How to germinate cannabis seeds

Why is it important to know about germinating marijuana seeds? It’s the most critical process in your plant’s development—the point where its life begins. The procedure gives it the foundation to grow into a healthy crop that produces high-quality smokable buds.

Cultivators use many methods to help their cannabis seeds sprout—some that cost almost nothing to implement. We share popular ways to sprout cannabis seeds to help you start.

As every individual is unique, choose the ones that suit your goals and try them out before deciding what works best. Seed selection is also vital, as selecting the right one for your objective and the growing environment makes a huge difference in your results. 

Let’s look at the available phenotypes before exploring the techniques in detail. 

 

Germinating autoflower vs photoperiod strains

While knowing how to germinate is crucial, one of the first decisions to make is to choose between autoflowering and photoperiod strains. 

Generally, autos are easier to cultivate, and they grow faster than the latter, which produce higher yields but require more care. The key difference between the phenotypes is how they transition into the flowering stage.

Although the germination process remains the same, let’s look at the distinct traits of both phenotypes that greatly influence your plants’ growth. 

 

 

Sprouting photoperiod cannabis seeds

Photoperiod cannabis has one main distinguishing feature—its vegetative and flowering stages depend on the hours of light it receives. Cannabis seed germination can take anywhere between 1–10 days to sprout roots, depending on the strain.

Outdoor plants rely on nature to signal when it’s time to bloom. They stop growing and start to produce buds in the fall when the days get shorter.

It’s possible to extend your indoor plant’s vegetative phase by giving it at least 18 hours of illumination indoors. Use an 18/6 light schedule to keep it developing until you decide to let it start blooming. To trigger its flowering process, shorten the cycle to the optimal 12/12.

Controlling moisture is critical, while illumination is essential to keep your plants in the flowering stage. 

Photoperiod cannabis requires uninterrupted hours of darkness when they bloom. Any disruption, such as light coming from nearby street lamps, can potentially cause the following problems for your plant:

• Reverting to the veg stage
• Displaying hermaphroditic traits
• Producing lower-quality yields
• Failing to flower

 

Sprouting autoflowering cannabis seeds

Knowing how to sprout a weed seed of the autoflowers phenotype is the same as photoperiods. What distinguishes them from the latter is that female auto plants begin blooming based on age, not on the number of light hours.

Autos are an excellent choice for beginners. You don’t need to worry about managing the light schedule. You just have to give plants the standard care and wait to harvest smokable buds.

Autoflowering strains have shorter life cycles, so they develop quicker than photoperiods. Due to genetics from a ruderalis cultivar, plants are also robust and thrive in harsh weather conditions besides blooming automatically.

When dealing with autoflowers, these are essential factors to note:

• There’s no control over plants’ growing and flowering phases.
• Plants are usually much smaller due to a short vegetative stage that takes 3–4 weeks, independent of the light schedule. 
• Avoid high-stress training techniques, such as cutting and topping, as your plants won’t have sufficient recovery time. Do it only if you have experience.
• The strain isn’t suited for breeding.
• Compared to photoperiods, autos offer lower average yields.

 

Germinating feminized vs regular seeds

Before buying a packet and learning how to germinate cannabis seeds, it’s essential to understand the difference between regular and feminized. Here’s a brief description of each:

 

Sprouting regular cannabis seeds

Regular cannabis seeds are pure—from male and female plants. Growing these seeds results in a 50/50 chance of getting crops of both genders. 

Growers choose regular strains because they’re excellent for breeding. These cultivars retain their parents’ CBD and THC traits almost perfectly. When cloned, you get the same marijuana plant across your crop.

Regular weed seeds thrive and can potentially produce a higher yield if you re-pot them twice in their lifetime.

 

Sprouting feminized cannabis seeds

Feminized cannabis seeds are perfect for new growers. Follow our germination guide, and you’re off to an excellent start. This type of seed only develops into bud-producing female plants.

