Germination begins the life of your plant, so it is essential to understand precisely how to do it. There are many methods for germinating marijuana seeds – some more successful than others.
This guide will discuss the many ways to germinate your seeds as well as some strategies for ensuring you get the best results possible. But if even the right methods fail I stand by my seeds and replace non-germinated seeds for free.
Too long to read? Watch the video
It starts with the seed
Like all plants, marijuana starts as a seed. What looks like a pebble is actually an entire plant conveniently stored with a few days supplies of food to support itself. During germination, this food is converted into sugars that the plant uses to break through its shell and form its roots. From that point forward, the young seedling depends on its environment to provide the nutrients it will need to survive.
Germination brings a seed out of its slumber and triggers the growth process. A seed will begin germinating once it receives enough moisture.
At that point, it will increase in size and break open its shell. A germ opening forms and a root will emerge, which will help the plant absorb nutrients from the earth.
Nature and gravity ensure that the root grows downwards and the stem upward, creating a young seedling that can survive off light and earth.
Since all marijuana grows from a cannabis seed, many people want to know how to identify a healthy seed.
Honestly, it is difficult to tell if a plant will be healthy based on its seed alone. There are, however some tell-tell signs.
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Generally speaking, a pale-green, white, or very dark marijuana seed may have trouble germinating well. But this does not always reflect the outcome of the plant and is always worth trying.
If you are unable to use all of your seeds, store them in a cool, dark and dry place until you can. A refrigerator is ideal.
Planning for germination
Seeds are designed to germinate, but they are more likely to do so if given the ideal environment. There are many methods of germination, but they will all require:
- Moisture to help the seed expand and break through its shell
- Minimal interference so that delicate structures aren’t accidentally broken
- Temperatures that mimic springtime (between 20°-22° Celsius or 68°-72° Fahrenheit)
If you remember these three things, your germination attempts are more likely to be successful.
It should go without saying that successful germination is important. Your seed is the foundation for your plants – which is why many successful growers choose to start with high-quality seeds.
You can also improve your germination attempts (and possibly speed up the process) by soaking your seeds in 1% hydrogen peroxide or a compost tea solution for 12 hours before using them. This process will kill any infectious agents.
3 Simple ways to germinate your seeds
The best germination method is the one that works for you, and if you are like me, you’re going to want something simple and natural.
My favorite way to germinate seeds is a 24-water soak followed by soil germination, but something else may work better for you. Here are three of the easiest ways to germinate seeds.
Germinate seeds directly in soil
Planting your seeds in the soil that you intend to grow in is the most common and often, most successful method of germinating marijuana seeds.
This method is perfect for ensuring young seeds have minimal interference since the fragile root is protected by the soil. It’s also the most natural way for marijuana plants to grow.
How to plant marijuana seeds directly in soil
The first step in learning how to plant marijuana seeds directly in soil is to first make sure you use the right type. Use mildly fertilized potting soil or a seed starter. It should have a pH of approximately 6.
This type of soil will have spores and minerals that help young marijuana plants thrive. Do not add nutrients – potting soil has enough nutrients for at least the first two weeks of the plant’s life.
If you add any more nutrients, you risk killing your seedlings due to a nutrient overdose. Place your soil in a small pot.
In my free Grow Bible you will find even more tips for sprouting seeds and how to germinate weed seeds
Steps to germinating cannabis seeds
To prepare the soil for your seed, push your finger into it to create a small hole that is up to 1.5cm (0.6 inches) deep.
You can also use a pen or pencil.
- Place one seed into the prepared hole and cover it with soil. If you’ve already germinated, the seed will have a root – place the root facing downward (more on that later).
- After you’ve covered your seed with loose soil, do not mess with it.
- That includes pushing it down further – this will happen naturally as you water it.
- Use a plant sprayer to moisten the soil and place the pots under a fluorescent lamp.
- Don’t use a windowsill, because the temperature is not stable enough for germination.
- The temperature of the soil should be 22° Celsius or 72° Fahrenheit which is easy to achieve with lighting.
- Keep monitoring your soil or grow medium to make sure it stays moist.
- Within a week (or as little as 4 days) you should start seeing stems emerge from the soil. You now have a seedling!
- Once your plants are 2 to 4 inches tall (5 to 10 centimeters), transplant your cannabis plants into a larger pot with the stems further in the ground. Your plant will now have many roots that will support it for the rest of its life.
Germination timelapse
Germinate seeds in water
As I mentioned above, germinating in water is my favorite way to start my seeds.
It may seem like a bad idea, as there are more water and light than recommended when using this method, but it works! I’ve found that it is around 90% effective.
The “trick” is not leaving the seeds in water too long.
Usually, 24 to 48 hours is enough for the seeds to show their tail, but you can leave them soaking for up to 7 days without too much of a worry.
Water germination
Water germination is useful because it assures that there is the right amount of moisture to begin germinating.
If done for just a short period, it can help crack open the shell, pre-sprouting the plant right before your eyes.
Water germination shortens the process by making it easier for the plant rather than having to push through the soil.
- To germinate with water, fill a glass with tap water and allow it to reach room temperature over a few hours.
- The temperature should be around 18° C or 65° F. Do not add nutrients. Drop 2 to 3 cannabis seeds into the water and watch for any changes.
- Refill the glass with fresh water every other day while maintaining its temperature.
After about 2 to 4 days the seeds should start to split.
You can place your seeds in the soil at any point, but once the roots are 3 to 5 mm (.1 to .2 inches) long, they must be planted.
These are the basic instructions from my store that I share with new growers:
As much as I prefer to germinate my seeds in water, it does have its downside.
At some point, you will need to handle your seeds, and this is risky. Germinating seeds are delicate, and the roots are especially fragile. If you harm them in any way, your plant might not develop well.
Be very careful when placing your sprouted seed into the soil, and if possible place the root facing down.
Germinate with cotton pads or paper towels
Another easy way of germinating your cannabis seeds is to use cotton pads or paper towels. This is called the paper towel method.
This is a common way of doing it because cotton pads or paper towels can keep the seeds moist and protected.
While cotton pads (or balls) or the best for this method, cheap, non-porous paper towels will work as well.
Just make sure they are plain single-ply paper towels – the cloth-like ones may cause your roots to grow into the towel.
- To germinate using cotton pads, place a few seeds between two cotton pads and moisten with a plant sprayer.
- When using a paper towel method, place the seeds in between two paper towels and store the towel-cushioned seeds in between two plates, under an upside-down bowl or in a plastic bag.
- Keep the temperature around 22° Celsius, or 72° Fahrenheit, and (once again) do not place the seeds on a windowsill.
- In about 2 to 5 days, the seeds will start to split open, and a tiny root should appear.
- Place them in the soil when they are 3-5 mm or 0.1- 0.2 inches long.
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Like the water method, germinating this way has its risk. If you are not careful, you can damage fragile roots while transporting them to the soil. You can also tangle the root in the wet paper towel if you are not extremely careful.
Explore the beginner cannabis seeds in my shop and start germinating your first seeds!
Use your fingers or tweezers to move delicate sprouts, and don’t allow the root to grow too long before moving it into the soil.
