10 Step Seed Germination Guide

Although we provide a service to many countries where cannabis seed germination and or cannabis cultivation is legal. In Australia, the cultivation, germination, and manufacturing of derivative products from cannabis seeds is, unless a license is obtained, illegal.

You must ensure that you familiarise yourself with your local state laws before making any purchase. Mediseed Man takes no responsibility for purchases made without the proper understanding of laws and regulations that apply to the purchasing party.

If you’re in Australia, please read this full legal disclaimer before proceeding to read the germination guide below

Germination Guarantee will 100% be voided if you don’t read & follow this 4 step guide in full.

(Do not throw away your failed seeds. We will be requesting photos moving forward. If you cannot show a photo of failed seeds, you will void the guarantee)

Even if you are a seasoned grower, please ensure you read and follow this guide in full, it may prompt something you missed or had forgotten about that could help.

You will find the visual guide at the bottom of this page

Let’s start by going through a very simple four-step guide that outlines the necessary actions for seed germination. Further down the page you will find each step’s comprehensive, in-depth description.

Step 1a. Prepare Peroxide Solution: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with nine parts water. For example, if you’re using one cup of water, add one-tenth of a cup (or approximately 2.5 tablespoons) of hydrogen peroxide. This diluted solution helps prevent seed rot and provides essential oxygen to the seeds.

Step 1b. Soak the Seeds: Place the seeds in a small bowl or container and pour the hydrogen peroxide-water solution over them. Let the seeds soak in the solution for 10-30 minutes.  After soaking, carefully pour off the peroxide solution and rinse the seeds thoroughly with clean water. This step is crucial to remove any remaining hydrogen peroxide.

Step 2. Put your seeds into a cup of clean, distilled water that is room temperature. The seeds will float, so after a few hours of soaking; tap them down with your finger. The seed will gradually open after 24 to 30 hours to display a little white tail (tap root). If no tap root is present within 24-30hrs, that’s absolutely fine, proceed to step 3

Step 3. Most Crucial StepPlace seeds into thick layers of white paper towel (Dye Free, Not Coloured) that has been folded, moistened with a tablespoon of water. Since the seeds already absorbed enough water in step 1, the paper towel only needs to be very slightly damp. The tap root won’t grow and search for more water if the paper towel is too damp, which will cause your seed to mush.

Step 4. Place the folded paper towel with the seeds inside of a plastic open lunch bag. At this point, the plastic lunch bag should be remain open (to allow oxygen) and kept in a warm, dark area. After 48 -72 hours, check your seeds to see whether they have a white tap root showing. Continue to check every 24 hours until tap root is 5mm or more. 

NOTE: Before doing step 5. Read: How to use Hydrogen Peroxide (H202) Solution to Sterilise if you are using imported coco coir bricks.

Step 5. Transfer your seed to a slightly moist medium (again not too wet) with zero fertilizers or soil additives. Sterilised washed coco coir is best, or a rockwool cube.

NOW! VERY IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SOIL STAGE:

Avoid keeping the top soil around the tiny stem too damp; otherwise, the tiny stem will rot. “Root Rot” is the term for this. Instead, water around the outside of pot, keeping the stem dry. This will give the root water to seek out without damaging the stem.

That’s it! Germination Stage of Seed is Complete.

NOTE; It’s important to realise that young seedlings require moisture in the air more than they need water in the soil since they absorb water from high humidity. Before a strong root system can form its best to keep watering at a minimal.

With this in mind. We recommend using a humidity dome once you transfer your seed to its new home. The same lunch bag used at paper towel stage is ideal to place over the top of a small pot. Just spray water inside the bag to raise humidity. Over watering the medium after seed transfer is the most common mistake people make that leads to stem rot.

Here is a full detailed guide with in depth information.

Clean Environment

It is very important to keep in mind that seeds require a clean environment to germinate.

  • Clean Fingers
  • Clean Distilled Luke Warm Water
  • Clean Soaking Container

When using rain water,  it’s highly recommended to add 5-10ml of 3% peroxide to approximately 150-170 ml of lukewarm water to avoid any bacteria contamination. 

NOTE: Keep in mind, that peroxide will lower the PH of your water. The PH of the water used at the paper towel stage must be between 5.8-6.8PH

Soaking the Seeds

Put your seed into a cup of clean, distilled water that is room temperature. The seeds will float after a few hours of soaking; tap them down with your finger. The seed will gradually open after 24 to 30 hours to display a little white tail (tap root).

If soaking seeds in water alone has produced a tap root of approximately 5mm long or more, then you’re good to go to Step 4 from here. It’s best to get a minimum 5mm tap root for optimal success at soil stage.

