How to Tell If a Weed Seed is Good
Cannabis seeds are where cannabis life begins. However, not all seeds are good, and so you have to sort through the good ones and the bad ones so that you can grow some good cannabis buds. But how do you tell when cannabis seeds are bad or good? Let's explore these two different options.
Why Should You Start With Healthy Cannabis Seeds?
If you want to grow incredible cannabis plants, you should begin with the appropriate fundamentals. You have to sow the highest quality cannabis seeds to essentially encourage your seeds to grow vigorous and dynamic plants.
You have to know how to differentiate between the seeds that are of the lowest and highest quality. This will save you tons of time and money.
The benefits of starting with a high-quality cannabis seed include:
- Improved germination rates
- Higher-quality genetics
- Better yields
- Better aroma and flavor
- Better overall buds
For each small cannabis seed you plan to use, you have to consider the various aspects and features including its size, shape, sex, color, origin, strain, and gender. Here, we have provided you with some of the details that will help you distinguish the ultimate cannabis seeds from the ones that are useless.
How to Tell if a Weed Seed is Good
How do you figure out which seed is good? Well, at first glance, it has to look healthy. To detect good cannabis seeds, you have to also know what to expect in shape, color, and size, even though these features don't always guarantee successful sprouting.
Due to the wide variety of strain genetics available, healthy cannabis seeds can vary in appearance.
Here are a few signs to look for when choosing high-quality cannabis seeds:
Dark Color
Healthy seeds will usually be grey, brown, or black with darker spots and lines that do not usually have an expected pattern. Good seeds can have any uniform color across their exterior or display tiger stripe or turtle shell patterns with varying dark hues.
The coat of the seed may also be waxy, reflecting light when it is exposed. Keep in mind, variations in color can depend on be strain genetics, growing environment, and storage practices. For instance, seeds can develop a darker shade when they have been stored or several months.
Large Size and Tear-Drop Shape
It can be hard to determine if a cannabis seed is good or bad depending on its size and shape alone. High quality cannabis seeds can be small or large. If you are small seed displays other features of a good seed, then it is a good candidate for germination.
Generally, healthy cannabis seeds will appear very large once developed. A large seed shape can be due to its unique genetics or high concentrations of magnesium and calcium. However, there is still no guarantee ofsprouting seeds, even if you have a large seed.
In terms of shape, good cannabis seeds tend to have a tear-drop shape with a round end on one side and a tapered end on the other. Generally, seeds that do not have this shape have a lower risk of viability.
Young Seeds
Age is a helpful indicator of the quality of the seed. However, it can be hard to tell the age of a seed if you didn't grow it yourself. Generally, seeds that are under a year old are the best for a successful harvest. Younger seeds have a faster germination rate and are less likely to go bad if stored for a short period of time.
Cannabis growers can store their seeds for several years in the refrigerator to extend their longevity. However, planting the seeds when they are relatively young will provide you with overall better results.
If you have no idea how old your seeds are, here's a good way to estimate their age:
Gently squeeze the seed between your thumb and index finger. The younger and healthier the seed is, the firmer it will feel.
The Bad Cannabis Seed
How do you figure out which seed is bad? Here are a few ways you can tell if your cannabis seed has gone bad.
Green or White Color
At first glance, the seeds have to be either green or white. With this kind of coloration, it means that the cannabis seeds have not fully matured.
In addition, low-quality seeds may have a dull and matte appearance. Green cannabis seeds can develop when they are harvested early before they fully mature. Using these light-colored seeds can result in an unsuccessful germination.
Irregular Shape
While healthy cannabis seeds come in all shapes and sizes, there are a few ways to tell that you are seed is not good. Seeds that do not have a tear-drop body are less likely to produce a successful yield. Seeds that are flat or deformed can either have an unsuccessful germination or produce less-than-optimal plants.
Old Seeds
Older and less viable seeds can feel slightly soft and spongy. The worst-quality seeds can even crack under the pressure due to their low moisture and nutritional content compared to young seeds.
If you see the seeds cracking, breaking, or have dents, that is when you know it is of low quality. Most times, how the seed was handled before you purchased it will make a difference in whether it is good or bad. And sometimes, it is a matter of being lucky, how it turns out.
Sourcing Good Cannabis Seeds
One of the most important factors in determining whether a seed is good or bad is where they were sourced. Buying your cannabis seeds from a reputable seed bank or dispensary is a much better choice than using seeds you found in low to mid grade weed.
A trustworthy seed bank with many years of experience knows exactly how to breed high-quality cannabis seeds. In many cases, these seed banks will guarantee that a high percentage of your seeds (80%+) will germinate. Buying from a reputable company insures that you have a high germination rate, vigorous plants, and large yields.
If, on the other hand, you start with seeds from your dealer or certain newer seed banks, you may be starting off with low-quality genetics. If you find and use seeds found within your flowers, this means that they grew in an environment that did not have optimal conditions. Seeds in your buds are not a good indication of high quality genetics.
The Initial Testing Phase
There are a few ways to test your cannabis seeds to determine quality.
Appearance and Consistency Test
First, you should expose the seeds to light to determine if they have a waxy sheen to their surface. Try to crush the seed between your thumb and index finger, and if it crushes or crumbles, it is bad.
The Floating Test
There is another way to test the quality of your seed, and that is by using the floating method. This is when you insert the cannabis seeds into lukewarm water poured into a glass. Allow the seeds to soak for about one to two hours.
If the seeds float above the water, it means that they are not of the best quality. The ones that sink to the bottom of the glass of water are of higher quality. However, it is best to use the floating method before you germinate the seeds. If you don't, then the moisture is going to damage your cannabis seeds.
You can germinate in the same glass of water, but the seeds have to come out of the water before the next day and in less than 24 hours. After they are taken out of the water, you must put them into a grow container or on a damp paper towel to germinate them.
If you leave them in for over 24 hours, the seeds will suck up the water in the glass and eventually die from too much moisture.
The Cannabis Germination Procedure
You can also test your cannabis seeds for quality by using the germination procedure. There are many different ways to germinate your cannabis seeds. Germination is the ultimate test to determine the quality of your seeds. If they germinate into healthy seedlings, great! If they grow into thin or deformed seedlings, they will not produce the best plants.
One of the easiest methods to germinate your seeds is known as the germination sandwich methodor the paper towel method. In this method, you will put a piece of wet paper towel on a flat surface such as a plate. Fold the paper towel twice so that it is thick enough.
Place the healthy cannabis seeds on the wet paper towel. The seeds should be 3 cm or more apart from each other to prevent the roots from tangling.
Put a wet folded paper towel on top of the same seeds and put a plate over it to finalize the germination sandwich method. After two days, watch if the seeds sprout and if so, they should be sowed. It also means that they are of high quality.
Learn to Grow Cannabis Like a Pro
Growing cannabis from a seed is super easy if you have the right tools and skills. If you are a new cannabis grower or a seasoned grower who wants to fill in any knowledge gaps, enrolling in Cannabis Training University can help.
Enroll in the most renowned online cannabis training program to learn from the top growers and cannabis professionals. Our curriculum provides you with step-by-step directions on how to grow big and healthy plants.
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