A Beginner’s Guide to Working With Cannabis Seeds

A close-up shot of feminized cannabis seeds ready for germination. Photo by Trichome Jungle Seeds.

Cannabis seeds are the starting point on the journey to becoming the green-fingered enthusiast that some growers have always dreamt of. With so much variety and choice on the market, it can be slightly overwhelming knowing which seeds are best for a beginner grower. Our guide below provides all the info one needs to know about working with cannabis seeds.

The Differences Between Regular and Female Seeds

First and foremost, it is important to know about the different types of seeds on offer. They will either be regular sexed or feminized, and both have their unique properties and uses depending on a grower’s plans, as explained below.

Regular Cannabis Seeds

• The seeds will produce either male or female plants.
• It is necessary to sex the plants and to separate the male and female plants.
• Regular sex seeds will be cheaper compared to feminized ones. 
• These plants will usually be more stable and resistant to stress compared to fems.
• Old-school growers typically prefer to use regular seeds and select a female keeper.

Feminized Cannabis Seeds

• All flowering plants will be female.
• There is no need to remove any plants, making them more efficient indoors.
• Breeders will usually focus on making fem strains as the demand is so high.
• Fems allow multiple female strains to be grown at once, providing lots of variety.
• Most seed banks will offer single, three, five, or ten-packs of feminized seeds.
• Feminized seeds allow hydroponic growers to use up all the growing sites available.

The Different Germination Methods

Once a grower decides which type of seeds are best suited for them, the next step is to germinate them. Below are the four different methods that cannabis growers have used for decades.

A Glass of Water

All that is needed is a glass of fresh water, a cool and dark cupboard space, and seeds. Fill a glass or plastic cup with 2 inches of water and add the seeds. At first, the seeds will float, and begin to drop to the bottom within 24–48 hours. The seed shell will open up and reveal a white tap root tail.

Using Paper Towels and a Plate

This method involves using two plates and wet tissue paper or paper towels. The seeds will be placed onto the tissue paper/paper towels and covered, creating a paper tissue bed. Next, cover the plates together, place them in a dark and cool area, and allow the seeds to begin to open up after 24–72 hours.

Using Jiffy Pellets

Jiffy pellets are small, dry pellets that expand when in contact with water. Typically, peat or coco coir pellets are the most popular choice and only requires growers to insert the cannabis seeds pointy side down approximately 1-2 cm deep. Seeds inside jiffy plugs will sprout and grow upwards after 24–72 hours.

Directly Into the Growing Medium

The final option is to carefully insert the seed into the chosen growing medium (soil, etc.), and provide the right temperature (71-77 degrees Fahrenheit) as recommended by Royal Queen Seeds, experts in seed germination. Planting directly inside the medium can save time and is more practical for large-scale growers.

What if the Seeds are not Germinating?

There is nothing worse than checking seeds to find they are not doing anything at all and show no signs of germinating. In this case, try to perform the same or a different germination method, and as a last resort, contact the seed bank or breeder and give them feedback based on the experience. 

When is the Right Time to Transplant Germinated Seeds?

When long, white tap root tails are growing from the germinating seeds, they can now be transplanted to a small pot, or directly into a large pot, depending on what is most practical. Using a matchstick, insert the stick 1-2 cm deep and gently push the tail side gently downwards until it is firmly in contact with the growing medium and firmly fixed in place. Once covered, the seed will sprout and reveal a seedling within 48–72 hours later.

Our Final Thought

Cannabis seeds come in all shapes and sizes, regular or feminized, and can be cheap or expensive. Growers should take the time to research which cannabis strain is best suited for them, and take extra care and precautions when germinating. 

There is no sure fire way to germinate cannabis seeds. so be prepared to try the four different methods, and see which produces the best germination rates. Always keep germinating seeds in a dark and cool place, and when storing seed packs away for long periods, a fridge is often the best way to ensure a consistent temperature.