Paper towel germination question

twilson · Post by **twilson** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:09 am

This is for those of you who only let the root emerge a tiny bit from the seed before putting the seed in the grow medium.

Once the root pokes out of seed ( a tiny bit ) which way do you position the seed when you plant it. With the root pointing down or with the root pointing up ?

Post by **Munchy** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:15 am

twilson · Post by **twilson** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:19 am

Munchy wrote:down

This is why this is such a controversial subject. The claim is that the root takes a 180 degree turn after it comes out so some people say you must point the root up.

However not ever germinated seed does the 180.

Post by **Munchy** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:22 am

in my experience, they only do a 180 if you point them up.
and then sometimes they don't quite make it... like if the medium is too dense/wet.
I prefer less stress, instead of forcing them to do acrobatics when they're barely hatched.
the root knows which way is down, and that's the way it will go.

twilson · Post by **twilson** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:39 am

Munchy wrote:in my experience, they only do a 180 if you point them up.
and then sometimes they don't quite make it... like if the medium is too dense/wet.
I prefer less stress, instead of forcing them to do acrobatics when they're barely hatched.
the root knows which way is down, and that's the way it will go.

I'll give it a try next time I germ some seeds.

Intrinsic · Post by **Intrinsic** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:28 pm

Jes let the popped seed fall in the hole naturally. Evolution has left it (design it) to work all around.

twilson it is controversial cause there is no, and never will be any, conclusive data favoring one or the other. So like religion the believers on both sides hang on cause ya cant prove em wrong..
.. but it is Inconsequential which direction it lands. handling the cracked seed minimally is the best rather then hold it longer trying to position it precisely. just let go.

deran · Post by **deran** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:54 pm

down

its not controversial for the grower, only for the writer of so called grow books

Prawn Connery · Post by **Prawn Connery** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:53 am

It's not controversial: there's a very good reason why you plant your seeds either with the tails pointing up or slightly sideways (if this is your germinated seed 6, tilted slightly clockwise - my preferred method).

Have a look at the way the seed case opens when the tail emerges - it's like a clamshell. If you plant with the tail pointing down, as the seedling grows, the seed case is force shut by the pressure of soil around it as it pushes upwards. The seedling emerges from the soil and the seed casing is still attached - clamped around the cotyledons. Once exposed to air, the seed case dries out - still clamped around the seedling - making it harder for the seedling to grow out of.

If you plant with the tail pointing up, the clam-shell gets pulled off the cotyledons by the force of the seedling growing up through the soil - a bit like how an anchor attaches itself to the seabed.

Have a look at a germinated seed next time and you will see what I mean