The First Two Weeks: A Survival Guide for Your Weed Seedling
You’ve done it. You successfully germinated your seed, a tiny taproot emerged, and now a little green sprout has broken through the surface of the soil. Congratulations. You are officially a cannabis grower.
Now, welcome to the most exciting and the most dangerous two weeks of your plant’s entire life.
Recommended Strains
24k Gold
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THC: 19% - 22% -
Type of seed: Feminized -
Phenotype: 40% Sativa / 60% Indica -
Day to flower: 8 - 10 weeks
24k Gold Autoflower
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THC: 18% - 24%
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Type of seed: Autoflowering
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Phenotype: 60% Sativa / 40% Indica
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Flavor: Citrus, Fruity, Sweet -
Life cycle of: 8 - 10 weeks
A cannabis seedling is a fragile baby. It is incredibly vulnerable. Your number one job during this phase is not to feed it or train it. Your number one job is to be its bodyguard.
The First Challenge: Don’t Mistake Your Baby for a Weed
Alright, listen to me, because this is the most common and most tragic mistake a new grower can make. When your cannabis seedling first emerges from the soil, it will not look like a cannabis plant.
The very first pair of leaves to unfurl are small, oval, and perfectly round. These are called the cotyledons. They are the plant’s pre-packed lunch, containing all the stored energy from the seed itself. And they look almost exactly like a common, worthless garden weed.
I cannot tell you how many excited new growers have tragically “weeded” their own precious cannabis sprout right out of the pot.
Be patient. Do not touch it. After a day or two, you will see the first set of iconic, serrated (jagged-edged) cannabis leaves start to emerge from the center, between those two round baby leaves. Once you see those serrated leaves, you know you have your champion.
Promos & Deals
The Second Challenge: Protecting it From Predators
Your tiny seedling is not only fragile; it’s also incredibly delicious. Those first sprouts are packed with nutrition, and to the local wildlife, they are a five-star meal.
If you are growing outdoors, you absolutely must protect your seedlings. Birds, rabbits, and even larger animals like deer or sheep see your vulnerable sprout as a tasty and easy snack. You need to build a small protective cage around it. A simple cylinder made of chicken wire, or even just a large plastic bottle with the top and bottom cut off, can be the difference between a thriving plant and a mysterious, heartbreaking disappearance overnight.
The Basics of Seedling Care: Less is More
Once your seedling is identified and protected, what does it need from you? Almost nothing. The number one killer of seedlings is too much love.
- Water: Keep the soil moist, but NOT soaking wet. Think of the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. Overwatering will drown the delicate new roots faster than anything else.
- Light: Give it gentle light. A powerful, intense grow light will scorch a seedling. A simple fluorescent light or a dimmable LED, kept at a safe distance, is perfect.
- Food: Give it none. Your seedling has all the food it needs for the first week or two packed inside its cotyledons. Do not introduce any nutrients until your plant has developed at least two or three sets of true, serrated leaves.
Your job in these first couple of weeks is to be a guardian. Protect your seedling from being mistaken for a weed, protect it from being eaten, and protect it from your own desire to over-love it. Do that, and you will have a thriving young plant ready for its explosive vegetative growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the very first leaves of a cannabis seedling look like?
The very first two leaves are called cotyledons. They are not the classic jagged-edged cannabis leaf. They are small, perfectly round or oval-shaped, and they look very much like a common garden weed. Be patient and wait for the second set of serrated leaves to appear before you do anything.
How do I stop my outdoor cannabis seedlings from being eaten by animals?
You must protect them. A simple, small cage made of chicken wire or a plastic cylinder (like a cut-up soda bottle) placed over the seedling is usually enough to protect it from being eaten by birds, rabbits, and other critters while it’s in its most vulnerable stage.
Do I need to give my brand new cannabis seedling any nutrients?
No. Absolutely not. The seedling gets all the food it needs for the first week or two of its life from the energy stored in its first two round leaves (the cotyledons). Introducing nutrients too early is a common mistake that can burn and kill the fragile young plant.
What is the most common way that beginners accidentally kill their seedlings?
Overwatering. Without a doubt. A seedling’s roots are tiny and need oxygen as much as they need water. Keeping the soil constantly saturated will drown the roots, causing the seedling to droop and die. The soil should be moist, never a swamp.