Other germination methods
Water, soil, and cotton pads or paper towels are the easiest ways to germinate your seeds, but they aren’t the only ways. You can also use starter cubes or plugs for germinating cannabis seeds. Simply drop the seed in, add water, and wait for it to germinate.
They aren’t always as successful, but they eliminate the risk of damaging your root when transporting a young sprout to its final growing home.
Below are two types of starter materials that can safely germinate your seeds.
Germinating cannabis seeds in rockwool
Rockwool provides the perfect environment for germinating seeds.
It is mineral wool that is made from volcanic rock and other materials (such as basalt and limestone). Rockwool is man-made by melting its ingredients into molten lava that is quickly spun into threads. These threads are then compacted, cured, and cut.
Rockwool is an ideal growing environment, but it will need to be amended slightly for marijuana plants.
First of all, you will need to add some fertilizer before you use it to start seeds. The TDS should be around 600ppm. You’ll also need to lower the pH since Rockwool has a pH of 7.0, which is too high for germination.
To lower the pH, soak Rockwool plugs in water for at least a day. Since water has a pH of 5.5, this will bring down the pH.
It should also be noted that there are some serious drawbacks to using Rockwool.
Because it does not occur naturally, it’s not the best for the environment.
It’s also not the greatest for your health; wear gloves and cover your mouth and eyes when handling this stuff.
Because of the extra steps involved (such as adjusting the nutrients and pH) and handling issues, this method is not recommended for beginners, although it is not terribly difficult to do.
You’ll need to purchase and TDS meters for the most successful germination, but outside of that, the material is very affordable and easy to find.
Because it does not require soil, this method is ideal for those who plan to grow hydroponically.
Germinating seeds in peat pellets
Peat pellets are another way to germinate seeds without the risk of damaging young roots.
Peat pellets are compressed peat, which is made of partially decomposed vegetable matter and is simply yummy for young cannabis plants.
The pellet enlarges when you add water to it, forming a container of nutrient-dense soil alternative around germinating seeds.
Unlike Rockwool, peat is already optimized for cannabis germination.
It has a pH of 5.5 and a TDS of 625, so you don’t have to worry about making any adjustments. The only preparation required is soaking the pellets in warm water.
Once the roots become visible, (by popping out of the peat), simply move the entire pellet into the soil, rock wool, or coco coir, where it will continue growing.
This type of germination is not recommended for hydroponic setups.
Peat pellets have a good germination rate for when you germinate cannabis seeds, are easy to use, and are suitable for beginners. They are also ideal for cloning.
Also read How to make marijuana clones
I recommend the Jiffy brand of peat pellets which can be purchased on Amazon.
Germination environment
In addition to the material used to germinate your cannabis seeds, the grow environment you provide will play a huge role as well.
Your seeds will need the correct temperature and levels of moisture to sprout into a strong, healthy plant.
“Weak plants are the result of weak seeds and poor growing conditions.”
Jorge Cervantes
Below are some tips for creating the perfect germination environment.
How to water sprouting seeds
Watering is essential throughout the cannabis life cycle, and germination is no exception.
Not enough water and your seeds do not germinate, too much and that root doesn’t survive.
Excess water keeps oxygen from the roots and can attract mold, which is why you have to be very careful not to overdo it.
When germinating weed seeds indoors using soil or another growing medium it is relatively easy to monitor the water levels. You should water your seed until you see water dripping out from below (and not more).
Even though the seedling cannot absorb that much water, it will evaporate quite quickly, so you need to make sure there is always enough around.
If you water it until it reaches this point, it should supply enough moisture for a few days.
Lighting and temperature
Like water, lighting is essential to a cannabis plant. In a mature plant, light enables the plant to form sugars from carbon dioxide and water.
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The plant then uses those sugars to power its growth – something we humans call it photosynthesis.
For a cannabis seed, lighting is important as well because it provides heat, which a seed needs to push open its shell and send its root into the earth.
You can find out what the best light cycle for growing weed by reading our guide.
The best way to give your seeds the temperature it needs is with fluorescent lights. (T5 high output with a color temperature of 6500K).
Fluorescent lights are ideal because they do not use too much power, and they don’t give off too much heat.
You can place them as close to a young cannabis plant as you need, and although your seed doesn’t need it at this point, it will as soon as those first leaves start peeking out from the top of the soil.
Incandescent bulbs can also be used because they are great at generating heat. You can’t use them as grow lights, but for germination, they work just fine.
You can also use a seedling heating pad (available at most gardening stores). These heat the seeds from the bottom instead of the top. They will not be enough once your plant has started growing, however.
Keep the temperature of the soil around 72 degrees.
Seeds germinate best in warm, humid temperatures, similar to springtime.
To create a humid environment, wrap plastic wrap around your pot, creating a biodome for your plants. Just remember to remove the plastic wrap the minute you see any sprouts emerge from the soil.
If the soil, or water, or whatever you are growing in is hotter than 72 degrees Fahrenheit, move the lamp further away from the plant.
Dry air won’t kill seedlings, but if you can reduce it, even better.
Where to germinate cannabis seeds
When you’re planning your outdoor grow and you received your seeds, it’s best to germinate them indoors. This is because indoors it is much easier to maintain the correct temperature, water levels, and light exposure.
Even if you plan to grow your cannabis plants outdoors, you do not want to try starting them outside (unless you absolutely need to).
Outdoors you must worry about rain, clouds, and plenty of other things that could keep your seeds from sprouting.
You’ll also have to wait until the final frost has passed, meaning your growing season may be delayed compared to if you had started the seeds inside.
Starting indoors gives you a head start and your plants a better chance at survival.
If you still plan to germinate cannabis seeds outdoors, choose a location that will support the plant its entire life. You will not be moving the plant so choose wisely.
- Plant seeds when corn is typically planted in your area.
- Dig 6x6x6 holes at least three feet apart and fill them with potting soil.
- This will give the seeds enough nutrients to start.
- Then, dig a small, quarter-inch deep hole into the potting soil and drop the seed in.
- Soak that soil with water, and water it again in a few days if the weather is warm enough.
- You can use row covers to protect your seeds and keep the area warm but be careful to not leave them on too long – young plants will need the light once they break through the soil.
There is, of course, a benefit to starting your seeds outdoors if you plan to grow outdoors.
Your plant will have more time to adjust to its environment and will be less likely to suffer from shock when moved outdoors.
So it might be worth it if you know what you are doing.
Just remember to leave plenty of space for your cannabis plants (those little cannabis seeds can grow quite large), know the weather patterns in your environment, keep your eye out for animals that may eat your seeds, and use potting soil to provide the right amount of nutrients.
Planting your germinated seeds
Once your seeds have sprouted, they should be planted.
If you’ve used a cannabis germination method that requires you to move your sprouts, do so carefully, as the taproot is very fragile.
You do not want to touch it. If you touch it or break it, it may survive, but it will definitely stunt your plant’s growth.
When planting, drop the white root downward. It should be placed about half an inch to an inch in the growing medium (knuckle deep). The top of the cannabis seed should sit just below the surface.
Cover lightly and allow about a week (10 days maximum) for the seedling to break through the soil. It may emerge the same day – but if it hasn’t peeked through by 10 days, it likely did not survive.
