Don’t Plant Marijuana Seeds Directly in Soil

Growing Cannabis is a delicate process. They don’t just sprout unless the conditions are right, and by right, we mean perfect.

There are many ways to germinate Cannabis seeds; however, let’s focus on why you should not plant Marijuana seeds directly in soil.

What Are The Right Conditions For Germinating Cannabis Seeds?

Every professional Cannabis grower has their own way of germinating seeds. However, the conditions for germinating Cannabis seeds are constant.

Temperature is very important for germination. For Cannabis, the temperature should range between 21 to 26 degrees Celsius.

Any drastic temperature variation will cause a delay in germination. So most of the time, the seeds won’t germinate.

Additionally, Cannabis seeds germinate in high humidity. Therefore, around 70%-80% of relative humidity is suitable for Cannabis.

Even if these conditions are met, Cannabis germination is still not guaranteed. You have to have excellent quality seeds.

Reasons Not To Plant Marijuana Seeds Directly In Soil

While soil is the best medium for growing marijuana, you shouldn’t plant seeds directly in the soil.

At a glance, it might make a lot of sense. However, the reasons below might change your mind and inform you why it’s not ideal to sow directly into the soil.

1) Weed Invasion

Weeds tend to crop up at any opportunity. Unfortunately, weeds are always a problem regardless of how well you care for your garden or farm.

Tilling promotes plant growth. Therefore, sowing Marijuana seeds directly into the soil gives them competition from the start.

Since weeds grow quickly, they will choke your seeds and thwart your germination attempts. So even if you get Marijuana seedlings, they might not last with weeds growing around them.

While you can apply herbicides, which most people will tell you to do, keep in mind it is not easy work.

First, you have to till your garden. Marijuana seeds require soil disturbance to grow, as with many other seeds. Therefore tilling will also promote weed growth.

Applying herbicide is next. However, most growers apply herbicide to weeds that have already grown. Therefore, most of your weed plants will be wilted or dying by this time.

2) Weather Hazards

It is impossible to control the weather. Weather can also be very unpredictable. Therefore, direct soil planting is not a good idea for growers, and it’s worse for beginner growers.

Contending with switches in weather will not provide the best germination environment. For example, droughts, high and strong winds, and floods are not a good germination setup.

Not only will the seeds be washed or blown away, but they won’t thrive even if they grow. So an important point to consider is that less-than-perfect conditions for Marijuana will affect yield.

Marijuana seeds subjected to different weather might grow, but they will stop trichrome production.

Additionally, the slightest variations in temperature and humidity might cause the Marijuana seeds not to germinate. Instead, they might even rot.

3) Failure to Germinate

Failure to germinate is a broad term to explain various things that could go wrong with direct sowing.

3a) Overwatering

For starters, overwatering is common and is referred to as drowning your seeds. Overwatering is more common when you sow seeds directly.

Your seeds will rot instead of germinating because you might not know how much water you feed an entire garden section.

Next, unless you know the soil composition in your garden, which most people rarely do, your seeds could end up not germinating.

This is due to unequal levels of nutrients, which may cause your seeds to stay dormant. As a result, you will be waiting for years for germinated seeds.

3b) Over-fertilization

Before directly sowing your seeds, you might think fertilizing your garden might be a good idea. However, it is a bad idea for multiple reasons.

For starters, a Marijuana seedling cannot absorb as much nutrient as a grown plant. So the moment it germinates, if it even germinates, it will die.

3c) Sowing Too Deep

Burying seeds too deep will hinder germination. This is a problem even for experienced growers.

When you sow your seeds too deep and directly into your garden, they won’t get any light, humidity, or air.

4) Pests

Having pests is common for outdoor growing. Unfortunately, some pests will eat the seeds as soon as the seed is in the soil.

Not all pests are tiny, like aphids or caterpillars; Marijuana can also be destroyed by deer and household cats.

When you get a pest invasion, it might be hard to eliminate them. Even with the best pesticides, it might take a while before completely eradicating the problem.

