How to Germinate and Sow Seeds

13. 08. 2026

Bred seed varieties have a germination rate of up to 95%. What conditions need to be created so the chances of success and germination of hemp seeds are as high as possible?

Suitable Conditions for Seeds

For seeds to germinate and for us to grow a healthy plant from them, we need to follow some basic rules and avoid mistakes.

Cleanliness is the foundation

Before we focus on other essential things, we need to start with the most important one. That is a germ-free environment without bacteria. And how can you ensure an environment that's as sterile and stable as possible?

It's simple: if you're planning to germinate hemp seeds in cotton wool, it's a good idea to first pour boiled water over the cotton wool. Boiling water kills off most of the bacteria. That way the seeds are kept in a relatively sterile environment. Always make sure your hands or gloves are clean whenever you handle them. Seeds are prone to mould.

Proper moisture for germination

Moisture is important when germinating seeds. But remember that what matters is moisture, not sogginess! After moistening the material you're placing the seeds in (cotton wool, fine cloth, toilet paper, cotton pads), don't forget to wring it out. Germinating seeds in water isn't as effective, since seeds need air to grow.

Air humidity is also important, and it should be 70–85%.

The water you use should be left to stand beforehand.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for germinating hemp seeds is between 17°C and 23°C.

Set up a propagator

Since we've said moisture matters, place the damp cotton wool with the seeds in a container and cover the container with cling film in which you've poked some holes. This will give you a moist environment with adequate airflow.

If you're just starting out with no experience and are worried you won't be able to give the seeds the right conditions, don't panic. Propagators exist for exactly this purpose, and you can pick one up for a few dollars to a few hundred (depending on size), safe in the knowledge that, unlike homemade setups, they were made specifically for the needs of the seeds.

Can I use substrate directly instead of cotton wool?

Yes, that's possible too. Seeds can indeed be sown directly into substrate, but paradoxically this method is more complicated. That's because soil contains bacteria, which can put the seeds at risk. There's also a risk of waterlogging and oxygen deprivation.

If you do decide to sow directly, soak the seeds for 24 hours beforehand in a water bath of boiled water at room temperature.

Keep monitoring germination continuously; sprouts break through within 1 to 4 days. If nothing happens after a week, you probably don't have ideal conditions and will need to start over. Once the sprouts are about 10 mm long, it's time to plant them.

Sowing germinated seeds

The maximum depth for planting a seed is about 4 cm; we recommend planting 2 cm below the surface with the root facing down. When choosing your substrate, it's worth pausing for a moment. Seedlings prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil, and the pH value should be between 5.5 and 6.

To measure pH, you can use a special test strip, available at pharmacies. Coco substrate can be used for sowing seeds and further hemp cultivation. This is a good choice, since the plant doesn't need too many nutrients. Look for a substrate that isn't too rich in humus.

The substrate holding the sprout must not dry out, which is often the underlying problem in cultivation. It's easy to get used to not having to monitor moisture during germination, since it's maintained by the propagator itself. Once the sprout dries out in the soil, you can say goodbye to it.

At the same time, the young plant is highly susceptible to bacteria and mould, so overwatering can also harm it.

When watering the plant, you should always let tap water stand first, or use rainwater. The ideal pH value of the water should be 5.7.

Further recommendations:

• Buy seeds from reliable sellers – you'll have the assurance that the seeds were kept under suitable storage conditions and are in good order
• Buy legal and certified hemp seeds
• If you're planting into substrate, don't buy one that's over-fertilised
• Substrate is often contaminated with bacteria/fungi, so buy a product to clean it or bake it in the oven (high temperature kills bacteria)
• Disinfect the container and your hands (wear gloves)
• Don't plant hemp seeds too deep – around 1–2 cm below the surface is ideal

I've followed all the instructions and my seeds still won't germinate. What now?

Seeds can sometimes have a hard shell and can't break through it. There are several ways to help them along. Special products are sold that dissolve the shell and help the seed germinate. But there are other methods too.

• Peroxide – Peroxide is ideal for supporting germination for two reasons. Firstly, it acts as a disinfectant, so if the seed is contaminated, it frees it from any bacteria. At the same time, it dissolves the seed shell, making it easier for the seed to germinate. How is it used? Quite simply: leave the seeds in water that's been left to stand for one to three days, and add the peroxide directly to the water.
• Scoring the surface of the seed with a scalpel
• Damaging the surface by rubbing it against a hard surface – e.g. a table

I want to start growing – which seeds should I buy?

Hemp offers many benefits, so if you decide to start growing straight away, we recommend which seeds to buy. You can choose from our wide range. And if we had to recommend a few, these would be them:

Wellness CBD seeds – this variety is rich in CBD, with the flowers containing up to 18% of this cannabinoid. The plant is robust, has a thick stem, and so also withstands unfavourable outdoor conditions. The plant also contains numerous beneficial terpenes.

Infinity CBD seeds – this plant is also very rich in CBD. What's more, it's very resilient, so growing it isn't particularly difficult. The most common terpenes found in Infinity CBD are geraniol, ocimene and caryophyllene.

CBG Origin seeds – as the name suggests, the CBG Origin variety has an unusually high amount of the active cannabinoid CBG, which promotes relaxation and calm.