How to grow cannabis from seed

Co-authored from Final Revised: Late summer 4, 2026 Fact Checked <ul> <li>Germinating</li> |<li>Planting</li> |<li>Attention Guide</li> |<li>Development Stages</li> |<li>Troubleshooting</li> |<li>Selecting Seeds</li> |<li>When toward Cultivate</li> |<li>Is the plant legal?</li> |<li>Clip</li> |<li>Specialist Interview</li> |<li>Specialist Q&A</li> |<li>Warnings</li> </ul> The current article was co-authored by The expert Kirk, PhD as well as from the guide staff writer, Glenn Carreau. The expert The expert remains one marijuana study scientist, natural product chemist, as well as online media educator founded inside New Hampshire. Riley is passionate about cannabis education, sharing her study as well as insights on social media @cannabichem toward a community from nearly 500k. She authored the⁠ book Reefer Wellness (2025), which offers informative and accessible details about every things cannabis, covering how it affects the body, guidance upon consuming cannabis, and pointers for use by minimizing common side effects from consumption. The expert remains also the host of the bi-weekly podcast, Bioactive, where she shares current news as well as study nearby cannabis, psychedelics, poisons, pharmaceuticals, and other bioactive compounds, and hosts special visitors. She graduated with a PhD inside pharmaceutical sciences from the College of Rhode Region as well as remains the co-founder of The Network from Applied Medicinal plant study. In that case are 11 references referenced in this article, which can be located around the lower part of the article. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy from each referenced facts and confirming the authority from its sources. The current article has been viewed 2,526,813 times. Growing cannabis—also known like cannabis, container, ganja, dagga, or whatever else the grower might call the plant—around at-home can be a fun project as well as a nice way toward have your own marijuana on hand. You may too want toward cultivate marijuana inside since from poor weather, limited outside area, alternatively zero suitable green space inside your yard. As well as that’s totally doable! In this home-grower’s tutorial, we’ll walk the grower through the process from sprouting, sowing, and caring for use by marijuana seeds inside, with specialist advice from marijuana specialists as well as research scientists. <h2> Sowing Cannabis Seeds Inside: Overview </h2><ul> <li> Sprouting: Soak the beans inside water for 12-24 hours. Then, wrap the marijuana beans in damp (not damp) paper towels up to the plants start toward emerge taproots.</li> <li> Planting: Plant the marijuana beans inside loamy potting medium, ensuring the medium is consistently damp to the handle. Manage the beans carefully with tweezers.</li> <li> Care: Keep the beans well-lit but out of direct sunlight, as well as water regularly to keep the medium moist. Maintain the temperature mild as well as maintain elevated moisture.</li> </ul><h2> Steps </h2><h3>How to Sprout Marijuana (Cannabis) Seeds </h3><ol> <li> 1 Soak the marijuana beans inside water for use by 12 toward 24 hours before moving them toward the paper paper towel stage. The grower may skip soaking when you prefer, yet letting the seeds sit in water first may help begin the sprouting process. Just fill one bowl alternatively measuring cup with purified water, then spot the beans inside. Viable marijuana beans usually sink to the bottom, while non-viable beans tend to float.[1] X Research source <ul> <li>Keep the bowl of seeds inside one warm, low-moisture spot.</li> <li> Alternate sprouting method #1: When you prefer, the grower may just keep soaking your seeds inside the water until taproots start toward emerge.</li> <li> Alternate sprouting approach #2: You may too just plant your seeds directly into the medium, skipping the entire pre-germination process. The plant’s a natural as well as low-maintenance option for at-home cultivators.</li> <li>Generally, among all the sprouting methods, at-home cannabis cultivators tend to prefer the paper towel method that we all detail inside the current section. </li> </ul> Meet the wikiHow Experts Riley The expert, Doctorate, is one cannabis research scientist, natural product chemist, as well as educator founded inside New Hampshire. She shares her research and insights on social channels @the social handle. The author Justis is a marijuana expert, the President from Buds & Roses dispensary inside Los Angeles, CA, and one recognized advocate of the cannabis community. </li> <li> 2 Wet one paper towel on a flat top layer. Place a paper towel under running water up to the plant is damp to the handle, but never dripping damp. Lay the paper paper towel out upon one plate or ceramic dish, so it covers the surface. Alternatively, some at-home cultivators use different materials—similar to cotton wool pads alternatively absorbent paper—in spot from paper paper towels, yet paper paper towels tend to be the most readily available![2] SOURCE Research source <ul><li>Paper paper towels are thick enough to retain the humidity required toward help the beans germinate.