So as a grower you just bought your new cannabis seeds. Now you need to grow these seeds and have heard of the sink and float method of cannabis seed germination.
This is a very simple method used to start to see if the seeds that you bought or were given to you are going to germinate before you put them in the soil.
Science behind Cannabis Seed Viability the floating water test
In nature cannabis seeds are food for many animals big and small. They are also a great protein source for insects. Once the seeds are eaten by the insect, they will get inside the seed, it will no longer be able to absorb water. Therefore the seeds will float.
Not all seeds will work for these methods however regular cannabis seeds are one of those types of seeds.
Experiments With the Sink or Float for Cannabis Seeds
In tests the average of all tests showed a germination of 68.3 per cent for sunken seeds and 72 per cent for those that floated. In a second set of experiments, it was found that 75.4 percent of the sunken seeds and 86.7 percent of those that floated germinated. Pretty cool stuff, however it shows that the cannabis seeds sink or float method is not always 100% fool proof.
Where to find cannabis seeds to grow online
There are many places to buy cannabis seeds online, we recommend Green Avenger Seeds if you are looking to buy cannabis seeds online. They have great seeds to use for trying the sink or float method of cannabis seed germination.
What do cannabis seeds need to germinate
When germinating cannabis seeds it all comes down to the right amount of warmth and moisture that is provided for the seed. As a new grower you will be looking for seeds that are dark brown in color, they may have stripes on them. Cannabis seeds that are not mature will look white, green, or even gray in colors.
The seeds should be firm and not have any cracks in them. If you push on them gently they should not break in between your fingers.
How to add your seeds to water
First take your new seeds, then fill up a glass of water about half full not half empty (LOL). The water should be clean and have a neutral PH of about 6.5 to 7.0.
For a bonus you can add a drop of Superthrive, and also a teaspoon of kelp (Seaweed extract), this will really give the seeds a jump start as the kelp contains growth hormone that will activate the cannabis seeds.
Place you seeds in the dark
Now you are ready to cover your seeds and place the glass in the dark for 24 hours. The glass with the seeds should be in a warm spot that is dark for best results.
Now Check if your Cannabis Seeds Sink or Float
After 24 hours comes the big moment, you can remove the glass of seeds from the dark and check on them, you should see the viable seeds sinking to the bottom of the glass. They should start to have a sprout growing out of them. If they do not you may want to place them back in the dark for another 12 hours.
The Cannabis Seeds that were not viable, will have floated to the top of your glass in the water.
Planting your Sinking Cannabis Seeds
Now that your seeds are sinking that means that you can now plant them in your soil mix.
Gently remove the seeds from the glass with tweezers and make sure you place the germination sprout that has emerged for the cannabis seed facing down in the soil. This new young sprout will push its way down into the soil and at the same time push the seed and the first young leaves above the soil.
Growers achieve 100% Germination rates with the Cannabis Seed Sink or Float method
This seed starting method works very well and you will normally get a perfect germination rate with fresh cannabis seeds.
Why Use the Cannabis Seed Sink or Float Method
When starting seeds directly in the soil, you really don’t know if they will be viable or not. With the Cannabis Seed Sink or Float Method you know that the seed has already germinated.
This process takes the guessing game out of the process, you know that within a day to a couple of days your seedling will break ground.
There are many other ways to germinate cannabis seeds and we will be covering more.
