How to germinate Cannabis seeds: start and plant weed seeds
So, you’ve finally taken the leap and you’re ready to grow your own marijuana?
If you’re here, you’ve probably even bought the seeds already… But let’s face it − if you don’t germinate seeds the right way, they’ll die. As simple as that. And let me tell you from experience, there’s nothing more frustrating than to spend a ton of money to buy 10+ seeds, only to see 1 or 2 germinate…
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to germinate cannabis seeds if you know what you’re doing. In this article, we’ll tell you how to germinate seeds in an almost foolproof way, including 3 different methods (with a paper towel, soil, or water). With our tips, you should be able to get germination rates of 80% or more, as long as you’ve bought viable cannabis seeds. Let’s get started.
WHAT EXACTLY IS GERMINATION?
Germination is the process of sprouting seeds and is considered the most crucial part of growing cannabis. This process begins after the dormancy period of the seed and is initiated when it starts to absorb water for the expansion of the embryo. This is when your cannabis seeds turn into seedlings.
It’s when the seedling comes out of the seed along with its primary root. In this period, the baby plant grows fast as it starts with its rapid cell division. It then continues to depend on the germinated seed until it becomes nutritionally-self independent. In other words, germination is the process the cannabis seed needs to go through before you place it in the soil where it’ll fully grow and blossom.
TYPES OF CANNABIS SEEDS
The best germination method depends on the characteristics of your cannabis seed. Thus, it’s necessary to learn the different types of cannabis seeds that are suitable for your environment. This will help you save effort and resources as you learn which type of cannabis seed works best for your setup.
AUTOFLOWERING SEEDS
Autoflowering seeds are one of the most recommended types for beginners. While they’re not particularly easier to germinate, they are much easier to grow afterward. Why? Because autoflowering cannabis seeds don’t require any light cycle manipulation to start flowering. In other words, you won’t have to spend a fortune on light timers and you’ll also avoid making them blossom too soon or too late (which is a common mistake). Finally, autoflowering seeds generally flower faster than photoperiods, and you can even pick Ruderalis strains to make the flowering period even shorter (down to 7 weeks).
PHOTOPERIOD SEEDS
Photoperiod seeds are what you should get if you want to experience the traditional and natural way of planting and growing. (Not to mention higher yields overall) However, if you choose to grow this type of cannabis seeds indoors, you’ll have to switch the light cycle to 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness to initiate the flowering stage. In other words, photoperiod seeds are a bit less “hands-free” than autoflowering seeds.
Still, you can go for beginner-friendly strains which are easy enough for your first time. Finally, photoperiod plants can be pushed back into a vegetative stage at the end of your harvest, so you don’t need to plant new ones every time. You can just reuse the same plants over and over again.
FEMINIZED CANNABIS SEEDS
As you know, you only need female plants if you’re growing cannabis, as male plants don’t produce buds. That’s where feminized cannabis seeds come in. These seeds are designed to produce only female plants, which is why it’s the recommended option for beginners.
Not only will you avoid wasting 50% of your space on male plants, but you will also avoid males pollinating your females (which could cut your harvest by 80-90%). The cannabis germination process is the same for feminized seeds as for any other type of seed.
REGULAR SEEDS
Regular cannabis seeds are the most natural type of seeds. They produce viable seeds or plants and are mainly used by advanced growers to breed new strains. This type of cannabis seed is not recommended for beginners because of the pollination risk we mentioned above.
That said, they’re hardier and can tolerate stress well. They can also give explosive growth and great yields. Germinating regular seeds is easy. Successful seed germination takes 3-10 days when placed under the right condition. You can even do this process indoors. When they’re mature, you can plant seeds in your outdoor garden.
HOW TO GERMINATE CANNABIS SEEDS (PAPER TOWEL METHOD)
Germinating cannabis is the hardest and the easiest part of growing cannabis.
