every 12 hours for

germination. As soon as the root cracks the skin, the seedling is
planted with the emerging point down. Seeds can also be started in
tray pots so that large numbers can be tried without using much
space.
Seedlings and cuttings can be placed in the refrigerator -- not
the freezer - to slow down their growth if it is inconvenient to
plant at the moment. They can be stored in the vegetable crisper of
the refrigerator for a week or more, in a moistened plastic bag. The
temperature should be kept above 40 degrees to prevent cell
damage. This does not adversely affect the plant's later growth, and
in fact, is an easy way to harden the plants up that are placed out-
doors later.
Seeds should be sown ¼ - ½ inch deep, covered, and then the
medium should be patted down. Seeds sown in light soil or planting
mixes can be sown one inch deep. Some growers treat the seeds with
B1 or the rooting hormone, indolebutyric acid, which is sold as an
ingredient in many rooting solutions. Seeds germinated in covered
trays or mini-greenhouses grow long, spindly stems unless the top is
removed as the first seedlings pop the soil. The medium must be
kept moist.
One way to make sure that the medium remains moist is to
plant the seeds in containers or nursery trays which have been
modified to use the wick system. To modify a tray, nylon cord is
run horizontally through holes in each of the small growing spaces.
The cord should extend downward into a leakproof holder. (Trays
come with 2 kinds of holders. Some have drainage holes and some
are solid.) The tray is raised from the holder using a couple of pieces
of 2 x 4's running lengthwise which keep tray holders filled with
water. The tray will remain moist as long as there is water in the
bottom. If the tray is to be moved, it is placed in a cardboard box or
over a piece of plywood before being filled with water.
The light is kept on continuously until the seeds germinate.
Most seeds germinate in 3-14 days. Usually fresh seeds germinate
faster than old ones.

05-31-2008, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
BobNarley My Mood: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mojove Desert-Southern California Posts: 530 gRamz: 13,391 Danks: 26 Danked 17 Times in 14 Posts	Planting Planting Growers usually figure that ¼ - V3 of the seeds they plant reach maturity. Usually 40-50% of the plants are male. The best females are chosen for continued growth during early growth but after the plants have indicated. Most fresh seeds have a very high germination rate, usually about 95%. However, older seeds (more than 2 or 3 years old) or seeds imported from foreign countries where they undergo stress during curing, may not fare so well. They have a higher percentage of weak plants and they are subject to disease. Sometimes virtually all of the seeds from a batch of imported marijuana are dead. Intact seeds which are dark brown or grey have the best chance of germinating. Seeds which are whitish, light tan or cracked are probably not viable. Most guide books suggest that growers plant the largest seeds in a batch, but the size of the seed is genetically as well as environmentally determined and does not necessarily relate to its germination potential. If the seeds are fresh, they can be planted one per container. They may be planted in the container in which they are to grow to maturity or in a smaller vessel. Some growers find it more conve- nient to plant the seeds in small containers to save space during ear- ly growth. Seeds with a dubious chance of germination are best started in tissue and then placed in pots as they show signs of life. The wet tissue, napkin or sponge is placed in a container or on a plate, and is covered with plastic wrap. The seeds are checked every 12 hours for germination. As soon as the root cracks the skin, the seedling is planted with the emerging point down. Seeds can also be started in tray pots so that large numbers can be tried without using much space. Seedlings and cuttings can be placed in the refrigerator -- not the freezer - to slow down their growth if it is inconvenient to plant at the moment. They can be stored in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator for a week or more, in a moistened plastic bag. The temperature should be kept above 40 degrees to prevent cell damage. This does not adversely affect the plant's later growth, and in fact, is an easy way to harden the plants up that are placed out- doors later. Seeds should be sown ¼ - ½ inch deep, covered, and then the medium should be patted down. Seeds sown in light soil or planting mixes can be sown one inch deep. Some growers treat the seeds with B1 or the rooting hormone, indolebutyric acid, which is sold as an ingredient in many rooting solutions. Seeds germinated in covered trays or mini-greenhouses grow long, spindly stems unless the top is removed as the first seedlings pop the soil. The medium must be kept moist. One way to make sure that the medium remains moist is to plant the seeds in containers or nursery trays which have been modified to use the wick system. To modify a tray, nylon cord is run horizontally through holes in each of the small growing spaces. The cord should extend downward into a leakproof holder. (Trays come with 2 kinds of holders. Some have drainage holes and some are solid.) The tray is raised from the holder using a couple of pieces of 2 x 4's running lengthwise which keep tray holders filled with water. The tray will remain moist as long as there is water in the bottom. If the tray is to be moved, it is placed in a cardboard box or over a piece of plywood before being filled with water. The light is kept on continuously until the seeds germinate. Most seeds germinate in 3-14 days. Usually fresh seeds germinate faster than old ones.

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