Before you get to enjoy your yield of beautiful big buds, there are several phases of cannabis plants that need to be looked after meticulously. One of those phases is the germinating stage. It is the most delicate phase and thus farmers who opt for outdoor cultivation usually germinate their seeds inside a controlled area first and then plant them outside after they have been established. Giving your seeds a smooth germinating phase is undoubtedly the best way to ensure your plants grow up to be healthy. Remember, your first planting session won`t be perfect, so don`t panic when something goes wrong. Please take the time to learn more about seeds, cotyledons, seeding procedures, errors that may appear.
Germinating Seeds in Jiffy:
A Jiffy pellet is like a compact disc that is used as a growing medium. They are natural, biodegradable, and contain a composition of peat moss, lime, ammonia, and fertilizer to help the seedlings grow. Seeds germinated in peat pellets can be directly planted as thus there is no risk of damaging the seeds while transplanting.
Follow these steps when using jiffy pellets
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Expand all pellets to their full size by pouring water over them
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Cave a hole in each pellet and place your seed in the hole, keep in mind not to place the seed too deep.
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Until germination, store it in a warm, dark, and moderately humid place.
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Cover your seeds to avoid moisture loss, you can use plastic wrap for the same.
Germinating Seeds in Damp Cotton Wool or Paper
This is quite a common method of germinating seeds as it does not require any additional purchase. All you need is wool or paper and distilled water. Try to maintain a temperature of about 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You also need to take care of the tiny roots which could get entangled in the paper towels. This can be done by moving the seeds from paper towels before they grow too long.
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Adjust your seeds between layers of tissue or wool after adequately moistening them with distilled water.
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Cover the plate or jar in which you placed your seed and store it in a warm, dark, and humid place.
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Regularly check your setup and water the tissue/wool when it feels dry.
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The seed will pop in about two to five days and can be planted then.
Germinating seeds in the substrate
Planting seeds directly in the substrate is considered a safer option than the damp wool/paper method as the soil is less prone to temperature fluctuations. Another advantage of germinating in the soil is that transferring the seedling to a new pot is simple and the baby plant is less prone to getting stressed due to changes in the environment. It also has its disadvantage which is you need to buy new soil that is clean as the soil outside cannot be used. There are many pathogens in it that can significantly decrease the chance of the young seedling growing into a healthy plant. Also, soil density can be an issue since cannabis seeds require aerated soils so you need to keep that factor in mind.
Following are the steps of this method:
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Fill your pots with soil that has already been watered
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Make a small hole in the growth medium of about 0.5 cm deep
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Cover the seeds with soil. But make sure to do it lightly otherwise the root will struggle to penetrate through hard compressed soil.
Germinating seeds in a cup of water
Seeds that have been stored for a long time can be effectively activated through this method and are slightly faster than the soil method. But this method has been deemed to be the one with the least chances of successful germination.
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Fill your cup to three-quarters with filtered or pH-neutral water. Ensure that the temperature is neither cold nor warm.
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Place your seeds in them. After a few hours, they’ll sink, but if they do not then gently push them so that they drown.
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Store the container overnight or for 18 to 36 hours in a dark and humid area.
Growers all have their own favorite ways to germinate their seeds. It might take quite a few tries for a beginner to perfectly germinate them, thus buying cheaper seeds for the initial batches is a smart move. After your seeds have germinated, next comes planting them in the soil. While planting, try not to touch the root as much as possible and navigate the seedling such that the roots face downward. Extra care needs to be taken in this process as the germinated seed is extremely delicate and susceptible to damage. Allow the seed to poke through the soil for about a week, but if you find that the seed hasn’t emerged even after ten days then that means that the seed most likely didn’t survive.