How long does it take seeds to germinate indoors?

If you're one of those people that have to have control over everything you might find yourself wondering how long cannabis seeds germinate. The long and short of it is that it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for the cannabis seeds to germinate. If they are placed somewhere moist, warm and dark, like a cupboard or in a propagator. These are ideal places for the Cannabis seeds to germinate and they will crack out of their protective shells.

What Is Germination, Exactly?

Every seed is effectively a small package of genetic material that is the product of plant reproduction. These small vessels are designed to be dispersed by various means, such as wind and animal ingestion/excretion. If lucky, a seed will be transported to an environment that triggers the process of germination. Such vital environmental factors include temperature, water, and how deep seeds become buried in the soil. Of course, these factors can be simulated and optimized by modern growers to maximize the chances of germination.

When subject to these ideal settings, water exposure catalyzes enzymatic processes within the seed that initiates growth. Beneficial bacteria within the soil also encourage germination, plant growth, and photosynthesis. First, a taproot emerges from the shell of the seed and begins to descend into the soil in search of water. Shortly afterwards, a shoot emerges from the seed and heads in the opposite direction, above the soil, to begin photosynthesizing.

When To Plant Cannabis Seeds?

You're not the only one wondering when to plant Cannabis seeds. Although it is a question that doesn't have only one answer. Depending on what part of the world you live, the ideal conditions to plant cannabis seeds would be in the spring, between March and May (in the northern hemisphere). Ideally, during this time, your cannabis seeds should already be germinated and you can even plant seedlings that are a few weeks old.

The more cannabis seeds you plant (if you don't have the experience) the better your germination rates and eventual harvest will be. For Northern hemisphere climate conditions we don't recommend to plant cannabis seeds outdoors, rather germinate and start growing the plant indoors until the weather conditions are ideal to take the plant outdoors.

Design The Ideal Environment

One more thing to get sorted before germinating your seeds, and thus birthing your plants into the world, is the environment they are soon to be subject to. Aim to keep the area at 22-25°C with a relative humidity of 70-90%. This climate can be easily maintained using a marijuana grow tent or propagation chamber. You can use humidifiers to maintain high humidity and a heater or fan to bring temperatures up or down. Use a hygrometer to get constant readings of temperature and humidity.

Choose Your Marijuana Grow Lights

The light source you use in your grow room plays a significant role in determining the quality of the plants. We recommend spending a high degree of your budget on a good lighting setup. It is worth it in the end, particularly if you plan on growing in the long term.

Here's a basic rundown of the most popular types of grow lights for indoor plants used today.

LED grow lights

If cost isn't a consideration, LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is the preferred option for most marijuana growers. These are highly efficient light fixtures for indoor growing. They use little energy and create very little heat. Also, LEDs contain wavelengths across the light spectrum, so they can lead to bigger yields and better-quality plants. Full spectrum LED grow light provides plants in all stages from veg to flower with everything they need in the natural sunlight.

The drawback is that they cost nearly ten times more than a decent HID setup! If you're serious about getting into growing and have money to spend, however, give serious consideration to LEDs.

HID grow lights

The most commonly used lights for DIY-style growing are probably HID (high-intensity discharge) grow lights. They typically represent the best overall value in terms of cost, efficiency, and ease-of-operation.

The main drawback is that they require numerous accessories to run correctly. As a consequence, the overall cost can ramp up pretty quickly, depending on how much you're willing to splurge.

HID lights produce a substantial amount of heat. Therefore, you must invest in a ballast and hood/reflector for each light. This is almost mandatory for controlling the temperature in your grow room. Connect the hood to your ventilation system to flush out excess heat and maintain an average ambient temperature.

By contrast quantum boards LED grow light run much cooler than other LED panels, so the fixture doesn't even need fans. Passive cooling is all you need. Not only does that mean silent operation, it also means a longer lifespan.

Fluorescent grow lights

Fluorescent lights are generally much cheaper and easier to use than the other options. They represent an excellent option for those not planning long-term operations. They don't require a connection to an external ventilation system. Fluorescent lights are a little less efficient than the other options. However, for novice DIY growers with a single plant or two, they're likely your best bet.

How To Germinate Cannabis Seeds

Now that we've covered how to identify grow lights and how to create the ideal environment, it's time to germinate our seeds. There are several methods growers can choose from, each of which is as good as the other-if done correctly.

Sow Seeds Directly Into The Final Growing Medium

One means of germinating seeds is to sow them directly into your growing medium of choice, whether that be a large pot or straight into a garden bed. Cannabis seeds are equipped to do this-after all, it's how they've managed to survive in nature. The benefit of germinating right in the final container is that you avoid the stress that comes along with transplanting seedlings into gradually bigger pots, a process that can potentially slow down growth and damage roots.

The downside of sowing seeds directly into the final growing medium is that you run the risk of overwatering and overfeeding in the early stages of life. This can saturate the soil and make it hard for the small roots to penetrate deeper and become fully established. Moreover, it can lead to stunted growth and root rot.

If you do choose to utilize this method, you will need to create a hole in the soil around 1cm in depth. Drop your seed inside and cover it with soil; water just around that area, being mindful not to overwater.

Use A Paper Towel To Get Things Started

Using a paper towel is a humble yet highly effective method of germinating seeds. Gardeners use this method to successfully germinate seeds of nearly all plant species. To carry out the paper towel method, you'll need some unbleached paper towels, clean water, two dining plates, a misting bottle, and a warm and dark place to store your seeds.

Place three paper towels onto one of the plates and lightly mist them. Place your seeds onto the moistened paper towels, leaving with adequate space between them. This is to avoid the new roots from becoming tangled. Add another layer of three paper towels on top and mist in the same manner as before. Place the other plate on top to serve as a lid that will trap moisture and maintain humidity.

Move this makeshift germination chamber to a warm and dark place. A cupboard near a heating source will work great. Alternatively, you could position a heating mat under the bottom plate to provide an ideal climate.

Check on your seeds the next day to see their progress, and that the towels are still nice and damp. Once you begin to see the outline of taproots in the paper towel, it's time to transplant the germinated seed into a pot. Make a hole around 1cm deep in the growing medium and place your seed inside with the root pointing down. Lightly water the soil and wait for the green shoot to emerge.

Start Your Seeds In A Glass Of Water

Starting your seeds in a glass of water is another cheap and easy method, although some growers report a poor success rate. By starting your seeds this way, you'll also be testing their viability at the same time. Place them in a glass of lukewarm water and store in a warm and dark place overnight. When placing your seeds in the glass, you may notice that some of them float, whilst others may sink. The seeds bobbing along on the surface are actually the most viable and worth investing the most amount of time and energy in.

You should notice taproots starting to emerge within 24 hours. It's not recommended to keep seeds in water past this point as they may drown, but it doesn't mean the seeds are less viable.

Conclusion

Harvesting hemp and cannabis is a lovely experience. It is one we recommend to any weed lover who has a passion for all aspects of the plant. You learn so much about cannabis and botany/biology in general. Most growers believe they learn something new with every harvest.

There's no doubt a bit of a learning curve involved. You'll make your fair share of mistakes. However, trust us when we say it's all worth it in the end.

Enjoy, and more than anything else; remember to HAVE FUN!