When growing marijuana at home, one can have lots of questions, and feel a little bit lost in the process. Learning How to germinate seeds using paper towels is extremely easy and this technique can help most or even all of your seeds to sprout. Whether they are feminized or regular seeds, this is one of the most reliable germination methods.
What is the Marijuana Seed Germination Process?
Germinating cannabis seeds is simple, but it is important to know how to do it correctly. Germination is the physiological process by which a seed develops into a plant. This happens when an embryo swells and breaks through the seed coat.
Cannabis seeds are a living material, and if they are not germinated properly, they will ultimately die. Therefore, it is essential to choose the appropriate germination technique.
Tips for Germinating Marijuana Seeds
Before you begin cultivating, it’s essential to follow these tips:
- Buy 30% more cannabis seeds than you plan to grow, as not all seeds will always germinate. This ensures you have a better chance of achieving quality results.
- Check the packaging of the seeds or research the specific strain you’re cultivating to understand the conditions needed for a successful crop.
How to Germinate Marijuana Seeds using Paper Towels
The first step is to gather all the materials needed to carry out this process.
Materials Needed for Germinating Seeds
- A plastic container with a lid.
- Paper towels or thick kitchen paper that can retain moisture.
- A small plastic cup of water.
- If it’s winter, you’ll need a DTTV or modem (to provide warmth without turning them off while the seeds germinate).
Guide for Germinating Cannabis Seeds using Paper Towels
Once you have all the materials, follow these steps so that seeds can germinate without problems:
Preparing the Container
The first step is to clean the container and place a layer of paper towels at the bottom, about 2-3 sheets should be enough. Using a single sheet will retain too little water and may cause drying, while using too many could create excessive moisture and lead to rot.
Once the bottom layer of paper towels is in place, pour water over them until they are thoroughly soaked but not dripping.
Placing the Seeds on the Paper Towel
Once the bottom layer of paper towels is moistened, place the cannabis seeds on top and cover them with another layer of paper towels, similar to the ones at the bottom. When the seeds are covered with the new layer of paper towels, moisten them in the same way.
Then, seal the container tightly to prevent water from leaking and to ensure that it doesn’t dry out, even if exposed to warmth.
In the case of winter or cold weather (below 20ºC/68ºF), place the container on top of the DTTV or modem until seeds germinate, always keeping it covered to prevent exposure to light. If the climate warm or hot, simply place the container in a drawer or closet where it won’t receive direct light.
You should check the container every 24 hours. Plant the seeds that have germinated, and leave those that haven’t inside the container until the next day. The average time for germination is between 24 hours to one week, depending on environmental conditions and seed freshness.
Transferring Germinated Seeds to the Growing Medium
For the seeds that have germinated, they should be placed into the medium where they will be cultivated, typically soil. Fill a square pot with soil and water it before inserting the seed. This will prevent the seed from sinking to the bottom of the pot when watering or floating to the top without notice.
If the pot is already filled with moist soil, use your fingertip to make a small hole at the bottom and place the seed with the root facing downward. It’s important not to bury it too deeply, as the soil might dry out before the seedling emerges.
Usually, within 2 or 3 days after transplanting to the pot, the seedling will emerge. This is typically the time to place it under grow lights or in natural sunlight.
You should gradually introduce light, placing the light source slightly farther away if indoors; or ensuring the plant receives both sun and shade if outdoors until it gradually acclimates.
In cases where there is not much sunlight (less than 5 hours a day), you can leave the plant where it will be cultivated. However, if it receives 12 hours of direct sunlight from an early stage, it might get sunburned.
This way, one can learn how to germinate marijuana seeds using paper towels, which is one of the easiest and more reliable methods to follow.
