Germinating Cannabis Seeds – A Step-By-Step Guide

Germinating Cannabis Seeds

Growing your own weed is one of the most rewarding experiences in life! Germinating cannabis seeds and growing them into flowering plants cannabis can help you to discover phenotypes that no one else has ever experienced!

Cannabis seeds and humans have a long history together, with the oldest known relationship dating back many centuries. In 2007, archaeologists found cannabis seeds in a Chinese tomb that was 2,700 years old. Although the seeds were ancient, they were preserved so well that they may have germinated.

Together, we can add to this multi-millennia relationship and play a part in the beautiful history of cannabis.
When growing from seed, you have control over every aspect of the product you produce. You can pick flavors and effects that you enjoy, making your strain selections unique and personal.

Nevertheless, growing from seed can be challenging. Germinating cannabis seeds requires practice and research to perfect the process. It can have many pitfalls when approached incorrectly. This results in wasted time, wasted money, and much heartache. With the help of this simple tutorial, you can avoid these pitfalls and grow healthy plants from seed every time!

Before Germination

Start With Big and Healthy Seeds

When growing from seed, it’s essential to start with large, healthy, and mature seeds. Often, growers make the mistake of buying inferior seeds. This puts them at a disadvantage right from the start. At Greenpoint Seeds, we go through multiple steps to guarantee our customers get the best seeds on the market. We begin by using an airlift that sorts the seeds by weight. The airlift raises the lighter seeds out of the batch, leaving only the heaviest, most-mature seeds. Next, we use a sieve that sorts the seeds by size, discarding the smaller seeds so that only the largest remain. Finally, we do a visual inspection and remove any discolored seeds to ensure only the best cannabis seeds go into a Greenpoint Seeds Premium Collector’s Pack.

During Germination

Consider Your Environment

When you set out to germinate your cannabis seeds, you must understand and replicate the natural systems and environments that help seeds flourish. In nature, annual plants (such as cannabis) create seeds because the plants are dying and will need to preserve their genetics during the harsh months to come. These seeds must be hearty enough to withstand cold, heat, drought, animal digestion, insects, and many other types of adversity. Seeds typically undergo germination when conditions are warm with rainy, creating a moist environment.

The warm water washes away growth-inhibiting hormones and moistens the seed at the cellular level, thus providing the optimal conditions for growth. In nature, most plants produce large amounts of seeds. And with luck, a small number will germinate and survive to grow up and reproduce themselves. As masters of the indoor growing environment, it is up to us to germinate and pass on desired genetic traits.

Let’s Begin

How To Germinate Cannabis Seeds

There are various methods of germinating cannabis seeds and, although there are many paths to the same goal, we have found that the method described below is the best way to germinate cannabis seeds.

Items Needed for Germinating Cannabis Seeds

  • 1x (10 Seeds) Greenpoint Seeds
  • Shot Glass
  • 10 Rapid Rooters
  • Tray
  • Tray Insert
  • Plain Water
  1. Take a clean shot glass and fill it with room temperature water (tap, filtered, or reverse osmosis water is fine).
  2. Carefully put your cannabis seeds in the shot glass of water (1).
  3. Put the shot glass in a dark place that has a stable temperature of around 70-80 degrees.
  4. Wait 24-48 hours. If your seeds haven’t cracked or sprouted yet, continue checking them every 6-12 hours. Look for cracks in the seeds and white taproots (2).
  5. Soak the Rapid Rooters in plain, room temperature water (tap, filtered, or RO water is fine) (3).
  6. Carefully place each germinated cannabis seed inside the hole of its own Rapid Rooter, taproot down. Tear off a small piece of rapid rooter to cover the hole on top of the seed for moisture retention and some resistance. This will allow the seedling to become strong before surfacing. Splash the seeded rapid rooters with plain water one more time before leaving them under a gentle light source such as a T-5 (4).
  7. Watch for the seeds to sprout and surface, making sure to lightly water every 2-3 days to prevent Rapid Rooters from drying out(5).
  8. Once the seedling has fully surfaced and taproot is visibly growing out of the bottom of the plug, transplant it into your desired medium and feed it with plain water or a very light vegetative mix, making sure not to overwater for the first week or two of life (6).
  9. Move on to the next stage, Cannabis Seedling Stage.

Notes

  1. Cannabis seeds possess a thick exterior that does not always allow for immediate liquid penetration. Once seeds sink instead of float, you know they have taken in the water needed for germination. This could take a few hours, so be patent.
  2. Seeds can take anywhere from 24-72+ hrs to fully germinate, but after 5 days they should be discarded and replaced.
  3. You want to make sure the Rapid Rooters have taken in as much water as possible, much like a sponge. Soak them overnight, if desired.
  4. Seedlings in nature have to fight through the soil, mulch, and debris, making them stronger and more rigid from their struggle. The small piece of rapid rooter over the seed replicates this process.
  5. Some methods call for a dome to keep moisture levels high, but we have found that the seeds perform best without a dome. With a dome, seedlings get used to the high humidity and have a hard time making the transition to the dryer air once the dome is removed. Water enough to keep the Rapid Rooters moist and never let them dry out, but don’t water too often and drown the seedlings.
  6. Overwatering comes into play in the final step. Waiting for a sufficient period of time between watering will ensure the seedlings don’t suffocate. Always err on the dry side, instead of the wet, and wait at least 3-5 days between waterings, depending on the medium and climate.