A germinating seed uses sugar to break the shell and develop roots. According to researchers in the cannabis industry, not all of the seeds you plant will germinate. You should begin by identifying the healthy seeds before you plant them since not all seeds will be healthy.
Note that sprouting is the immediate process required to create a reliable foundation for the development of your cannabis plant. This means that you should give this aspect the weight it deserves for your plant’s well-being. Before going for a quality type of seed, ensure that all the necessary conditions are favorable for the growth and development of the cannabis plant.
Since the natural condition cannot be optimized, scientists have developed a new type of medium known as Jiffy Pellets. Cannabis cultivators should keep in mind that sprouting their plants affects the quality of the produce.
Many cannabis cultivators find it challenging when it comes to sprout their cannabis plants. Are you among the cannabis cultivators who feel a challenge in sprouting their plants? Do you need some additional information on sprouting the cannabis plant? This article is meant for you!
Sprouting the cannabis seeds
It is vital to know that there are different germination methods, and the results vary depending on the type of germination. Let’s shed light on various media of germination.
Water
Water is an excellent medium for germinating the cannabis plant. This mode of germination produces cannabis seedlings within a period ranging from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This mode is also advantageous since it ensures that there is enough moisture to trigger germination.
Soil
This is the most common medium for sprouting cannabis seeds. It is a natural medium, thus having various advantages. Apart from sprouting the cannabis seeds, it acts as a protective layer preventing the fragile roots of the cannabis seeds from any external damage.
In addition, cannabis cultivators should be extremely keen on identifying the type of soil. You should use fertilized potting soil or use the seed starter. Also, the kind of soil should have a pH of six.
The soil has added advantages since it has both the minerals and spores that support the growth of the cannabis plant. According to researchers, most cannabis cultivators use soil as a medium for sprouting.
Growth medium Cannabis Seeds
You can decide to germinate the cannabis in any growth medium of your desire. How do you germinate the seeds in a growth medium? Simple! Begin by digging a hole in the growth medium where you want your seeds to germinate. Put your seeds in the hole and ensure that the pointed side is facing upward. However, the seed orientation should not bother you much since cannabis seeds have a natural ability to orient themselves perfectly.
To be on the safe side, you can decide to soak the seeds in distilled water for at least twenty-four hours before you plant. This process helps to soften the shell, thus increasing the chances of germination just a few days after planting.
Note that this germination technique is the same regardless of where you decide to plant the seeds: coco coir, soil, potting mix, or a hydroponic medium.
Paper towel
This is the simplest means of cannabis seed germination that is mostly discussed through published articles in various sources. Even though it has been primarily written about, it does not mean that it is the best.
Besides being the simplest way of germinating cannabis seeds, since you do not need any additional equipment, it handles complicated seedlings that require keen care. When you have paper towels at hand, this may be the best option.
On the contrary, this seed germination mode requires seed transplants, which increases the chance of damaging the seedlings. In addition, you should always ensure that the towel stays damp but not wet. The only requirement for this method is a paper towel or two plates.
How do you germinate the cannabis seeds using a paper towel? You need to acquire the cheapest paper towel brand since the expensive one is more porous, thus making the delicate roots stuck inside during transplanting.
Make the paper towel or the two plates wet. Remember to dry any excess water, although it should remain damp. Ensure that no water is standing on the paper towel or plate as the seed will drown.
Place the cannabis seeds on one half of the paper towel and cover them with the remaining half. If you are using two plates, place the seeds on one plate and cover them with the other one to ensure that the seeds are in total darkness.
Keep checking the paper towel on regular occasions to ensure that it does not dry up. Always remember to drain the excess water that might remain standing on the towel. Ensure that all the seeds are covered and are at the correct temperature. They will germinate after a few days!
Rockwool
This is a sort of mineral wool derived from volcanic rock, including basalt, limestone, and others. The preparation of this material entails heating the molten lava and spanning it rapidly into threads.
The threads are then subjected to treatment, compaction, and cutting. Although Rockwool is an excellent sprouting medium, you will have to adjust it for cannabis. How do you adjust it? You should add fertilizer for about six hundred parts per one million.
Also, you have to reduce the pH level since it is extremely high, to support the sprouting of the cannabis seeds. Rockwool is too dangerous to handle with bare hands, you should put on gloves and also protect your mouth and eyes to prevent any related medical complications that may come out.
Earlier, we mentioned the use of the Jiffy pellet. What is a Jiffy pellet? This is a natural biodegradable medium for sprouting the cannabis plant. What about the Jiffy pellet plugs? They aid in sprouting the seeds into seedlings.
The Jiffy pellet comprises peat moss, a mesh, and other content like fertilizer, lime, and ammonium, responsible for helping the seedlings develop. The pellets can be used in a container or a potting mix for the sprouting seeds.
Peat moss is added to the Jiffy pellet since it contains a high percentage of organic material. The mesh is responsible for holding the peat moss in position. The Jiffy peat pucks or pellets are excellent both indoors and outdoors since they produce healthy and quality cannabis plants. However, the type of seed is also important.
The Jiffy pellets come with added advantages to ensure that the cannabis cultivators have a great experience during the germination of their cannabis seeds. Do you know the benefits of Jiffy pellets? Do not hesitate. Let’s dive in!
Conveniences of jiffy pellets
The jiffy pellets are mainly made of peat moss which is a natural substrate. The peat moss is also organic and biodegradable, thus suitable to use without the fear of environmental pollution.
The peat and the nettings attached to the Jiffy pellets are biodegradable; they only take a brief period to decompose. They also eliminate the risk of damaging the fragile roots of the developing seedlings.
This means that there is no stress when it comes to transplanting the seedlings. If your seedlings are ready for transplant, spread the jiffy pellets in an extended area of growing and the cannabis plants will dramatically expand the developing roots to pass through the mesh to the soil.