Cultivating feminized seeds is fuss-free, as you don’t have to identify and separate the genders. Give them nutrients and a proper growing environment, and expect to collect a bountiful harvest of nugs.

 

Are my seeds viable?

How do you tell if your seeds are good? Fresh-feeling seeds or those that are too green are underdeveloped. White or pale-green seeds may have difficulty sprouting. Generally, viable seeds are brown with stripes on the side. Their shells also feel dry and hard. 

These physical features don’t guarantee the outcome of the sprouting process. An excellent way to know if they’re viable is to put them to the test. Seeds that pop are up to the mark. 

It's essential to use high-quality marijuana seeds, as, given the proper care, they develop into healthy plants, producing excellent buds.

To improve your success rate, follow a tried-and-tested cannabis germination method. Knowing how to store marijuana seeds is essential to preserve them if you’re not ready to start the process. 

Exposing them to heat, light, high humidity, or water may affect their ability to sprout. The ideal storage space should be cool, dry, and dark, with stable temperatures. 

 

 

7 best ways to germinate cannabis seeds: step-by-step

Germination is a vital part of a cannabis plant’s growth. It’s the process that sets its life cycle in motion.

Seeds don’t develop roots spontaneously. They hibernate until they receive environmental cues to start growing.

When a seed gets enough moisture, it increases in size and gradually breaks out of its shell. A seedling forms, and roots emerge, allowing it to absorb nutrients from the growing medium.

It’s possible to germinate indoors and outdoors. We recommend doing it inside to keep the seedlings safe from harsh weather, pests, and diseases. They’re delicate at this stage of their growth.

There are many methods to sprout your marijuana seeds. Some growers prefer the traditional way of putting their seeds directly in the soil, while others use water, peat pellets, and paper towels.

Whatever technique you use, these components are vital:

• Adequate moisture
• Minimal handling
• Temperatures between 68° and 72°F 

Review our descriptions of the popular techniques and test them. 

 

Paper towels

This method of germinating cannabis seeds requires the following items:

• Cannabis seeds
• Paper towels
• Two plates

Follow these steps:

 

 

Moisten a paper towel, making sure it’s not soaking wet. Wring it to remove any excess liquid. We suggest using unchlorinated water for the process. Non-porous towels are ideal as the seeds and roots don’t get stuck to the material.

Use a tweezer to place your seeds on the damp towel. Keep them about an inch apart. Fold the towel or put another moist one on it.

Cover it with the other plate to prevent the towels from drying and avoiding light exposure. Inspect the setup daily and spray more water, if necessary, to keep seeds moist. Be careful when checking for sprouted seeds, as you might accidentally hurt the fragile taproots.

You could have seedlings within 1–5 days. Whenever you see popped seeds, move them to their next medium.

 

Water soaking

Another popular and inexpensive sprouting technique is to soak the marijuana seeds in a glass of water. Ensure the temperature is about 65°F. The ones likely to pop initially float before sinking to the bottom after a few hours.

 

You should see taproots in about a day. Remove any unpopped seeds after 24–32 hours and put them somewhere moist to continue the process. Ungerminated seeds left in the water too long may drown. 

This method is particularly effective for older seeds. Being soaked overnight in warm water helps “wake” them up. Use this technique for seeds with very tough shells too. Plant the seedlings into their next medium once they’re ready. 

 

Direct planting

You could use the traditional way of germinating weed seeds and place them where you want them to grow. It's how it happens in nature—when taproots form, seedlings pop in the soil.

 

 

Putting seeds in your chosen growing medium is the easiest and safest way, as it's unnecessary to transplant the seedlings when they sprout. There's no risk of damaging their delicate taproots. 

Transplanting causes young plants stress as they have to adjust to their new environment. Sprouting them directly in the growing medium allows new seedlings to adapt to their home. Use the best soil for outdoor weed for optimal results as it has the nutrients your seedlings need.

Insert your marijuana seeds about 0.5–1.0 inches deep when using soil. Ensure the pH is roughly 6.0 and the earth is damp and not wet. Keep the spot warm by using lamps or a heating pad.

