Germination

Guarantees: We guarantee all seed souvenirs are stored in a cool, dark environment and are not directly touched by human hands during packaging. Unfortunately we can not guarantee every single seed will be successful, there are just too many variables at work, with human error and environmental shortcomings being the most prominent reasons.

Here are some factors to take into consideration while germinating:

  • Moisture content of your media. Too dry and the seedlings will not have enough moisure to trigger germination, too much moisture and they could drown. Consistent moisture is key, a sudden dry spell could kill the seedlings as well. Every strain is different and some are much more sensitive to environmental changes, you could have one strain seem like its great and another could be on the struggle bus. This is why we do not suggest growing multiple different strains at the same time if you are still a beginner grower.
  • Fungal Growth – spreads best in cold and wet conditions and can cause your seeds to rot. Some common causes of this are poor soil quality, infected soil, bad pH, pre-soaking seeds in water, the media is too wet, the media is too cold, very high humidity, etc.

  • Humidity – should be below 50%, if it is too high you run the risk of growing fungus. If using a humidity dome while germinating make sure to keep the lid half-way open to ensure proper airflow, the seeds need fresh air.
  • Water Quality – not all water is the same! We do NOT suggest using municipal water (city water from the tap) as you have no idea what is actually in it. Our cities have been putting chlorine and fluoride in the water for years, its not good for us and it is also not good for your seedlings! High salt levels, minerals and heavy metals are also likely contaminates. An RO system will remove those contaminates from your water. Well water isn’t necessarily perfect and may need to be tested, depending on your location. pH will always have to be tested and should be in the 6-6.8 range for soil and 5.5-6.5 range for hydroponics.



Storage: Keep away from light, extreme temperatures, and humidity. We suggest keeping them in the tin or mylar bag until you’re ready to plant them. A dark drawer or cupboard will work just fine. If storing long-term, we suggest putting them in the refrigerator.

Planting: When it comes to germination we tend to take a more natural approach. We prefer planting them directly into the soil (or coco/perlite mix 😉 There is no need for a cold, damp (and bleached) paper towel or a glass of water (they can drown!) Plant them right into the earth as God intended. Just make sure to not plant them too deep. A depth of 1/4” to 1/2” is ideal. [Secret Hack – The plastic vial the seed came in is the perfect size to make a little hole in your medium.] Lightly cover them with your soil or coco and do not compact it. Our preferred method is in a propagation tray with a dome. A fine mist hand sprayer works best for watering seedlings to ensure the soil remains moist but not too damp. Open the dome often to ensure fresh airflow. Once the seedlings pop out of the shell the dome will no longer be necessary.

Medium: A potting soil will work just fine for seedlings. Make sure to not use a soil meant for flowering, the nutrient levels will be too much for the seed. Our preferred medium is a 60/40 coco/perlite mix. This mix works great to ensure proper drainage,

Handling: Avoid handling your seeds and seedlings with bare hands. They are susceptible to harmful pathogens such as fungus and bacteria. The use of sterile gloves and disinfected tweezers will reduce your chance of contamination.

Watering: Be careful to not overwater your seedlings. Using a mister is best for seeds and seedlings to ensure they do not get too much moisture. Ensure that your trays/pots have holes in the bottom for proper drainage. We do not recommend germinating in a glass of water. Seeds need oxygen to grow and there is the risk of drowning your seeds. If they do germinate in the glass of water you now have to handle them by putting them into your medium (instead of germinating them there in the first place). Transplanting seedlings can lead unintended situations such as the accidental physical breaking of the seedling, tap root damage from air/light exposure, fungal/bacteria exposure etc. Water quality is also important. Distilled water or good well water is recommended. Tap water often contains fluoride, chlorine, salt and other pollutants that may stunt or prevent the seeds growth.

Temperature: Recommended germination room temperature is 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Too hot of a room can cause stunted growth. Too cold of temperatures can also cause stunted growth, no growth and disease. If growing outdoors it is best practice to germinate indoors for at least 3-4 weeks. When it comes to the cold temps and bringing your plants outdoors you would much rather be safe and wait for higher spring temps than be sorry. We’re in Michigan and have some crazy weather so we suggest that you slowly acclimate your plants to the outdoors by bringing them outside on nice days. With all of the heavy metals and God knows what else “they” are spraying on us daily we only recommend growing outdoors with a greenhouse.