Modified on: 20/09/2022
Find out how to germinate seeds (cannabis or other plants) and why it is essential to avoid light during this process
Weed seeds germination is an essentially natural process: it is the first life stage of plants, during which the sprouts and cotyledons emerge from their shells.
Whether we are dealing with cannabis seeds or seeds of other plant species, it is essential to take specific steps to obtain new seedlings.
This article will talk about seed germination in the dark and explain how to induce it using the two main techniques.
Here is a short and straightforward guide.
Why is seed germination done in the dark?
When planting seeds (whether fast flowering, vegetable seeds or other plants), it is essential to place them in a dark place if you want them to germinate.
Why?
Nature provides us with the answer. If you think about it, seeds can only germinate without human intervention if they are under a layer of soil and therefore protected from sunlight. So, when you decide to sow any plant species, it is crucial to simulate natural processes as closely as possible, even if you choose to germinate the seeds in cotton.
Although this rule applies to practically all seeds, some people have wondered because of the emergence of the new genetics — such as auto-flower seeds (whose plants can flower regardless of light or dark cycles). For example, does the germination of auto-flowering seeds still take place in the presence of light?
Indeed, this genetics of seeds tolerates the presence of direct light better than others; however, to avoid delays that could even lead to the death of the seeds, it is always better to be cautious and germinate them away from light sources.
After this clarification, let’s see how to germinate auto flower seeds BSF in the dark.
Germinating seeds in cotton step by step
If you are planning to grow your favourite plants from seeds, you will probably want to trigger the germination process thanks to cotton.
How do you do this?
First, we advise you to get seeds from the best genetics and make sure they are alive and strong, just like the BSF seeds sold on Sensoryseeds (which, however, cannot be grown in our country).
To proceed with sowing, you will need a few plastic containers (even recycled cups or tubs will do) and, of course, cotton.
First, you should place the cotton at the bottom of the container you have chosen to use and then add a little water until the fibres of the cotton stop absorbing it (if there is excess water, remove it).
At this point, you can take the seeds you intend to germinate and place them well apart on top of the cotton.
Once you have done this, take some more wet (but not dripping) cotton and use it to cover the seeds so that they are in the dark and receive adequate moisture.
The first phase can be considered finished, but you will have to make sure that the cotton is always wet and that the seeds are well covered from day to day.
With a bit of patience, only in this way will you see your beloved seedlings emerge after some time.
Germinating seeds in soil: how to proceed
Although germinating seeds in cotton are more practical, some people choose to trigger this process directly in the soil.
If you advocate germinating seeds in soil but do not know how to proceed, we will explain it to you in the following few lines.
First, as well as seeds from the best genetics, you must get top-quality soil.
As with the previous method, you can use recycled plastic containers or a suitable seed bowl: the important thing is that in both cases, there are holes in the bottom of the container to allow any excess water to drain away.
Once you have chosen the container you prefer, fill it with a layer of soil.
Now you can distribute the feminized seeds (if you are using a single container, make sure you space them out) and cover them with another layer of soil, about twice the size of a single seed.
Both at this stage and the previous one, when distributing the substrate, be careful not to compact it and leave it light so that the small new seedling can emerge without any obstacles when it germinates.
As far as watering is concerned, the soil must be moist but not dripping.
Only with the right amount of water and a dark environment will the seeds give birth to new seedlings.
Read also: Hemp protein: the correct dosage? Here’s what to know
In conclusion
Thanks to this short guide, you should have a clear idea of how to proceed to germinate the seeds of the plants you want to grow, whether using cotton or soil.
The process is simple; all you need is a little patience and a lot of care.
That said, if you are a cannabis connoisseur that would like to collect the best auto-flowering, feminized and fast growing cannabis genetics, we invite you to visit our Sensoryseeds store.
But remember: cultivation of this plant is prohibited in our country.