If your seed is accidentally planted upside down, do not worry. Nature has a way of working itself out. As long as there is enough room for the roots to grow down eventually, they will.
Give it some time and let it do its thing!
Download our free Ganja Livity lifestyle guide to learn more about rolling perfect joints!
Germination doesn’t have to be hard. Are you ready to start growing?
It all starts with the right seeds.
Our high-quality seeds will improve your germination efforts and even come with a guarantee.
FAQ about germinating cannabis seeds
Is it better to germinate seeds before planting them?
Yes. This is true with most plants.
Do seeds germinate better in the dark?
Yes. Cannabis seeds will germinate better in the dark.
Should cannabis seeds be covered to germinate?
Yes. This will trap the moisture and prevent it escaping into the atmosphere.
In the end, when the plant is fully grown you will need to start thinking about flowering and harvest time.
Our free little Harvest Guide will help you determine the best moment to cut your plants. Download it here.
If you’re looking to buy seeds be sure to check my strain selection.
I always get the best genetics and if by bad luck, your seeds don’t germinate I stand by my word and replace the seeds for free!
Germination starts with finding the right seeds. Get high-quality marijuana seeds from my seed shop and begin your grow journey now!
Find detailed information about ordering in our support section.
Happy Growing!
Robert
I have had 3 attempts at growing weed in coco coir/perlite Why do i keep getting root rot. I used to buy my seeds from you, till you stopped shipping to Australia wheni was growing them in a D.W.C. tank.I now purchase my seeds from the from Mediseed Man supposed to be the best in Aussie. I am trying to fix the problem.Regards ROBERT
Hi Wolodimir,
Thanks for your comment. What ratio of coco coir to perlite do you use? Do you work with sterile coco and perlite?
And how do you water and how often?
And are you applying nutrients weekly as well?
Hopefully we can help you get to the bottom of this!
Kind regards,
ILGM
Thank you for the info
Hi Greg,
You’re welcome of course!
Let us know if there’s anything we can help you with!
Happy growing,
ILGM
I’m on day 7 of germination for 2 seeds with water method, the shell has cracked and a tail is showing and looks like it is beginning to breach but it’s progress has looked pretty stagnant for a two days now. I started with 4 seeds and 2 of them are still germinating where the other two have been planted and sprouted. Is there anything I can do to help my two struggling seeds or are they done for?
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear this. What kind of water are you using exactly and are you checking the temperature as well?
They should have continued progressing, though, I would stop soaking them after 72 hours and transfer them to damp paper towels or just plant them.
Definitely keep our customer service posted on any seed failures and we can replace them for you.
Happy growing,
ILGM
I have 12 seeds out of 20 growing and 8 seeds where duds. So when im feeding them how often do i give them nutrients once a week and then water them when they start to loock dry or what feed them eve time i ater theml
Hi Payne,
Thanks for your comment. Our customer support team will reach out to you directly to take of the duds. Our apologies for the inconvenience!
And you can feed the plants once a week. Make sure to use the ratios in the feeding schedule or follow the dosage recommend by the manufacturer if you’re not using ours.
You can water as you usually would between feeding the plants.
Let us know if you have any further questions and happy growing!
ILGM
Thanks for the info!
thank you Robert! Your experience is awesome!
I have Parkinson’s from spine surgery .I have to use cannibals to curb the pain of neuropathy.
Tired of paying high dollar for medical marijuana. I want to start growing it myself. Thank you for putting this information out there.
JUST GOT MY GOLD LEAF AND WHITE WID 48 HRS SOAK TIME 4 OF 5 CRACKED OPEN.THATS 80 PERCENT AND OTHER MAY CRACK OPEN SHORTLY.SO FAR IM IMPRESSED.FIRST TIME FARMER ,LOTS OF FUN TO DO .
Hi there,
Thanks for your message. We’re happy to hear 4 of them made it already! Let us know if the one does not end up germinating at all, we can replace that for you of course.
Happy growing!
ILGM
Can moles eat newly germanated seeds in outdoor soil
Started soaking seeds today. I Received the Fertilizer/nutriEnts but no instructions . At what intervals do i apply the Fertilizer?
Hi Erik,
Thanks for your comment. Please refer to the instructions on the product page (they’re at the bottom):
https://ilgm.com/products/marijuana-fertilizer-set
I hope this helps, but let us know if you have further questions of course.
Pa. here, Lets see if the thumb kept its green especially after becoming handicap. Nothing keeps a good women down.
Just started soaking my seeds in water know somethingin few days
Hi Michael,
Keep us posted on how they do!
Happy growing,
ILGM
Ditto Mike,
rock on
The advice from the experienced folks in here has Been extremely helpful especially for a first timer. Couldn’t find the exact forum i was in on this site from the other day, but dang. These seeds from ILGM are insane. Germinated 6. All Broke through and were ready to be planted within 20 hours! Have popped through soil 2 days later! If you are hesitant or curious- buy seeds from here. It’s worth the money. Your time is valuable. Invest and support this company!!!
For those of you who want to speak the horticultural language properly, You do not plant seeds , you sow them.You plant the Germminated Seedling
Hi John,
Thanks for your comment. Good point! The term ‘plant’ is used colloquially in this sense. But I suppose you are right and technically it should be sow rather than plant.
Kind regards,
ILGM
Please explain germination in what two types of soil do u mix super soil with what other kind they all have nutrients in them thanks no novice grower
Good info in this Gide
I must say the ILGM way with water was the best germination process I’ve used to date. I never have had a problem with the seeds sprouting and they seem to be stronger. I’m new to indoor grows but my three strands of Autoflower are going good and strong. I’m at week 5 now and they are beautiful. I managed to keep them all good but one poor little girl who never came up past germination so this is good. 14 are still going as planned. Thanks
I like to use the paper towel in a ziploc / freezer bag . holds the water in and i can just toss it in the closet . I did find out the hard way about 2/ply towels , so split it first or find single ply , and don’t touch the taproot.
Great information! There is a typo on your FAQ section “ Do seeds germinate better in the dark?
Yes. Cannabis seeds will germinate better in the date.”. I assume “date” should be “dark”
Much love PPP✌️
Hey Michael,
Thanks for pointing that out! We will rectify it right away. 🙂
Stacy
ILGM
Thank you Robert I have started your seeds under light. How long do i keep them on constant light? Before i start my 18 hr cycle?
Hi guys, I’m having trouble getting some of the seeds in my “fruity mix pack” to pop. All the banana kush sprouted well but only 2 of five for the mango and I’m trying the last 2 blackberry kush seeds now after the first 3 did nothing. Do you know if any other customers have had trouble with theses strains?
Help, my seeds germinate fine using the water method. But they fail to cast off their hard outer seed shells. I’ve even tried picking them off carefully but under the hard shell is a clearish brown filament that continues to prevent the first leaves from coming out. What am I doing wrong?
use rockwool and soak in adjusted ph of 6 then place seed in hole and gentle pull the moist sides to cover the hole. Place on germ mat/dome with led turned down but close temp 85 to 88. 100 percent germ do not water rookwool unless dry and always from bottom. Do not feed because seed shell is food and transplant whole cube into planting pot.
