Essential Skills Updated Feb 2026 12 min read

How to Germinate
Cannabis Seeds

5 proven methods, ranked from easiest to most advanced. Whether this is your first seed or your hundredth, we'll get it popping.

The 5 Methods, at a Glance

1
Paper Towel Method—Best for beginners. High visibility. Easy.
RECOMMENDED
2
Direct to Soil—Most natural. No transplant stress.
3
Water Glass Soak—Good pre-step before paper towel.
4
Jiffy Pellets / Peat Pods—Good middle ground. Slightly advanced.
5
Rapid Rooters / Rockwool—Best for hydro/advanced setups.

Before You Start

Germination is the most critical —and most commonly botched —phase of any grow. Seeds that fail to germinate often died from avoidable mistakes: too much water, too little warmth, or impatient handling. Understanding a few fundamentals before you open that breeder pack will save you money and frustration.

Temperature
70–5°
21–9°. Heat mats work well.
Moisture
Damp
Moist but not soaking wet. Never standing water.
Darkness
Dark
Seeds germinate in darkness. Cover them.

What you'll need (for most methods)

  • Filtered or distilled water (tap water can work, let it sit 24h to dechlorinate)
  • pH meter or drops —target pH 6.0–.0 for water
  • Tweezers with soft tips (to handle seeds without touching them)
  • A warm location (seedling heat mat recommended but not required)
  • Paper towels, plates, or your chosen germination medium

Avoid touching seeds with bare hands —skin oils can contaminate the shell and interfere with germination. Use clean tweezers or rubber gloves.

1

Paper Towel Method

Recommended for Beginners

The paper towel method is the most popular approach for good reason: it's simple, gives you full visibility on taproot development, and works reliably. You'll see exactly when a seed has cracked and when the taproot is ready for transplant —no guessing.

Step-by-Step

1
Wet two paper towels —they should be thoroughly damp but not dripping. Squeeze out any excess water.
2
Lay one towel flat on a dinner plate. Place seeds at least 1 inch apart using tweezers.
3
Fold the towel over the seeds (or place the second towel on top). Cover the plate with a second plate to trap humidity and block light.
4
Store in a warm (70–5°) dark location. Top of refrigerator, inside a cabinet, or on a heat mat all work well.
5
Check every 12–4 hours. Re-moisten if the towel begins to dry out. Seeds typically crack and show a white taproot within 24–6 hours.
Transplant when taproot is 0.5–cm long. Don't wait until it's longer —a short taproot is easier to transplant without damage.
✓Pros
  • •Full visibility on germination progress
  • •Very high success rates
  • •Free —no equipment needed
  • •Easy to control moisture
✗Cons
  • •Risk of taproot tearing during transplant
  • •Requires careful moisture monitoring
  • •Can mold if too wet
2

Direct to Soil

Planting directly into moist soil eliminates transplant shock entirely —the taproot grows into its final medium from day one. This is how nature does it. The downside: you can't see what's happening and you can't tell if a seed is germinating or dead until the seedling breaks the surface.

Step-by-Step

1
Fill a small pot (1L or 16oz cup works well) with lightly moistened seedling soil or a light cannabis mix. Don't use heavy soil with lots of nutrients —seedlings are delicate.
2
Create a small hole approximately 0.5–cm deep using a pencil or chopstick.
3
Place the seed in the hole with the pointed end facing down (if visible). Gently cover with loose soil —don't compact.
4
Mist the surface gently. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Use a spray bottle rather than pouring to avoid disturbing the seed.
5
Keep warm (70–0°) with a humidity dome if available. Seedlings typically emerge in 3– days. Provide light once the seedling breaks the surface.

Best for: Experienced growers who want to avoid transplant shock. Not recommended for first-timers who want visibility into the process.

3

Water Glass Soak

Soaking seeds in water is best used as a preparatory step before the paper towel method, not as a standalone germination technique. The soak softens the seed shell and can speed up germination —especially useful for older seeds or those with very hard shells.

Step-by-Step

1
Fill a small glass with room-temperature water (65–5°). Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (optional —helps prevent mold).
2
Drop seeds in and place in a dark, warm location. Check every few hours.
3
Seeds that sink are fully hydrated and ready. Seeds that float after 12 hours can be gently tapped —if they sink, they're viable. If they continue floating at 24h, they may be duds.
Limit soak to 12–4 hours maximum. Seeds left in standing water longer than 24h risk drowning —they need oxygen too. After soaking, proceed directly to paper towel or soil.
4

Jiffy Pellets / Peat Pods

Jiffy pellets are small compressed peat discs that expand in water. They provide an excellent germination environment and can be transplanted directly into soil without disturbing the root zone —the mesh outer layer breaks down naturally. A popular choice for growers who want more control than paper towel but less hassle than setting up a custom medium.

Step-by-Step

1
Soak Jiffy pellets in warm, pH-adjusted (6.0–.5) water until fully expanded —about 5 minutes.
2
Squeeze lightly to remove excess water —pellets should be moist, not dripping. Make a small hole in the center with a pencil.
3
Place seed in the hole ~0.5cm deep. Close the top loosely by pinching the peat.
4
Place in a warm location with a humidity dome. Seedling should emerge in 3– days. Transplant into larger pot once the seedling is established (about 1 week after emergence).

Note: Jiffy pellets are slightly acidic (pH ~6.0), which suits cannabis seedlings well. Available at most garden centers or online for about $10–5 per pack of 50.

