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Thread: The ultimate germination and aftercare thread

  1. #1

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    Default The ultimate germination and aftercare thread

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    Cannabis germination is the process of getting your seeds to sprout, and you know sprouting has occurred*when a little white tendril pops out of the seed.

    The little white tendril that emerges from a cannabis seed during germination is your plant's first root, known as a "taproot." All other*roots made by your cannabis plant in its lifetime*will sprout from the taproot.

    The taproot -*and maybe a few tiny early offshoots of the taproot -*will get longer and longer, pushing the seed up, and after the shell breaks through the surface of your growing medium,*the first leaves (these first round leaves are*known as "cotyledons") will emerge from inside the cannabis seed.*
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    The cotyledons*were already created as part of the plant*embryo in the seed itself, so the cannabis seedling doesn't have to grow them.*In fact, the emerging*first leaves are what break apart the shell after it's cracked open*by the taproot, as pictured here.*
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    The next set of leaves after the cotyledons are your plants first "true" leaves and will have jagged edges (serrations). At least, they are the first leaves that your seedling cannabis plant has grown all on its own,*unlike the cotyledons which were already formed in the seed.
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    Cannabis seeds can be expensive, don't waste your seeds with bad germination methods!

    Cont.....

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  3. #2

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    What Do Marijuana Seeds Need to Germinate?

    Marijuana seeds need the following to get the best germination rates:

    Moisture - Keep things moist but not soaking (you can soak hard seeds for up to 24-32 hours, but do not leave seeds soaking in water for longer than that).

    Peace*- Seeds need to be left alone while you're waiting for the taproot to show up.

    Warmth - Keep things warm to get the best germination rates, but not too hot! Think springtime. Seeds can definitely*germinate in cooler temps, but germination*tends to take longer when it's cool.

    Gentle - Be careful when checking seeds, and treat them gently when*you have to move them. Avoid touching their white*root*if possible; the taproot is very fragile and easily snaps off!

    Plant Root Down -*When planting*germinated seeds, point the*white root downwards into the growing medium*to prevent the seedling from having to reorient itself.

    Plant Knuckle Deep - When planting germinated seeds, they don't have to be placed too far under in the growing medium, about a half inch to an inch (1.3 cm - 2.5 cm) down from the surface of the medium should be enough.

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    When germinating cannabis seeds, think springtime conditions. In the wild, your cannabis seeds *would germinate in the spring so they can be ready to take full advantage of longer summer days!

    Never let your young sprouted seeds dry up!

    The main signal that tells a marijuana seed to start sprouting is the presence of moisture and heat. The combination of warm and wet (aka spring conditions)*"tells" the seed to start burrowing their main root (called a taproot) through their shell.

    If a seed's root breaks through the shell and the water around has dried up, your seedling will die. Plain and simple.*

    Seedlings are fragile at first. Once sprouted, the roots need to stay constantly moist to stay happy and healthy. It's important to make sure the seeds have access to water the entire time during germination, no matter which cannabis germination*method you end up using.

    Keep things warm!

    Seeds germinate best in warmer temperatures and young marijuana seedlings do better with*higher relative humidity in the air. When seedlings are young, they grow faster and healthier when they can absorb moisture from the air through their leaves while their roots are still developing. Dry air won't kill your seedlings, but it doesn't make things better. Again, think springtime conditions!

    You can use an incandescent bulb (or two) placed over the marijuana seed germination area to help keep things warm. Incandescent bulbs are the opposite of what a grower typically wants: they can't be used as grow lights, but they're great at generating*heat. Some people will also place a heating pad (the kind you get from a garden store for seedlings) underneath seeds to help aid germination.

    Basically you want to make sure any seeds or sprouts are kept warm and moist at all times, that their roots are unexposed to light, and that they get planted right away.

    There are several different methods to germinate your cannabis seeds, and in this article we'll go through some easy techniques that have proven to be effective.

    Cont.....

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    How do I know if my seeds are good?

    Assume all dark seeds are viable, even if seeds can be crushed
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    Generally, pale-green or white seeds will not germinate, but most dark seeds will germinate when given good conditions.

    I used to believe that marijuana seeds were only "good" if they were extremely hard and very dark. One of the first tests I heard to check new cannabis*seeds for viability was to try to crush them between my fingers. If the seeds could be crushed, they weren't good, or so I was told. This has proven to be absolutely terrible advice!

    Some of the best plants I have ever grown have emerged from seeds which were flimsy and could be crushed between my fingers. As long as you provide great marijuana germination conditions (as explained above), I've found that a lot of seemingly "weak" seeds germinate and produce amazingly*hardy plants*and great buds.

    I do not believe the health of the plant is directly tied to the apparent "health" of the seed. If the seed germinates, it's a good seed!

