OK I'm trying to germinate my God Bud Feminized...They will be going into a Aeroflo 36 to be grown aeroponically. I have germindated seeds before many times using the paper towel method but I would like to avoid handling them if possible. I am working with a Rapid Rooter tray with humidity cover, Bontaicare AquaShield and General Hydroponics PH UP and Down. I do not have a heat pad at the moment.

Should I start the seeds in a cup of water or paper towel and move them to the Rapid Rooters? If so is the only benefit of this speed?

Should I start the seeds directly in the rapid rooters?

Should I use my AquaShield or PH solution yet?

Only response I've gotten says to use the Paper Towel method. But again I'm concerned with handling them. If I can just start the seeds directly in the rapid rooter tray I would like to do so but would like to hear someone's good experience with that.

Also should I use some PH solution and Botaicare Aquashield?

Well, I only have experience with peat pellets for germination...
But I suspect it would work just as well - make sure they don't dry out and use a humidity dome. A little added heat speeds the process up.

100% germ rate with pp, both (PP's and RR's) IMO are better than the paper towel method....try to keep the germ process natural

I believe the difference is that you have to presoak the RR's for several hours with pH-correct water prior to germ.

hope this helps?

__________________
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Nutrient Deficiencies

I got on GH's website and they only suggested using a mild bloom solution, but this did drop the pH to 5.2, I orginally thought that was too low but after reading 1 post today they say that's actually good for calcium uptake. I adjust pH to 6.34 and I've got my fingers crossed. I went ahead and just put them right in the RRs with no germination. I put a about 32ozs of water all together and that left about 1/8 inch of water on the bottom of the tray for the RRs to soak up. I'm hoping they don't rot and I didn't increase the pH too much!

They've germinated, their pushing up some of the small RR pieces I put in the RR hole's.

48 Hours of Average 80 Degrees / 45% Humidity / Little light through a curtain during the day

I'm trying to dry the RRs out a little bit so I can add fresh water without over watering. Let me know if you think this makes sense or not. They originally had slightly high pH and ppm, so I'm trying to reign it in a bit. I also want to avoid rot.

I'm going to let them go one more day like this and start them on 24 hours of light, then maybe start nutrients once they sprout their leaves completely.

My major question is I was told to the water an inch below the Rapid Rooters but should that be below the top or the bottom? I don't have room to go an inch below them so right now I have some of the fresh water just resting on the bottom of the Rapid Rooters. Should I raise up the water level and let the Rapid Rooters get a little more wet?

You can put them in a glass of water the first night, and then just remove the seeds and place them in your rooter tray, just keep them nice and moist and you won't have to handle them. Just make sure the water you use to keep them nice and moist is ph adjusted around 5.6 to 6.0

SN