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Store your seeds air tight and moisture free in your refrigerator till you're ready to germinate. Most seeds should keep for 2-3 years. Powerful varieties and fresh seeds commonly germinate in 3-5 days. When seeds have been stored refrigerated it can take up to 7 days for them to sprout. Soak the seed in water for a few hours then place them between layers of moist tissue in a covered tray.
Follow these simple guidelines for a successful germination by using:
- A dark environment and stable room temperature
- A tray with plenty of ventilation (frequent fresh air)
- Distilled water for soaking and early watering
- Tissue paper (without prints) and a saucer/tray
Patience "budding beginner"... Check on your seeds frequently, as you should never let them dry out. Spray luke-warm distilled water on them as often as necessary to keep them moist. Your reward? A tiny white root breaking through the nut shell! From here you wait until the root is about 1-2 cm long before you give them there first taste of soil if you are growing them bio style. For more details on different growing mediums, see the article on page 112 of The Smokers Guide to Amsterdam!
Important: don't ever use fertilizers or root stimulants while germinating and moisten the tissue paper, never soak it with too much water.
Now that the root is the right length, you should place it in the soil with the root pointing down, so that the seed shell is level with the soil surface. Gently cover it with soil taking care to not damage the seed. Fluorescent light or even indirect daylight is strong enough for the seeds to become a small plant. From there on, it's easy to see why we call it weed; it wants to grow!
