How To Germinate Marijuana Seeds

Germinating marijuana seeds requires time, devotion, and meticulous attention to detail. Approach marijuana seed germination properly and you’ll see great results in your plants.

The steps you take during the first few days while germinating your marijuana seeds play a major role in the quality of your plants. Professional growers take great care during the germination process to eliminate any factors that can negatively impact their seeds. In this guide, we’ll explain, step-by-step, how to plant your marijuana seeds. You’ll learn how to identify viable seeds as well as the most popular germination strategies.

Prepare Your Work Space

Make absolutely sure that the area in which you’re working is clean. That includes the table top, your supplies, and your hands. Every time you work with your marijuana seeds, wash your hands.

Gather the supplies you’ll be using before starting. That way, you won’t need to look around for them, allowing your cannabis seeds to sit exposed to the light. To start, grab 3 or 4 paper towels, a small 8-ounce glass, tweezers, distilled water, and your seeds. If you’ve never germinated marijuana seeds, use Caramelicious or Master Kush (they’re easy for beginners). If you have experience, try California Skunk or Crystal Rain.

Identify Viable Seeds

Look at your seeds. You only want to germinate those that aren’t cracked or oddly-formed. Press each seed between your thumb and index finger to make sure there are no cracks or fissures in the body or along the sides. Also, eliminate any seed that looks green or is too small; those are signs that the seed is not mature. The best marijuana seeds will be large with a consistent grayish color. The surface may even appear fleshy and glossy.

Popular Germination Techniques

Below, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions for germinating your marijuana seeds. But, it’s important to first note that there are many different techniques. For example, a lot of growers use the “paper towel” method. The paper towel is soaked with distilled water and is used to cover the seeds for 48 hours. Then, they’re transplanted into the soil. Other growers prefer to drop their seeds into a glass filled with mineral water. Once it swells and splits, the seeds are placed in the soil.

Another popular technique is called “scarification” in which you chip away the outer shell of your seeds before covering them with a moist paper towel. If you’re just starting, we don’t recommend this technique because you can easily damage your marijuana seeds if you’re not careful.

Step-By-Step Marijuana Seed Germination

If you haven’t purchased your seeds yet, you can buy marijuana seeds strains to get started quickly. You’ll find Amsterdam Indica, Caramelicious, Master Kush, and other popular marijuana strains.

Assuming you’re just starting out (and if you are, read our Basic Marijuana Growing Guide for an overview of the entire process), follow these steps for germinating your cannabis seeds:

Step 1 – Use 8-ounce glasses – 1 glass per seed – and fill them with distilled water (70% full is good).

Step 2 – Place your marijuana seed in the water.

Step 3 – Store the glass with the seed in a place that reaches 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 4 – Cover the glass with a larger cup or bowl that eliminates the light.

* Put your soil in 8-ounce Solo cups (75% full) and poke 3 tiny holes in the bottom to allow drainage. You’re going to use 1 cup per seed.

Step 5 – Check the glass in 24 hours.

Step 6 – If the seed is at the bottom of the glass, remove it with your tweezers and proceed to Step 7.

* If the seed is still floating, stir the water (the seed may be caught on an air bubble). If it continues to float, store it again and check back in 8 hours. If, after 8 hours, your seed is still floating, you can plant it in the soil, but there’s a good chance it won’t grow. You’re better off getting rid of it and starting fresh with a new seed.

Step 7 – Place your seed 1/4 inch in the soil you’ve prepared. Move the soil over the seed, but take care not to pack it.

Step 8 – Use a spray bottle to spray the soil with distilled water to keep it moist, but don’t drench it.

Step 9 – Over the next 5 days, check the soil every 12 hours to see whether it’s dry. If it is, spray it.

Step 10 – After 5 days, assuming your seed has taken root, transfer it to a 1-gallon container filled with soil so it can grow properly.

In our next guide, we’ll describe the nutrients and fertilizer to use to maximize growth of your marijuana plants.