How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds

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How to germinate cannabis seeds with for beginners the easiest possible way. This was my first time growing indoor cannabis in my entire life. I had no clue where to start, so I just bought some cannabis seeds and told myself I would figure out the rest later.

The first problem I faced was how to germinate the seeds.. what does germinate even mean?

Cannabis seedling finish germination and break through the dirt.
Seedlings breaking through the dirt.

“Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed”

Materials and Equipment Used:

What does germinating a cannabis seed mean?

Germination is the process of getting the seedling to begin sprouting/growing. So the problem I faced was finding the most efficient method of doing this. I did my research online and there were a few different ways, but I found them very unclear.

Seedlings sprouting out a week after being germinated.
Seedlings a week after germination.

Germinating a cannabis seed with a paper towel for beginners

There is one common method where you drop the seedling in water for 24 hours. Then transport the seed into a wet piece of paper towel, which is then placed in a ziplock. Then after a few days, you need to carefully transport them into the soil. This methods success rate is a lot lower due to all the different variables and careful handling required to do it.

I saw this method and thought to myself there must be an easier way. To germinate cannabis seeds for beginners this is too hard. Then I started finding more and more people talk about jiffy pellets. I did my research and found some very interesting things. The first being that all you need to do is add water. That’s it.

How to germinate cannabis seeds for beginners with jiffy pellets

Germinating cannabis seeds with jiffy pellets.

After discovering jiffy pellets I quickly decided this was the route I’d take in starting my first indoor cannabis grow.

I bought a pack of 36 jiffy pellets as the 12 pack was out of stock. When starting this you need to choose how many plants you want. I wanted to grow 4 plants.

Jiffy Pellets are the best invention I have come across. Here is a link to Amazon to check them out.

package of 36 jiffy pellets used to germinate cannabis seeds.
Pack of 36 jiffy pellets.

How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds Step by Step Guide

Here is a 6 step guide on how to germinate cannabis seeds for beginners using jiffy pellets. This method was 100% successful for me and i wanted to share it with everyone else looking to start growing for the first time.

Step 1: Decide how many plants you want to grow

I want to grow four plants in total. Therefore to be on the safe side I planted 50% more than I intended to grow in case anything happened.

So I planted 6 feminized auto-flowering seeds in 6 separate jiffy pellets.

I planted 50% more seeds then I wanted in the event some didn’t sprout or died in the early stages. I planted 1 seed per jiffy and cannabis seeds can be expensive.

Step 2: Add water to the jiffy pellet

You need to let the jiffy pellet absorb water so it expands. I added 35 mL of water to the pellet using a plastic syringe. Once it had absorbed all the water I peeled back the mesh and dug a small hole in the center. The hole was about half an inch deep.

Step 3: Place cannabis seeds inside the jiffy pellet

I then carefully placed the cannabis seeds inside the hole with a small pair of tweezers. This ensures no harm is done with my fingers. After placing in the dirt, I covered up the hole carefully. I did this for all six pellets.

Step 4: Wait for cannabis seeds to sprout

Once planted you need to leave them inside the container at room temperature for up to eight days. The germination process takes anywhere from 2 – 8 days to get the seedlings to sprout. After the first 24 hours, the pellets seemed very dry. I then proceeded to add a little water to each to keep them moist.

Cannabis seeds sprouting from the jiffy pellets.
Cannabis seeds sprouting from the jiffy pellets after two days.

After waiting a gruelling 56 hours (Just over two days) I was going to sleep and noticed the first seedlings erecting from the jiffy pellets. It worked! Over the next 24 hours, the others sprouted one by one. This happened until all six plants were standing strong. The jiffy pellets had a 100% success rate. This was amazing for my grow. After they sprout they are ready to be placed under your grow lights (or in the sun if your doing it that way)

The other three sprouted one day after this.

Step 5: Transplant the pellets into your pots

Day 3, I moved the cover off the jiffy pellet structure. I had my grow pots already in place and filled with them with soil. The jiffy pellets have a fabric string cover that holds all the dirt together. It says you can leave it on but I didn’t want to damage the roots and I wanted them to be able to grow freely. I carefully cut each mesh with a sharp knife.

Shell of seed about to fall off the leave of the plant.

Unfortunately, each pellet was left a little to long and the roots had started growing through the mesh. When trying to remove the mesh from around the pellets, the roots were stuck and the endings of all of them ripped off ☹ But the plants are doing GREAT!

Furthermore, I cut around the mesh so it was just the jiffy pellet by itself. I dug a small hold in the middle of my Vivosun 3 gallon fabric woven pots These pots allow oxygen to flow through the walls and allow the plant to grow to the maximum potential. I then transported the pellets into the holes I dug in the middle of the pots.

Step 6: Water the plants and start the grow!

After they were transported I watered them generously. Each day the leaves started growing bigger and bigger until I could see the ridged edge leaves start appearing.

Now the grow actually starts !

After one week under the LED grow lights the plants are looking bigger than ever !

My results from the germination process

In conclusion, for the first time ever growing indoors, I couldn’t have thought of a more easy process.

  • The seeds are already growing in soil when they sprout.
  • There is no transplant risk associated because the roots have already secured the structure.
  • All you do is place the seed inside the wet pellet.
  • Then all you have to do is wait for them to sprout.
  • Transplant to your pot and you’re all done!
Six cannabis plants sprout from the pots. looking green and strong
Six days after germination. Seedlings strong and healthy.

If I had to rate this process compared to others it absolutely blows them out of the park. To germinate cannabis seeds for beginners this is the best method. There is no secondary care needed. Just place the seed inside and wait. I was so excited to write this blog as I knew I had to share this process with every other beginner grower trying to germinate seeds for the first time.

This germination method is the best I have seen and the success rate backs that claim up. I have a 6/6 , 100% germination success rate. That’s pretty good for the first time.

Let me know if this article helped you out ! 🙂 Good luck growing !

6 thoughts on “How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds”

  1. Once terminated they r sprouting when do I put them in lots & then how much light I have lost 8 seeds after putting in soil my grow room is state of the art what am I going wrong Randy

    Reply
    • Hello Randy,

      Once the seeds have been germinated you can leave them in the red solo cups for 2-3 weeks. This allows them to absorb more nutrients when they are in their juvenile stage. Afterwards carefully transplant them into your bigger pots and provide them with 16 hours of light 8 hours of darkness per day. You can adjust the light cycles to fit your preferences. Hope this helps 🙂

  2. Ok I have spent $120.00 for auto flowering seeds the first 5 after terminating just withered up my grow room is climatic controld as soon as they whent in soil done HELP Randy

    Reply
  3. Awesome. Thanks.
    So I need to keep them pretty wet the first 48 hours ?

    after that, just add water to the tray and not directly to the Jiffy pellet, so I don’t over saturate. So the new root has to grow in search of water ?

    Lots of good info. Just not sure how much to water and when ?

    I have Jiffy Pellets in a small green house, on top of a Vivosun Seedling mat (set to 75 F ).

    Reply
  4. Thanks for sharing it helped alot as I am getting ready to grow for the first time. I do have a question though. I am growing indoors and have a light can I get decent results without using a tent

    Reply

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