So you got some new seeds from a seed bank or community that specializes in cannabis seeds and you’re ready to grow. The first step in the exciting process of growing is germination.
It all begins with quality cannabis seeds. For first time growers it’s best to go with sturdy and more resistant seeds that don’t require extreme precision when it comes to water and light dosage. Also, until you have more experience in this process, go with the feminised seeds.
If you have your grow-room or garden patch already prepared, and you have the right seeds, then you are ready to start germinating. The transition process from seed to baby plant can take anywhere from one to three weeks depending on the seeds you choose. Healthy seeds will be robust and brown, with tiny speckled black marks running up and down the surface of the shell.
Start with a good medium. When the seeds are sprouting they are babies, and babies like conditions close to the ones you find in nature. This means that you should try to replicate soil conditions wherever possible, and whenever it’s productive.
One way that you can do this is by using a soft material to allow the seeds to break through their shells and develop in the mentioned timeframe. They need an environment they can thrive in to reach their maximum potential. Soft cloth, rock wool, cotton, or anything of this nature can be used efficiently. Just be sure to dampen the material, wrap it in plastic, and place it in a cool, dark place. This is what the seed normally goes through when it’s growing for the first few weeks anyhow: complete darkness and slight moisture from the soil all around it being dampened.
You want those warm, moist conditions to be replicated ideally, only shedding light on the subject when absolutely necessary. Light can damage and destroy the new forming plant tissue, and can even destroy cells that will affect your plant’s health later. You need it to be humid, or at least room temperature (60 to 70 degrees). This is the temperature that marijuana thrives in.
The right amount of water is important too. Too much will flood the inner shells of seeds and water-bound seeds, drowning them. Too little will leave them too dry and undernourished to break through their shells or mediums for any type of progress.
The sprinkle method works well here. Take your fingertips, dip them in water, and fling them onto the material holding your seeds. You can use this at the start and every 3 or 4 days during the germinating process. This will dampen the cotton or rock wool enough to store moisture for later, and will also wet your seeds just enough for them to take their first drink of life and break through their little shells. It’s all about producing the best effect to allow your plant to grow up nice and strong.
The care you put into your plant before it grows into a flowering piece of art will determine how far you go with that plant ultimately. Want to grow like a pro? It all starts with a good foundation.
-Paul Morgan
Paul is a marijuana enthusiast with 5 years worth of experience working in this industry. He started by trying to grow something for himself and now he is trying to educate people about marijuana seeds, stores, breeders and brands as a content manager at CannabisOwl.
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