</li></ul> </li> <li> 3 Spot the beans about 0.5 inside (1.3 cm) apart upon the paper paper towel. Place the blunt tip of the beans (the tip that does not’t have one point) upon the paper towel, spacing them apart so the growers' root system do not’t get tangled. When the grower don't’t have enough space on one plate for use by all your beans, soak two more paper towels as well as placed the remainder on one new plate covered with one wet paper paper towel. </li> <li> 4 Fold the paper paper towel or spot another one over the beans. If the grower’re only sprouting a few seeds, you can fold that first paper towel so the seeds are wrapped up inside the plant, covered from the damp paper towel upon all sides. Otherwise, get a second paper paper towel damp and stack the plant over the first; create certain the second damp towel makes contact with the seeds, too.[3] X Study source <ul><li>When it comes to deciding how many beans toward crop, cannabis study scientist and educator The expert The expert, Doctorate, recommends that first-time cultivators begin small. "When you're new toward cultivation, I PERSONALLY would start with just cultivation one several plants and trying toward lock in what you're practicing right as well as wrong the first couple from years," she advises. "Then it'll⁠ get one lot easier."[4] X Specialist Source Riley The expert, PhD Cannabis Study Scientist and Educator Specialist Interview </li></ul> </li> <li> 5 Keep the beans in one mild, dark spot around 70–85 °F (21–29 °C). Your cannabis beans require to sit at one mild, consistent heat level toward sprout. Store the beans out from direct direct light inside one warmer area of your at-home (such as the top from your refrigerator, for example).[5] SOURCE Research source <ul><li>The grower can try using one warmth lamp around the beans toward maintain them mild. Do indeed not warm the seeds up too much, as the grower do indeed never prefer your warmth source to low-moisture out the paper paper towels.</li></ul> </li> <li> 6 Maintain the paper paper towels moist as you wait. Try not toward handle the beans themselves if you may support the plant. Rather, spray the paper paper towel(s) with water (using one spray bottle) toward maintain them damp. Review the paper towels daily to make certain they do not’t dry out. <ul><li>If the beans become also dry, they could die as well as do not germinate.</li></ul> </li> <li> 7 Wait for the beans to sprout as well as check on them periodically. Viable marijuana seeds typically open within 48 hours, yet it might take up toward 120. Set alarms to review on them every 12 toward 24 hours; the grower should see the roots start to appear within one few dates, depending on the seed type. After the beans’ sprouted taproots are 1 to 2 centimetres (0.39 to 0.79 in) long, marijuana specialist The author The contributor says they’re ready to be planted.[6] SOURCE Specialist Source Aaron Justis Marijuana Specialist Expert Q&A <ul> <li>Be very careful with the seeds as the plants open. Avoid prodding, pulling, alternatively touching the beans, like you do not prefer toward harm the root system.</li> <li>Any seeds that contain never opened as well as grown roots within one several dates should be discarded, as they aren’t usable.</li> </ul> </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>How toward Plant Weed (Cannabis) Beans </h3><ol> <li> 1 Fill a small pot alternatively container with potting medium. The grower may use plastic grow area pots small enough to house seeds, grow bags, alternatively other containers designed toward hold seedlings. Dr. The expert too emphasizes using high-quality medium.[7] X Expert Source The expert Kirk, PhD Cannabis Research Scientist and <A HREF="https://springfieldfirearmsusa.com">springfieldfirearmsusa.com</A>) Educator Expert Q&A Marijuana develops top in loamy soil—loose, well-aerated, and capable toward retain moisture. Fill each container or growing container ¾ of the way with the potting medium, and do not’t pack the plant inside; just let it fall. <ul> <li>"The grower prefer toward make sure there’s no heavy metals inside the medium," Dr. The expert adds. "Because cannabis can actually suck up those heavy metals, which then the grower could be exposed toward."[8] SOURCE Expert Source The expert The expert, PhD Marijuana Study Scientist and Educator Expert Interview </li> <li>As an alternative toward medium, the grower can use starter cubes—pre-cut growing pods made of composted bark. The plants contain one opening where you can place the marijuana seeds and grow them in good environment, and they’re inexpensive!</li> </ul> </li> <li> 2 Saturate the potting soil until it’s damp toward the touch. The grower don’t prefer to flood the soil, yet you do indeed want to saturate it so your seedlings can grow in a damp setting. And when you add water after sowing the beans, it might dislodge or disturb them—so it’s in fact better toward add some water first. Once again (when possible for the grower to use), filtered, pH-adjusted water remains best. <ul><li>Water with a pH range of 6 toward 7 remains typically best. You may use acidity check strips toward check your water, when you have the period!