WORKS EVERYTIME! LEANED THE HARD WAY
I purchased 15 seeds that cost around $175 from ILGM. Combination of Gorilla Glue, Bruce Banner, and Girl Scout Cookies. All Gorilla Glues sprouted. Only 2 Bruce Banners and 2 Girl Scout Cookies sprouted. One of the Girl Scout cookie sprouts looked like a complete circle of a stem. No head no leaves. Still waiting to see if it is going to do something other than be a green stick. They say these seeds are guaranteed, and this is not my first rodeo with ILGM. This is the first time I’ve had problems with the germination of your seeds. Tried to click on to your link for guarantees but the page is out of service. I’ve got eight out of 15 seeds that Made it to germination. Who do I contact to warranty the other dead seeds?
I’ve had the same problem with my fruity mix pack, banana kush seeds were excellent but the mango and blackberry kush seeds weren’t real good. Did you get any response from Ilgm?
Same here.
I feel compelled to share this no muss no fuss germination process i learned from my wife…
Fill your growing reseptical with preferred dirt or growing material, whatever you plan on keeping your plant in through its life. Take half an eggshell, peal out membrane, bury up to the top edge of the shell, fill with dirt. Throw in dry seed, Water and regular light cycle. Sprouts in 2 to 3 days.
I have been waiting for material I ordered from “Pot four a Pot”, but in reading the provided instruction on germination, I have decided to start the germination process tomorrow (02/05)! Getting excited!
I bought bbg fem seeds as of now two did not germinate. the other two strains did fine(2 of each). What can we do to make this right?
Do you recommend precision needle seeders for doing large-scale seeding? Seriously considering a Bouldin & Lawson but I want to make sure it is efficient prior to purchasing. My main concern is regarding the ability to germinate the seeds prior to planting (not sure if the process will be too rough on the sprouted roots). Any help is appreciated!
I just germinated a gorilla glue seed but haven’t planted her yet. Should I place her in a coco coir nutrient potting soil in a small peat pot and then first transplant start using Bergman nutrients. Or make up the seedling nutrient and use it to water coco coir w/o nutrients in a peat pot. Unsure what to do. Once I get going I have a phototron machine
Thanks for the information I’ll be planting outside in the spring but will start my seeds indoors
I ran a test to see the best way to germinate. I put 4 seed is in a couple glasses of water, I also put 2 seeds in a pot of seed raising soil and I put 4 seeds into small hydro tubs filler with a perlite and vermiculite . The results 24hr later were that the 4 seeds in the glass of water has not done much one seed has cracked but no tail yet, the 2 seeds in pots of seed raising soil had cracked open and show a very small tail, the 4 seeds in the small hydroponic pots filled with a perlite and vermiculite had all sprouted and showing a larger tail. So this time they hudroponice rubs won the race. I think what’s most important is keeping those seeds warm and moist, between 20 to 30 degrease celcios
Good info thanks!
When do you begin counting week 1 of veg? 2 weeks of germinating/seedlings and then week 1 veg?
can i germenat and grow my autoflowing plant in my green house and avoid the use of lights
I’m looking for the right soil for new seedlings. What can I use?
I found a seed in an old stash box that was at least 17-20 years old. Just for fun, I put the seed in one of those spongy things. It germinated.
Three weeks no tap root What should I do. Used jiffy cups.and pap
I think my seeds were old took at least a week for them to break through the seed and its been a week have only 1 plant growing
Thank you
Thanks for the insite of. germanation
I dont use light to germinate my seeds. I do it in the dark. They sprout fast and strong. As soon as they show is when I put them under lights
Thanks for the info I have grown before but I Forget steps
Hi Team,
bought couple of auto seads 2 years ago and didnt had the chance to plant as i wasnt ready at that time, now that im geared up i got started the 3 seeds i germinated last 5 days ago is still germinating i didnt see signs of seeds cracking or rooting any chance that those seeds are dud or should i wait longer?
tried to germinate another batch of seeds today will leave it on the water for 24-48 hours then move it to the cotton or paper towel methong till the tap roots comes out.
Regards,
BK.
Waiting for plants to germinate in jiffy peat pellets. the ph reads 7.0 and I understand the best ph is 5.5 – 6.5 what should I do at this point…Well Water is 7.0 ph
Hey buddy, this is a friendly newbie here,I have been studying for 1 year and slowly gathering the essentials for a small closet grow. I’m going 600 mh hps foxfarm on my soil and nutrients. I have a ph pen also and a tent.I was once a tattoo artist and for 20 years I have suffered from severe anxiety. I been on every kind of meds they have for it.well like 2 years ago I smoked a joint with this chick and wouldn’t you know it helped more than any pill they gave me.Im filing for disability but that takes soooooo long. I have been out of work for 6 months now and I’m going crazy stuck in this house.As soon as I can I will be ordering ty for your growing friendship.
I have to say I’m never happy when I buy seeds or I never used to be but since I started buying from ilgm I know I’m going to be happy with the results. When you grow from seed you get the freshest genetics let’s face it you don’t know how old the cloned plant can be it may be years old in that DNA degrades steadily and then one day poop you have a hermaphrodite. And would seed you never get spider mites or inherit someone else’s mold problem this company stands behind their product and I believe they truly want you to succeed
Thanks! 🙂
I have planted my seedlings 2 days ago. I have 2000 watt full spectrum lad light. I have hung it 20 inches above the potted seeds. I am concerned it may be too close to the seedlings. Any advise would be helpful.
My advice to you is: Use T5 lamps or smaller 40 +/- led lamps for seedlings not high powered flowering lamps. Happy growing
how do you know if seeds are good?
Martín Garza,
Contact customer support at the forum link below!
Our seeds are guaranteed and always have high % of germination. It is possible that you did something wrong. IN fact; If you want to; I Suggest You Go Here: Support.Ilovegrowingmarijuana.Com Our Members And Staff Can Help Give You Informed Advice. We Have A Lot Of Topics That You Can Research. Share your issues and find that our seeds are very high quality and we are willing to help you as opposed to posting something negative towards you. 🙂 Happy growing
Ester, This is not a bug article Q and A. Here you go; I Suggest You Go Here: Support.Ilovegrowingmarijuana.Com Our Members And Staff Can Help Give You Informed Advice. We Have A Lot Of Topics That You Can Research.
None of the seeds I bought from you all have germinated and I have bought 300 shunk ferminaized very poor quality cheap quality
My plants are ready for flushing on there 4th day and they have tiny black bugs because the leaves have holes. Wat is it???
I have some plants that 2 are like 3 to 4 in tall and have white hairs coming out of top of plants the others have none .what’s up they are very small plants to have buds starting
Hey Robert it’s Gary here love love love your strains being said my seedlings r 4 days old what should my ph b for water and how long do I keep it at the # ?
Hey Gary,
Please check out this article, this will surely answer your question! 🙂
https://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/things-know-proper-ph/
hi ordered lsd seeds the last time buying ten , i have 1 seed sprout with tap root 9 seeds start to open then no more tap root growth so planted 2 weeks ago no plant growth 1 just ordered ten lsd seeds help please send best seeds
I used peat pellets the gold leaf where all pale and real small nothing happen got one left the other two pop then died that’s from the premium mix pack
Thanks so much! I live in south Texas. Its quit a challenge here. Thanks for all the tips!
