TheGreenFist

Good luck growers 😎

Good Luck Newbies 👍👊

Personally I sterilize a shot glass with alcohol then rinse it with distilled water. Then fill it about half ways with more distilled water then allow them to float on the waters surface. I like to cover the shot glass with a solo cup or put it in a dark cabinet. I never touch the seeds with my hands in order to prevent contamination with bacteria etc. I used to try to push them under the water after 24 hours but have found the seeds need oxygen drowning them is not a great idea. I have found that buying high quality fresh seeds will open and the tip of the tail will show at 24 to 36 hours at 75 F. I then use the moist paper towel technique. For another 24 hours then when the tail is about a 1/2 inch long they go right into the soil with the shell just barely coverd with fine soil then I cover them with a clear solo cup until I can maintain a constant 65 to 70 % humidity level.They typically are up within 24 to 48 hours tops. Since most growers store their seeds in the refrigerator I like to take the seeds I'll be growing out from the frig a week before sprouting them. I have also seen some growers use a match box with a piece of fine sandpaper 220/320 grit cut to fit inside then put their seeds inside and shake them around for about 30 seconds to scarify the shells. Pretty risky if you over do it especially at $10 a seed. Lastly adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) will soften up the shells if you have some older more difficult seeds to sprout. Lastly if you handle tobacco products be carefull you can transmit TMV tobacco mosaic or other viruses to your seeds and seedlings try to use sterile tools and equipment.