Germinating Weed Seeds In Water: A go-to guide

Unlike some seeds that require a tactical approach at growing and tending them, cannabis seeds are easy to plant with just simple tools that you can easily find around your house and if not, they can be easily gotten at a convenience store or a store that stocks garden supplies and tools. They include:

Cannabis seeds: Well, it is pointless having your complete planting tools without having your already germinated cannabis seeds. They are not necessarily tools but they are the core item that you’ll need.

Pot or container: With your seeds in hand, the next item you’ll need is a container or a 1-2 liter pot with light resistance to protect the seedlings from light. It is important to use the right pot size to plant your seeds as this will help your seeds absorb the needed nutrients from the soil and grow well.

Soil: Having the right kind of soil will provide the needed nutrients for your cannabis plant to grow well. One of the most popular soil types is a light-mix which can be used for the germinated seeds and cuttings.  Many cannabis planters prefer this soil type because it is easier to monitor the plant’s growth.

Pen or Pencil: This simple tool comes in handy for making small holes in the soil before planting

Tweezers: Although a viable alternative is to use your hands, using tweezers is easier if you want to carefully move your seedlings.

Plant Spray:  A plant spray is most suitable for spraying the right quantity of water on the soil. It can also be used to keep dust or dirt away from the plants, hence it is a common tool among many growers who tend to prefer growing indoor and outdoor weeds.

Now that you have these tools, let’s use them

4 simple steps for planting cannabis seeds

Unlike what most people think, planting germinated weed seeds is not difficult. Carefully following the four simple steps outlined below can help you get healthy parent cannabis plants.

 1 — Fill your chosen container with a growing medium

Like earlier stated, good soil and the right pot size will help your seed grow well. This is because after planting the seedlings in the soil, ( preferably each for a pot), the roots tend to grow downward as the plant grows bigger and as such, will require a large space to easily absorb the nutrients in the soil.

Some growers prefer to use a half-filled pot before planting the germinated seed which is very good for the roots.  Ensure to regularly add more soil to the pot until it is about 1cm beneath the edge of the pot. Carefully press the growing medium but try not to compact it till the right amount has been achieved.

A nutritious soil is also important for good plant growth. Ensure to add an adequate amount of the necessary nutrients and minerals to help the cannabis seed grow well. Be careful about adding too much to prevent nutrient burn which causes the leaves to turn brown and yellow.

 2 — Create little holes

The next step after adding nutrient-filled soil to the pot is to create little holes for the germinated seedlings. The size and depth of the hole are very crucial to the growth of the weed seed and so, using a clean pen or pencil will help you get the right size for the seedling. Carefully push the pen or pencil down on the soil to create a dimple-like hole that is about a couple of centimeters deep. To easily get the right hole size while using a pencil, ensure that the tiny hole is erasure-deep to prevent the seed from being too deep in the growing medium.

Naturally, a seed can easily sprout through a thin layer, but if it is planted very deep in the soil, the depth can affect the plant’s growth, resulting in inadequate light, and a weak stem. If you think that you had planted yours too deep, you can simply remove some soil toppings instead of repositioning the plant.

On the contrary, if the weed seeds are planted in a shallow hole, they could get dried and disturbed by environmental factors especially if you’re planting them outside. You can avoid such incidence by using a marked pencil to ascertain the correct spot before pushing it into the soil.

 3 — Make the holes home to the seeds

The third step is to put the seeds into the small hole previously created in the soil. Carefully transfer the plant to the soil in the pot with a clean pair of tweezers. While using tweezers, be careful not to squeeze the seeds too hard and ensure to plant them quickly so that they do not get too much contact with light.

If you prefer to use a damp paper towel for the germination process, watch out for the newly formed root that is stuck to the paper towel. It is safer to spray it with some water so that the roots are less sticky and can be easily removed from the paper towel as against carefully pulling it loose.

Furthermore, the position of the marijuana plant can affect the growth of its roots. Ensure that the root of the germinated seedling is positioned downwards when it is placed into the small dimple. The root of the plant must be deeply planted into the hole, with the skin of the seed lying at least 5cm beneath the surface of the soil. If the top of the plant is not properly positioned, it might cause the root to sprout upward, and the stem could bend which might not affect the growth of the plant.

 4 — Place some soil over the seed

The last step in the planting stage is one of the simplest because it only requires that you cover the seedling with a thin layer of soil which is usually about a couple of millimeters to prevent the seedling from the sun while it is trying to grow.

You can do this by carefully patting the soil to ensure that the right amount of moisture is easily absorbed by the soil. Avoid pressing the soil firmly while trying to cover the seedlings so that the soil does not become compact, resulting in poor drainage which could cause diseases as well as inadequate oxygen for the seeds.

Conclusively, spray the surface of the soil regularly with a plant sprayer to keep it moist so that the plant can grow well. You can also place the pot in strategic places to help it get light and then, the plant should start sprouting within a few days.

FAQs

Even if you just went over the four simple steps to plant cannabis seeds, it will not be surprising if you still have some questions.  We compiled a list of frequently asked questions with answers that we hope will come in handy.

What is the best type of soil for planting weed seeds?

The low concentration of nutrients in a light mix of soil makes it most suitable for marijuana seeds. As earlier stated, too many nutrients are bad for marijuana seedlings and they won’t need much of it until they mature.

You can, however, choose to use cocoa-based soil due to its nutrient composition which should last for about a few weeks, plus it is eco-friendly.

Duration of germination before planting

Cannabis seed is mostly germinated for an average of two to three days before it is planted. The different rates at which weed seeds germinate can be caused by a host of factors, with the most prominent being the methods employed at germination. This can be seen in the recommended water method which should last for about 18 to 36 hours for most seeds, as well as the duration within which seed may begin sprouting. For instance, due to the thicker coating of hard seeds, they may take up to a week before they start sprouting.

When is the best planting season for outdoor weed?

Depending on your preference, you can choose to grow your weed seed either indoors or outdoors. What should be mostly considered for outdoor planting is the planting season because cold atmospheres are unsuitable for the growth of a cannabis plant, hence the need to place it outside immediately after the winter season ends. Although April and mid-May are recommended as the most suitable periods, cannabis seedlings still have to attain a full cycle before the beginning of another season/weather.

A lot of growers prefer to keep the plant inside for a while before moving the plant outdoors, especially with the presence of young female plants which can be easily damaged by the environment during their early stages. It is advisable to keep the seedlings indoors for about two weeks or until they are well grown to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

What to avoid when planting cannabis seeds?

You have to be careful about a handful of things when planting weed seeds. Some of these things include:

Avoid adding fertilizers or extra nutrients to the seedling because high amounts of nutrients and minerals are detrimental to the growth of the plant.

Secondly, do not cover the pots with plastic to prevent excess humidity which can damage the plant.

Thirdly, besides using the right soil, ensure that the seedlings have the right pH level when they are watered and also make sure that they are neither too dry nor too wet.

How deep to plant marijuana seeds in soil?

Planting a weed seed deep into the oil can affect its growth negatively. Seedlings mostly have roots that are 1.5 to 2.5cm long and so a hole that is 2 to 2.5cm deep is spacious and most suitable for them. Marking the pen or pencil will help you get the recommended depth so that the seed can easily sprout through the soil without drying out.

Now that I’ve planted my seeds, what next?

Having successfully planted your weed seed, you can watch it grow to a healthy plant. You could move it outside at the right time but it is best to wait till after two weeks for the plant to become mature to withstand environmental elements.

If you need tips on growing outside and want to get started, you can use our step-by-step guide for growing weed outdoors. We also have a guide for growing weed indoors.