    Here's a*picture*showing several healthy and viable cannabis seeds

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    Remember! Most of the medical strains of marijuana we grow today (learn how to get seeds) have been bred over many years to produce plants that are easy to grow*and which produce potent, medicinal buds. However, these strains have not been selected for the toughness of the seeds they produce since that isn't important to us as growers. Just remember...

    As long as a seed germinates, it's a good seed!

    Cont.....

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    Nice thread mate, another to add to your "Ultimate" collection.

    "A word to the wise isn't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."

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    Germination Method 1: Starter Cubes & Seedling Plugs (Recommended)
    One of the best cannabis germination methods is to use specifically-made starter cubes and seedling plugs. These plugs make cannabis germination easy. You simply place the seed in the cube or plug, add water as directed, and seedlings automatically get the perfect conditions for germination.

    Each cube or plug already has a hole specifically for you to place your seed. Just stick your seed into the precut hole*and pinch the top closed a bit with your fingers. Don't worry, you can't mess this part up As long as the seed makes it in there, you should be good.

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    This is one of the easiest germination methods, and doesn't leave a lot of room for error. Cannabis*seeds and clones can be expensive, and sometimes we have genetics we just can't afford to lose. When that's the case, germinate your cannabis with one of the following recommended options to ensure as close to 100% germination rate as possible.

    (Where can I get cannabis seeds?)

    Which Starter Cubes Work Best for Germinating Cannabis?

    Rapid Rooters*(Highly Recommended For All Setups)

    Rapid Rooters are easy to work with - you just stick your cannabis seed in the Rapid Rooter (pointy side down), keep your seed warm and slightly moist, and let the Rapid Rooter do its magic.*

    Sprouts emerge and roots appear in just a few days.

    Rapid rooter starter cubes are suitable for all growing methods, including*hydroponics, coco coir and soil. They work for every setup and come from General Hydroponics,*a trusted company (the same one used by NASA) which is known for the quality and consistency of its products.

    I highly recommend using Rapid Rooters over any other starter plugs. They are less prone to problems*and work great with*any growing medium*(including hydroponic systems).

    Pros of Rapid Rooters

    Easy to Use - You Can't Really Mess Up

    No Prep or Setup - Open the Package and Go

    Some of the Best Germination Rates of Any Method

    Cons of Rapid Rooters

    Can only get 50+ at a time (General Hydroponics currently does not offer fewer plugs per package)

    After opening the package, you only have a week or two*before they dry out, so if you're only germinating one or two seeds, you'll end up having to throw many of the Rapid Rooters*away.

    Cont.....

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    Rockwool Cubes (Not Recommended)

    It's often hydroponic cannabis growers who use rockwool cubes since these can be safely placed in hydroponic setups, hold a lot of moisture, and are resistant to mold. Rockwool is cheap and easy to find. It comes in convenient cubes. But it does have some major drawbacks...

    Pros of Rockwool

    Cheap &*Easy to Find

    Inert Medium (useful for hydroponic growers)

    Cons of Rockwool

    Bad for the environment (unnatural material that does not break down)

    Bad for your health (especially your lungs) - wear gloves and*cover your mouth/eyes when handling rockwool

    Has a pH that is too high for cannabis, so it must be thoroughly rinsed and treated

    Poor cloning and germination rates

    Difficult for new growers*

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    Rockwool cubes are bad for the environment

    Rockwool is not a natural material - it's made by heating rock and chalk to 3,000°F and air is blown through the mixture*to create thin fibers of rocky material

    It does not break down naturally and therefore after*rockwool is created, it will*remain in that form basically forever, filling up landfills without breaking down for thousands of years.

    Rockwool cubes can be bad for your health

    Rockwool is dusty and needs to be rinsed thoroughly before use.*Little pieces of rockwool*and dust can easily get in your eyes, skin and mouth. Small strands or fibers can get lodged*in your lungs if you breath in rockwool dust, and it's unknown if these fibers can ever get out again.

    Protect yourself!*Always use*a mask, goggles and gloves when working with rockwool.

    Rockwool cubes have a high pH until they're treated

    New rockwool cubes have a high pH - too high for healthy cannabis seed germination. Therefore it's important to thoroughly rinse rockwool cubes in pHed water, then let them soak in pHed water overnight before use. Since rockwool holds onto a lot of water, after soaking they should be given a few days to dry out before planting seeds or making clones.

    Rockwool cubes do not get great germination rates

    Rockwool can be difficult to germinate marijuana seeds in, so*I recommend most beginner growers sprout their seeds using another method like Rapid Rooters*(mentioned above) which can also be used in hydropnic applications but are less prone to germination problems.

    Many growers have placed seeds in rockwool cubes, only to wait for weeks and never see seedlings appear.

