ILGM is one of the most trusted online cannabis seed vendors for beginners. It offers a wide selection of high THC strains that are easy to grow.
It also provides customer support via email and live chat. Besides, it offers free shipping on all orders. The company replaces any seeds that fail to germinate.
Water Germination
Using water to germinate cannabis seeds is one of the most common and simplest ways for cultivators to grow. The process mimics the way a seed would sprout in the spring, when temperatures are naturally rising and moisture is high.
To use this germination method, simply place your seeds in a glass of room-temperature water and leave them to soak for around 24 hours. Check the seeds regularly and re-moisten the paper towel if necessary. After a few days, you should see a white tail poking out of the seed and indicating that it is ready to be planted.
This is a great germination technique to try if you’re new to growing or just need a quick and easy way to germinate your seeds. If you’re a more experienced cultivator, we recommend trying out other methods that provide more control over environmental factors like temperature, humidity and light. These include starter cubes and seedling plugs, which are specifically designed for germination and come filled with the right kind of planting mix and have a hole drilled adequately in them for your seeds.
Paper Towel Germination
One of the most popular ways to germinate cannabis seeds is by placing them in a wet paper towel. This method is also known as the ‘baggie method’ and is favored by growers who don’t have access to soil or want to monitor their seed germination.
Start by soaking a paper towel in distilled water until it is saturated, but not dripping wet. Then, place your seeds on the wet paper towel maintaining adequate spacing between each seed to prevent overlapping. After placing the seeds, gently roll up the paper towel loosely from opposite the label end.
Once your seeds have sprouted and grown into seedlings, remove them from the paper towel and transplant into a soil or moisture-holding medium such as vermiculite. This process could take a few days, so be patient! When done correctly, you should see a small root system emerge from the seed. If not, check the seed’s shelf life to ensure it is still viable and use a different germinating method.
Stone Wool Blocks
Stone wool is a highly uniform, porous growing medium that distributes water evenly and is ideal for hydroponic gardening. The nutrient solution easily penetrates the material so it is accessible to your plant. It does not lock up or release substances like organic substrates such as coco coir do, so the nutrients are always available to the roots.
To use rockwool to germinate your seeds, first soak the blocks in warm water until they are hydrated, then insert a single seed into each hole (or use two for stronger results). You can also place cuttings into the cubes and root them. The process works well whether you are growing in soil or hydro.
Gro-blocks and Hugo Block products come in a range of sizes and shapes to accommodate the needs of your grow operation. Standardized sizes facilitate automation compatibility and allow cultivators to monitor the dry weight of their substrate throughout the growing cycle to determine a precise irrigation cadence.
Growing Medium
There are a variety of mediums that can be used to germinate cannabis seed, from soil or compost to vermiculite, Rockwool cubes, oasis cubes, grow stones, rice hulls and more. The best choice depends on your needs and the type of growing experience you are looking for.
If you are going for the most organic experience, choose a rich, well-composted soil mix that is nutrient dense. However, it can be difficult to get a good balance of substrate aeration and water retention with this type of medium. It also requires a lot of watering, which means you need to use mineral fertilizers or highly-filtered organic nutrients to avoid blocking the irrigation system.
If you are using Rockwool cubes, soak them in pH-balanced water until you see the surface absorbing it. Check the cubes 2-3 times a day and re-moisten if needed. Cannabis seeds do not require light until their sprouts penetrate the top of the cube.