Common Mistakes when Germinating Weed Seeds

Good morning Ladies and Germinators. It’s time to tiptoe through the tulips and right over to our marijuana farm. Today we are germinating our seeds in the hopes of a robust harvest. But to do that, we must take meticulous care or our yield could be disappointing. 

There’s quite a bit to learn to be a successful farmer. For example, where does it all begin? What are the crucial first steps to fat green and potent buds? Well, like all life, it starts with the seeds. Proper germination is the first paramount step in the process. Today we want to help assure that you do that, and avoid common mistakes when germinating weed seeds. 

But, How Do I Germinate Seeds?

We don’t mean to scare you. This is not rocket science. In fact, it can be easy. We want to point out some common mistakes and give you a few helpful tips. You want a high germination rate and few problems along the way. The germination is simple. 

Put your seeds on a tissue, paper towel, jiffy pellets or peat plugs. Then find a place above 20*C. They should open up in a matter of hours to a couple of days. If it takes longer, you can spray them with water so that they do not dry out. The towel should be moist at all times. That’s it. Sit back and let Mother Nature do the rest.

What Not To Do

Don’t Let Your Germination Medium Dry Out

If your seeds dry out they will not thrive. Like any living entity, water is the key to growth. It is the same for human beings, plants and all forms of life. The mistake most beginners make is forgetting to water their culture medium. Constant moisture promotes growth. If your seeds dry out they will die. 

Think of your little seedlings as a newborn baby. Imagine forgetting to water or feeding a 2-week old baby. As you can imagine the results would not be good. Make sure to check your heat to water ratio. Many growers are eager to produce a fast yield. So they bump up the heat. And that is fine. But you need to make sure you water sufficiently.

Don’t Germinate For Too Long

Germination begins as soon as your seeds are in their substrate. So, you need to check their growth. It is possible that you can achieve germination in a matter of hours. So, you don’t want to set up your mini-farm, crank up the heat, and add water only to leave it alone until the next day. 

For one thing, you may not have the heat/water ratio correct. If this is the case you may discover that your seeds are dry to the point of death. Once the seeds stop absorbing moisture they begin dying. It makes sense. In this case, the germination process will stop. 

Over Germinating

You can over germinate like you can love your baby too much. Mother’s that obsess over their babies and run to them every time they cry don’t allow their kids to grow. The same holds true raising your baby seeds. Let the heat and water do their job. Your job is to look for growth and know when to move your budding seeds into the soil. 

Once the taproot shows itself it is time to transplant your seeds. The longer you wait, the less likely they will take root, so to speak. The transplant process becomes a bit more difficult once the cotyledons appear.  And you risk damaging the root. When the tap-root is 1cm to 2cms in length you want to get those seeds in the soil.

4.   Sowing the Seeds of Love

This is the crucial time in germination. Some growers start in the soil. Seeds can and do germinate when placed in soil. But if the substrate hasn’t been watered, your chance of success is small. So, it’s best that you do not attempt direct germination in soil. The big problem here is that you run the risk of burying the seeds too deep. You will also likely have problems when you irrigate post sowing.

Take the time to sow the seeds of love as “Tears for Fears” once sang. Once the seedlings are born you can move the babies out of their nursery and into a pot or soil. This kind of control allows you precision in timing. It also allows you to germinate lots of seeds at one time with a higher likelihood of success.

5.   How Deep Is Your Love?

Planting the seeds too deep is a very common error with results that will make you unhappy. Your seeds will not be happy either and they will die. The first and obvious problem is that the seeds will not get proper irrigation. Without proper irrigation, your new seedlings will die of thirst. Another big problem is that the new weak stem will not find its way to the surface, emerge, or ever see the literal light of day. 

The proper depth is about 2cms. This is ideal for air, water, and growth. Another big benefit is that once the baby stem rears its head you can support the base with new soil. This will further stabilize its chances to grow straight and tall. Most of all, it won’t fall over and suffocate itself.

6.   Planters Take Your Position

The position of the seed is as important as its depth. You will notice that the seed has what’s called a crown. It is teardrop or oval-shaped. The “crater” is the opposite end of the point. The crown must face upwards for the seed to thrive. When the germination process is complete the crown will act as a hinge. This allows the seed to open at the top and let out the root. 

 Mother Nature takes care of the rest. We hope our Common Mistakes When Germinating Weed Seeds Blog was helpful. Feel free to leave some comments in the section below. And let us know of some handy tips we have missed. Happy growing fellow farmers!