Cannabis Seed germination is vital to any successful growth cycle, as it is the first step you’ll need to get right to turn your cannabis seeds into healthy and thriving cannabis plants. If you are just starting out in this journey, the process may seem complicated. To help make this process go smoothly, we’ve prepared a guide on how to germinate auto-flowering marijuana seeds.
Optimal Conditions for Germination
Before we talk about the different germination methods, it’s best that you understand the optimal growing conditions and what it will take for the plants to thrive. Typically, the factors that affect germination are temperature, hydration, and the medium.
When it comes to temperature, auto-flower seeds are quite flexible and can germinate in a wide range of temperatures. However, the optimal temperature for germination is 27 degrees Celsius. Now, this only refers to the temperature of the surroundings. For the soil temperature, you’ll want it at around 25 degrees Celsius instead.
Water is one of the most important parts of cannabis seed germination; it’s what will jumpstart the entire growing process. As such, you’ll want to use clean water with a pH level of around 5.6-6.2 range for cannabis seeds.
Perhaps the trickiest part of the germination process is preparing the growing medium. When it comes to the medium, you’ll want it to be moist but not soaking wet. This is because having a medium that’s too wet could cause your seeds to rot. Consider the following methods:
1. Paper Towel Germination
This method is one of the simplest ways to germinate auto-flowering seeds. All you’ll need are some paper towels, a plastic container, and water.
Step 1: Moisten the paper towels. Be sure to squeeze the excess water out to the point where they are damp to the touch.
Step 2: Place your seeds on top of the paper towel and fold them in a way that covers the seeds. Then, put the paper towel in the plastic container and cover it to help retain moisture.
Step 3: Place the container in a slightly warm and dark place. Check on it regularly, and be sure to keep the paper towels moisty by drizzling them with a little bit of water. The seeds will be ready to be transplanted when you see that their radicle is around 1 to 3 cm long.
2. Soaking Method
This method is perfect for seeds with tougher shells or seeds that are on the older side. All you’ll need to do this is a cup and water.
Step 1: Pour the water into the cup until it is halfway full.
Step 2: Place the seeds in the glass and leave them in a dark room and let the seeds soak for a maximum of 32 hours.
Step 3: The seeds that are suitable for growing will sink to the bottom of the glass. A radicle will soon grow out of them after a day or two. However, do note that it may take a little longer for the radicle to come out.
3. Direct to Medium
If you’re looking for a no-frills way to germinate the seeds, you can consider planting them directly in the medium. Unlike the other methods, this only takes a single step. All you need to do is make a hole around 1-2 cm deep and place the seed in it. Be sure the medium is moist but not too wet. Then, cover the hole you just made but don’t tamp down the soil.
Conclusion
You can try out all of the different methods mentioned above to see which one works best for you. In the end, all the methods will get the job done as long as you do it correctly. Remember that the most important step when it comes to germination is managing the environment that the seeds are in. Do that, and you will have no problems at all!
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