Very helpful
Gravity??? WTF are you high? Think about what you just wrote there.
I don’t know what’s happend to my seed they just stop germination at half and I think that because adding Too much water
Ty very useful information i usually start with clones
Is the germination process the same with all seeds? I bought some auto flowering seeds and am not sure to germinate the same as feminized seeds.
Hey Peter, you can just germinate them the same way as you would on your regular fem seeds. 🙂
How do you get rid of p.m. when your plants are in the budding stage 4 weeks into it
Hi there planted my seeds , how long do i keep the lights on and when do i change to 18 hours on 6 hours off?
Susan. you should be on 18/6 from the start. This does away with guessing, and you do not have to reset your timer every grow. Think of it as if you planted outdoors; There is always a dark period. Even though you may read occasionally about using a 24/0 photo period. Do not. 24/0 is unnatural as plants need time to rest just like humans.
Very helpful but I like to start it where it’s going to be growing full term
Yes i agree, that is the way i do it and so far ive got a 100% germination rate. (15 plants so far)
I do the water germination, I use a half cup, and add seeds, 24 hours usually tells me which seeds are good or bad, as in if the seeds drop to the bottom of the cup they’re good, floaters I poke with my finger, and if they drop, ok. then I put em between moist paper towels, after 2-3 days the tap root is 1/4 – 3/8 in long, and I pick em up by the “husk” of the seed, and set em 1/4″ deep in good potting soil. Any way,,,If I’m starting them 4-6 weeks early, with my T5 and later after the first “pinch” with my 500 watt Bloom Boss,,,should I pay closer attention to daylight cycles so as not to shock em? Adjust my timer for on / off every 5 days or so? Like like 8 on and 16 off?
I put em out around May 5th
John Hayes,
If you have determined females and plan on moving plants to a dedicated location, do it now before there is any chance of contamination or pollination. Since you are sexing, I must assume you bought regilar seeds from somewhere. Perhaps feminized seeds would suit you better, if you do not plan to breed seeds. Happy growing 🙂
I am not optimistic about this attempt to be a grower again, I am out close to $200 over the last 2 or 3 month’s, and it looks like all i have to show for it ? is 3 small seedlings that survived a germination attempt with 12 seed’s. (not from ILGM) so I bought 20 or so seed’s from ILGM, over a week ago I attempted to germ 10 out of the 20 that I purchased. all ten popped and exposed there tales within 2 daysl, then 1 out of the 10 sprouted and started to show some leaf, I so I put that one in a cup with perlite and cocoa, and put it under a small powered grow light, that was almost a week ago. the other 9 seed’s I put into the little rockwell cube’s where they are still and not showing any signs of life. and the one that did pop and show leaf? has done nothing but stay frozen like a statue since its transplant over a week ago. I afraid that I have lost all ten out of ten seeds., that’s pretty sad. I want more seeds or my money back..
As long as you have your order number and contacts [email protected], you should get a response.
If all 10 seeds popped and only one grew; It is highly possible you have something going wrong. We have all of customers claim super high success rates during germination unless they are doing or applying something wrong.
Coco and perlite is a terrible medium for a sprouted seed. Use Pro Mix,r, or something without fertilizer. Coco causes PH problems. As far as seedling not growing. Seedlings must establish roots before you see top growth. Meanwhile it appears not to grow. Patience is key.
No nutrients or fertilizer should be used and water should be PH’d at 6.1-6.5
I suggest you join our polite and friendly support forum and allow us to help you figure out what you are ding wrong. No offense. It happens to everyone at 1st. 🙂
p.s. I start all mt ILGM seeds directly into rockwool. Soak the rockwool in warm water. Gently shake some excess water out…Gently!…Do no squish the cube. add seed into hole in cube and pull a little piece of the corner and light place it into the hole over seed. All my seeds pop in 2-3 days maximum using this tried and true method.
You are rite on the mark.I drop my seeds in water and when I see the tap root pop out I put it in the soil with a success rate of 100%.
I am planning on germination in peat containers and then going to 30 gallon grow bags. Any suggestions on soil ix for the bag?
from starter to 30 gallons is not efficient. You are going to waste a lot of soil because the roots will go to the bottom and all the upper soil will be unused. you must transplant in stages. several stages if you want to end up in 30 gallon pots. Any professional nursery or potting mix with peat, perlite, vermiculite, fungi, and dolomitic lime will do.
Happy growing.
theyre plants.just chuck em in water and voila,germination
theres no rocket science involved. Less is always better. dont change more than 1 thing at any time to see whats working and whats not.
most folk crash the 1st couple attempts so dont be discouraged
I’m just starting to germinate some seeds inrockwall .this guy says add low nutes I’ve always been told the seed has all it needs for at least the first few weeks from sprouting so I think it’s wrong to give low nutes rhixtonic is ok to spray o ‘ve there little plants it don’t feed for at least a week
should you add nutrients to the water when you first start to germinate the seeds in rockwool, or wait till they have some good root growth first?
Thanks as always for your excellent guides, Rob! I’m sprouting 5 plants in a dome at the moment, and they’re growing fast! I’ve been trying to keep my humidity between 50-60%, is this ideal? My temperature has been pretty steady around 21-23 Celsius.
What can I do to help seeds that pop just enough to show white, then stall out? Never had a problem before, but this batch of TrainWreck has done it 3 times now. According to Murphy’s Law #420.7, if I just germinate all the remaining ones, hoping for at least one to flourish, they will all take off and I will have more than I can use. Prefer to do one or two at a time, but apparently TrainWreck doesn’t like being the only one out there. My tapwater ph could be lower, @ 8ish. Maybe I will try some ph adjusted water. Thoughts?
I germinate my seeds the same way I make alfalfa and wheat sprouts , in wide mouth mason jars using screened lids found at natural food stores. Also been having success using my cloner and rooting directly in a foam insert, spraying 1 minute on, 10 off.
Matt,
Never add nutrients until you have at least 4-5 true sets of leaves which proves there is a root zone to take up nutrients. Be patient or you will kill your seedlings.
As far as sprouts not coming up; Many things could cause this. Mishandling the sprout, planting too deep, drowning sprout with too much water, etc, etc…
Try starting seeds directly into peat pellets after following proper prep for the pellets. 🙂
Join our forum at ILGM. We have many helpful and knowledgeable members always willing to help.
hi. new grower here and I have blueberry, pineapple haze, and strawberry kush germinated for 24 hours in wet napkin. got a tap root and put them in peat pellets. they are under a 6500k t5 grow light roughly 2″ above the pellet. the strawberry has came up and the other two have root started but haven’t popped outta dirt. it’s been 5 days since I put them in the pellets. I keep dirt moist around outside and spray top once a day. the one that popped has two 1/4″ true leaves and don’t seem to be growing now. should I add a lil nutes? on the one or all three? if not how long should I wait to add nutrients to babies? thank you for the info in advance
Live in small condo and need to use my kitchen for veg room. North facing double slider door. Can I run lights dark hours only? Or run lights 18 or 24. I am going to be using this space for clones, veg, mother(s), and re-veg heavy producers for future grows. I also have grown from old seeds a wonderful mystery strain. How do I find out what it is? Is it possible to produce seeds?
