There are many different ways to germinate marijuana seeds. All of them are effective, although some of them cause more trouble than others.
So, whether you are growing amazing botanicals in Indoor or outdoors, using the traditional method (in the ground), or hydroponics, you need to follow a few simple rules.
What does it take to Germinate Weed Seeds Successfully?
The three critical factors for germination are heat, humidity, and darkness. When we provide the seed with a moist environment, the tiny root twisted inside begins to develop and stretch in search of moisture.
Due to the rapid growth of the root in size, the seed shell opens, and a small, fragile root appears from the seed. Under favorable conditions, the cannabis seed germinates in just 24-48 hours.
Another equally important factor for successful germination is the quality of the seeds. Buy the best marijuana seeds only in reliable stores that give a guarantee of germination of at least 90%.
Germinate Cannabis Seeds in Cotton Pads.
For this method, you will need cotton pads, a bag with a zip-lock, a bottle of ordinary drinking water without gas, and seeds. The procedure is as follows:
- Place the seed in a glass of water for 5-6 hours so that it “wakes up”.
- Moisten 2 cotton pads with water and squeeze them out. They should stay wet, but not wet.
- Place the seed between the disks, take the bag and seal the resulting “sandwich” in it.
- Leave in a warm (20-25° C) dark place.
Usually, the seeds show the root after 12-36 hours, but sometimes they may need several days, especially if the seeds were stored for a long time. Therefore, it is essential to give the seeds rest and not disturb them every hour.
When the “tail” appears, you can land it in a grow pot or grow bag. If you do not have the best soil for cannabis at hand, then rose and lemon soils mixed in a ratio of 1:1 are perfect. The depth of the hole should not exceed 1 cm (preferably 3-5 mm). In any case, do not plant the seed with the root up. Instead, it should look down, or at least sideways.
Germinate Marijuana Seeds in Soil.
The germination method is to sow the seeds directly into the environment in which the plants will be grown.
Previously, it is recommended to soak the seeds for 5-6 hours in water with the addition of a root growth stimulator.
Then the seeds should be immediately planted in the soil, coconut, or another substrate, placing them to a depth of 5-10 millimeters.
The deeper the hemp seeds sink, the slower they germinate. In addition, if you plant the seeds too deep, they will stay in a humid environment for a long time, which can lead to their rotting.
The top layer of the soil dries very quickly, so it is extremely important to ensure it is sufficiently moistened. Watering the top layer of the soil should be carried out as it dries with the appropriate amount of water.
Some growers prefer to use this method, as it is pretty simple and does not have strong stress on the seeds, and their roots immediately begin to grow and develop in the soil.
Germinating Weed Seeds in Mineral Wool.
Mineral wool is an inert substrate, ideal for seed germination, especially if you plan to grow in a hydroponic system.
In this case, it is necessary to place the seeds in the mineral wool and pour them with water. If desired, you can add a root growth stimulator to the water.
Then, wet mineral wool with seeds should be placed in a plastic container with a lid or a mini-greenhouse kit. Using such a container allows you to maintain high humidity inside it, saving you from additional watering during germination.
Next, put the container in a warm, dark place. After 1-2 days, the seeds should germinate.
Germinating Cannabis Seeds in Napkins.
The method of germinating marijuana seeds in wet wipes is one of the most common in the world.
The essence of this method is to awaken the seeds to life between wet wipes. To do this, you will need two saucers and paper kitchen napkins.
1. At the bottom of the first saucer, put several layers of napkins, slightly moistened with water (you do not need to soak them in water). Then put the seeds on them at the maximum distance from each other.
2. Cover the seeds with a few more napkins and add a little water. Do not fill the napkins too much (if necessary, squeeze out excess water from them).
3. Cover everything with a second inverted saucer so that they form a kind of shell. Inside this shell, the stable conditions necessary for germination will be maintained: no light and humidity.
4. Place the saucers in a warm place with a temperature of 20-25° C. (they mustn’t be exposed to direct sunlight).
5. Check the humidity level every day. If necessary, add a little water.
It is important to note that the seeds should be hummed, not wet. If the seeds are wet, they will germinate for a very long time (10-14 days) as the roots break out of the seeds in search of more water, and in this case – they will be provided with the necessary amount of water directly inside the shell.
At the same time, if the seeds are too dry, it can significantly increase the risk of root damage.
Germinate Marijuana Seeds in Peat Tablets.
Peat tablets are a compressed peat mass of a small fraction, to which the nutrients and minerals necessary for the healthy development of the seedling are added.
It is placed in a special shell made of a thin organic mesh to prevent the tablet from crumbling. The peat structure provides good aeration of the plant’s roots, does not squeeze them, and evenly distributes moisture.
Before planting the seed, it is filled with warm water. You can’t be afraid of waterlogging the tablet – it simply will not absorb excess water. Literally, in 20-30 seconds, the peat tablet will swell and increase in height several times.
Marijuana seeds are placed in a specially designated recess and carefully sprinkled with a peat 1-2 mm layer. It will be necessary to cover the tablet with a transparent glass or food film to create a greenhouse effect.
Transplanting into the ground is carried out after the sprout appears a little stronger. Usually, it takes no more than a week after germination, but with autoflowering cannabis seeds, it is better not to delay and transplant after 2-3 days.
The transfer is very simple. The entire tablet is placed in the recess, prepared in the ground, and then lightly sprinkled on top of the earth, which needs to be slightly compacted. This ensures the smooth growth of the autoflower, reducing the likelihood of stress to almost zero.
How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds in Water.
This method is especially effective for seeds with an elastic shell or for “awakening” seeds that have been stored in the refrigerator for more than a year. Practice shows that when using this method, about 90% of cannabis seeds successfully germinate.
Fill a small glass with clean water. You can also use tap water if you are sure that the pH level does not exceed critical levels. The most optimal for germination of seeds is a neutral pH value of ~ 7.3.
If the water is cold, wait until it warms up to room temperature (23-27° C). Then, using a spoon, carefully place the seeds on the surface of the water. The seeds should float, so don’t touch them with your fingers.
Next, place the glass in a dark, warm place (20-25° C) for 2-3 days. If after 72 hours the seeds have not sprouted, then add 3-4 drops of hydrogen peroxide to the water and put it back in a dark place for another 2 days.
When the cannabis seeds germinate and the root length is about 1 cm, they can be taken out of the water and transplanted into the ground.
Frequent Answer to Questions:
How long does it take to germinate cannabis seeds in a paper towel?
Some of the seeds will germinate within a few days, Germination should be complete in around 24-96 hours. Older and weaker cannabis seeds tend to require more time than younger ones.
Can you put marijuana seeds straight into the soil?
Yes! it’s possible and the most natural way for cannabis plants to grow. Make sure you are using the right soil (mildly fertilized potting soil or a seed starter).
Do not add nutrients for the first 2 weeks.
How long does it take for weed seeds to germinate?
It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for the cannabis seeds to germinate. Older seeds can take up to 96 hours to germinate.
Make sure they have the right conditions; somewhere moist, warm, and dark. These are ideal places for the cannabis seeds to germinate and they will sprout.
How germinate cannabis seeds fast?
One easy way to make your seeds grow faster is by pre-soaking them for 12 hours in the water in the darkness. Don’t soak the seed for more than 24 hours, because they could rot.
Then plant it immediately into moist soil and watch how fast they sprout!
Wrapping Up with Germinating Cannabis Seed
Using one of the above methods, you can get the necessary healthy seedlings in a few weeks.
However, do not forget that there is no 100% guarantee of germination of all seeds since they are living organisms.
So always keep this in mind and germinate a little more seeds.