Let's start off by looking at the seedling stage. Seeds are the variety of life and especially when it comes to Cannabis. Breeders have been crossing strains since the early 1970’s to provide the best range of genetic diversity on the planet. The seedling stage is the start of life for the plant and this is where much care needs to be taken in order to get the best possible start. When germinating seeds it is surprising how many people are unaware of the correct way to germinate seeds, however there are a few different ways which always work on the basis that the conditions are right.
Soaking wet paper towels and leaving the seeds in a warm, dark place is the most popular way to get seedlings to sprout. Simply using 2 layers of tissue paper, soak to the point of becoming wet but not dripping wet. You will want the seeds to have plenty of air around so a waterlogged tissue will only prevent germination. Seeds also may go soggy and become mushy if the water content is too high. One issue that people can find when germinating seeds this way is that the tap root can grow long in search of a growing medium that it can anchor itself into and develop a sturdy taproot.
Upon seeing long, healthy taproots, as happy as a grower can be, planting the seeds without causing the roots to grow in the shape of a letter J can be easier said than done. What is an excellent technique is to place the tissue in an envelope or plastic sleeve and allow it to stand upright. This will encourage the tap root to grow down in the same way it would do in a growing medium and will also ensure that the J - Root does not happen.
Another simple way to germinate seeds that I personally prefer over other methods is to place the seedlings in a glass of water, approximately 2 inches high with water. Once the seeds float then within a few days all of the seeds will begin to open and tap roots will emerge. Some seeds may even germinate whilst floating on top of the surface of the water, but either way this is a sure way to germinate even stubborn old seeds.
A great part about germinating seeds in a glass of water, is adding Trichoderma fungi as an inoculant and sometimes a drop of seaweed extract to speed up the opening process. Seeds can show tails within 6 hours of dropping and swirling around in a cup and other seedlings may take up to 3-5 days. With anything to do with nature patience is the key to success.
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