Hi Matthew, I see you have quite some questions. The best place to get answers is our support forum Our experts and fellow growers can answer all questions you may have
Hi”I’m a first time grower. some of my seeds are 30 years old, sister had them in a sealed tin. do you think they are any good???
Hi glo, 30 years is a long time! If stored cool and dry all that time they may still germinate. Only one way to find out 🙂
A bunch of them will be. Seeds live a long time in the wild and these were kept dark and dry. SOAK them in water until they sink or when you tap them they sink. Then I use paper towel method w/ great results. Just sprouted 9 seeds within 36 hours. First ones within 20 hours. If some don’t sprout remove from water, I know it says up to 7 days but that is not proper as seeds can drown after 24 hours. DO NOT throw away or give up on slow starters. Take an exacto, steel wool, anything abrasive will do. Scruff up the hull (don’t cut in) and soak again. More will sprout. I take remaining slow starters and repeat until all spout or becomes obvious it was DOA. I have had almost 100% success on “OLD” seeds.
What happens if the seed pod falls off while transferring from wet paper towel to soil? (transferred with tweezers and placed very smoothly)
Ketrenna,
As long as the sprout Cotyledon, was not damaged and you are referring to just the actual husk falling off, then you should not have any worry. – I❤️GM
Hello, im a first time grower in southern california. I have my seeds in water right now and am planning on putting them in the starter pots as soon as they sprout. What are average results of growing the plants in pots on a patio??
Hi Christine, there are too many factors in place to answer this question. I advise you to hop onto our support forum. Our experts there can help you out with your first grow and answer all your questions. – I❤️GM
I don’t grow outdoors anymore however when I did, I always planted at the correct phase of the moon and you’d be surprised by the difference it makes! I used to by a MoonChart every year but I’m sure Google would tell you the information. It’s nothing new as a growing tip. My grandfather was a farmer and always planted at the correct moon phase.
I live in NE. Pennsylvania and want to grow out doors. How soon can I plant oudoors. I plan on growing lowryder.
Having germination problems!! 72 degrees, is that air temp of the room OR the moist soil???
Roy,
During the propagation of seeds, we all like a warm humid climate. High humidity is key. Warm beds. Perhaps you need a heating mat.
We would love to see you around the support forum to share your experience. 🙂 – I❤️GM
A real newbie here! Have my grow space together. Going to soak the seeds 24 hours +- Then plant in 4″ peat pots I have Fox Farm’s soil Ocean Forest potting soil. Am I missing anything?
Hi Bob, you look ready to go. Be sure to hop onto our support forum. Fellow growers can help you with any questions you may have https://support.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com – I❤️GM
Paper towel method works best for me , I have 100% success rate , just did 5 white rhino and all seeds sprouted in 48 hours !!
budget wise i have to come up with other ideas to germinate my seeds ,, so this is it and it works great ,,get 6 toilet tissuses, fold 2 times , wet tissuses , put seeds onto paper , put second tissuse folded , on top, then get 2 container lids and put all paper onto one lid and put sm water onto paper so its just wet , add 2nd lid for top, put these onto electric blanket,on 1, with cover over top of whole thing , makes a awesm hot house,, oh blanket wz still on bed , make sure u check they dont dry out , and water frequently. they cracked overnight, and i left them till 3rd day , and into soil,, 3 were done and 3 cracked it .. yay
robert i have kept approximately 50-50 seeds for germination but my problem is that i might not have enough pots to grow one in each can i plant 6-7 plants in a 20 liter pot?
Mark,
We are not set up for intense grow support here in the blog.
I invite you to join our support forum where you can learn all the necessary points for growing successfully.
We have a couple grow mentors that live in Arizona under similar conditions and they can help guide you.
Thank you ILGM and Robert, I look forward to receiving my first order with you. I live in the desert, outside of Las Vegas to be exact. I intend to germinate and get started indoors using sunlight and then transplant to much larger pots and grow outdoors. My question, is how much heat and sunlight is too much? I had originally planned on shading and controlling it some on a open but covered patio, which they still would receive much light mainly morning and later afternoon for direct, but avoid the severe direct mid day summer sun. Around hear in summer we hit normal heat around 105-110F sometimes higher. So giving the plants sun won’t be an issue, I just don’t want to burn them up as most things will by mid summer. Watering is not an issue which I have a auto drip and sprinkler system controlled and programmable. Growing season again not an issue it is about to begin planting time here in no more than a couple of weeks, our winter is over and it was a cold month. Thank you in advance, I look forward to receiving the order.
Mark
It is important to start your grow with good quality seeds, bad seeds won’t get you a supergroup. I always order my seeds online, straight from Amsterdam. They have over 40 years of experience there and you notice it in their genetics. I can advise anyone looking for seeds to take a look at seedmarket.com, they have a great product range.
Hello there, I recently put a couple seeds down in Fox Farm soil. I am indoors , and the temp is controlled.
However, my seeds have been down longer than 7 days and they are under flouresents but no germination as of yet. What am I doing wrong ?
Hi Michael, there are a multitide of factors at work here. Actually too much to answer here. Best go onto our support forum and have our experts take a look. Create a topic there and supply as much info as possible and someone will help you out soon
Been soaking WW seed for 24 hours and it’s still floating at the top is this a bum seed or will it sprout ?
Hi Mike, we’ve seen seeds sprout after a week of soaking. I’m not saying this one will need that much time but give it a little more 🙂
Roy, I just started soaking my Patriot pack that I bought last October. I thought they seeds were supposed to sink after 10 or 20 minutes. been soaking for 12 hours. How long before I call these duds?
Fred,
You should download and read our free grow bible before you get started, and then I advise you to join our support forum. We have many knowledgeable growers and experts that can help guide you. The questions you are asking would be too much information for the blog comments. See you in the forums 🙂
Could you give comments on Deep Water Culture and LED grow lights? For indoor growing in Northern Climes, It allows more control of conditions. Thanks.
I have been successfully doing “deep water” with LED lights for over 3 harvests in NW Montana, great results each time gets better.
My ex-hippie born&bred girlfriend used to pop the seed/s under her tongue and continue doing odd jobs for a half hour or so- to get them nicely warm, wet and ready for their germination bed.
Kinda sexy at the time!
most of my seed didn’t germinate, the ones that did died a few days later. i followed the steps provided, and even tried different methods. Had the least amount of luck with the strawberry kush, gold leaf, and super skunk. None of strawberry kush germinated at all. (bummer) gold leafs germinated but died a few days later. super skunk germinated, grew for a bit then halted growth completely. The super silver haze are the only ones that seem to be legit… kinda bummed out due to the expense of purchasing 4 strains and only one seems to be thriving.
I soaked my ILGM seeds in water and they Popped within 24 hrs. Much better than the, paper towel method I”ve used in the past, Also am Now using MG potting soil for starting plants. Very easy Thanks
Soak in water 24 hours, into the soil outdoors. Mist multiple times daily until healthy. GL and WW Sprouts appear in 2 to 5 days.
