Common Queries
You Asked, We Answered
Why Do You Need To Germinate Cannabis Seeds?
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Germinating a seed before planting helps you break down the seed’s natural defenses, to promote a healthy and stable start to the cannabis plant’s life cycle. The hard shell of a marijuana seed protects it from environmental factors which could potentially be harsh or detrimental to its growth. The seed will only make itself vulnerable by popping a root if the conditions are optimal.
How do I germinate my seeds?
Paper Towel Method
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Take four sheets of paper towels and soak them with distilled water. The sheets should be soaked but shouldn’t have excess water running off.
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Place two of the soaked paper towels on your clean plate. Then, place the cannabis seeds at least one inch apart from each other on the paper towel. Cover the seeds with the remaining two sheets of damp paper towels.
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Take your second clean plate and flip it upside down. Place the second plate on top of the first, creating a sort of dome. This warm, dark, and enclosed environment is great for germination!
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Place your plate and paper towel set up in a warm, safe location. Be sure to monitor the temperature of this spot, it should be between 70- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit.
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Wait! Now that you’ve set up your germination station, relax and resist the urge to interfere with the process. You should check the paper towels occasionally to make sure they’re still saturated. If they seem slightly dry, add more water to encourage seed development. It’s important to keep the seeds uncontaminated, so avoid touching the seed or root as the seed expands and splits. Some seeds will be quick to split and sprout, while others can take several days. Once you see the sprout, you know you have successfully germinated your weed seed.
Soil Method
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Fill your small pot with soil.
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Poke a shallow hole in the middle using a pen or your finger, approximately a half inch deep. Carefully drop your seed into the hole and cover the top with a light layer of soil.
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Use a spray bottle to moisten the soil without over-saturating and potentially harming your delicate freshly planted seed. Place your pots under a fluorescent light or grow lamp, your seedling’s soil should be around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing in a window sill or any other place which relies on sunlight, as the temperatures will not be stable enough for germination.
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Monitor your soil daily and make sure it’s always moist. Within 7-10 days you should see new stems breaking through the soil. Once your plants grow past the seedling stage, you can transfer them into larger containers in order to support further growth.
Water Method
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Fill a glass with tap or filtered water and leave it out for a few hours until it reaches room temperature (approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit).
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Place 2 to 3 cannabis seeds into the water, ensuring that they are not too crowded depending on the size of your glass
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Refill the glass with new water every other day, making sure to maintain a consistent temperature for your seeds. In approximately 2 to 4 days your seeds should start to expand and split. You can plant your seeds at any time (even before the root appears, some experts recommend just a brief 24-48 hour soak to help the seed along before planting) but do not leave your seeds in this setting for more than 7 days to avoid oversaturation.