Technically and legally, all cannabis, whether rope or dope, is classified as Cannabis sativa. Regardless of origin, all cannabis is considered Cannabis sativa (c. sativa) under international law. However, according to Hemp Diseases and Pests, Dr. J. M . McPartland, R. C. Clarke, and D. P. Watson, (CAB International), Cannabis sativa can be further classified as: Cannabis sativa (= C. sativa var. sativa), Cannabis indica (= c. sativa var. indica), Cannabis ruderalis (= c. sativa var. spontanea), Cannabis afghanica (= c. sativa var. afghanica). Each has distinct growth patterns, look, smell, taste, etc.
Most popular strains of cannabis are a combination of two or more of the following: C. sativa, C. indica, C. ruderalis, and C. afghanica. But there are also many seeds with the genes from just one of the below.
STEPONE: Day1
Presoak seeds in a glass of plain (distilled) water for 24 hours. Do not soak longer or they could rot. At first seeds will float on top of the water. As water penetrates they sink to the bottom.
Within a few hours, seeds will sink to the bottom of the container. Seeds found floating the following day are probably not viable.
A small, white rootlet often emerges from strong viable seeds.
STEPTWO: Day2
Use a dinner plate or a small container with a grate. A grate lets excess water drain away. If using a plate, tip it to drain off excess water.
Set a paper towel or cheesecloth on the plate or grate and moisten it with distilled water until saturated.
Pour the water out of the glass and place the seeds on the moist paper towels and cover the seeds with three more moist paper towels.
Drain off all excess water and put the moist seeds in a shadowy, warm location (70°-90°F, [21o-32°C]). The top of a refrigerator is ideal. Check daily and keep evenly moist but not soggy. Do not let seeds dry out or let water stand so oxygen is cut off to seeds. Let excess water drain away freely.
STEP THREE: Days5-8
Once seeds have sprouted and the white sprout is visible, they are ready to be moved into the growing medium. Seeds that do not show a white rootlet now may never germinate. Do not throw them out, plant them. But such seeds might never germinate, and if they grow they could turn into weak plants.
STEPFOUR: Days5-8
Prepare a seed flat, Jiffy or rockwool cubes, etc. for planting sprouted seeds. Fill the seed flat with a store-bought seedling mix or make your own 50/50 mix of fine perlite and peat moss or coco peat.
Water the mix in the flat with plain water until it is completely saturated; water should run freely from the drainage holes in the bottom when the medium is saturated.
Seedlings do not have enough stored energy to force through too much soil before sprouting. Plant seeds twice as deep as the width of the seed. For example, plant an eighth- inch (3 mm) seed O.2S-inch (6 mm) deep. Make small indent about O.2S-inch (6 mm) in the growing medium, one for each seed in individual containers.
Use tweezers and carefully remove each sprouted seed and set it in the premade planting hole. Take care not to expose the tender rootlet to prolonged intense light or air. Point the white root downward.
Cover the sprouted seed with a O.2S-inch (6 mm) layer offine, moist planting mix.
Once covered, gently press the soil into firm contact with the sprouted seed.
Once planted, set the flat or rooting cubes of sprouted seedlings under the lamp. The photo above shows clones on the left and seedlings on the right.
Seeds set inside rockwool blocks often heave up and out. Germinate seeds before planting and make sure the white rootlet is at least D.S-inch (1.S cm) long to avoid this common problem.
STEPFIVE: Days10-14
In four to six days after planting, most of the seeds will have broken through the planting mix or emerged from the root cube.
Within a couple of days of emerging, the first smooth non-serrated cotyledon leaves emerge. Some seedlings will show their first signs of "true leaves" with the classic cannabis serrations and pointed tips.
After seven to ten days, all the seedlings will have cotyledon leaves and many will have their first set of true leaves.
In 10 to 14 days all the seedlings should have true leaves that are the same size or larger than cotyledons.
Some growers apply a mild (quarter-strength) fertilizer, but it is not necessary for another week. Most important now is to keep the soil evenly moist.
STEP SIX: Days21-30
Start feeding two to four weeks after seedlings have sprouted. Some growers wait until leaves yellow to begin feeding. Use a mild quarter- strength solution. If yellowing persists, give seedlings a little more fertilizer.
STEP SEVEN: Days21-30
Peat pellets or root cubes (both seedlings and clones) may be transplanted in two to three weeks or when the roots show through the sides. Feed with a dilute, quarter- strength fertilizer solution.
STEP EIGHT: Days26-30
Grow seedlings and clones under light fluorescent or dim HID light for the next couple of weeks, until they have two to three sets of true leaves. This is a critical time for plants, and they need extremely close attention. Do not let them dry out!
Potential Problems
Too much or too little light coupled with overwatering or underwatering are the main reasons for poor seedling growth. This sickly freak trifoliate seedling is the result of dodgy genetics as well.
Overwatering and underwatering are the biggest obstacles most growers face when germinating seeds and growing seedlings. Keep the soil uniformly moist, not waterlogged. Do not let the growing medium's surface dry for long. Keep it evenly moist. Setting root cubes or planting flats on a grate allows good drainage.
A shallow flat or planter with a heat pad under- neath may require daily watering, while a deep, one-gallon pot will need watering every three days or more. A properly watered flat of rockwool cubes needs water every three to five days when sprouting seeds. When the surface is dry (0.25- inch [6 mm] deep) it is time to water. Remember, there are few roots to absorb the water early in life, and they are very delicate.
Seeds do not need any extra hormones to germinate. Household water contains enough dissolved solids (food) to nourish seeds through their first few weeks oflife. Supplemental nutrients often disrupt internal chemistry.