I tried the small peat pods in the small plastic greenhouse. When I tried to pull the covering off the top gently the whole netting came off, and all I had was a pile of peat, in which I couldn’t find the seed, so I just kind of piled it up in the greenhouse and am hoping the seed is at the right depth. My first effort was successful soaking 1 seed for 24 hrs, getting a tap root, placing in rock wool and having under constant light from 2 CFCs from Home Depot, 2 30″ fluorescents, and spraying plant, and keeping soil moist with a Alaskan fish fert. mixture, recommended by pro growers out west. The plant is growing well, has a good strong stem, it’s in an 8″ pot and 6-7 ” tall and 6-7 groups of 3-5 leaf stems. Seems to be growing more out than up…time to move to 5 gal. Bucket? My point is I prefer the rock wool cubes, and be careful with the small peat pods
Problem solved . I put enough Mir. Grow pot. Soil into a 3gal pot, created suitable space for the transplant, removed plant from 8″ pot, roots growing well all around outer edge. I guess that may be why plant growing more out instead of growing up? Huh?
Problem solved . I put enough Mir. Grow pot. Soil into a 3gal pot, created suitable space for the transplant, removed plant from 8″ pot, roots growing well all around outer edge. I guess that may be why plant growing more out instead of growing up? Huh?
Griz,
More likely the plant is genetically disposed to bushiness. INdica maybe…
Just like to say that I keep things simple. I bought 10 white willow seeds. Put them in between 2 wet paper towels, put on a baggie, and put them on top of my hot water heater. In 3 days they had a root of about1″ and were ready to be put in a small pot with potting soil. I read from you Bible, great stuff!! Thanks! Jon
I have grown a few plants over the past few years. All the same way in a greenhouse in soil. Never had a problem germinating until this year the difference is I ordered seeds from this company. I bought five seeds one in each pot. I produced absolutely nothing from any of the seeds. Contacted customer service and they were absolutely no help at all. So it cost me 90.00 and not one of these seeds produced anything. I will never order from this company again.
Livin Hi in AR. USA delivered in 10 days Very impressive ! The Ozark Mts. of Arkansas makes for some Fine Livin ! I’m told, Hill Billies love it. Thanks for your contribution to my Happiness Thank You for a safe and expedient delivery.
All seeds showed up quickly, in water now waiting to germ. Fantastic service, thanks ilgm keep you posted on all stages of growth.
First time grower, gotta say “THANK YOU ” !!!!! All seeds arrived quickly and discreetly, I followed your germination recommendations and to say all 5 seeds germinated and are looking great for only 4 days in soil.Fingers crossed, and I’ll keep you posted on my results of your special blend, Goldleaf***. ILGM IS NUMBER 1 in my book, enjoy.
Thank you M! We look forward to your updates, If you have any questions let us know.
Taylor,
I can only assume that you are asking about growing outside. I am sure that there is a window of grow season in Laredo. I cannot tell you anything about the soil there, but I would grow indoors where you can provide what the plant needs.
So I’m new to this and super stoked. I live in southern Texas near Laredo. There is also a lot of oil in my town so I was wondering if it was even possible to grow with these conditions?
If you are going to start your seeds inside and plan to move the plants outside later; You really do need to pot them and allow them to become strong young plants before moving outdoors. I am not sold on the idea of growing them under a tree canopy. These plants need a minimum of 9 hours of direct Sunlight in order to thrive.
I plan on growing inside and transferring them to an outdoor place covered by trees and next to a river. I plan on using the peat pellets, but I won’t be able to use any special lighting. Would it be best to go from the pellets to a bigger pot or just straight to where I plan on growing them? And what would be the best seed for growing in central Texas?
Martin,
You can transplant to outdoors whenever you determine the plant to be strong enough to hold up against the wind, and after it has developed a strong root zone.
Hey Robert, Im plating outdoors but I germinate the seeds in a pot in my house and then transplant them. When would be the best moment to transplant?
Thanks!
Bob. I answered this question in another blog post. Posting the same question over and over, does not get you help any faster.
“Gold Leaf” by Robert Bergmann
What is the best seed for cancer lung. Indoor and outdoor. Want to make good oil.
Always keep an eye on temps in the room, tent, closet or…ETC.
Always make sure if you are growing ina hydroponics system to keep your water temps below 70f, 21c
I really love all of your articles and all that i can find, i am also a member of your blog.
So anyway as far as germinating seeds…what i do is soak them for about 24 hours in water,then i put them in jiffy pots at roughly a 1/4 inch deep,no deeper thou because the results seem to fall tremendously. So used to not soak them prior to planting them but they seem to come up quicker and more healthy..
grow happy, jay 🙂
I used to used the paper towel method of germination, but now I put the seeds between brand new sponges that I’ve moistened with water. I then places my seedling sandwich into a sandwhich bag and put the whole thing in a warm, dark place. I’ve had seeds germinate in as little as two days this way, with a taproot that clearly sticks out from the seedbody. Just remember to use new sponges as old sponges may harbor bacteria and fungi that can be harmful to your seedlings.
May all of you forever have a bountiful harvest.
Thanks Ghostwire, great tip!
Hey, what a great idea, do you keep a eye on the temp?
Hi i attempted to download your bible and it hasn’t come i’ve checked my spam and nothing there either
Hi Maz, Just email our customer service at [email protected] and they’ll make sure you get it!!
I use the compressed peat pods (“Jiffy Pellets”) for the initial planting of seed. They’re so easy and convenient to move and keep moist. Once the seed pops up and white roots are just barely poking through the sides and/or bottom of the pod, I then transplant into a larger commercial peat pot about the size of a large drinking glass filled with good growing medium. After the young plants mature to a solid adult stage (say, about the 4th or 5th pair of true leaves with at least 3-5 blades each), I then transplant pot and all into their final grow pots, 7 gallon-sized Smart Pots. Two transplantings and the roots are never exposed: seed into pod, pod into peat pot, peat pot into Smart Pot. Easy. Works every time.
Peat pots have no nutritional value to provide the rapidly growing plant. I plant in the small jiffy pod and once the seedling has grown for a week or so I place the pod directly in the soil in a small pot with ocean forest soil and no fertilizer as the ocean forest has all the natural nutrients your plant needs for a few weeks and it wont burn it.
Hi, Another great read full of the best tips. Many thanks.
newby at growing, love all the qt. and ans. and advice. it is complicated when you have limited $ and room. 65 on fixed income. old vet. hippy. love my herb. keep it green. I want to grow one or two plants to see if I can do it right and don’t know the minum to make it work. love some hinks!!!!!!!!!!
Try YouTube videos..some are good, some not. Bare basic Lighting: standard cfl’s with a 3 or 4 bulb bath light fixture with socket splitters. Can get 6 or 8 bulbs on one fixture, need the 6500k. I think the homedepot 27w have something like 1600 lumens each, with 8 bulbs you’ll get 12800 lumens. Grow space: try rigid foam board, cheap, insulated, easy to cut and tape. Fertilizer: can get pricey. I believe something on this order will work well for 2 plants and hard to get any cheaper. Just my thoughts you’ll need to see what works for you. Good Luck.
” If you water it too little”
A tip, most people over water.
It’s easy to fix under watered, its hard to fix over-watered
A good way to learn to water any plant, is ti pick the plant and pot up before you water it when its dry. Then after a good watering, after its soaked in completly. Pick it up again. After a while you will get use to knowing when it needs to be watered from picking it up, and just sticking a finger into the dirt.
