Here’s why your Cannabis Seeds Haven’t Germinated!

Here’s why your Cannabis Seeds Haven’t Germinated!

If you have been unlucky and some, or all of your cannabis seeds haven’t germinated, there is usually an easily identifiable reason.

Germination isn’t really just about your seed cracking and a tap root appearing, it is about the transition of a seed into a very small, but viable cannabis plant.

So, let’s start at the beginning.

How long did you soak your seeds in water for? Did they all sink to the bottom of the glass before you transferred them to the moist paper towel? Seeds that were still floating are unlikely to have absorbed sufficient water to successfully germinate.

If you leave the seeds in water for too long, the tap root will not form and the germination process will grind to a halt.

Once you transferred your seeds to the damp paper towel, over the next few days did you ever let any parts, or all of the towel dry out? At the earliest stages of germination, the smallest of errors can have major consequences.

Similarly, the paper towel mustn’t be steeped in water – the tap root grows naturally as it searches for water – if it is too easy to find, it just won’t grow.

If your water has loads of additives, such as copper and chlorine, this can poison your plants, while handling the seeds with dirty hands can also poison them. Make sure you either wash your hands
with a non-toxic soap, wear latex gloves, or use tweezers.

The next thing to check is the temperature of the seeds. The optimum temperature to keep them at for good germination is between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 to 21 degrees Celsius. If the seeds are too cold, they just won’t germinate, even if everything else is perfect.

The roots of plants don’t like light and the same applies to the tap root and subsequent roots that will develop when your seeds germinate. Almost total darkness is ideal for germinating seeds, even though it is hopeless for growing seedlings!

It is interesting to note that it is certain wavelengths in light that affect germination and it is the blue wavelength that tends to corrupt germination, while the red wavelength promotes germination.

You also have to take into account when bought your seeds? While cannabis seeds can remain viable for a large number of years if stored in perfect conditions, they can be ruined inside a couple of weeks if not stored correctly.

Finally, and unfortunately, it’s a fact of mother nature that not all seeds will germinate. Some will be duds and this is out of our control.

So, did we miss anything out? we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

50 Comments

  1. Josh Green on May 15, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    What soil did you use I’m growing and it’s been in a mason jar full of soil I got from the park only little bits of grass have grown what should I do different or change up



  2. Allan Makkink on May 15, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    love it 🤔 70-90°Freedom units or 20-21°C



  3. mark rigg on May 15, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    Red doesn’t promote germination. Blue does. They’re wrong.



  4. Tp Tp on May 15, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    Can u still grow bad seeds?



  5. brandon scheinuck on May 15, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    You didn’t bother to say how long they should be in the paper towel or for that matter any specific lengths of time that these processes should take. It would be nice if there was more information in the video about specific times as well as just the natural process of how the seed germinates



  6. Stef P on May 15, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    I hate growers that detour new growers telling them they need grow cubes and craziness tbh if you put the seeds in a water bottle in a hot area it will build moisture in bottle will work 100% of the time just need heat and darkness I cover mine with a black or two sock often



  7. G Herring on May 15, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    What will happen if i put three seeds in one pot



  8. MrJustliketht on May 15, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    I can use T5 bulbs with high light output right????



  9. Omgwtflmaololrotfl on May 15, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    With a sterilized carpet knife. Carefully cut the ridge of the seed. Just the ridge and very carefully. Drop them on the wet paper towel and keep and eye on them.

    Thank me later…



  10. UraniumMan on May 15, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    How do you like this one? I ended up with mostly male plants in an outdoor grow, and the few female plants had seeds, then got moldy before the flowers were ready to harvest. So I just left them. I went back recently just to see how the plot looked, and despite it being winter with temps in the 40s F (and some occasional freezing), and tons of rain there were seeds germinating ON THE PLANT. So I planted them indoors, and some are thriving. I never would have guessed they could germinate outdoors in winter!



  11. Chris on May 15, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    I think a pretty good indication that you did everything right is if every seed germinated except one or two



  12. Jace Usrey on May 15, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    “Then it just won’t work”



  13. Sean Moore on May 15, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    I’ve cracked two auto seeds soaked for 18hr both sunk tap roots are ova half an inch how long will the tap root last in tissue first grow dude .



  14. Joltran on May 15, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    I do a classic square dance with my seeds then I put them on a falcon 9 rocket to low earth orbit. When they return I slack them in battery acid, a town stomp them, and finally plant them directly into the mouth of an owl.

    So far I’ve been seeing 100% success 👌



  15. Ricardus Rex on May 15, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    I didn’t know that red light promotes germination and blue hindered it. I thought blue was great from the start, then when flowering use something with a lot of red.



  16. Jake Southgate on May 15, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    I took the shell off by accident when planting my baby and now she’s got two folded starter leaves but idk if she’s gunna survive any tips?



  17. Free User on May 15, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Sorry I’m late but honestly video were very helpful i growed cannabis before ofc but it’s been awhile and i honestly needed to get on da right track but now tanks to u ik today two of my babies die😭😭 because of too much light



  18. TheRealM00 The Original on May 15, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    the process is not nesacary, i just use the paper toweld start to sprout with a well damp paper towelk bang it in a bowl on the radiator and 1-2 days easy



  19. Bryan Harness on May 15, 2022 at 6:51 pm

    Only the cannabis community can complicate such a simple process. Just soak and put in soil . Your welcome



  20. Jamesthebond 007 on May 15, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    Lol just stuck them straight the ground mate!!



