Keepin’ dem seeds fresh: Tips from ya boy Dan

Yo, it’s Dan, and I’m here to talk about preserving your seeds, so you can keep that dank genetic goodness for a long-ass time. Here’s the deal: cannabis seeds may seem tough, but they’re actually living organisms that need the right conditions to survive. If you don’t keep them in check, they’ll die before you even get to germinate them. So, listen up, and I’ll give you the low-down on how to keep your seeds fresh.

The Four Horsemen of the Seed-pocalypse

Cannabis seeds have four main enemies: humidity, temperature, light, and oxygen. These are the things that will mess up your seeds if you don’t take care of them. Ideally, you want to store your seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place. Keep ’em in their original packaging if you can.

If your seeds get exposed to light or rapid temperature changes, they’ll use up their nutrient stores before they ever get a chance to germinate. High humidity is also bad news because it can cause fungi to grow on your seeds. Here’s how different levels of humidity affect your cannabis seeds:

– 80-100%: Seeds germinate.

– 40-60%: Seeds increase respiration and seed storage fungi become a significant problem.

– 20-30%: Short-term storage.

– 18-20%: Medium-term storage.

– 12-14%: Long-term storage.

– 8-9%: Shorter longevity than seeds stored at a slightly higher humidity.

So, as you can see, humidity is no joke. You need to keep your seeds in the right conditions if you want them to last.

Where and How to Store Your Cannabis Seeds

For short-term storage, find a dark cupboard or drawer with stable temperatures. Don’t put your seeds in an area that’s prone to temperature changes. If you live in an area with hot days and cool nights, don’t store your seeds outside in a shed or garage.

If you want to store your seeds for the long haul, put them with a desiccant like silica gel in a sealed container inside the fridge. Just remember that opening the door of your fridge can cause some pretty dramatic temperature shifts. So if you have another fridge that doesn’t get used as much as your kitchen one, use that one instead.

Whenever possible, keep your seeds in their original packaging. If you open a pack of seeds and there are leftovers, transfer them directly into an airtight container like Ziplock bags. These bags are great because you can remove all the air from them to create an almost vacuum-sealed container for your seeds. Once vacuum-sealed, put your bag inside a dark plastic bag or dark container to protect them from the fridge light.

Can You Store Seeds in the Freezer?

Yes! You can store cannabis seeds in the freezer. The lower the temperature, the slower they decline. However, it’s usually not necessary to freeze your seeds if you follow the guidelines above. Keep them in the right conditions and you should be able to preserve your seeds for up to five years and still get a high germination rate.

Knowing Which Seeds to Plant and Which to Store

When it’s time to germinate your seeds, inspect them and germinate any with damage to the outer shell first. The outer shell protects the volatile genetics inside so make sure it’s intact. If there are cracks in the shell or other damage, those seeds are more vulnerable and shouldn’t be stored.

Most reputable seed banks like ILGM inspect all seeds before packaging and shipping. If you notice any damage to our your seeds upon arrival, contact their customer service team right away.

Tips for Germinating Old Cannabis Seeds

We’ve all found old cannabis seeds at some point or another. Here are some tips on how to germinate them:

1. Pre-soak with enriched carbonated water: Soak your old seeds in carbonated water enriched with fulvic acid, germination booster, hydrogen peroxide, or gibberellic acid for 12 hours in a dark place.

2. Scar your seeds: Older seeds often have an extra tough outer shell that’s hard for moisture and warmth to penetrate. Gently scratch this shell with sandpaper just before soaking them.

3. Remove a seed’s ridge: The ridge is the slightly elevated side of your seed that can become extra tough over time. Use a sharp Stanley blade to remove it gently so your seed can sprout.

4. Slice open your seed: As a last-ditch effort, create a small cut in the seed’s shell before soaking it. This isn’t guaranteed to work though so be careful not to damage the embryo or it won’t ever germinate.

Keep It Fresh

That’s it folks! Follow these tips and you’ll have fresh cannabis seeds for years to come. Remember: they’re living organisms that need TLC if they’re going to survive until it’s time to plant them. Don’t let ’em down!