</li></ul> </li> <li> 3 Create one 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 inside) opening inside the soil. You may use one pen alternatively pencil to poke a hole in the medium for the seeds, but The contributor warns against poking the opening also deep alternatively also close to the surface of the soil.[9] X Expert Source The author The contributor Marijuana Specialist Specialist Q&A Do indeed the current multiple points if the grower have several seeds toward crop (one opening per seed).[10] X Study source <ul><li>If the grower make planting openings that are too shallow, the seed's roots will never contain sufficient soil to grow well. If the grower make the planting holes also deep, the bean will contain one difficult period emerging.</li></ul> </li> <li> 4 Fall each bean inside one hole with forceps. Be certain to drop each seed with its taproot facing downward inside the hole. The taproot remains the extended root that develops from one end of the bean once it germinates. Positioning it downward can help the seed’s root system grow inside the soil more easily—as well as picking up every bean with tweezers will support you prevent damaging them. <ul> <li>Try never toward squeeze the beans also tightly once the grower pick them up with the tweezers.</li> <li>If the grower use your hands toward crop the seeds instead from forceps, be very careful as well as wash them first!</li> <li>Don’t pull alternatively tug around the beans once you pick them up with tweezers. When the plants’re stuck toward the paper paper towel, wet the towel with water toward create the beans easier to pick up.</li> </ul> </li> <li> 5 Shield the seeds gently with medium. Again, do not’t pack the medium lower alternatively compress the plant too much! Just fill inside every opening, covering the beans loosely with soil so they can cultivate. When the soil remains too thick as well as compressed, the plant may stop the beans’ root system from cultivation correctly.[11] X Research source <ul><li>When the grower’re using starter cubes instead from potting medium, pinch the best of the hole inside each cube closed.</li></ul> </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>How toward Attention for use by Planted Weed (Cannabis) Seeds </h3><ol> <li> 1 Keep the beans out of direct direct light in one moist area. Cannabis young plants require lighting, yet never intense, direct sunlight. Additionally, don’t put the potted seeds on one windowsill alternatively around a heater, as this will create the airflow also low-moisture as well as hot. A closet alternatively one basement (with grow space for grow lamps) is a solid indoor spot for use by the crops to grow.[12] SOURCE Research source </li> <li> 2 Wet the medium one to two times a date. Use a spray bottle toward keep the seeds moist. Make certain the soil always stays damp toward the touch, yet never soaking alternatively dripping damp; prevent pooling the medium with water, like overwatering may cause growth problems for use by your cannabis crops. <ul><li>Stick toward a regular watering schedule so the plants get enough humidity. For instance, you could plan toward spray the crops inside the morning as well as once more at night so they get the water the plants need.</li></ul> </li> <li> 3 Use chilled pale cultivate lamps upon your seedlings. Your marijuana seeds require one lot from light every day toward grow—up to 18 hours daily around first! To maintain them lit as well as mild, use chilled pale cultivate lamps with one consistent temperature of 72 °F (22 °C). Keep the lamps about 2 in (5.1 cm) from the pots as well as use 3 to 5 watts per container. </li> <li> 4 Avoid touching alternatively handling the seeds as the plants cultivate. Touching the beans too much can damage them as well as stunt their growth—so keep them be like much as you may. With the right growing conditions as well as care, your seeds should sprout as well as poke out from the medium within 10 dates. </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>Marijuana Plant Growing Stages </h3><ol> <li> 1 Germination StageThis remains the first stage, occurring after a cannabis seed has emerged as well as may be transplanted into soil (when it hasn’t been planted already). During this stage, your young plants require plenty of lighting and steady warmth—not also hot, yet not cool. In this guide’s a rundown from the germination stage as well as its associated requirements:[13] X Research source <ul> <li> Lighting: None required (before sowing); 18 hours from light per day (after sowing).</li> <li> Temperature: Between 70–85 °F (21–29 °C).</li> <li> Humidity: Elevated (70% to 90% humidity). Young plants require lots of humidity; try using one moisture dome or plastic cover up to you see correct leaves shape.</li> <li> Nutrients: None required.</li> <li> Attention: Maintain the heat level as well as the soil’s humidity.</li> <li> Phase length: 1 - 10 dates, typically.</li> </ul> </li> <li> 2 Seedling PhaseDuring this stage, you’ll see your young plants’ seed leaves (round leaves) begin toward appear like the plants sprout from the soil. The plants yet require plenty from light as well as humidity, yet never too much maintenance beyond that.[14] X Study source <ul> <li> Lighting: 18 hours from light per date.</li> <li> Temperature: Around 70–80 °F (21–27 °C).