An advantage of this method is that the soil protects your cannabis seeds as they sprout taproots—in up to 10 days. It also contains minerals and microorganisms that nourish the young plant.

 

Jiffy pots

Another popular method to pop cannabis seeds is using Jiffy pots or pellets. They’re small containers with peat moss and potting mix for sprouting. While peat is rich in organic matter, its pH isn’t ideal for seeds to pop, so the medium also includes lime to raise the level.

Peat’s light and wooly texture gives it a high capacity for water retention and offers excellent root aeration for efficient growth. The pellets are perfect as they contain fertilizer to provide seedlings with the necessary nutrients for 1–2 weeks.

 

Before using Jiffy pellets to germinate weed seeds, add water, so they enlarge. They can expand up to seven times their initial size. Place them in a tray, leaving space between each for liquid retention. 

Avoid using chlorinated water as it can harm your plant. If you’re using tap water, remove the chlorine by pouring it into a container and letting it rest for a short time. The pellets expand quicker if you use very warm water, about 95°F.

When the pots have expanded, squeeze them to remove excess liquid before placing your cannabis seeds in the middle. Don’t insert the seeds too deep as they won’t sprout. Use a plastic cover or wrap to prevent the pellets from losing moisture. 

Check the pots regularly during the germination period. You may need to water them after roughly seven days. Don’t hydrate from the top as you might disturb the growing seeds.

It usually takes two weeks before your seedlings are ready for transplanting. It’s a simple task of making a hole in the soil deep enough to fit a pellet and place it there.

 

Stone wool blocks

How to start weed seeds using stone wool or rockwool? The material is an excellent soil-free medium or substrate for the purpose. Manufacturers produce it by spinning chalk and basalt rock, forming a dense mat of natural fibers with a consistency of cotton candy.

Combining the spun fibers with a binding agent and pressing them forms cubes or blocks. These come in various sizes—one, two, or four inches. Use the smallest units for starting seeds as the larger ones are more suitable for bigger plants.

As moisture is essential in the germination process, rockwool cubes are excellent. They retain enough water to keep your seeds from drying without causing water logs. This factor improves the sprouting function.

Other benefits of using stone wool blocks for popping seeds include: 

• Air circulation -the cubes provide good airflow and facilitate root system oxygenation.
• Sterile - the medium doesn’t have weeds, pests, or pathogens.
• Reusable - as the blocks don’t decompose, you can keep using them.
• Safe - the cubes don’t contain toxic chemicals as they’re natural.

Follow these steps to germinate your marijuana seeds:

• Prepare the rockwool blocks before using them. As they have a high pH of around 7.8, it’s vital to soak them in pH-adjusted reverse osmosis water. Your cannabis seeds require a slightly acidic environment of 5.5 to sprout.
• When removing the stone wool cubes from the water, shake them gently to eliminate excess liquid. Don’t squeeze them. 
• Place the blocks in your germinating tray. 
• Since most rockwool cubes have holes, use a tweezer to drop your seeds into them. Carefully push them deeper into the blocks.
• Squeeze the hole to close it. Alternatively, break off a piece from the side of the cube and use it to cover the aperture.
• Keep the blocks in the dark. Place them under a humidity dome to keep them moist. Maintain a temperature of 70° to 80°F.
• Check the seeds regularly and spray water when you notice them drying.

Taproots usually appear after a couple of days using this method. Transplant your seedlings when they’re about 2–3 inches tall. 

 

Hydrogen peroxide

How to sprout marijuana seeds using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)? The chemical compound plays a critical role in sprouting cannabis seeds. It’s also the safest solution since its composition is similar to water. The only difference is that it has an extra oxygen (O) atom.

Seeds have nutrients and use a significant amount of oxygen, which they absorb through their outer shell, to convert them to energy. As they mature, the external layer hardens and reduces their ability to draw in the element.

When soaking your seeds in hydrogen peroxide, oxygen absorption improves as the seed casing softens, resulting in faster germination.