5) Diseases

Did you know some diseases can reside in the soil for years? That said, planting your Marijuana seeds directly in the soil will be futile.

If, by some miracle, the seeds germinate, they will die before they have a chance to be young seedlings.

Plant diseases are very hard to eradicate from the soil. Once they are in the soil, they can remain there for years.

To remove such pathogens from your soil, you might have to subject your whole garden to 60 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

That might remove the pathogens, but it will also kill other beneficial micro-organisms.

Suitable Germination Methods For Marijuana

a) Paper Towel Method

The paper towel method is the best germination method for Marijuana because of its high success rate.

All you need are:

• Paper towels
• Distilled water
• Marijuana seeds
• Clean plates

Method:

• Wet four pieces of paper towels. Ensure they are drenched.
• Place two of the paper towels on a plate, and place Marijuana seeds on them. Space the seeds one inch apart.
• Cover the seeds with the other two wet paper towels.
• Using another plate, cover the seeds and store them in a dark space.

Within 24 to 48 hours, you should seed germination. This is the most efficient way to germinate your seeds.

However, you will notice some seeds haven’t germinated. This is a normal occurrence and you should expect it to happen.

It is important to transplant the germinating seeds before a leaf or cotyledon appears. The taproot should not have air and light exposure for too long.

b) Seed Starter

Seed starters are a good option for germinating Marijuana seeds. They provide moisture control which is a requirement for germinating seeds.

Additionally, seed starters are a very low-maintenance growing medium and all you have to do is add water and watch your cannabis seeds germinate in a day.

You can plant three or two seeds per hole, resulting in many plants. This will give you great results even when some seeds won’t germinate.

After that, it is easier to transplant seedlings even if you are an indoor grower. Growing mediums result in plants with better yield.

c) Stone Wool Blocks

You can create the perfect growing environment for cannabis seeds with wool blocks. Before planting, ensure to soak the stone wool block fully.

After soaking it, transfer it to a plastic container, and plant your seeds. Your container should have a lid.

Next, transfer the container to a temperature-controlled environment. Leave the container undisturbed until 3 weeks.

The seedlings should be ready to transplant to the growth medium you have set in place.

At this point, the seedlings should be transplanted quickly because all the moisture might be depleted in the wool block.

Frequently Asked Questions

i) Can I Germinate Marijuana Seeds In Soil Indoors?

Yes, you can. Indoor germination is preferred because the soil is usually sterile. The environment is also well controlled in terms of temperature and humidity.

Germinating seeds indoors is perfect because the soil starter is composed of a loose soil mix which is great for aeration and moisture.

ii) How Do I Germinate Auto-flowering Cannabis Plants?

By using a growing medium. A growing medium makes it easier to transplant seedlings because you don’t have to bother or stress the seedling too much from transplanting.

iii) Can I Grow Cannabis In Regular Soil?

No. It is not ideal. Cannabis plants are quite delicate. They require a base soil, a super soil, along with other nutritional enrichment.

Not to mention, you actually have to wash your super soil before planting if you plan on planting your seeds immediately.

Unfortunately, your garden soil is not adequate or suitable for the job.

iv) Why Shouldn’t I Bury My Seeds Too Deep?

Planting too deep might not even germinate seeds. Even if they germinate and become seedlings, they will be very feeble.

The adequate planting depth is 1 centimeter. Then cover lightly with your growth medium. Pressing too hard will hinder growth.

v) How Long Do Marijuana Seeds Last?

Marijuana seeds can last for years when stored well. In the refrigerator they can last for many years. Outside the refrigerator you can store them for up to 16 months.

The Bottom Line

After germination, the first few weeks of growth don’t require much. However, before germinating your seeds, you should know that not all of them will germinate.

That said, we strongly advise always using a spray bottle when you need a wet paper towel. It works better, and it doesn’t drench your medium.

This also applies to applying moisture manually. Other than that, we hope you have fun with your new plants.