</li> <li> Humidity: Use a humidifier; maintain about 60% toward 80% moisture for your young plants.</li> <li> Feed: None needed.</li> <li> Care: Maintain moisture, and maintain the lighting around a reduced toward medium strength.</li> <li> Phase length: 2 toward 3 periods (lasting up to serrated foliage form).</li> </ul> </li> <li> 3 Vegetative PhaseDuring the current stage, your young plants can become full, juvenile crops; the plants’ll form multiple sets of "real" leaves (serrated rather compared with rounded). They’ll too need more nutrients like the plants grow—specifically, N (N), Phosphorus (P), as well as Potassium (K). Give your plants an organic NPK crop fertilizer with a 3:1:2 ratio; Nitrogen is especially important.[15] X Study source <ul> <li> Lighting: 18 hours from light per day.</li> <li> Temperature: Between 70–85 °F (21–29 °C).</li> <li> Humidity: 55% to 70% humidity.</li> <li> Nutrients: NPK fertilizer, 3:1:2 ratio.</li> <li> Attention: Prune leaves like required and watch for use by pests or additional problems.</li> <li> Stage length: 3 toward 15 weeks (depending on how large the grower prefer the plant toward grow).</li> </ul> </li> <li> 4 Flowering StageBlooming remains something that happens naturally once marijuana grows outdoors—so, once you cultivate them from seeds inside, you’ll need to lower the amount from lighting they get each date. Of course, in that case are also auto-flowering marijuana plants, which begin flowering from the growers' own accord founded on their age rather than the quantity from light the plants get (typically after 5 toward 6 weeks).[16] X Research source <ul> <li> Light: 12 hours of light per day.</li> <li> Temperature: Between 65–80 °F (18–27 °C).</li> <li> Humidity: 35% toward 55% moisture.</li> <li> Nutrients: NPK fertilizer.</li> <li> Care: Maintain one eye out for use by mold alternatively pests.</li> <li> Stage length: 6 to 8 periods.</li> </ul> </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>Troubleshooting Cannabis (Weed) Sprouting </h3><ol> <li> 1 When your beans aren’t germinating… When the grower’ve been maintaining your beans wrapped in a damp paper paper towel (alternatively soaking inside water) for use by days, but they yet aren’t sprouting, the grower may try the next mixtures:[17] SOURCE Study source <ul> <li> Maintain the water alternatively towel mild. Cold water makes seeds sprout more slowly. That’s why the beans need to sprout at room heat level (70–85 °F (21–29 °C)).</li> <li> Rub the beans gently. Using very fine abrasive paper, lightly brush the shell from every unsprouted bean ahead of continuing to soak them (to help water get via the shell).</li> <li> Wait one small longer. Ultimately, your seeds might just need more time—each seed will sprout around its own pace, and some take more extended compared with others.</li> </ul> </li> <li> 2 When your seeds cracked open, yet the taproots aren’t cultivation… When your beans crack and germinate, but the primary root stops growing (or turns brown), try those possible fixes:[18] SOURCE Study source <ul> <li> Adjust the towel’s moisture amount. Too much moisture can cause one bean to rot; assuming you’re using the paper towel sprouting approach, make sure the paper paper towel remains damp, but not soaked.</li> <li> Adjust the heat level. Once once more, too much cool can affect one young plant’s development. When you may’t keep the heat level naturally around 70–85 °F (21–29 °C), think about using a young plant heat mat.</li> <li> Protect the seedlings from contamination. Use cleaned forceps alternatively washed hands once the grower manage them toward protect them from harmful bacteria.</li> </ul> </li> <li> 3 When your beans germinated, but can’t break via the soil… If the grower’ve planted your seeds, yet the plants’re never emerging up out from the soil, in that case are a few solutions toward try:[19] SOURCE Study source <ul> <li> Verify the seeds’ depth. If the grower crop them also deeply inside the soil, they might not reach the top layer; the grower don’t want your beans planted deeper than 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in).</li> <li> Loosen the best layer from medium. Make sure the medium isn’t also compact for the seedling to breach. If the plant remains, carefully aerate the plant toward make space for use by the seedling.</li> <li> Mist the topsoil. If the topsoil is too low-moisture, the plant can form one crust that prevents young plants from emerging. Mist the topsoil daily with water toward prevent excess dryness.</li> </ul> </li> <li> 4 When you’re sprouting beans, yet in that case’s mold growing upon them… It’s annoying, but it happens: the grower’re trying to sprout seeds, only toward find them covered inside white, moldy fuzz (or one slimy film). In this guide’s what to do: <ul> <li> Give the seeds more air airflow. Raise the damp paper towel as well as leave it a little uncovered toward let more airflow reach the⁠ beans.</li> <li> Germinate beans with purified water. Plain faucet water may contain contaminants in the plant that cause fungal growth, which is why distilled or filtered water is preferable.