Methods Used For Cannabis Seed Germination
Germination is the very first stage of seed growth. Those who grow cannabis seeds for sale emphasize the importance of this step, as wrong actions can spoil the seeds or damage the plant at later stages of development.
Ready-to-sprout seeds are brown, slightly shiny, hard, and dry to the touch. Underdeveloped plants are soft and have a white or greenish color. A healthy plant will not grow from such seeds.
Seeds should be stored in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator before planting. They should not be taken out before you decide to land them.
How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds?
Germinating cannabis seeds are very vulnerable to cold, heat, and wind. Also at this stage, mold or pests often attack the seeds. Therefore, it is recommended to plant seeds indoors, since there are more conditions for comfortable germination and there are no risks of negative consequences.
Cannabis seeds germinate in the same way as the seeds of other plants. On average, this process lasts 3-10 days, but there are records, for example, 24 hours or two weeks.
To ensure ideal conditions for the life of cannabis, the temperature should be between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius, and the humidity level should be 70-80%.
3 Methods of Seeds Germination
There are several ways to germinate seeds: in soil, water or paper towel. Let us take a closer look at each of these methods.
Germination in soil
The soil is a natural environment for cannabis, and it also protects the still weak roots from damage. For seeds, it is best to choose soil with a pH level of 6 or slightly more acidic. It should be said that an excess of pH in the soil can also harm seedlings, as can an excessive amount of nutrients.
Usually, they germinate in the soil in a period of 5 to 10 days, sometimes it is worth waiting even two weeks.
Germination in water
Water becomes indispensable when there is a rush, because the seeds in it grow much faster than with other methods. This usually takes only 24 to 28 hours. This is because moisture is a key ingredient for fast seed germination. However, it also happens that the seeds do not open even for a week. Because besides humidity, growers should take care of other environmental factors for germinating.
To germinate seeds, they must be placed in a glass of clean water at room temperature. The optimum water temperature ranges from 20–25 °C. In such conditions, the seeds should be 12-24 hours. It makes no sense to leave them for a longer time since this will deprive them of oxygen, and then they will not germinate.
Make sure no one spills or drinks this water.
If after 12 hours the seed sinks, this indicates its viability. It happens that the seed sinks if you touch it. If the seeds float to the surface, this indicates that they are weak and are unlikely to germinate soon.
Germination in paper towel
This is a new method, using damp paper towels to germinate the seeds, which helps retain moisture. With this method, the germination process lasts 5 days. You can plant seeds after the roots grow up to 5 millimeters in length. I must say that for this it is better to use a pair of sterile tweezers in order to avoid breaking the roots, which can be tangled in a napkin.
3 Steps of Germination in Paper Towel
The first thing is to buy cannabis seeds from a trusted manufacturer with an official license in order to minimize the risks of purchasing low-quality seeds.
Next, follow the instructions.
- Find a plastic container with a lid, line it with a paper towel, and place the seeds sprinkled with room-temperature water on top of the paper towel. The napkin also needs to be sprinkled with water, then cover with a lid and put in a dark and warm place. Moisture must be in the container at all times.
- Every few hours you need to open the container and check if the moisture has gone. The napkin should never remain dry, but it should not be completely wet either. Spray gently on paper towels. As soon as the seeds open, it is time to prepare a new place for them.
- A white taproot indicates that the seeds have opened and need to be moved to soil or hydroponic material for further development.
For spraying seeds and wipes, it is best to use a sprayer, with which it is easy to control the moisture content of the wipes and seeds. In order not to forget to spray them, you can set an alarm, a reminder signal, or download a task scheduling application to your phone.
It is very important to keep track of the dates of germination and change of periods. If seeds are left too long in a container, they will develop a taproot that is too long and at the same time will be wasted without proper environmental conditions.