Tips and Tricks for Germinating Cannabis Seeds

Posted by Jessica 25/09/2019 0 Comment(s)

Selective Focus Photo of Plant Spouts


Growing cannabis in your farm is a fun process that most, if not all, should give a trial. It offers satisfaction to tend to your plants and observe its different growth phases. Also, you get to learn from your previous mistakes during the next planting period. Successful germination depends on the observation of various conditions. The following tips and tricks are useful in ensuring your seeds germinate as fast as possible and also avoid fungal infection problems among other crop-related issues.

 

1. Look for viable seeds
 

Just like with the other seeds, bad seeds may hinder the germination process. A seed’s size, color, and age are some of the factors you can use to tell the viability of the seed. So, be sure to examine your seeds before planting them carefully. Generally, young and immature seeds have low germination rates. They are usually smaller and appear either pale or white. Bigger and plumper seeds with tiger-like stripes typically black in color indicate maturity. The older a marijuana seed is, the harder the shell becomes. Most growers thus soak such seeds in water for about 24 hours to soften these shells and enable germination. While soaking them, they should float at first but sink eventually. Should your seeds be floating 14 hours after placing in water, it indicates they may not be viable. Other growers prefer to scrape off the hard shell using an emery board to expose the inner part. The big size is preferable as they tend to produce more hardy plants.
 

2. Ensure there is adequate moisture
 

When germinating your seeds, be keen to maintain the proper moisture levels. If the growing medium dries out completely, the seed stops absorbing moisture. Thus, the seed does not open fully. The appropriate level does not mean soaking the seed. Overwatering a seed during germination does not increase the germination rate. Instead, it exposes the seed to many risks. Some of these risks include; vulnerability to pathogens and losing them through drowning. Wet conditions surrounding such seeds encourage the growth of harmful fungi.
 

Additionally, seeds may eventually rot in the soil due to oxygen deprivation. Be cautious, especially if you are using an additional source of heat to keep the temperatures warm. Drying of the surrounding water after the root sprouts will cause it to dry. Therefore, it is essential to ensure your seeds have access to ample water during germination, regardless of the method you pick.
 

3. Do not germinate the seeds directly in the soil
 

Growing seeds directly in soil may hinder germination. It is due to exposure to seed predators such as ants. Also, you may end up burying the seed too deep or flooding it with water. It is the reason why it is advisable to first germinate the seeds in a medium such as a kitchen paper. Once they grow here, you can transplant them to soil or a pot.

4. Use the wet paper towel method
 

The wet paper towel method is the most common way of germinating cannabis seeds. It involves folding the seeds in a wet tissue for germination to take place. Paper towels are non-porous, making them suitable for growing these seeds. Soak the paper towel but do not drip it wet. Check the paper towels often to ensure they remain saturated. If you observe that they are losing moisture, apply more water. Additionally, these towels enable you to make observations as to whether or not the roots are sprouting.
 

5. Let the seeds germinate for an optimal duration
 

Cbd, Cannabidio, Cbd Oil, Hemp Oil, Marijuana, Cannabis
Image Source
 

Note that you should not let the seeds to develop until the cotyledons appear. At this stage, the roots are already firm enough, and during transplant from the medium, it becomes challenging and may damage the root in the process. For successful germination, replant the seed when the taproot is 1 or 2 cm at the most. Additionally, longer exposure durations to air and light may result in more significant damages.
 

6. Keep the temperature and humidity levels in check
 

For successful germination, cannabis seeds require relatively high humidity levels as well as temperatures. This is why it may be necessary to get an additional source of heat during cold seasons of the year. When young, these seeds tend to grow at a faster rate from the air as the roots develop. The optimal temperatures should be between 18 and 26 degrees. Humidity, on the other hand, should be at 45-65%. Low levels of these factors either delay or hinder the germination process. Supply in excess, on the other hand, may result in either fungal or rotting problems.

 

7. Plant the seeds correctly
 

A cannabis seed has a slightly oval shape which has a point at one end and a crown on the other. This crown is in the form of a crater. When placing your seed for germination, ensure that the crown is facing upwards. The crown serves as a hinge when germination commences allowing the seed to open up at the tip and expose the root. The wrong placing of the seed makes the root to grow upwards while the seedling faces downwards. This forces the seed to reorient itself in the right direction.
 

Planting correctly also involves planting at the right depth. Depths beyond 2cm mean that the seed may never emerge. On the other hand, a seed planted too close to the ground may germinate well but with a weak stem that does not allow the seedling to develop correctly.


Conclusion
 

Following these steps, you have the guarantee of successful germination of your seeds. You will be able to tell the process has been successful once a little white tendril emerges from the seed. This is the plant’s first root, and it is from it that other plants will sprout. Keep in mind that seeds are not the same, and as such, they have different resistance levels to environmental conditions or errors during planting. Handle your seedlings delicately, both during the germination and transplanting stage. Germinating and growing your weed plants is a process, and it is, therefore, prone to take time. Therefore, as you wait for these plants to reach maturity, you may decide first to buy CBD oil products from Sabaidee.

Leave a Comment