After working hard in germinating weed seeds, it might be gratifying to throw your unused seeds in a bag for another time. Conversely, you will be in for a nasty surprise when the time comes to germinating weed seeds for another batch of seeds. Cannabis Seeds would no longer be best suited for planting if stored incorrectly. So keep reading if you wanna learn the tips on storing your Cannabis Seeds.
Why is the proper storing of seeds important?
Cannabis Seeds can stay intact for 5 to 10 years with the right procedure of storage. The storing of seeds is significant for a lot of reasons. Someone who has produced their high-quality genetic makeup may also want to keep the Cannabis Seeds to recreate the strain. Some marijuana growers that live in areas in which there is a lot of marijuana activism and restructure are currently storing Cannabis Seeds of their favorite strains to grow if it is legal in the future. And whatever the reason could be to have seeds, keep that taking care of them is among the most important things you could do for your crop.
Proper temperature for storing seeds
The perfect temperature for storing your Cannabis Seeds is between 43° to 47° F. The lower the temp, the less likely your marijuana seed will germinate unusually. Experienced cannabis growers appear to have special refrigerators in place to store their weed seeds. Preferably, your refrigerator is a non-frost model. Unless you can put the Cannabis Seeds in the vegetable and fruit section, it’s even better. Another alternative is to freeze your Cannabis Seeds. And if you’re going that way, please make sure you’re vacuum packing it first. Then placed it in a dark container. As well, this would help if you were to germinate such seeds promptly after they came out from the freezer. Don’t let them defrost first.
Proper Humidity
Your Cannabis Seeds need to have a certain amount of moisture for germination. When the humidity level is too high, your Cannabis Seeds will rot in the storage container. The incredibly low moisture content of about 8 to10% is only suitable for long-term storage. If it falls below 8%, you will give any pests present in the seedlings the possibility of becoming active and begin reproducing.
Below is the following probability on what is likely to happen to Cannabis Seeds at various humidity levels:
- 61%+ – You are putting your seeds at risk the higher this humidity level is. When it reaches 80%, your Cannabis Seeds would then wilt and end up dying in about 12 hours.
- 31 – 60% – It’s a germination zone, especially when the humidity level exceeds 40%.
- 21 – 30% – Ideal humidity level for storing cannabis seed.
- 9 – 20% – the seeds are more prone to developing outdoor and indoor fungi. They start sweating at less than 20% humidity. Nevertheless, 8 to 10 percent is a ‘sweet spot’ for long-term storage under the right environment.
- <8% – Seeds are going to attract insects as well as other pests.
Right Storage Options for Cannabis Seeds
You now know that you need to keep your seeds away from direct light. Here is the outlined need for comparatively low humidity and cooler-level temp. There are different options available based on how long you plan to store the Cannabis Seeds.
Short-Term Storing
If you want short-term storage for your seeds, a cupboard or a dark drawer is enough. The most significant thing, despite the duration of storage, would be to prevent fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Fast temperature variations, in specific, could also ruin your Cannabis Seeds and if you live in a place with hot daytime temps and cold nights, avoid storing your seeds outside. Put your Cannabis Seeds in a desiccant container for short-term storage. Seal it, and put it in a dark, cool place.
Medium-Term Storing
After entering medium-term storage (a few months), it’s also time to use the airtight container. These include a ziplock bag or a mason jar. Put this sealable bag/container in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that opening your refrigerator can cause major temperature changes. As a result, it’s indeed suitable if you have a second refrigerator that is rarely used. You must also note that modern refrigerators have low humidity levels. And if the humidity is too low, then your seeds will start using nutrients.
Long-Term Storing
If you’d like to store your Cannabis Seeds for about 6 months, then use a vacuum-sealed bag/container. This effect can be achieved by detaching all the air from the Ziploc container/bag. And also, special vacuum sealed bags are available online. Place the sealed bags in the dark containers and place them in the refrigerator. You also have the option to place your Cannabis Seeds in the freezer. Even though you have to germinate immediately after removal.
Tips on germinating the old Cannabis Seeds
Here are some tips as to how to germinate your old Cannabis Seeds:
Pre-soaking to enriched carbonated water
Before actually germinating your old Cannabis Seeds, try to soak them in a germination booster, carbonated water enriched with fulvic acid, hydrogen peroxide, or gibberellic acid. For optimum quality, use room temp water and soak your Cannabis Seeds in a dark place for 12 hours.
Scar your Cannabis Seeds
Old Cannabis Seeds often have an additional amount of hard outer shell. Slowly scratch this shell with some sandpaper that could help to bring warmth and moisture to your cannabis seed at the time of germination. Try to gently scar your old weed seeds just before they can be soaked to help them sprout.
Remove the ridge of the seeds
The ridge is the slightly raised side of the seed. Like many other parts of the shell, the ridge could become super hard over time. Slowly remove it with a sharp blade that can help your weed seed sprout.
Slice open the seeds
In the last attempt to germinate your Cannabis Seeds, it may be helpful to make a small cut in the seed’s shell. Conversely, it is not a magic solution, and you’ll need to be sure to avoid damaging it inside. Keep in mind that some older seeds just don’t germinate, no matter how very much you try. If possible, stop purchasing too many seeds just like you plan to plant in order to avoid any problems at the time of the germination.
Final Thoughts
If you buy and intend to use Cannabis Seeds right away, you must not have any problems. Besides that, it is also best to just keep them away from the direct light. For short-term storage, a dark cupboard is enough as long as the humidity and temperature are appropriate. If your goal is to store marijuana seed for months instead of days and weeks, everything adjusts. You need to have an airtight bag/container that you need to store in a refrigerator. These include vacuum-sealed bags if you are planning to store the cannabis seed for a few months or even longer. If storing Cannabis Seeds, you must guarantee that they’re not exposed to germination environments. This implies that they are kept away from the direct light. Store them in 20 to 30% humidity (or 8 to 10% for long-term storing and cool temperature. Keep the surroundings clean to prevent pests, and take into account the tips mentioned for germinating old Cannabis Seeds.
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