How Many Weed Seeds Per Pot?

So you’ve got a pack of the best marijuana seeds sitting in front of you, pot at the ready, but you’re stuck. How many weed seeds per pot? Will I be making a huge mistake if I put too much, or too little? It’s one of the most frequently asked-about topics in the industry, and it has one of the simplest answers.

You only need to put one marijuana seed per pot. Yep, it’s as straightforward as that. But if you do want to get into the more nitty-gritty details, then there is a little more to it. This one-seed-one-pot rule only works if you’re using the right methods before and after planting. There are also advantages and disadvantages to one-seed-one-pot planting, which you should know about before embarking on that journey.

But there’s even more – you can in fact plant more than one weed seed per pot in some circumstances. It’s not the easiest of methods, and there are several important elements to the process that you should get yourself familiar with if that’s something you’re considering.

So without further ado, let’s breakdown everything you need to know about how many weed seeds per pot.

 

How Many Marijuana Seeds Should I Plant Per Pot?

As a general rule of thumb, you only need one single cannabis seed per pot when you’re growing marijuana. It’s a confusing concept for some people who have known traditional planting to use two or three seeds per hole. In fact, some gardeners even “overseed” their plants to ensure that multiple plants will grow, as not all of the seeds will germinate.

This is most likely why this question is so frequently asked. Planting marijuana is not the same as other traditional planting methods. It takes a special sort of patience and care, and it’s crucial to understand all the ins-and-outs of what you’re growing. This way, you’ll have much higher success rates.

Even the bushiest of marijuana plants come from just one seed (in most cases, which we’ll cover below). What you should keep in mind with this one-seed-one-pot rule is that there is the chance some seeds won’t germinate properly. This means you should always have a few extra seeds on hand, just in case one doesn’t work out.

As with anything, though, there are pros and cons to this method. To be fair, there are more pros than cons. But you should still understand what those cons are in case they may be the deciding factor between whether you use one seed per pot, or not.

Advantages of One-Seed-One-Pot Rule

• Sometimes marijuana plants get diseases or infections due to multiple reasons. If not treated properly, they can die off. When you’re growing your plants pot-by-pot, sick or diseased plants can easily be removed from the rest of the plants without contaminating others. You can then treat them separate from the others, making it more cost and time efficient.
• Roots are crucial to the survival of a plant. When the roots are able to grow deep into the soil or hydroponics system, the plant is then able to receive the proper amount of nutrients. When this happens, your plants can then flourish healthily and steadily. If you plant more than one seed in a pot, each plant won’t get the chance to stretch their roots as far. This means they aren’t able to gain the maximum amount of nutrients that they would if they were on their own. And don’t just think that adding in extra nutrients or water will do the trick – it will actually cause an excess for the plants. Therefore, one seed is best in this case.
• When a plant suddenly suffers from nutrient issues, it’s much easier to treat it on its own than also be treating a perfectly healthy plant.
• If you’re not using feminized seeds, then you run the risk of getting male plants in the mix. If you’ve planted two or more seeds in one pot, and then end up with a male plant, your female plants will instantly be infected with pollen and unusable.

Disadvantages of One-Seed-One-Pot Rule

• When planting one seed per pot, you’ll need to buy the exact amount of pots equivalent to the amount of seeds you’re growing. You may also need a better lighting system, since you’ll need a larger surface area to grow all those plants. This can add up to a lot in costs.
• With more pots to add to the mix, there comes a need for more space to fit them all. You’ll need to take that into consideration when you’re creating for growing area.

Germinating Marijuana Seeds

Part of knowing how any weed seeds per pot also comes with understanding the germination process. Germination, also known as “popping”, is when the cannabis seed starts to sprout. This is essentially the first and most crucial step, as if it doesn’t germinate properly, it will stand no chance to grow.

Here’s how you germinate a marijuana seed thanks to Leafly’s handy instructions:

1. Take the four squares of paper towel and soak them in the water. They should be well soaked, but make sure there isn’t any excess water spilling off them.
2. Place these paper towel sheets onto one of the plates. Take your marijuana seeds and place them about an inch apart. Cover them with the other two paper towel sheets.
3. To germinate properly, these seeds need a dark, warm space. Give them the darkness they need by taking the other plate and flipping it over to cover the paper towel and seeds – like they’re in their own dome.
4. These seeds now need to be kept at a warm temperature between 21°C and 29°C.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I put more than one seed in a pot?

You can plant multiple seeds in one pot, but it isn’t the most efficient or easy method. Most people only do this for breeding purposes, which is when a male plant is bred with a female plant to create new or refine existing genetics.

When breeding, you actually want the male plant to pollinate the female, so you’re not worried about contamination here as you would be with regular growing.

Here are several reasons why it’s best to avoid planting multiple weed seeds in one pot:

• It’s more difficult to separate plants if they are sick, so it can cause other surrounding plants in the same pot to become diseased.
• As mentioned, accidental pollination can render female plants unusable for regular marijuana consumption.
• You’ll need a much larger surface area to accommodate a massive pot, while you can ideally fit more small pots in the same area.
• Each plant within the same pot will be fighting for nutrients and oxygen. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies in some plants.
• This relates back to pollination – if you’re not using feminized seeds and you end up with some males, then the females will have to be removed. This makes the process neither cost nor time-efficient.

 

What is the best soil for planting marijuana?

If you’re using soil rather than a hydroponics system, then it’s important to use only the best type of soil to ensure healthy plants. It’s widely known that loam is the most ideal soil mix for growing marijuana. It’s a blend of silt, sand and clay – essentially the best of all worlds when it comes to soils. For auto-flowering seeds, in particular, a blend of peat moss, compost, perlite and vermiculite is the best soil to use.

 

How much will one marijuana plant produce?

This answer largely depends on where you’re growing your marijuana. Indoor growing generally garners a lower yield, but it is more protected from exterior factors. These factors can affect how the plants grow, such as pests and uncontrollable climate. Outdoor plants are less restricted when it comes to space and they get more natural light.

Taking those factors into consideration, an indoor yield on a single plant will average around 453g. an outdoor yield on a single plant will average approximately 500g or more.

 

How long does it take from seed to harvest?

Speaking on average, it takes anywhere from 10 to 32 weeks for cannabis to grow, flower and be ready for harvest. For auto-flowering seeds, which are faster because they don’t rely on light cycles to grow, it can take around 7 to 15 weeks. Clones take just 1 to 6 weeks since the entire germination stage is eliminated.

Get Yourself Off on the Right Foot

Growing marijuana isn’t easy, so why not give yourself the best chance at a healthy, strong yield? Now that you know how many weed seeds per pot are required to grow a plant, choose only the best seeds on the market. The Seed Pharm has everything you need to get you started, so explore all that we have to offer and find your favourite strains.