Cannabis Seed Identification Guide: distinguishing viable seeds from non-viable seeds before planting
Strong, high quality cannabis seeds will ensure a high quality cannabis plant. So, if and how is it possible to identify whether cannabis seeds are good or not? And how long do these seeds retain their vitality? Answers on seed identification:
Identification of a seed
Most of the cannabis seeds offered for sale in seed shops are of high quality. In most cases, they exhibit high germination rates of at least 95% and sometimes even higher ... On the other hand, seeds from an unknown source may well be defective and eventually lead to the growth of a weak and disease-prone plant with slow growth rate and low harvest potential.
You can tell a lot about the health of a seed by looking at it. Here are a few different things you should look for when deciding whether a cannabis seed is good or not.
Dark color
Good cannabis seeds will be brown, black and / or gray. White or green seeds are immature and unlikely to germinate. Your seed should also have scratches or spots all around.
Waxy coating
A healthy seed will have a thin waxy coating around it. This coating seems to have a slight shine.
Hard shell
You should be able to lightly squeeze a seed without crushing. If a seed crushes easily between your fingers, the seed is probably dead or weak and will not grow well.
No cracks
Inspect the entire seed to make sure there are no small cracks or holes. This will likely cause the seeds to not sprout.
Means of testing cannabis seeds
You have a basic guide to distinguish good from bad seeds. Now if the doubt persists, here are several ways to test the seeds.
Test method No.1: seeds floating in water
It's a great test that works for many different seeds - and not just cannabis. Take your seeds and drop them in a cup full of hot water (not too hot) then wait a few hours. If they sink, they are probably good for a crop. If they don't leak, they're probably dead and won't grow.
Note: Do this only if you are ready to germinate your plants. Otherwise, it could hurt your seed.
2 test method: just before and try to sprout the seed
I know it sounds obvious, but it really is the best information ...
If you really want to know if a cannabis seed is capable of germinating, put it in the ground ...
How to sprout a cannabis seed
This is the first step in the journey from your cannabis nursery to a whole plant. There are several ways to do this. One of the ways is to just plant it in your soil and see if a plant appears. It's old school, but no one can deny its simplicity. Plant the seed about 1/4 "(inch) deep and wait.
Another way is to put the seeds on a damp paper towel. Make sure the paper towel is damp, but not too wet… If it gets dry, you can add a few drops of water to the paper towel. Leave the paper towel in a dark place. Remember that the time varies between strains. Some may take just 2 days, while others may take longer… Keep checking them once a day.
Male or female ?
Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if a cannabis seed is going to be male or female. And just by looking at it or doing a simple test.
If you want feminized seeds, you will need to buy them from a reputable seed bank. Make sure they say they are "feminized" - if they don't, the seeds probably won't, or rather randomly. These are the so-called "regular" seeds
If all you get is a bag seed, the only way to know if it's going to be male or female is to develop it.
expiration
The seeds have an expiration date. But if you store your seeds properly, they can remain viable for years and years. Moisture, UV degradation and extreme temperatures could affect the quality of your seeds.
If you plan to store your seeds for a long time, be sure to keep them in an airtight container in a dark area. Ideally, seeds should be stored in an air-conditioned area (such as inside your home rather than in a shed or garage). A survey shows that cannabis seeds sealed in the laboratory were still viable after 19 years.
Conclusion
It's nice to know what to look for, but in the end the best test is just to put it in the ground.
If you are using seed bags you never really know what you will get anyway. If you bought your seeds from a seed bank, you shouldn't worry about it.