If you stick you finger in the soil a couple inches and it feels like wet beach sand, its way too wet.
What are the best seeds for central Minnesota?
addition to my last message… this is what Hortilux claims…”HORTILUX BLUE is the closest match to natural sunlight of any light source available today” But, isn’t Sulfur Plasma closer match to sunlight?
with so many choices of lighting to use, which would you suggest is the best? ie..
Metal Halide, HPS, T5, LED,Induction Lighting or Sulphur Plasma? I did find this website with a comparison of all these types of lights, and it seems to show sulfur being the best, if I understand it correctly. Dont know if Sulfur puts out a lot of heat though? https://www.plasma-i.com/sulphur-plasma-light.htm
Robert, can you give us your professional opinion here? Thanks
I have not had the chance to read all of the bible yet, but 2 things I need to ask, you dont mention the double ended light style, or sulpher plasma, LED nor anything about the Blue spectrum and its importance and effect? can you help everyone with some feed back on this?
Also, when growing with hydroponics, should the nutrient strength be diluted as you mention for soil plants?
My questions are pertaining to hydro-P (AKA..hydroponics)
Thanks
I started with a bag of about 15-20 seeds I turned the dirt over 12″x12″ in my backyard outside picked out all the grass and just drop all 15-20 seed and now I have abou1 5-20 planets come up like side by side is thay ok to leave them like that because thay planned in my backyard not in pots?
So Florida has perfect weather for growing. Especially now that it’s raining so much in Miami, then pure sunshine, the vegetative states should be at soaring heights
Thanks for sharing!!
I had 90% germination of my seeds by putting them in warm water in shot glasses. Then I sat the glasses on top of my hot water heater in the closet — in the dark. Within a few days some had roots growing.
Great! Thanks for sharing your experience Diane!
When is it a good time to start planting in So Florida? I’m having problems with my plants are always stunted these pass two times I’m trying to grow. and I’m growing outside in the back yard…Thanks in Advance
I start indoors in jiffy pots during april through early june and when four true leaves appear move them out side I get enormous plants and bud using horse manure,compost tea,worm castings and a little blood and bone meal also plenty of sun .Make sure your seeds are for outdoors and for tropical type of weather.also make sure if in pots there is good drainage,so when the rains start your plants wont drown.good luck
Thanks for all your tips and sharing your experience Danielle!
i grow at 8000 lumens a square foot and never have plants that streach, biggest thing is to have proper light
hi Robert. well after much anticipation and worry, i finally have 2 seedlings. i’m sure there will be others very soon. my question now,,,,light requirements, and how far away should the light source be, to prevent spindly growth. that has always been my biggest problem in the past. any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
gary
Hi Gary,
Put the lights as close as possible but don’t let temperatures exceed 76 degrees. Fluorescent lights are great for seedlings…
Robert
I’m having issues I can’t diagnose via your forums and Grow Bible. How do I obtain Plant Care?
In your book you talk about the white light being 4″ from the leaves. The light is 240 w. For how long does this last till I move the plants to the yellow light?
Yellow n red lights turned to 12 on 12 off will let ur plants no that the end of summer is near and let’s ur plants no it’s time to start flowering. use a light for veg. that has more blue lumins this is great for veg. stage
Enjoy reading grow guide. Like your weekly tips and tutorials. Great service on seed orders. TY
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY PLACING THE SEEDS IN A SMALL BOWL OF ROOM TEMP. WATER IS THE BEST WAY.24 TO 48 HR. U GOT A TAP ROOT SHOWING THAT ALL U GOT TO DO IS USE SMALL TWISERS TO PICK UP AND PLACE ROOT STRIGHT DOWN IN WHATEVER U USE TO GROW THE PLANT. TO MANY GROWING MED. TO GO INTO. WITHIN ANOTHER 24 TO48 HOURS UR PLANT WILL COME UP IN THE CRUCK. ( NOT STRIGHT UP) GIVE IT A DAY OR TWO AND IT WILL REACH FOR LIGHT. THE SEED HUSK MAY STAY ON IT UP TO THIS POINT. IT WILL COME OFF AND TWO LEAFS WILL SHOW. IF THE STALK GETS TO TALL TO QUICK USE 1/8 IN. DOW ROD BESIDE IT AND TIE A BREAD TIE EASY AROUND BOTH TO KEEP IT FROM BREAKING OVER. AND AWAY THEY GROW.
quick and easy thanks 🙂
what is the best way to store remaining seeds to keep them fresh and viable for my next grow.???
Hi Mike,
It’s best to store them at a cool, dark and dry place. A fridge is perfect
Robert
Wanting start. Thanks for this info…
Second grow started…I learned a lot with my first grow, not a positive experience with seed germination. This time around I read intensely and studied your Grow Bible, especially the germination section. I decided to use two methods together, glass of water soak for 24-28 hours, then planted seeds in jiffy pods in a grow dome. On day 4 in the grow dome 1 seed sprouted, on the fifth day all seeds had sprouted, which was this morning! I’m stoked to say the least! I bought my White Widow and Blueberry seeds from here and I was holding my breath that I’d get 100% germination results, which I have. Thank you for stellar seeds and stellar growing info! Kudos!!!
Great! Thanks for sharing your experience…
Robert
Peter, the best type of fluorescent lights for germination and vegetation period are T5 HO (high output) with a color temperature of 6500K
Wanting start. Thanks for this info…
Hi Robert can you tell me what is the best type of Fluro light for germination, I’m
using rockwool and trying to grow indoors in a tent using water hydro instead of
soil, I have Gold seeds, can this be achieved using water instead of soil with these
seeds
Thanks Peter.
Thanks! I need all the help I can get. I don’t have any experience growing indoors!!
If you put the new root tip facing down with the pointed end up, you’ll have better results. Less stress on the new sprout this way. When the seeds sprout, if you have ever noticed, the root tip will ALWAYS grow up for a short ways, then will curve back down toward the bigger end. That’s why it’s best to always put the pointed end up.
To verify, put some seeds in a moist paper towel with the pointed ends facing the same way. Put a few with the big end up & some sideways for a control. Put the seeds in the moist paper towel into a baggie, then hang over your low heat sprouting source. The results will speak for them selves. Just be sure the seeds can’t move around, the baggie is straight up & down, not lying flat & some of the seeds are pointing straight up.
The above paragraph is an old hippe sprouting trick to keep the roots from going crazy if your seeds germ earlier than anticipated.
Not trying to argue, you can place your seeds any way you want. I am just saying that ‘pointed end up’ is the most efficient method.
Thanks.
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Thanks for the tip and sharing medMUser.
Thanks, this was very helpful.
Please do yourself a favor. Buy clones to start. You’re guaranteed to get a female plant, and just one male will ruin your whole harvest. I grew my first time with seeds. I didn’t know how to tell the difference between the two, even though my brother in law explained to me what a make looked like, it’s EXTREMELY difficult, especially your first time, to tell the difference. I germinated my seeds in a wet paper towel and it worked beautifully. I probably pruned and dried to early out of anticipation, but the males fertilized the females and I ended up with more seeds than weed. I’m trying to find some Massachusetts laws on cultivation if anyone can help me!!
Thanks for your support