It is clear that the Jiffy pellet has numerous added advantages and acts as an excellent medium for cannabis seed germination. What does this pellet include? Let’s unveil further details on this sort of germination medium.
The composition of a jiffy pellet
The Jiffy pellet is a small pebble having a disc shape comprised of compressed materials. Even though the pellets are tiny, they can expand to seven times more than their size. This creates an exceptional environment for the cannabis seeds to sprout without any interference.
The fine-netting layer gives the pellet the required ingredients when the cannabis seed begins the sprouting process. According to the Jiffy pellet manufacturers, you should water the pellets first, prior to using them.
After watering the pellets, place the marijuana seeds below the surface. When the cannabis plant has germinated and gained the required strength, transplant the whole plant to a larger pot where the cannabis plant will grow bigger.
Peat is a part of the Jiffy pellet that stores and provides nutrients to the germinating seeds around it. This component is derived from the sphagnum peat moss with an extensive capacity to hold water from the soil.
Due to its excellent feature of holding water, the peat is fluffy and light in nature. It also offers exceptional root aeration features, giving the roots a perfect opportunity for development without restriction.
Generally, jiffy pellets are made from peat moss, and the peat moss is explicitly meant to enhance the seeds’ sprouting. This is why lime was added to raise the degree of acidity and alkalinity. The peat moss has a pH of 4.4, while the Jiffy pellets have 5.5.
In addition, the jiffy pellets contain fertilizer that is meant to supply the seedlings with everything it requires for excellent germination. The pellets provide nutrients for about one to two weeks for the seedlings to acquire strength before the transplant period.
Also, you don’t need to make any addition of nutrients when your seeds are undergoing sprouting. If you have already planted your cannabis seeds, you have a choice whether to add fertilizer or not.
Even though jiffy pellets are an excellent medium for the germination of cannabis seeds, some people do not know how to use them. Read more to learn how.
Position your container
The immediate step of using the jiffy pellets is putting the pellets in a container. In addition, you can acquire the jiffy pellet tray in the market instead of a container. Make sure that the pellets do not overlap, and that you leave room for water retention.
Water the pellets
You then water the pellets by either using distilled or tap water. When using tap water, remember it may have chlorine which is toxic to the well-being of your cannabis plant since it can cause it to dry. To save on the cost of buying distilled water, you can disperse the chlorine by pouring tap water and giving it time to dissolve.
Plant the cannabis seedlings
Place the cannabis seeds in the middle of the pellets that have enlarged. Note that you should not put the seeds too deep since they might not germinate.
Cover the seeds
Covering the cannabis seeds is meant to ensure that no moisture is lost. The jiffy pellets come with a plastic cover that offers the best covering features. In case you do not have the jiffy pellet cover, go for plastic wrap.
After planting and covering the cannabis seeds, you will need to water them for at least seven days. Also, avoid dropping water from the top of the plant, or else you will interfere with the germination process.
Transplant
When the cannabis seeds have already germinated, it is time to transplant them into another growth medium where you want them to grow into mature plants for harvest. At this stage, you should be extremely careful not to interfere with the plant’s delicate roots.
To avoid risking your cannabis seedlings, you can opt to use tweezers to handle the seeds. This will also help prevent you from touching any form of oil that may damage your fingers. Make a hole in the growing medium about one to two centimeters deep.
Ensure that the soil remains moist, and the seeds are also in the correct temperature range. This is an essential factor that you should remember to prevent the seedling from using too much energy to develop the stem and the fast leaves
Note that during the transplant stage, the seed requires a lot of light. There are different types of lights you can acquire for your cannabis seedlings. With the development of technology, there are numerous artificial lights that you can use.
The best lights for seedlings are fluorescent lights and LED light bars. According to the cannabis cultivators, the veg/clone bars, courtesy of Secret Jardin are the most ideal, unless you want to use them to cover a huge space.
If you have a large area to cover, then the plant LED grow light is the best option that can cater to your needs. Let’s shed some light on different types of LED lights.
The LED grow for cannabis seedlings
The AIS-led GROW LIGHT has proven to be the best light for cannabis seedlings. This type of light was explicitly designed for cannabis seedlings. However, it also has drawbacks since it is meant to cover an approximate area of about two by four feet. Note that if you have relatively few seedlings, this type of light will be overkill for them.
On the other hand, the LED bars are said to be the best when it comes to starting seeds, and you don’t have many seeds that cover an area of two by four feet. The bars are relatively cheap, and they produce enough light that benefits the cannabis seedlings.
MH/HPS for cannabis seedlings
If you have the MH or HPS light, then you have an excellent opportunity of placing your cannabis seedlings under it. Note that these types of lights are relatively expensive; if you cannot access them, you do better to go for fluorescent lights or LED.
These lights are extremely important, especially for cannabis cultivators who place their cannabis seeds in the same place from germination to harvest. According to cannabis cultivators, the Metal halide light works better for seedlings compared to the HPS light because the seedlings require a cool blue light more so than red.
When do you put the cannabis seedlings under the HPS/MH light? You are advised to turn on the lights after the cannabis seeds have germinated and they are already in a growing medium or soil. Note that even when the cannabis seeds are still in the soil, the light’s heat will enable the plant to make its way out.
To wrap up
The germination of cannabis seeds depends on a wide variety of factors and conditions. How your marijuana seeds germinate can significantly influence what you will harvest when the plants reach maturity. This is why as a cannabis grower you need to observe how your marijuana seeds germinate. For easy-to-germinate seeds, visit our seed table.
Whether using traditional soil, innovative Jiffy pellets, or other mediums, understanding the nuances of each approach will help you achieve strong, healthy seedlings and ultimately, a rewarding harvest. Happy growing!
