How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds

Three methods work reliably. Pick one and don't overthink it — most germination failures come from cold temperatures or letting things dry out, not from the method. PAPER TOWEL (most common) Wet a paper towel so it's damp, not dripping. Put seeds between the folded towel on a plate, cover with a second plate to keep humidity in, and keep it somewhere warm — 70–80°F (21–27°C) is the sweet spot. Check once a day. Most viable seeds crack in 24–72 hours; old seeds can take a week. When the taproot is about a quarter to half inch long, move it to your medium, root down, about a quarter inch deep. DIRECT TO MEDIUM (least handling) Plant the seed a quarter inch deep in a light, pre-moistened medium — seedling mix, coco, or a starter plug. Keep the surface damp with a spray bottle and cover with a humidity dome or a cut bottle. This avoids any chance of snapping the taproot during transfer. WATER SOAK (for hard old seeds) Drop seeds in a glass of room-temperature water for 12–24 hours. They should sink once they take on water. Don't soak past 24 hours — drowned seeds rot. WHAT KILLS SEEDS - Cold. Below 68°F germination slows to a crawl; below 60°F many seeds never pop. A seedling heat mat or the top of a fridge (warm from the compressor) fixes this. - A dried-out towel. Check daily. - Soggy, oxygen-starved medium. Damp, not mud. - Planting too deep. A quarter inch is enough. Buried an inch down, a weak seedling can die trying to reach the light. AFTER THEY POP Seedlings want gentle light (a dimmable LED at low power or a cheap CFL/T5 about 24–30 inches up), high humidity (65–75%), and barely any water — the seed carries its own food for the first week. Don't feed nutrients yet. If a seedling stretches tall and skinny, the light is too far away — bring it closer before it topples.