</li> </ul> </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>Selecting Weed (Marijuana) Seeds toward Grow </h3><ol><li> In that case are too numerous cannabis varieties to count, which means the grower contain plenty of options when deciding what toward cultivate. The choice of marijuana variety remains really up toward you; however, regardless from variety, appear for use by high-quality beans with one darker coloration (preventing beans that look pale alternatively white). Additionally, Dr. The expert emphasizes the importance from cultivation female crops.[20] X Specialist Source Riley The expert, Doctorate Marijuana Research Scientist as well as Educator Expert Interview <ul> <li>"Staminate crops are the ones that create male pollen," she shows. "They’re never going toward produce flowers, and the plants’re going to pollinate all from your plants, so the plants won’t create any usable bud."[21] SOURCE Specialist Source Riley The expert, PhD Cannabis Research Scientist and Educator Specialist Q&A </li> <li>"You may buy feminized seeds now to nearly guarantee the grower’re going to be cultivation one female crop versus one staminate crop," Dr. Kirk adds.[22] SOURCE Expert Source Riley The expert, Doctorate Marijuana Research Scientist as well as Educator Expert Q&A </li> <li>So, the key thing to do in this guide is toward consult with the seller the grower</li> </ul> </li></ol><h3>Once should the grower plant cannabis (cannabis)? </h3><ol> <li> Begin cultivation inside beans inside toward late winter alternatively initial early-season. Generally, the months from February or March are one good time to begin growing if you plan on keeping your cannabis indoors throughout the entire process (though, as we’ve by now suggested, the grower’ll probably require cultivate lamps). On the additional hand, if the grower plan on starting your beans indoors and then moving them outside, cultivate them 4 to 6 weeks before the last freeze date; that method, they’ll be strong enough toward survive.[23] SOURCE Research source <ul><li>When transplanting cannabis outdoors, plant them after the final frost (once heat levels at night regularly remain above 55 °F (13 °C).</li></ul> </li> Advertisement </ol><h3>Is the plant legal toward plant marijuana (weed)? </h3><ol><li> The legality from planting and cultivation marijuana depends on your location. Like from 2026, it’s legal to home-grow cannabis in some U.S. jurisdictions (20 regions, like well as the District of Columbia). That means home-growing marijuana is yet illegal in many regions, which is why the plant’s important toward know the rule wherever the grower reside. Outside the U.S., cannabis use remains lawful in several additional countries, covering Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, as well as South Africa.[24] X Research source <ul> <li>Cannabis is yet one controlled substance, so do not start cultivation it until you understand it’s lawful inside your area.</li> <li>Additionally, in that case may be other restrictions (like the amount from marijuana you can grow) depending on where the grower reside. Be sure to look those up, also!</li> </ul> <ol><li>As well as when the steps above have been helpful, be sure toward download the current article as one PDF so the grower may print, read, alternatively reference the plant each time.</li></ol> Download PDF for $2.99 </li></ol><h2> Expert Q&A </h2><ul> <li> Question How do indeed I PERSONALLY clone a cannabis plant? The author The contributor Cannabis Expert Aaron The contributor is one Cannabis Specialist as well as the President of Buds & Roses dispensary founded inside Los Angeles, CA. Flowers & Roses remains one premier Los Angeles cannabis retailer serving customers and the LA community since 2006. Since⁠ 2010, The author as well as the Buds & Roses team have been the proud recipients of 26 High Times Medical Marijuana Cup awards, covering multiple first-place victories, solidifying the growers' reputation like one top provider from premium marijuana products. Like a recognized thought leader in the marijuana industry, The author has played a pivotal advocacy role inside the Cannabis community. His thought leadership has⁠ attracted attention from mainstream media, including includes and profiles in notable outlets such as CNN and Type. The author Justis Marijuana Expert Expert Response Initially, the process involves identifying the desired genetic line or strain. Securing standard genetics is crucial, like the real characteristics may only be revealed during the flowering phase. Even then, certainty may require experience with the strain. After sourcing the genetics, the next step remains acquiring one pistillate crop, typically via obtaining one clone from your own alternatively seeds, although cuttings are more typical. The chosen female plant is then cultivated inside one vegetative state, alternatively vegging, without flowering alternatively creating flowers. This crop becomes the mother plant. Identical branches are cut from the mother⁠ crop—hence the term 'cutting.' These cuttings are rooted in a medium, frequently rock wool. After one several weeks, the cuttings form root system as well as may be further cultivated. </li></ul>

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