Cannabis seeds contain the genetic code for a new plant. They also contain four other parts, known as radicles, hypocotyls and cotyledons.
ILGM offers 24/7 customer support and a germination guarantee. It has a wide range of feminized and regular seeds from different breeders.
Seed Supreme is another great seed bank that has a variety of strains and a good price point. It also has email and phone customer support.
How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds
Seeds need a perfect combination of high relative humidity and water for this critical stage. This period of growth is called germination, and once it’s over you have a young seedling that can use its resources to develop and grow into a healthy cannabis plant.
Germination in water is slightly faster than in soil. This is because seeds get all the moisture they need straight away, and their shells are softer and easier to dislodge once wet.
Put your seed(s) in a plastic bag with a paper napkin and put it into a dark, warm place (a kitchen drawer works). The darkness and warmth are important as they mimic the conditions a seed would find in the ground in late spring. Check the bag(s) regularly and re-moisten the paper towel as needed. You should start to see a white stem poking out of the top of the napkin in a few days. Plant the seed with the stem pointing down into your medium of choice, such as soil, coco, or rock wool.
Paper Towel Method
If you’re new to growing Cannabis or simply need a low-risk way of germinating your seeds, the paper towel method is an easy option. The only downside to this method is that it may take a few days for your seeds to sprout. The reason for this could be a number of factors, including improper storage or environmental conditions.
Fill a container with damp paper towels or coffee filters (just enough to cover the seeds) and sprinkle the seeds on top. Next, cover the container to create a greenhouse effect and store it in a warm location. Check the seeds and paper towels regularly, making sure that they’re consistently damp but not soaked.
Too much moisture can cause seeds to fail to sprout, while too little moisture can lead to mold and fungal growth. If your seeds do not sprout within a reasonable time frame, it’s likely that they are old or unviable and should be removed from the growing medium.
Stone Wool Blocks
Using rock wool blocks to germinate cannabis seeds provides growers with a more controlled growing environment that can result in high yields. The inert, highly consistent material retains water and fertilizers longer than coco coir or soil, and allows for precise cultivation of the root zone throughout vegetative growth. This is particularly important in a cultivator’s ability to use data-driven crop steering techniques to maintain optimal hydration and nutrient uptake into the generative (flowering) phase of the plant.
Grodan stone wool substrates are molded into a variety of shapes and sizes, from small starter plugs and seed cubes to larger Gro-Blocks and Gro-Slabs. They are wrapped in protective plastic that limits algae growth and keeps the rock wool moist.
A key tip when using rock wool cubes is to keep the pH of your nutrient solution below 5.5. This will help offset the natural high pH of the rock wool, which can interfere with proper nutrient uptake by your plants.
Soil Method
The seeds used to grow cannabis plants contain more than 70 different chemicals, including the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC). The germination process produces 50% male (staminate) and 50% female (feminized) seeds. This allows growers to select the best plants for the next harvest.
You know a seed has sprouted when a tiny white tendril emerges from it. This is called a root, and it will become the main nutrient uptake conduit for the whole plant.
Fill a tray with premium-quality soil that has been soaked and laced with root stimulator. Dig holes in the soil and place a seed into each hole. Lightly cover the seed and mist with water to keep the soil moist. It may take a week to see if your seed has sprouted. Some growers mist the soil with a solution of hydrogen peroxide to sterilize the growing medium. This helps to prevent bacterial infections. The peroxide also removes any residual chemical residue from the seed’s previous growing environment.