Are you wondering how to germinate marijuana seeds? Marijuana seeds, like all seeds, must undergo the germination process before it can grow into a mature plant.

Countless cannabis germination guides litter the internet. However, Not all methods work for every grower. That is why we will be covering a tried and true germination method that typically works well for most growers! Let’s begin.

Cannabis seeds need 4 main components for germination

• Water
• Oxygen
• Energy
• Warmth

What to Look For Before Germinating Marijuana Seeds:

Before you begin the germination process, there are a few things you must look for.

• Damaged Marijuana Seeds: Does the seed have any cracks?
• The Cannabis Seed’s Age: Have you had these seeds for a couple years? if so you may want to try Scarifying the seed(s).
• The Cannabis Seeds Color: Healthy, viable seeds will be light to dark brown in color. 

How to Germinate Marijuana Seeds Using the Paper Towel method

One of the most popular germination techniques is the paper towel method.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need for this method:

• Marijuana seeds
• Ziploc Baggie or container
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle
• Labels or Marker to write with
• Heat mat (optional)

Step One

Place one or two sheets of paper towels inside of a container or ziploc baggie. If you decide to use a heat mat to increase the temperature, place it under a towel and then place the seeds on top of the towel. It is best to not have direct heat under the seeds as you don’t want them to get hot.

Step Two

Label the container/baggie with the name of the cannabis strain.

Step Three

Spray water on the seeds until the paper towels are completely saturated. Once done, place a new layer of paper towel sheets on top of the seeds. Use the spray bottle to soak the new paper towel addition.

Remember: the paper towels must always remain saturated with water. If allowed to dry, the cannabis seeds will fail to germinate.

Step Four

At this point Patience is key.

The germination process should occur within 24-48-hours. After 48-hours, gently peel back the upper paper towel section. If the seeds germinate, you will see cracked-open seeds with an emerging tap root.

At this point, it’s time to move the germinated seed(s) to soil (Or preferred medium) with a pair of tweezers. This final step requires extreme care because the tap root is very fragile, and if broken, the embryo within will die.

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