5

Rapid Rooters / Rockwool

Rapid Rooters (by General Hydroponics) and Rockwool cubes are the preferred germination medium for hydroponic setups. They provide an ideal air-to-water ratio in an inert medium, making them excellent for both seed germination and clone rooting. More advanced, but very reliable for experienced growers.

Rapid Rooters —Steps

1. Pre-soak Rapid Rooters in pH 5.5–.0 water for 30 minutes.

2. Insert seed into the pre-made hole with the pointed tip down. Pinch the hole slightly closed to keep the seed secure and in the dark.

3. Place in a propagation tray with a humidity dome. Keep at 75–0° with bottom heat from a heat mat. Seedlings typically emerge in 3– days.

4. Once seedling is established (3– days post-emergence), transplant the entire plug into your hydro system, net pot, or soil —no disturbance to roots.

Rockwool: Must be pH adjusted to 5.5–.0 before use. Soak in pH-buffered water overnight. Rockwool's default pH is too high for cannabis seedlings. Flush thoroughly before seeding.

Troubleshooting

Seeds haven't germinated after 3 days

Most common causes: too cool (below 65°), too dry, or old seeds. Check temperature first —it's the #1 culprit. Add a heat mat if you don't have one. Re-moisten the paper towel if it's gotten dry. Give it 2– more days.

Seeds haven't germinated after 7 days

Try gentle scarification: lightly rub the seed between sheets of fine-grit sandpaper to thin the shell slightly. This can help water penetrate and trigger germination in stubborn seeds. After scarifying, try the water glass soak for 12h, then back to paper towel.

Mold on the paper towel

Too much moisture or not enough airflow. The towel should be damp, not saturated. Swap out the moldy towels immediately for fresh damp ones. Add a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your water next time to prevent mold.

Taproot is curling up, not down, after planting

This happens when a seed is planted incorrectly or shifts position in the medium. The plant will self-correct —gravity and phototropism will eventually orient the seedling correctly. Don't dig it up. Be patient.

Helmet head (seed shell stuck on seedling)

Caused by planting too shallow or low humidity during emergence. Wait 12–4 hours and let the plant try to shed it naturally. If it's still stuck after 24h, use a spray bottle to moisten the shell, then use tweezers to gently pry it off. Be very careful —cotyledons tear easily.

No taproot after 10 days

The seed is likely a dud. Quality seed banks from reputable breeders have very low dud rates —less than 5%. If multiple seeds from the same pack fail, contact your seed bank. ILGM's 100% guarantee and NASC's store credit policy both cover this scenario.

Transplanting the Taproot

This step trips up many first-timers. The taproot is delicate —a broken taproot often means a dead or severely stunted plant. Handle with care.

→/div>

Timing: Transplant when the taproot is 0.5–cm (¼u2013½inch) long. Waiting until it's longer increases the risk of it getting tangled in the paper towel fibers.

→/div>

Tools: Use tweezers or a toothpick to handle the seed —never pinch the taproot itself. Hold the seed by its outer shell.

→/div>

Placement: Create a small hole in your medium about 0.5cm deep. Place the seed in with the taproot pointing downward. Gently cover with loose medium —don't pack it.

→/div>

After transplant: Mist the surface lightly and add a humidity dome if possible. The seedling should emerge in 12–2 hours. Begin gentle lighting (CFL or LED on dim) once it breaks the surface.

Germination Guarantees —What They Cover

If seeds genuinely fail despite correct technique, a germination guarantee covers you. Here's how the major banks compare:

Seed Bank Guarantee Requirements
ILGM 100% Photos of dead seeds + approved method
Herbies 70% minimum Photo proof of failed seeds
Homegrown Cannabis Co Yes Photo documentation required
NASC Store credit Contact customer service
Seed Supreme None stated Case-by-case

Note: Guarantee terms can change. Verify current policy with each bank before purchase.

FAQ

How long does it take cannabis seeds to germinate?
Most quality cannabis seeds germinate in 24–20 hours (1– days) under optimal conditions. Fresh seeds from reputable breeders often pop within 24–8 hours. Older or improperly stored seeds may take 5– days or longer.
What is the ideal germination temperature?
70–5° (21–9°) is the sweet spot. Below 65°, germination slows dramatically and mold risk increases. Above 90°, seeds may stress. A seedling heat mat ($15–5) makes temperature management effortless and dramatically improves germination rates.
Should I use tap water or filtered water?
Filtered or distilled water is ideal because it removes chlorine and contaminants that can inhibit germination. If using tap water, let it sit uncovered for 24 hours before use —this allows chlorine to evaporate. Aim for pH 6.0–.0 regardless of water source.
Can I germinate seeds directly under a grow light?
Seeds germinate in darkness and don't need light until after emergence. However, once the seedling breaks the surface, gentle light (on 18/6 schedule) helps it establish quickly. Don't place seedlings under full-power LED immediately —the intensity is too harsh. Start dim and at distance, or use T5/CFL.
Which germination method has the highest success rate?
All five methods can achieve near-100% germination when done correctly. The paper towel method is most recommended for beginners because it gives you full visibility and control. Direct-to-soil minimizes transplant shock but requires trust in what you can't see. The "best" method is the one you execute most carefully.

Ready to Find Your Seeds?

Now that you know how to germinate properly, make sure you're starting with quality genetics. Compare the top seed banks side-by-side.

Compare Seed Banks Best Seeds for Beginners

Related Guides

Guide
Auto vs Photoperiod
Which seed type is right for you?
Review
ILGM Review
100% germination guarantee explained
Guide
Best Seeds for Beginners
Easiest genetics to grow