Cannabis seeds, unlike other types of seeds, are particularly delicate. Before planting the seeds in the soil we have prepared for growing our cannabis plants, we need to germinate our seeds in an environment that is ideal for them.
There are several ways of germinating seeds, and they are all valid. The important thing is to respect the instructions and handle your cannabis seeds carefully and hygienically. Let's take a look at the main germination methods for hemp seeds:
Germination method in soil:
You need potting soil that is preferably free of fertilisers but rich in natural nutrients. You will need a recipient, a small pot, but also egg cartons; just make holes in it (there are also special kits available).
Fill the container with soil and then make a small hole of about 4.5 mm with your finger or a clean pencil. Place the seed and cover it with soil. (The depth of the hole can be 10 mm or more; the seed is placed in the hole and covered with soil, without compressing it too much).
At this point, after watering with a spray, all that remains is to place the plant in a safe place protected from draft. It is important that the temperature remains constant at approximately 20° to 26°C (17°C at night, not below, and 23°C during the day).
The soil should be kept moist, but it is important not to over-water. Within two weeks, but probably sooner, you will start to see small stems emerging from the soil. When they have reached 3 cm, you can transfer your future cannabis plants into larger pots. At this very early stage of growth, it is best not to add any extra nutrients to the soil.
Water germination method:
This method is a little faster than germinating in soil; the seeds should start germinating in two or three days, but could take up to a week.
Simply put a few seeds in a glass, fill with water at room temperature (around 22°C) and place away from drafts or temperature fluctuations.
It is necessary to keep the water clean, changing it about every two days. Keep an eye on your seeds, as soon as you see them sprout, wait for the small roots to reach 4-5 centimetres and very gently transfer them to the target soil.
Whether soil or hydroponics, it is necessary to plant the sprouted seeds in larger pots. Again, avoid adding any nutrients. The water and nutrients contained in the seed itself will be sufficient.
(This method involves some risks: with excessive exposure to water and the handling required in transplanting, the seeds run the risk of drowning or being damaged).
Paper towel method:
to germinate seeds with this method, the hemp seeds must be placed between two moistened paper towels (kitchen paper towels are perfect).
Once the ends of the napkins are closed, place the bundle containing the seeds in a closed plastic bag or under a small glass or plastic case (any suitable container). Make sure to keep the napkins sufficiently moist and place in a dark place away from temperature fluctuations. In about a week the seeds should germinate, but this could also happen on the third or fifth day.
The seeds have to be monitored because as soon as the roots start to grow, they have to be gently transplanted into larger pots. It is best to avoid the roots getting longer than 5 centimetres because they could get stuck in the paper towels or get damaged.
Some people use two cotton pads instead of two dampened napkins. The principle is the same. The right humidity and temperature must be maintained and care and delicacy must be used when picking up the hemp seeds before transferring them.
For this method, the same "risks" exist as for the glass of water method; the seeds are handled excessively and there is a risk of damaging them or, again, there is a risk of using too much water and causing the seeds to rot. Caution!
Stone wool method:
Rockwool is an inert and particularly draining substrate, which is excellent for germinating seeds because of its ability to keep the roots well oxygenated. You can find rockwool in the form of cubes.
The rockwool cubes must first be moistened. At this stage it is important to keep an eye on the pH value, which should be slightly acid to counteract the tendency of rockwool to become alkaline. Once moistened, simply make a 5.6 mm hole in the cube and place the seed inside.
The ideal environment for the cubes is a small greenhouse in which you can maintain the same good level of humidity, around 80%. Within two weeks you will start to see your cannabis plants grow. At this point, you can transfer them to larger pots, keeping them directly in the cube, which does not harm the health of the plant in any way, but rather helps the roots to grow in a healthy way throughout the growth phase of the plant.
Rockwool protects the plants by allowing them to be safely transferred into larger pots; the difficulty is immersion in water with a low pH level.
Whichever method of cultivation you have chosen, once they have sprouted and the roots have reached 4-5 centimetres, the seeds should soon be planted in larger pots, either directly in the target soil or in the hydroponic preparation you have made ready for them. During this step, it is obviously important that the roots are pointing downwards.
It is best to avoid touching the root, in any case it is important to use sterile gloves or tweezers and possibly have very clean hands. The young Cannabis plants should be planted in their new site about one inch deep; within a few days to two weeks, your seedlings should start to grow.
Environmental factors
If the three indispensable environmental factors are respected, any of the methods described in the previous paragraph will help us to germinate our hemp seeds.
Let's have a closer look at what we can never stop paying attention to:
- The temperature: it is essential that it is kept constant throughout the germination phase. The ideal environment is a temperature of between 20 and 26° C, while drafts and excessive exposure to heat must be avoided. This does not mean that in an indoor situation one should not change the air, quite the contrary. Oxygenation promotes germination.
- Humidity: to ensure that our seeds germinate, humidity should also be kept constant between 80 and 85% at least in the first few days of the growth phase. A small greenhouse or as we have seen in the case of the paper towel method, a plastic bag could be useful.
- Light: Cannabis seeds don't need it in the very first growth phase, but only from the moment they start to germinate. At that point, in a timely manner, we will place our cannabis seeds in a well-lit place or use a soft artificial light to help them continue their growth phase in the best possible way.
It is important to monitor our cannabis seeds throughout the growth phase so that we can intervene if necessary. It may be useful to keep a sprayer handy to keep the humidity high in case of excessive dryness. It is best to choose a sheltered place, away from doors and windows.
