I do not know why this batch failed. The clearest gap in my record is that I used a heat mat without measuring temperature inside the growing medium. Temperature control is my leading hypothesis, but the observations do not settle it.
What I actually observed
Some taproots emerged and then stalled. Two seeds cracked their shells without developing further. Others never opened; when cut apart, they had firm, white embryos. Those appearances were not a viability test.
I did not isolate temperature from moisture, seed storage, pathogens, or other possible causes. A better next batch would be encouraging, but changing several conditions together would still leave the cause unresolved.
What the next record needs
| Existing plan | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Measure the medium with a probe. | Room and mat-surface temperatures cannot fill the gap in the record. |
| Check the previously planned 75°F setting. | It remains a working starting point, not an established optimum. |
| Keep starter plugs moist with drainage. | Moisture remains another condition to account for. |
| Record checks at 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours, plus seed source, storage, and visible changes. | A repeatable record makes changes easier to identify and comparisons easier to interpret. |
University of Minnesota Extension’s seed-starting guidance supports attention to medium, warmth, moisture, drainage, and seed storage. It does not diagnose this batch or establish a cannabis-specific threshold.
The soaking option I tried for PBR
Soaking was another option I tried for Pink Banana Runtz. I used a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide, as recorded in A New Start.
Post-publication update — September 12, 2026: Sprouting and germination for Pink Banana Runtz were flawless. I changed more than one thing, so this result does not establish whether the soaking solution made a difference.
The follow-up is documented in the Pink Banana Runtz grow record.