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How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds in Winter

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Mike Wilson
Semillas de cannabis

First of all, we tell you that to germinate your cannabis seeds, you will only need water, heat, and air to break the shell that covers them and give life to the main or primary root. They do not need hormones, fertilizers, or additional additives. The sprouting of the seeds takes place without light with certain temperature ranges. Seeds that are in a healthy state germinate in 2 to 7 days. 

When germination occurs, the outer protective shell of the seed opens and a small white shoot emerges called the taproot. Then, the cotyledon leaves emerge from the ground with their respective stem from inside the seed shell, seeking the light.

If you want to keep the seeds for later cultivation, it is best to keep them in an airtight pot with a hemertic bag and in complete darkness in the area where you keep the vegetables in your fridge. This allows good conservation of the seeds and prevents major germination problems in the future. On the contrary, the seeds will germinate easily and quickly if you preserve them in this way.

Step by step guide to germinating seeds in winter

1- First 24 hours: You can let the seeds rest in a glass of water. Make sure the ambient temperature of the place does not drop below 15ºC or 59ºF.

2- Second, take the seeds and put them on a damp napkin in an airtight plastic container that you can put on top of a heat source such as a television or internet modem. Make sure that the napkin has a certain thickness so that the seed does not burn with the heat of the modem and try to maintain the room temperature so that the container and the seed do not suffer from sudden changes in temperature.

3- After 24 to 72 hours, the seeds will germinate. Try to always keep the container and the napkins moist. If you wish, as soon as you see the root come out from inside the seed, you can transfer it to the ground. In other cases, you can wait for the taproot to spread a bit more before putting it in the ground which some growers prefer.

What does the seed need to germinate?

You may already understand what you need to be able to germinate your cannabis seeds in a great way. However, we are going to leave you with a list of the basic and fundamental elements to carry out the process.

A great level of water:

When you soak cannabis seeds in water, it allows the moisture to penetrate the protective shell of the seed in minutes. In a few days, this allows the hormones to be activated and send enough signals to produce the main root. The white radicle means that it is ready to go into the ground and start its cycle as a plant.

It is also good to say that some seeds need a lot of humidity to germinate. You must be careful because too much water deprives the seed of oxygen, reducing its quality, or damaging it completely. On the other hand, when the seeds are fragile and they are germinated and they suffer water stress (excess water), the growth of the seedlings is weaker.

Good temperature: 

Generally speaking, pot seeds germinate with temperatures of 70 ° F to 90 ° F (21 ° C to 32 ° C) and grow best at 78 ° F (26 ° C).  Temperatures below 21 ° C (70 ° F) and above 32 ° C (90 ° F) can damage germination and low temperatures can slow germination. When you germinate cannabis seeds in high temperatures, they can be chemically affected and the result will be poor germination.

Air and oxygen:

When starting the germination process, it is necessary to take into account that the seeds require fresh air at certain times to have a successful germination. For this reason, we recommend that every 4 or 5 hours, you open the airtight plastic pot that you are using in order to let the air circulate and if necessary, we suggest that you change the wet napkins because in some cases they tend to produce fungus that can affect the cannabis seeds you want to germinate.

The best strain for growing in winter

Now you know the main tips to germinate your weed seeds in winter, so you are ready to start growing your own cannabis plants. We will leave you with the best strains that you can have in your garden during the winter temperatures. We made this list thinking about the level of difficulty of the plants, how heavy their harvests are, their aromas and flavors, as well as the power of their buds.

Gorilla G4

We put Gorilla G4 on this list because it meets the requirements to be grown indoors during winter. In the first place, it is a mostly sativa variety that produces heavy indoor yields of 500gr – 600gr/m2 and is ready to be harvested in a period of 9-10 weeks of flowering.

GORILLA G4 BUD

The spicy pine and sweet flavors such as cherry are accompanied by its power that reaches 27% THC. These combine in a great way with the effects of this variety that are euphoric, super energetic, and happy with a lot of laughter and also relaxed in terms body effects.

Cafe Racer

This wonderful variety that we baptize as Cafe Racer is a favorite of growers and followers of Blimburn Seeds as it stands out for being a very great producer of buds with indoor yields from 350gr – 450gr/m2 in a relatively short time of only 70 – 75 days of flowering indoors.

Cafe Racer Marihuana Plant

Also, it stands out for the deliciousness of the flowers that produce citrus flavors of grapes and earth, a combination that permeates the palate and that is also released with the smoke in each puff. The potency of this variety can reach 27% THC, causing effects of creative moments with laughter and joy. If you go beyond the limits, you will feel a bearable body relaxation.