What do we mean by that? Well, it’s the hardest because most beginners get it wrong, and this completely kills the plants before they’re even born. But it’s also the easiest because when you follow the proper method, there’s no way to get it wrong (unlike stress training techniques, which we won’t talk about in this article).
Anyway, one of the best ways of germinating seeds is to use the Paper Towel Method. Here’s how:
START YOUR MARIJUANA SEEDS INDOORS
Germinating cannabis seeds indoors is paramount as that’s the only way to control several factors like humidity, temperature, and light.
The most important thing your seeds should have during germination is moisture. Once you have your seeds, place them on a paper towel. Paper towels are ideal because they are thick and retain moisture.
Position the paper towel with a few seeds in running water until it’s soaked and well moisturized. You can then place the wet paper towel in a small plastic container under 70-85 F since seeds need a warm temperature to germinate.
This is when the waiting game begins. Check your seeds daily until you see them grow into seedlings. This could take 3 to 10 days, so patience is key.
PLANT YOUR GERMINATED WEED SEEDS IN SMALL JIFFY PELLETS
Once the roots grow up to one-fourth or half an inch, your germinated seeds are ready to be planted in potting soil or small jiffy pellets.
Why jiffy pellets?
Because they provide young plants with a substrate that is beneficial for their healthy growth. They’re also lightweight, compact, practical, and economical. Not to mention, they’re well-draining (very important to prevent root rot, which is the number one seedial killer). Once planted, harden your young seedling by slowly introducing it to its environment, and remember to give it enough light and water.
TIPS BEFORE YOU START GERMINATING WEED SEEDS
Cannabis cultivation starts with the proper selection of healthy seeds suitable for your environment and climate (particularly if you’re growing outdoors).
To do that, you should read the product page before you buy cannabis seeds, as you’ll generally find everything you need to know about suitable climates, pest resistance, mold resistance, etc.
However, if you intend to grow indoors, then any marijuana plant will do, as long as you have the proper setup.
Also, while this may seem obvious… we recommend reading a few guides on how to grow cannabis before you germinate your seeds.
The truth is your plant could very easily die if you make newbie mistakes, so it’s better to be overprepared.
Most of the time, online sites where you can purchase seeds have guides you can read. You can also join grower communities to get more tips and advice on germinating seeds.
GERMINATING MARIJUANA SEEDS − OTHER METHODS
Aside from the paper towel method, you can also germinate your cannabis seeds directly in soil or water. Either growing medium can provide you with a healthy plant as long as seeds are carefully chosen or selected. Note that you need viable cannabis seeds to get results
HOW TO GERMINATE WEED SEEDS IN SOIL
Soil is the most natural way to germinate your cannabis seeds, and its high moisture content makes it quite easy to do. Soil also contains minerals and microbes that help the plant develop. The temperature of the potting soil also makes it the best growing medium. To germinate seeds in soil, follow the steps below:
1. Prepare the soil for germination Place soil in a small pot or container. Your soil must be well-draining. You can mix native clay half and half with coarse sand. Just never use fine sand as it could turn to concrete when you water it.
2. Water the soil and place the seeds on top Cover the cannabis seed with soil and press gently to promote fast growth.
3. Cover the soil Use clear plastic to cover the seeds so you can easily check if the soil is still moist. Airflow is still needed, so poke small holes into the plastic.
4. Place the container in an area with a stable temperature Seed germination requires temperatures of 70°F–90°F (21°C–32°C). Once you see seedlings, slowly remove the plastic to allow your marijuana plants to breathe. You can then plant the sprouted seeds in their final growing medium.
Just a word of advice: don’t put excessive water in your soil as that could hinder your seeds’ growth and even kill some of them. The keyword here is “moisture.” That’s all your seeds need.
