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 Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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 Germinating in vermiculite 
#687188 - 10/02/13 03:30 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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I have some horticultural grade vermiculite and I've seen seedling germination kits at nurseries that are just vermiculite in a little cup. Is there any reason I shouldn't germinate in vermiculite? Does anyone else do this?
Even if people advise against this, does anyone have any tips on the best way to do this besides just putting the seed in cup of moist vermiculite?
I usually germinate seeds from other plants in paper towels, but I feel like if I was going to germinate cannabis seeds I'd have better luck with vermiculite.
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 phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly) 
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 Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687191 - 10/02/13 04:56 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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paper towel works fine, no need to change it. Vermiculite is inert last I checked, so it will probably need feeding while very young.
I also have good results with a "seed starting mix" that looks like brown dust particles. they suck alone, but awesome with 50% coco, otherwise it doesn't wet all the way through, it gets dry pockets. I try and start them in something that can feed the plant at that early stage.
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: phychotron]
#687193 - 10/02/13 06:15 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yea theres absolutely no nutrition in vermiculite, but I'd read you can put it in a cup with the seed and poke holes in the bottom of the cup then put it on top of a watered down solution with a higher P level. Tthis sight actually suggests you can mix piss and water to nurish the seedling. I guess the verm will soak up the solution. I should probably test this out before I attempt it.
I just don't always have success with the paper towel method for other seeds, and although I've never tried the vermiculite method, it sounds logical for the seed to immediately have something to grow into and I know vermiculite holds water well, but doesn't stay over saturated. I wouldn't let it grow much at all in the verm. I figure a couple days after germination I'd put the seedling into soil mix while still in some verm.
This potentially outdated guide I'm reading suggests either rockwool(which I don't have) or vermiculite over paper towels. I think coir has too low a PH for me to mix in the verm.
The dust stuff in seed starter kits might just be vermiculite fine grade. I'd read the ingredients on a seed started kit and all it said was vermiculite and cups or something simple. The horticultural stuff I have is fairly large. I'm not entirely sure what makes it horticultural vermiculite besides maybe the size of the pieces.
I'm tempted to do paper towel method because I have experience with it, but I'll have only a few shots at getting it right. I wish seeds were cheaper/easier to get.
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687201 - 10/02/13 07:23 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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I think I might be reading instructions for hydroponic growing, but I'd be using the TLO method so I have no fukin clue what I should be doing anymore. Couldn't I just put the seeds directly in moist soil? I'd have soil that's specifically suited for clones and seedlings, but I don't know if that includes fresh sprouting seeds.
These guides are kind of confusing me as far as germinating properly goes. Are rockwool cubes for hydroponics only?
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Deadkndys420
Registered: 08/28/12
Posts: 8,703
Loc: █████
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687208 - 10/02/13 08:58 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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I just stated putting my germed seeds in a handful in verm in some soil. Seems to be working fine.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn] 1
#687209 - 10/02/13 09:07 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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No, rockwool isn't only for hydro. But it's usually only used for cloning. You can germinate in it, but it's inert, so it will not work well for germinating seeds.
Don't use piss. That's just fucking retarded. It can have some levels of nitrogen and others, but is not helpful.
Yes you can just place the seeds in moist soil. But the advantage to cracking them in a paper towel, is you know that they have started and then can be placed in the soil. Instead of wondering if they were viable or not.
Make sure that you are using a quality soil, like Fox Farms.
And are you serious about going with True Living Organics? I really wouldn't recommend that for a beginner.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Heh I wasn't planning on using piss. I was just mentioning it.
I'd read a few places that the vermiculite holds the perfect amount of water, has neutral PH and allows good oxygen for the roots. I'm not sure what you guys mean by inert. I almost think more people should try it out. It works great for mycelium. I'd think it would be undoubtedly better than a paper towel. I kind of expected people to shoot it down, but I'm hoping someone who has experience with it could promote it or advise against it.
Yea I'm going with TLO. I've done enough gardening and have an interest in gardening enough that I'm not too concerned, but still it's definitely a few steps beyond anything I ever even considered doing. I have the aid of a 30+ year grower which helps a lot. To me hydroponics seems a lot harder and TLO seems to be mostly just keeping microbial life happy, mixing ingredients properly/not overdoing ingredients, making teas, and having a shitload of patience with compost and slow cooking soils. I have enough patience/free time atm to not screw up too bad(I hope).
Hey deadkndy do you just put the verm into a hole in your soil? I was considering doing that also.
I'm probably just over analyzing the whole germination thing, but it feels different when the seeds are so expensive.
Edited by Midgetpawn (10/02/13 11:40 AM)
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687255 - 10/02/13 05:28 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well I've been trying to figure out what's in hoffmans 6 ingredient "satisfaction guaranteed" seed starter mix, and I gather that it's Vermiculite, peat moss, agricultural lime, coir, and something. Anyone have an idea what the 5th/6th ingredient could be? air and water probably.
Oh wait perlite.. and 1 more
eh screwit, it could be anything. Maybe I'll just buy some.
Edited by Midgetpawn (10/02/13 05:39 PM)
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Deadkndys420
Registered: 08/28/12
Posts: 8,703
Loc: █████
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687277 - 10/02/13 07:16 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Midgetpawn said:
Hey deadkndy do you just put the verm into a hole in your soil? I was considering doing that also.
Yeah I just dug a hole in the soil and filled it with verm.
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Deadkndys420]
#687279 - 10/02/13 07:33 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Cool thanks.
Luckily I found exactly what I was looking for at everwoodfarm.com
Btw I thought coir had a really acidic PH but apparently it's 5.2 - 6.8 naturally. Which probably would be good to mix with vermiculite and some of this http://www.everwoodfarm.com/Mycorrhizal_Fungi_Beneficial_Bacteria_Root_growth_products/Down_To_Earth_Granular_Root_Zone_with_Beneficial_Bacteria and hook up your seeds.
This site has an amazing selection of amendments and everything you could need for starting seeds and cloning(aeroponic). I feel like I did the first time I ever saw a fireworks outlet.
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SmokeSomeHash
Littlest pee pee on da block
Registered: 02/26/13
Posts: 1,555
Loc: murica
Last seen: 8 years, 10 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: Midgetpawn]
#687310 - 10/02/13 10:37 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Im just throw in my 2 cents for seed starting since i do about 2000 seeds a week of legal produce.
Rockwool does suck for seeds unless you put something in it. Lately ive been soaking the rockwool in a light solution of the fox farm big bloom since its organic. In a side by side lettuce grow the one with the big bloom did WAY better with faster sprouting and bushier plants.
I prefer rockwool over peat products like the expandable pellets or pre soaked ones such as root riots. They dry too fast and are hard to re wet.
Vermiculite is cool if you do the same thing i mentioned with the rockwool. Its cool cuz you can rinse off the verm in a cup of water and they look like aeroclones.
I do not like paper towel because it requires moving delicate seedlings that can be damaged on transplant. A seed is very tough but a seedling is extremely delicate and should be left alone.
If youree on top of things though any method will work.
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Midgetpawn
Registered: 06/21/13
Posts: 577
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating in vermiculite [Re: SmokeSomeHash]
#688746 - 10/11/13 01:06 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well vermiculite seems to have worked. I just ordered big bloom from some hydroponics megastore a couple weeks ago and like a week and a half later they let me know they didn't have any of the size I ordered so I got my money back and now it's back in =/
I ordered it from http://www.horticulturesource.com so beware if you need stuff in a hurry and pay for normal shipping, you won't get it any time soon. They have big bloom and a ton of other stuff super cheap though
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