Black Domina Fast Version

Black Domina Fast Version should undoubtedly be on this list because it has mostly indica genetics with ultra fast flowering, taking only 6 – 8 weeks which is very beneficial for indoor winterizers. The harvests are abundant with 350gr – 450gr/m2 of buds indoors, a non-depreciable quantity, even more so if you are a fan of indica genetics.

Its effect is absolutely relaxing, perfect for smoking after a long day of work. This strain has a potency that ranges from 11% – 18% THC. The flavors are delicious as they have fruity notes with spicy touches and earthy fragrances.

Tips for growing indoors in winter

Here, the most advisable thing is to grow completely indoors. If you try to do a mixed culture, that is, that the plant grows with natural light and adding indoor lighting, be warned that your cultivation could be a failure because the plant will produce much fewer flowers and also its structural development will be less. Due to that, it is best to have an indoor space where the plants can develop with growth power and then move on to an abundant flowering.

Taking into account the above, we are going to share some tips for successful cultivation in winter. First, the temperature is essential when growing cannabis, especially in winter, so we recommend daytime temperatures of 24-30 °C (75-86 °F). However, at night, the optimum temperatures are between 18-22 °C (64-72 °F).

As a good grower, try to avoid temperatures below the range indicated above and also ensure that the changes in indoor temperatures between day and night are not so abrupt in order to avoid any type of stress to the plants.

It is good to point out that temperature changes cause the plants to make longer and more spaced internodes during the first weeks of flowering. 

On the contrary, if the temperature difference between day and night is the minimal during the first flowering phase, this will reduce the internodal spaces in the weed plant. The maximum ideal temperature difference is 2-4 °C (3.6-7.2 °F) during the first 2-3 weeks of flowering. For the rest of the flowering period, temperature changes should not exceed 10 °C (18 °F) and your plant will flourish happily.

A good way to keep the grow room at the optimum temperature is to use HPS or high pressure sodium lighting. These bulbs emit heat, causing the low temperatures inside to decrease. This trick is widely used by old-fashioned gardeners who have experience growing indoors during winter.  Unlike in summer, when grown in winter, producers turn on the lights at night and use the day as the night period. This allows the grower to take advantage of the warmer temperatures during the day.

When it comes to germinating seeds in challenging conditions, choosing the right strain can make all the difference. Some varieties, such as the Pink Plant strain, have proven to be particularly resilient, offering exceptional results even in colder climates.

To maintain proper temperatures, we recommend that you use a heater during the day if the temperature drops beyond the ideal range of 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). The above, you can keep controlled with a digital thermometer which will indicate the fluctuations in the crop. If you use LED lighting, the best thing you can do is keep a heater on for a longer time in order to stabilize temperatures as these emit much less heat. 

In winter, there is a tendency for low temperatures to increase humidity. For the same reason, mold and other fungi can appear and damage your harvest completely. Make sure to follow our advice and use heaters and the humidity meter. If the humidity problem is very intense, a dehumidifier is needed to lower humidity levels.

There is the possibility that your growing area will be drier in winter as it is for many other growers. If the humidity is too low in winter and that is felt in the grow room, your plants can be affected in their growth because weed plants need a relative humidity of 55% to 60% in growth. In flowering, the humidity should be between 40% to 50% as the ideal maximum.

In short, you already know how to germinate the seeds in winter and we have also shared some tips on how to grow at this time of year so that you will have excellent harvests and a great experience growing. Do not forget that if you have any questions or concerns, you can leave it in the comments and our expert team will give you the advice you need. Buy the best cannabis seeds that are 100% guaranteed here at Blimburn Seeds. See you on the next blog!

Strains featured in this article:

Mike Wilson

Mike Wilson is a passionate cannabis cultivator with over a decade of experience in the California cannabis industry. Born and raised in the heart of the West Coast, Mike has dedicated his life to honing his skills as a cultivator, becoming a true master of the plant. His love for cannabis and profound knowledge of its cultivation have led him to explore every facet of this captivating plant, from classic strains to the latest trends in cultivation and advanced techniques.

With a unique perspective on cannabis culture and a focus on sustainability and quality, Mike generously shares his valuable tips and tricks on this platform. Through his posts, he will guide you on the exciting journey of cannabis cultivation, providing expert insights and practical experiences to help you achieve success in your own cultivation endeavors. Join Mike on his journey through the world of cannabis and discover how to cultivate responsibly and achieve exceptional harvests. Become part of his community and unlock the secrets of a true cannabis master!

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