225smokestack and Hamster....
Well obviously I somehow wrapped my brain around some really wrong ideas. I did the paper towel and was soooooo excited the following AM when I saw some definate tap root action. But I had it in my head to expect a 1/2" tap root and so I pull out the old tape measure and my lil bundles of joy were more like 1/16th of an inch long..... so I wrapped them back up expecting in time they would grow.... I even read more than once this germination process could take up to 4-5 days. So day after day after day (is that 4-5 yet?) I waited and nada. On the 5th day the mini taps were yellowing and I freaked and stuck them in jiffy pucks and waited..... waited ...... waited..... frantically sending out messages and reading all around the net and other GJs here.
Eventually I decided I shoulda just followed my gut instinct instead of others experiences or posts.... I also found a page of germination instructions that said 1/16" of an inch.... and a GJ here that said she planted at 1/2cm. (thats 1/10") and I got some feedback that suggested maybe my jiffy pucks had a bad moisture to oxygen ratio and I should try the rapid rooter plugs.
To test my new old theory I dropped 11 crap 3 y o bag seeds in water and within 24 hrs I had two tiny taps - same exact size as the autos I'd just burried. I once again used the jiffy pucks cause that's what I had and exactly 48 hrs later both crap seeds had sprouted....
So here I sit right at 24 hrs in the paper towels with 5 of those short stuff freebees and 5 more white widows. TBH I know one of the free is to young - it was tiny and blond. I see some action but not quite what I need so crossing fingers that this time tomorrow AM I'll have a respectable 1/16 - 1/10" tap root. Rapid rooter plugs are ready and dome is at a proper temp.... I feel like such a drama queen cause I took it hard.... but what's an ol hippie to do cept dust off and keep going. It's not like I'm ever gona quit.