These findings from a 2021 published study confirm that submerging your seeds in H2O2 accelerates sprouting.

Researchers placed cannabis seeds in tubes with several hydrogen peroxide concentrations—1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%—and water. They kept these containers in the dark at room temperature for four days.

The 1% H2O2 solution produced results within 24 hours compared to the others. It also developed seedlings between 3 to 7 days, which researchers transferred to MS (Murashige and Skoog) media and soil.

The seedlings thrived in both mediums. Due to the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide at higher concentrations, the other germinated seeds didn’t make it.

The researchers concluded that hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations might accelerate seed sprouting and seedling development. In comparison, in previous germination studies, roots appeared between 4–7 days and seedlings in 5–15 days.

Cultivators use a similar approach to germinate marijuana seeds, although the strength of the H2O2 and the soaking duration may differ.

Use the following methods as a guide and adjust accordingly to determine what works best. As hydrogen peroxide usually comes in a 3% food-grade solution, many growers dilute one part of it to five parts water. 

Some gardeners soak their cannabis seeds for a short time before transferring them to a piece of tissue that’s moist with the solution. This step is similar to the paper towel technique. Taproots typically appear within a day. When seedlings develop, transplant the seeds into a growing medium.

An alternative is to place the seeds into the soil after soaking and let them grow in the space. Doing this eliminates the need to handle them again. 

 

Germination station

Another popular method is setting up a seed starting station. You can make a simple one at home by putting a plate on a heating pad and covering it with a plastic dome. Alternatively, use professionally-made ones as they’re inexpensive and work very well.

There are several advantages to using this option:

• You’re not restricted to warm and sunny spots as the self-contained setup has lighting and heating. Place it anywhere as long as you maintain the night temperature above 50°F.
• You control the conditions, such as light, moisture, and heat, adjusting them as needed.
• The station protects against pests.

Learning how to sprout weed seeds using this method is simple. Place your seeds in starter cubes and let nature do the rest. One benefit of using these capsules is the ease of transferring your seedlings to the next growing medium.

Make a hole in the medium when your seeds pop and place the cube in it. Ensure the matter is moist but not soaking wet. The roots that emerge from the bottom of the capsule will grow into it.

 

Tips to improve marijuana seeds germination

The germination process is straightforward. It begins when you provide a seed with water and proper conditions—temperature, moisture, air, and light. When it expands, the activated enzymes increase the metabolic rate to generate energy for its growth.

Although everything happens naturally, there are ways you can improve seed sprouting:

• Use only quality seeds from reputable seed banks. Ideally, choose the feminized variety as you get female plants that produce buds. Cultivation is hassle-free as you don’t have to worry about segregating and removing the pollinating males. 
• Look for viable seeds. Those with stripes are mature and sprout well. Avoid pale-looking ones as they’re underdeveloped. Store them properly until you’re ready.
• Ensure that your seeds are moist during germination but not soaked. When using paper towels, wring excess water beforehand.
• Besides keeping the seeds in the dark, maintaining the temperature between 75° to 85°F is vital.
• When germinating marijuana seeds in the soil, wet the medium beforehand and don’t insert them too deep. This advice also applies when you transplant.
• Place seedlings with the taproots pointing downwards. Avoid watering the seeds directly after insertion as it might dislodge them.
• Germinate your seeds indoors rather than outdoors to prevent them from harsh weather, pests, and diseases.
• Be vigilant. Monitor your seeds daily to ensure they don’t dry out and disrupt the sprouting process.

Apply these tips to get your cannabis plants off to an excellent start and look forward to abundant yields.

 

Let the sprouting commence

Now that you know how to germinate weed seeds, pick the one that suits you and implement it. You may need practice, but it’s okay. The rewards are worth the time and effort.

Remember to use high-quality seeds to enjoy a smooth growth period and abundant harvests. Browse our seed collection with a wide range of premium seeds to get yours. We guarantee your satisfaction and quick and discreet delivery.