Jun
24
2010
Gardening Question-If I tried to germinate some seeds, in paper towels….?
Posted by greenthumb in Gardening Questions
but I put to much water on the paper, and the seeds didnt germinate…
If i try again with less water is it still possible for them to germinate, or are they dead?
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If the seed is soggy it’s probably dead. The best way to germinate a seed is to put it into a damp cotton ball. (Not soaked)
Good Luck
They probably won’t work, but you can try. I like to do mine under glass. Get an old glass jar and stick the paper towel and seeds to one side of the jar then put the jar upside down in front of the window.
This will depend on whether the seed decayed, from too much water, or is still in the process of germination. If it started its internal process to germinate, which was then disrupted, this could cause the inner roots, that didn’t emerge, as well as the seed leaves to have shrivelled and died.
In any event, the first process that all seeds have to do is to absorb water. How this is achieved varies slightly between species, such as with most Palms which benefit from being soaked for 1-2 days in warm water,
I’d recommend that you research the specific plants that you’re growing, and then follow the method that works best for them.
For seeds that benefit from lots of water, my method is to use 100% clean water, and soak, with a medium like vermiculite or perlite. These absorb water, but also air to, meaning that the seeds don’t become starved of air. These materials are low cost and available from nurseries and many home improvement stores – they will last for years, as they are inert, and are often added to seed planting packs. They contain no nutrients, so you will need to grow your seedlings in a mix that includes some nutrients in the short term, following germination. I enclose this mixture, with the seeds, in ziplock type bags, or in some plastic freezer tubs that you’d freeze food in – if they’re clear plastic you can still see through them, allowing you to check on the seeds, without opening the tub.
If you edit your question with the plant types that you’re growing I’m happy to give you some more exacting advice, based on growing those from seed. Often a pot, with a sterile potting soil, or in the ground outdoors is fine for many of them, but growing indoors does allow you to control the full conditions that they need in a more precise way. I’ll check back in about 10 hours or so, to see if you’ve added anything.
In the meantime – your current seeds are not 100% sure to be dead, though there’s a likely high chance, if they sat in water for extended periods, and it’s been more than a couple of days since you took them out of a damp environment.
Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob