seeds Seeds have dark rings around them... are they dead?

dustonj2008 · Jan 30, 2015

I am attempting to germinate via the paper towel / ziplock method. I was checking on my seeds to see if any need to be planted yet and I started noticing that the there were several seeds that were showing no signs of life. Also, most of these seeds have a dark ring around the seed.

Are these seeds dead? It seems like there's a correlation to the bags that have this symptom seem to no be sprouting. Most of my seeds have been going for about 2 weeks in a plastic bin that is sitting on top of my heating mat. The mat is currently set to 90. The setup is in my basement so it's a little cooler down there. Rarely does the thermostat get that high.

Should I give up on this batch of seeds? Should I ride it out? Should I double down and start a second batch just in case? I'm leaning towards starting a second batch but unfortunately I don't have extras of a few varieties... :-(

hogleg · Jan 30, 2015

Well dammit, Smokemaster started a thread on candling seeds and seed viability but I cant find it, to link here. But yea those seeds look dead to me, i would start back ups. Also 90 degrees seems a little high to me, i think 80-85 is sufficient.

HuhHah! found it.

http://thehotpepper.com/topic/52778-checking-out-for-bunk-seeds/?hl=candling

ThePepperTrent · Jan 30, 2015

Yep 90 is a bit too hot for them. 75-85 is about perfect and as hot as you wanna get them. Bummer

dustonj2008 · Jan 30, 2015

Yea that's weak... I'm a noob so I expected that I would do something wrong this season. I've got some extras for a second batch for most of what I've lost. I might have to beg, borrow or steal for the others though haha.

ThePepperTrent · Jan 30, 2015

Hey just ask, chances are one of us has something you are looking for.

moruga welder · Jan 30, 2015

dont sweat it dustin you still have plenty of window to start and grow them :onfire:

dustonj2008 · Jan 30, 2015

ThePepperTrent said:
Hey just ask, chances are one of us has something you are looking for.

Good point. It looks like the only lost all of my Reapers and Bubblegums. I did realize that I have some extras that I could trade if someone wanted them. Here's what I have if anyone is interested:

7 Pot Brain Strain Yellow
Bhut Jolokia
Cheiro Recife
Chocolate Habanero
Fatalii Yellow
Magnum Orange Habanero
Trinidad Chocolate Scorpion
Trinidad Congo
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion

sirex · Jan 30, 2015

WHat are you looking for ?

dustonj2008 · Jan 31, 2015

Sirex,
Scorched is hooking me up with some Reapers and Bubblegums to replace the ones I lost.

As far as what am I looking for outside of those... After looking over my grow list I noticed I don't have any Nagas or Butch Ts at all. I'm not sure how I missed that... After watching GeogeJ's review of the 7 Pot Primo I'm interested in that pepper. I've seen a lot of good reviews on it. I'm willing to try just about anything that's out there that isn't already on my grow list. I don't discriminate haha.