    Some growers seem to have no problems, yet many other growers suffer through very poor germination rates. Some seed companies will not honor seed germination guarantees if the grower uses rockwool, because it is notoriously bad for germination.

    Learn more about the pros and cons of rockwool

    If you do use rockwool, it's recommended you germinate your seeds*using*another method like the paper towel method, then transplant your*seeds to the rockwool cubes after roots have already appeared.

    Even when following all the best practices, we just have not gotten*great germination rates with rockwool cubes, and it's common for new seedlings not to make it. When we were using rockwool (before we switched to Rapid Rooters), we usually lost at least 1*seed*out of batch of 6 or 8.

    We also had trouble rooting clones in rockwool. Rockwool cubes just don't hold enough air to get plenty of oxygen to the roots, and they tend to hold onto a lot of water and get waterlogged easily. Since*rockwool can hold a lot of water, it's prone to "drowning" seeds

    I highly recommend using Rapid Rooters instead for your hydroponic application (or any grow setup), as they are much more user-friendly and tend to get far better germination rates.

    Cont.....

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    Jiffy Pellets (Recommended for Soil or Coco Coir)

    Jiffy Pellets are used in a similar way to rockwool cubes, though these tend to get much better germination results. Jiffy pellets are not suitable for most hydroponic setups where the roots are grown directly in water, but Jiffy Pellets can be directly transferred into soil or coco coir.

    Pros of Jiffy Pellets

    Good Germination Rates for Soil and Coco Coir

    Good for Cloning -*read a cannabis cloning tutorial using Jiffy pellets

    Come in dried pellets, so they can be kept for a long time

    Cons of Jiffy Pellets

    Not suitable for hydroponic setups

    Must be soaked to expand each pellet before use

    How to Use:*Soak Jiffy pellets in warm water, which makes the pellets expand in size, as pictured below.

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    Once the compressed Jiffy pellets have expanded in warm water, gently squeeze excess water from each pellet and you're ready to go. Treat them the same as Rapid Rooters.

    Cont.....

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    Germination Method 2: Plant marijuana seeds directly in growing medium
    Sometimes nature's way is the easiest way. In nature, marijuana seedlings would sprout in soil, and they would emerge as their taproots start growing down.

    As a grower, you can also plant your seeds directly in your final growing medium. This works in all growing mediums, though some can be tougher than others.

    One of the biggest benefits of planting your seed directly in the growing medium is you don't have to worry about shocking your young seedling during transplant. Because your seed is already in its final resting place, your new seedling will immediately start adjusting to the environment. Every time you transplant a sprouted seed, it can cause*stress as the young plant needs to readjust its new surroundings.

    Soil*- Plant seeds a knuckle deep (0.5-1 inch OR*1.3 cm - 2.5 cm) in moist yet not soaking soil. Use a light or a heating pad to keep things warm. This is one of the easiest marijuana germination methods for beginners.

    Coco Coir*or other soilless growing medium - Plant in a similar way to soil

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    Germination Method 3: Germination Station
    One option for growers is to use a tool which has been specifically designed to provide optimal germination conditions like this*germination station with heat mat.

    You can make a DIY germination station at home by putting a plastic dome over a plate on a heating pad.

    There are benefits to the professionally made germination stations as they work very well and are pretty cheap to buy.

    When growers start their cannabis seedlings in a germination station, the seeds are usually germinated in a starter seedling cube.

    One of the advantages of starting seeds in starter cubes is your sprouted seeds can easily be transferred right to their next growing medium or container.

    I recommend*Rapid Rooters*as these starter cubes work great for cannabis seeds and can be used in any growing medium including hydroponics, soil, or coco coir. Other starter cubes include Jiffy Peat Pellets, and Rockwool cubes.

    Once your seed has sprouted, just make a little hole in your growing medium, and place the entire pellet inside. Make sure growing medium is also moist yet not soaking, like your pellet or cube. The roots will emerge from the bottom of the cube and burrow directly into your growing medium.

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    Germination Method 4: Soak Marijuana Seeds in Water Overnight
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    Another method to germinate marijuana seeds is to soak them overnight in slightly warm water, usually done in a glass drinking cup.

    This method is especially effective for seeds which have extra hard shells, or seeds which are older (more than a few years old).

    The warm overnight soaking can help "wake up" older seeds.

    Most viable seeds will start out floating, and then eventually sink to the bottom of your glass after a few hours of soaking.

    If soaked in a clear drinking glass, you will see when the little white tap root first breaks through the shell.

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    Some seeds take longer than others to sprout. Especially older seeds tend to need longer to pierce through their shell. However, if seeds are left soaking too long, and haven't yet sprouted, they can drown.

    Therefore, do not leave seeds soaking in water for more than 24-32 hours.

    After 24 hours, I recommend putting any still-ungerminated seeds in a warm, moist place to finish germinating.

    Cont.....

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