🌊 Step 1: Water Starts Everything
When a seed absorbs water, it kicks off a process called imbibition. The seed swells, the outer shell softens, and the embryo inside begins to activate.
Too little moisture? Nothing happens.
Too much? The seed can rot.
You want consistently damp, not soaking wet.
🌬 Step 2: Seeds Need Air Too
Seeds can’t grow without oxygen. They use it to convert stored energy into growth.
This is why soggy conditions are dangerous — waterlogged seeds can’t breathe. A light, airy environment is just as important as moisture.
🔥 Step 3: Warmth Triggers Growth
Most seeds prefer warm conditions to sprout.
Ideal range: 21–29°C (70–85°F)
Too cold slows everything down. Too hot can kill the embryo before it even gets started.
🌱 What You’ll See First
When germination works, growth happens in a clear order:
- Taproot appears – The first root pushes downward
- Stem rises – The shoot starts heading upward
- Cotyledons open – The first tiny leaves appear
These first leaves (cotyledons) aren’t true leaves. They just help the plant get started. Leave them alone — they fall off naturally later.
Paper Towel Method For Germination
My favorite method when it comes to germinating my own cannabis seeds is the paper towel method, it never fails me which means I get the most out of all my seeds. All you will need is two plates and some wet paper towel.
- Cover one of the plates with moist paper towel and then place your cannabis seeds onto the paper tower.
- Take another piece of moist paper towel and place it over your seeds covering them. You can then place the second plate on top of the moist paper towel.
- You should now place the plates somewhere away from direct light that is also warm (approximately 20ºC – 22ºC).
- Check the tissues every few days and make sure they stay moist, if the paper towels have dried out then you should re-wet them with a spray bottle.
- Now you just need to be patient, after a few days the majority of your seeds should have a tap root emerging from them. Some tap roots can develop as soon as 72 hours after germination however it can take up to two weeks in some cases, so don’t give up on your seeds too fast.
- When your seed has a tap root of about two millimeters in length you should transfer it into a small container filled with a growing medium of your choice.
Conclusion
If you follow this method correctly then all of your seeds should germinate successfully, however if you buy low quality seeds this may mean some might not germinate. If you are picking seeds off an existing plant or searching through bag seed you need to know how to identify a bad seed and avoid it, normally it is recommended to avoid pale seeds as they will rarely germinate. It should be noted that a few strains do have white seeds so don’t get these mixed up with bad seeds.
Germinating cannabis seeds is a process that requires patience, precision, and a bit of green-thumb intuition. By following the steps outlined above and monitoring your seeds’ environment closely, you’re laying the groundwork for a thriving cannabis plant. Happy planting!