Growing Tap Root with Paper Towel

Place seeds on 1-2 layers of paper towel that has been folded, moistened with a tablespoon of water. Since the seeds already absorbed enough water in step 1, the paper towel only needs to be very slightly damp. If the paper towel is too wet, the tap root won’t expand and look for additional water; otherwise, it would rot.

Place the folded paper towel with the seeds inside of a plastic lunch bag at this point. The plastic lunch bag should be kept in a warm, dark area. After 24 hours, check your seeds to see whether they have a good, long, white tap root. Go on to the following step if no tap roots are visible.

Transfer Seed to Medium

Now, Carefully transfer your seed (do not touch the tap root) to a slightly moist medium (again, not too wet) with zero fertilizers or soil additives. High quality organic potting mix is best, or washed treated coco coir (not imported brick coco coir as they can carry pathogens).

NOTE; It’s important to realise that young seedlings require moisture in the air more than they need water in the soil since they absorb water from high humidity. Before a strong root system can form its best to keep watering at a minimal.

With this in mind. Use a humidity dome once you transfer your seed to its new home. Over watering the medium is the biggest mistake people make.

Potting Mix, Seed Raising & Jiffy Pellets

Stay away from any potting mix “seed raising” that has the following listed on the bag:

  • Contains fertilisers 🙁
  • Trace elements 🙁
  • Wetting agent 🙁
  • Water crystals 🙁
  • Growth stimulators 🙁

It’s a 50/50 chance of survival using these pre-mix potting mixes.

Any medium with built fertilisers puts seeds at a very high risk of killing their tap root.  Mother nature provides the seed with everything it needs for the start of its life.

No Jiffy Pellets or brick Coco Coir… Please! (they are not Aussie made, they are imported with no moisture protection)

Using Jiffy pellets or brick coco coir can potentially lower germination rates significantly due to the fungus that can occur within these imported products. Whether that’s during production or during importing into Australia.

It is strongly advised to thoroughly rinse/wash them with a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 6PH water before using them to get rid of any microorganisms. NOTE: We will not offer seed warranty if used.

Just use straight locally sourced coco-coir, Rockwool or organic potting mix with ZERO additives. Always remember to wash/rinse with clean 6 PH’d water before use.

Germination & Darkness

The seed must be protected from light. The earliest leaves must receive cool light as soon as the seeds open. Don’t keep attempting to bury your seed. Allow the seedling to push through the topsoil.

Oxygen When Germinating

Oxygen is something your seeds require at all times,  stale air causes a change in the ratio of gases that make up the air which causes mold to form in your paper towel.  Overwatering can be a major issue from the moment your seeds begin to germinate. 

Germination Timing

Seeds can take up to a month to germinate, according to experienced growers, but these are extreme cases. Growers typically see germination in three days or less, but it can take up to a week. We’re in the unusual territory after a week without germinating.  If germination does not occur by the middle or end of the second week, you should reconsider your germination technique or reach out to your seed bank.

Germination Misting

Misting is a useful and safe choice if you have a problem with overwatering or using too much water at this point. Misting a medium to make it moist is significantly easier than watering a medium to make it moist. Get a misting bottle to help with this.

If over-watering continues to be an issue, try adding perlite or vermiculite to the bottom of your containers next time. In nearly any growing method, this will aid in the absorption of excess water.

Seed Storage

There is no failed seed germination replacement warranty 3 mths after of seed purchase date.

An ideal temperature for seed storage is 5°C (below 10°C is fine). The best place to store seed containers is a temperature and humidity-controlled room. (which is how we store ours) The next best choice is a cold room or fridge but the seed needs to be tightly sealed to prevent moisture-laden air reaching it.

The third best choice is a cool, dark cupboard. A combination of vacuum sealing and refrigeration is excellent but vacuum sealing alone is very effective. 

How long for… There is no one correct answer. (from 3mths to years)

Let’s take a look at further common issues that is often overlooked when it comes to the germination of a Cannabis seed.

You may have spent a pretty penny on seeds, and yes, if you don’t do it right, your growth time will be set back and money will be wasted if your seed bank doesn’t offer a seed germination guarantee.

When a seed absorbs water, the seed cracks open, but if water cannot penetrate the seed, it will almost certainly not germinate.

A Cannabis seed has a hard, clear membrane coating that occasionally prevents water from seeping through, meaning the seed would never germinate without the help of the grower.

The hardness of the seed coat on cannabis seeds varies wildly depending on the strain. As a result, we can’t view all failed seed germination in the same way. We can, however, add a step to our seed germinating methods.

Before soaking in water, a light scrape with your thumbnail or a delicate sandpaper rub along the seed’s edge will help the seed to crack during steps 1 & 2. The hard clear coating will be broken, allowing the fragile seed to swell and open freely without constrain

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