HOW TO GERMINATE MARIJUANA SEEDS IN WATER
You can also germinate seeds in water. Water is an excellent growing medium since it helps in the cell division process. During this stage, the seeds start to absorb the water in their environment which eventually leads to the growth of the cannabis plant. Here’s how you can germinate your cannabis seeds in water:
1. Place your seeds in a glass of water.
2. Place the glass of water with seeds in a dark area with a temperature of 68 °F to 77.0°F (20°C to 25 °C).
3. Wait for the roots to grow to 2-3 mm long.
4. Transfer the young seedlings to the container or soil where you intend to grow them to cannabis plants.
Truth be told − whatever way you choose to germinate your seeds, some of them will probably die. However, some shops offer a 100% germination guarantee, which means they’ll send you new seeds for free if some don’t germinate (as long as you followed the instructions).
USING CLONES TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY
WHAT ARE CANNABIS CLONES?
Cannabis clones are genetically identical cannabis plants produced by cutting the healthy parts of cannabis. Cloning your own cannabis plants allows you to skip the whole germination process altogether, as you’ll already be planting a strong and healthy plant that will take roots easily.
WHY USE CANNABIS CLONES?
Most growers use cannabis clones to ensure they get stable genetics. In other words, if there’s a particular plant you prefer in your crop (whether it has a higher yield, a better smell, or anything else), then cloning that one will ensure your next crop is full of those. Additionally, cloning is free (no need to buy new seeds) and the cloned plant will grow faster than if you were to germinate seeds all over again.
GERMINATING CANNABIS SEEDS
FAQS WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GERMINATE CANNABIS SEEDS?
The best time to germinate cannabis seeds outdoors is Spring when the warmer period starts to kick off. However, you also have to avoid planting it too early in the year when the weather conditions are too cold. The low temperature could result in the death of your cannabis plant.
DO I NEED GROWING LIGHTS TO GERMINATE CANNABIS SEEDS?
No, you don’t need growing lights to germinate cannabis seeds. All a cannabis seed needs to germinate is moisture. Then, once the seeds germinate, you can plant them outside so that they will grow naturally with direct sunlight.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE POT SEEDS TO SPROUT?
Pot seeds can take 4 to 10 days to sprout. Therefore, it’s essential to start your seeds indoors so you can easily regulate temperature and humidity levels for a more successful outcome.
HOW MUCH LIGHT DO THE SEEDS NEED AFTER BEING PLANTED, AND FOR HOW LONG?
Seeds need at least 16 to 18 hours of light per day after being planted. After a few months and when they’re ready, you will switch to a 12/12 light cycle to start the flowering period.
HOW DO I STOP SEEDLINGS FROM SHOOTING UP TOO LONG AND THIN?
The best way to control your cannabis plant from being leggy is by providing it with more light exposure. Light helps your young plant become healthier and more stable as it grows and develops.
AFTER MY SEED HAS SPROUTED, WHEN DO I START THE LIGHT CYCLE?
You should start the light cycle immediately after your seed has sprouted by giving it 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness indoors. If you’re growing outdoors, then just put your germinated cannabis seeds somewhere in the sun and that’s it.
SHOULD I REMOVE THE SEED SHELL FROM THE SEEDLING?
Yes, you should remove the seed shell from the seedling to save the plant. To avoid damaging the leaves in the process, make sure that your germinated seed has enough moisture so that the shell can soften.
CAN YOU GROW CANNABIS INDOORS WITHOUT LIGHTS?
Yes, you can grow cannabis indoors without lights if you have tons of natural light entering the space. However, it’s best to buy special lights to be able to control the light cycle and get maximum yields.
WHAT IS THE BEST TEMPERATURE TO GERMINATE CANNABIS SEEDS?
The best temperature to germinate cannabis seeds is between 70°F-90°F (21°C-32°C). Temperatures lower or higher may hamper the germination of your cannabis seed and may lead to a longer period of dormancy.
IT’S TIME TO GERMINATE YOUR OWN SEEDS
Now you know that germinating seeds is easy when you know what to do. Whatever germination method you choose, remember that the most important things are moisture, temperature, and regular checking.
Final tip: don’t be afraid to read a few articles on how to grow cannabis seeds as well. You’ll need to be prepared to act quickly once your seed germinates.
