The Best Way Germinating Marijuana Seeds?
We asked 8 Experts + 143 MSB Growers!

  I prefer to germinate My seeds in root gel (clonex) and stick them in cubes. Paper towels work well too, but I think the root gel gives the seeds the extra push to become a strong plant.  

Happy gardening!

- Dr. Dina, The Queen of Cannabis 

I use starter trays and plugs from iHort – EXcel T-50 and 32 Star Excel trays to start seeds. They come pre-moistened, with a little hole to drop a seed. 

I use the 50 per tray when I will be transplanting within two weeks and the 32 per tray for growing up to 3 weeks.

When I’m using fresh seed, I just drop them into the hole in the cube. 

With stale seeds, first I soak them in a 0.5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution for 3-4 hours. The recipe is 1 part drugstore 3% H2O2 to 5 parts water. This sterilizes their surfaces. Then they soak in mycos and liquid kelp solution for about 6 hours. Then they are placed in the cubes. 

Upon first signs of germination, I water them with mycos and kelp to promote root growth. The next day they are watered with a weak combo of veg and flowering formula about 400 PPM.

- Ed Rosenthal, The Guru of Ganja

  Well it’s a loaded question because it depends on scale.

I sterilize in an h2o2 Soak then germinate in a jiffy #7 typically. However, large scale I prefer a needle/vacuum seeder to place the seeds evenly in the substrate.

Well and with autoflower I believe direct sow in optimal conditions can yield better results.  

- James Loud, Loud Seeds 

  I use coco plugs. I gave up the wet paper towel method years ago because managing the moisture was too cumbersome.

I buy coco plugs that come in the 50-cell sheet, make a light nutrient mix, put all of the plugs in a pitcher of the nutrient mix, squeeze them to fully saturate them with the mix, put them back in the cell sheet, push a seed into each hole, and put a dome on the tray under the light.

Then I just keep the plugs moist. The seeds start to pop in about 3 days. Some take up to a week. I leave them in there until they overgrow the tray, then transplant into 3" pots.  

- Jennifer Martin, Cultivation Sector Consulting LLC 

  I’m a water glass guy. I like to know before planting which seeds are more vigorous and then assess based on that benchmark throughout the growth process.

I carefully pull the seeds with a spoon and drop them into a coco mixture a day or two after they pop.  

- Jesce Horton, LOWD

  Our processes at 7ACRES for seed germination use a combination of a glass of water and wet towel.  

- Melanie Carruthers,  7ACRES

  I prefer to start seeds in a seedling tray  

- Ryan Douglas, Ryan Douglas Cultivation

  Wet towel  

- Rudy Ellenbogen, Whole Grow

  I used previously fertilized soil, place the seed about a quarter inch below the surface, and I gently water when I see the soil begin to dry out. I check daily. I do not always get a sprout, but when I do it is very strong and very fast growing. I use Osmocote to fertilize.  

  I have used Glass of water, wet towel, directly in soil and a starter kit. I have found that the starter kit is the quickest method, 3 days to sprout.  

  I have used a wet paper towel (easiest method). I also have small hydroponic pods that I have successfully used to germinate seeds.  

  I put seeds in a paper towel and soak it with a hydrogen peroxide solution (1 tablespoon 3% hydrogen peroxide/cup water) for 18-24 hrs. Then I plant them. They typically sprout in 4 days.  

  Spongepots all the way for me! If I have none, old fashioned jiffy pots.  

  My preferred Seed Germination method: is using the starter kit
purchased from MSB. It is easy and has great effects. Seeds
germinated are healthy and strong.  

  Your startup for sure is the best way to get them going. I have almost 100% germination with them!  

  I use some damp cotton wool pads in a saucer. I refresh the water with a few drops daily until they sprout and then plant them directly into some warmish soil. I've found they don't grow very well in cold soil.  

  I have tried them all, and I use rock wool blocks  

  I've always had good luck using a wet towel in a plastic baggy  

  wet towel works for me every time, cheers  

  I have been growing for about 53 years, my absolute best way of germinating is the paper towel method, I do not like the water method very much, but have tried it. So for me, paper towel all the way.  

  I prefer the basic paper towel/wet method, transferred to a Jiffy Pot until it is time to plant in the soil/coco type of growing medium. Many thanks for your help in getting growing. God bless you and your efforts.  

  I haven't grown since the mid-80s and a lot has changed they have recently legalized pot in my state so I'm going to try a grow as far as germination.

I would put my seeds between wet paper towels and when they sprout plant in paper cups when the plant would get 2 or 3 in cut the bottom of the cup and plant in dirt.  

  I soak my seed for 24 hours in a very wet paper towel(to swell the seed), then directly in the soil with a seed marker.

To water the seed in the soil, I use an eye(liquid) dropper as you would get in test kits. It easily waters the seed without it moving or getting buried deeper until it sprouts and grows a solid tap root.  

  Germination with a wet towel. Use a heating mat at 72-74 degrees F for more vigorous growth and a higher percentage of female plants.  

  Old school for me. Damp paper towel on a plate with another plate inverted over the top of the first plate. I like around 80 F. Sometimes I’ll put the plate on top of my modem to really heat things up.  

  I always start my seeds in pure worm castings  

  50/50 vermiculite peat moss small container in the cooking sheet so they don't dry. 99% percent success rate.  

  I use a plastic tray with a sponge cut in half in it.  I float that in a bucket of water keep the temperature at 76-80 degrees with a fish tank thermometer.

I keep the sponge wet.  Seeds go in between sponge 3-4 days ready to plant. Have to be careful removing from the sponge, they grow into it.  

  I do it right in the soil. You can’t put the seed more than a quarter-inch into the soil. And make sure it’s damp, not wet. I have had great results with your outdoor feminized seeds. Excellent yield last year. And looking for a better yield this year.  

  I used previously fertilized soil, place the seed about a quarter inch below the surface, and I gently water when I see the soil begin to dry out. I check daily. I do not always get a sprout, but when I do it is very strong and very fast growing. I use Osmocote to fertilize.  

  Soil works best for me. I think plants start stronger that way tried all other methods they work but I prefer soil.