  21. Steven_says on May 15, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    My seeds had the little tail from the root and I planted them now they aren’t coming out of the ground. Did I kill them?



  22. Houston Harrell on May 15, 2022 at 6:53 pm

    I’m still confused on how 70-90°F = 20-21°C



  23. Dez L on May 15, 2022 at 6:53 pm

    Dammit i did everything wrong T.T



  24. Internal injection truly here under God Louy$lugz on May 15, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    Mariquana birth control for men low ammount usd



  25. Nay Min Thu Rain on May 15, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Why my Wild Thailand seeds not germinating in 5 days. Give me some tips for me?



  26. Emmanuel Pereira on May 15, 2022 at 7:00 pm

    It’s not that complicated, I actually germinated a shit ton of seeds in my dryer lint, but I didn’t grow em so…yeh



  27. SEBASTIAN on May 15, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    What if they still germinate but don’t produce any buds?



  28. Cire Socrates on May 15, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    I have a red decorative LED strip, the thick one in a translucent rope. It changes LED colors… is that the type of “red light” that will help induce germination? Thank you!



  29. Josmar Teixeira on May 15, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    Very good.



  30. Sweetsanders17 on May 15, 2022 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you so much! Was a great help ☺️



  31. VIES_CAPRI on May 15, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    I 56 of my cannabis seeds of various kinds came out 😌😎



  32. todd Buettner on May 15, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    I refrigerate my seeds for 24 hours on my older seeds to stimulate fall winter and spring seasons and as they slowly warm from soaking and planting them seems to help immensely. My fridge internal temps vary depending on area inside, being cold air is heavier i keep them in the highest pocket in the door where the temp is approx 42 degrees, just enough to send the seed into a natural dormant state until the warm"weather"wakes them up to sprout.



  33. Robin Spiller on May 15, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    I bought a flower from a local cannabis shop and harvested the seeds. None of them germinated. I have one left and I just decided to chuck it into some clean soil and hope for the best at this point. Was it me or is it not a good idea to get seeds from a cannabis shop flower?



  34. Taj Zidek on May 15, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    If a seed develops a tap rout but the shell breaks off before the planting stage will it still grow?



  35. moutaz Othman on May 15, 2022 at 7:13 pm

    kindly what if the seeds by mistake go extra deep in the sand? will grow up?



  36. TheMegaGamingWizard on May 15, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    Im gonna put some seeds in a small glass of water and check later to see how many seeds float to the bottom, either way im gonna use all the seeds I put in the cup even if they don’t sink and just dunk them into a pot of miracle gro



  37. Eazy Seven on May 15, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    🤔 70-90°F or 20-21°C (1:36 min) ???
    70°F=21°C 90°F=32°C!!!
    Did you meant 20-30°C?
    Besides of the mistake in that clip!
    I am not trying to confuse you! But the Temperatures proposed on different channels are really varying from 20-30°C or 70-90°F!
    Is this dependent on the sort of seed or the strain?



  38. Fernando Zamora on May 15, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    But what I want to know is will they still reproduce bud after germanasion with other seeds



  39. Luis Guerra on May 15, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Happened meat seeds cannabis bad hurt hand don’t coke soda dangerous weed no good best water like use like weed cookies cannabis seeds nice shop Los Angeles county lost Stockton California wish more cookies weed move community here shop Stockton California yes fix pay see paper photo weed cannabis purple cookies



  40. Terique Marillier on May 15, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Soaked my seeds and they dropped by 3rd hour left for 18 hours and then moved to paper towel nd tap root formed and planted it but it isn’t coming out the soil yet nd it’s been 2 days since I placed and lightly put soil ontop



  41. Mavic Radaza on May 15, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    Every seed has two shells it will still grow but if the seed cracks in half it wont gorw



  42. Robbi Rokkit on May 15, 2022 at 7:18 pm

    So if you put a small glass of water with seeds inside, then put it in the miscrowave till it’s fairly warm, And then put in a dark/warm place, Will it germinate even better?



  43. NoGreedSeeds on May 15, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    Great info. As a seed breeder, I can tell you, this is all correct. I think the primary reason most people have issues is they don’t know these guidelines, coupled with anxiety and over care. Just leave them alone, give water and nutrients only, until they are well established. Waiting 2-3 weeks before beginning training is important. Watch for pests and goooood luck!



  44. running bear on May 15, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    Main reason May Be you purchased them from ILGM



  45. Derek Mcguire on May 15, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    I liked it was perfect .solid info



  46. Ryno Grows on May 15, 2022 at 7:25 pm

    Add some Dynomyco on those roots and 💥 things move much faster. Any mycorrhizae product adds that helping hand(hyphae ) lol 😂 😉



  47. Callie Dan on May 15, 2022 at 7:25 pm

    Bro science bullchit. Good thing nature itself doesn’t listen to this malarkey



  48. Mashudu Mashathini on May 15, 2022 at 7:26 pm

    This is too much unnecessary info



  49. Ronel Maughn on May 15, 2022 at 7:26 pm

    I almost drop my weed listening to this bullshit



  50. Skyrimlord661 on May 15, 2022 at 7:27 pm

    Is it safe to grow weed around datura trees?