How to Grow Weed from Seed
Growing anything from seed is an exercise in patience. Growing cannabis from seed? Even more so. But not only is it NOT impossible, watching your medicinal harvest go from pop to pot is an incredible journey! Here's how to embark.
Buying Quality Seeds
Once you've decided to take the plunge, it's time to choose your seeds. There are two ways of going about this. You can either buy them from a dispensary or order them online from a reputable seed bank. We recommend the latter because you'll have a wider selection to choose from and you can be sure that they're good quality.
Crafting the Perfect Seed Setup
Once you've got your seeds, it's time to get started! First things first: you need to germinate your seeds. The classic to do this is by using the paper towel method. Get a couple of sheets of paper towel and wet them until they're damp but not dripping. Place your seeds on one sheet, fold the other one over, and put the whole thing in a Ziploc bag. Put it in a warm place (like on top of your fridge) and check on it every day to make sure the paper towel stays damp. In a few days, you should see little white roots poking out of your seeds!
You’re also free to put your seedlings in a tiny pot with damp earth and wait for them to push themselves out.
If you’re focused on getting as much green per seed as you can, you might invest in a seed incubator! These specialty boxes keep your seeds moist, warm, and visible all at once–upping the odds on successful pops.
No matter which method you choose, be sure to check the PH levels of your water before moistening your planting medium. Ideal PH for cannabis seedlings is 5.5-5.8 on the scale (a nice yellow color in your testing vial).
If your water isn’t suitable right out of the tap (most growers’ aren’t), you can purchase adjusters, or even use reverse osmosis water from the bottle or fillable jug.
Permanent Seedling Housing
Your seedlings are ready to move to a bigger pot to continue growing once you see at least two pairs of true leaves on the tiny stalk. Cotyledons, ie the ‘baby teeth’ of leaves are the first two bits of green you’ll have seen as your plants emerged, but they are not true leaves. These little nubs are just there to get your plant a little light so it can make its real leaves–which will be serrated and multi-fingered like mini-versions of the iconic cannabis leaves.
Whether you’re planting in a soil pot, or a little hydrobucket, you’ll need to do so with care and freshly-washed hands to avoid contamination.
If you're growing in soil, get a small pot and fill it with soil, then make a small indent in the center. Gently place your seed in the indent, making sure that the root is pointing down, and cover it with soil. Water it lightly and put it in a warm spot.
If you're growing in hydroponics, you’ll very gently wrap the seedling’s roots around clay pellets, or between pieces of rockwool.
At this stage, you’ll want your lights bright and close. Too little light results in leggy seedlings growing towards inadequate sources, and later toppling under their own weight. Leave LED lights INSERT DISTANCE above, and CFM lights INSERT DISTANCE ABOVE for maximum effect.
Now what?
You’ve got about 2-3 weeks of growth before your plant matures and enters its vegetative stage in earnest! Be sure to keep water pure, and lighting near so your seedlings get their best start! Be patient. Feeding isn’t necessary at this stage, and attempts to hasten growth will end in overwhelmed plants and frustrated growers.
But trust us, the wait will be worth it! Want to share your journey? Check out our Reddit community and shoot the seeds with like minded growers.
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