The process in which a cannabis seed sprouts, which will eventually turn into a full plant.
How to germinate a cannabis seed
Cannabis seeds need three things to germinate: water, heat, and air. A great way to ensure successful germination is the paper towel method, which requires:
- Two clean plates
- Four paper towels
- Cannabis seeds
- Distilled water
To germinate seeds:
- Soak four paper towels with distilled water; they should be soaked but not dripping
- Place two of the paper towels on a plate
- Place the marijuana seeds on the wet paper towel at least an inch apart from each other
- Cover seeds with remaining two water-soaked paper towels
- Cover with a second plate, upside down, like a dome, to create a dark, protected space
- Keep seeds in a warm place, between 70-85°F
Seeds should germinate in 3-10 days. Check paper towels once a day to make sure they’re still saturated, and if they are losing moisture, apply more water.
If it’s been two weeks and a seed hasn’t sprouted, it’s probably a dud, and it won’t sprout.
A seed has germinated once the seed splits and a single sprout appears. The sprout is the taproot, which will become the main stem of the plant, and seeing it is a sign of successful germination.
It’s important to keep the delicate seed sterile, so don’t touch the seed or taproot as it begins to split.