Cannabis seeds need the following to get the best germination rates:
Moisture – Keep things moist but not soaking (you can soak hard seeds for up to 12 hours, overnight, but do not leave seeds soaking in water for longer than that).
Peace – Seeds need to be left alone while you’re waiting for the taproot to show up.
Warmth – Keep things warm to get the best germination rates, but not too hot! Seeds can definitely germinate in cooler temps, but germination tends to take longer when it’s cool.
Gentle – Be careful when checking seeds, and treat them gently when you have to move them. Avoid touching their white root because it is very fragile and easily break off.
Plant Root Down – When planting germinated seeds, point the white root downwards into the growing medium to prevent the seedling from having to reorient itself.
Plant Knuckle Deep – When planting germinated seeds, they don’t have to be placed too far under in the growing medium, about 1.3 cm – 2.5 cm down from the surface of the medium should be enough.
Tobacco Kill Seeds – and stops them from germinating. Do not handle seeds with bare hands, wear surgical gloves if you smoke tobacco products in any way shape or form and that includes in your joints.
Never let your young sprouted seeds dry up!
The main signal that tells a cannabis seed to start sprouting is the presence of moisture and heat. The combination of warm and wet “tells” the seed to start burrowing their main root (called a taproot) through their shell. If a seed’s root breaks through the shell and the water around has dried up, your seedling will die.
Seedlings are fragile at first. Once sprouted, the roots need to stay constantly moist to stay happy and healthy. It’s important to make sure the seeds have access to water the entire time during germination, no matter which cannabis germination method you end up using.
Keep things warm!
Seeds germinate best in warmer temperatures and young cannabis seedlings do better with higher relative humidity in the air. When seedlings are young, they grow faster and healthier when they can absorb moisture from the air through their leaves while their roots are still developing. Basically, you want to make sure any seeds or sprouts are kept warm and moist at all times, that their roots are not exposed to light, and that they get planted right away.
Germinating seeds does not always go as planned. Some seeds will be slow and take longer to sprout. Others will pop quickly and grow rapidly. This is the beauty of seeds – you can often begin to tell which plants or genetics are thriving right from the get-go.
~ Seedly Team