Smart Start

Smart Start: The smart way for germinating cannabis seeds

Assuming you’ve already picked out your cannabis seeds, there are just a few things you need to arrange before getting down to business:

• A litre of lukewarm water (25°C / 77°F)
• Some Perlite
• A propagator (The Propagator Pro is perfect for this!)
• A screwdriver (or something for poking holes with)
• Sticky tape or tie-wrap

Your first step is to dissolve the packet of Stimulator Mix (activating bacteria), that’s delivered with the Smart Start, in the water. The Stimulator Mix is to activate the microbes in the Smart Pots, an essential element of a successful germination.

Now spread a thin layer of Perlite in the base of the propagator and lay the pots on it. Moisten but don’t soak the Perlite and the pots with the Stimulator Mix solution. The Perlite layer should only be a thin water layer that stays well below the Perlite’s surface. With the right moisture level the pots will be moist too, having absorbing water from the Perlite. Too much water and the pots risk become waterlogged, which is a real no-no for seedlings. The moist Perlite will also keep the humidity inside the propagator nice and high.

The compost in each pot has a hole already made in it, but this needs to be made 5-10 mm deep. Simply mark this depth on the screwdriver / hole-poker with a piece of tape or tie-wrap and poke into the pot until the marker is level with the compost surface.

Now you’re ready for the big moment: dropping your cannabis seeds into the hole in each pot, one seed per hole. Tamp them down gently to the correct depth with the screwdriver and cover the seed & hole lightly with a little soil to ensure they're sat in total darkness. They'll love you for it! Don’t fret about the orientation of the cannabis seed as the seedling will naturally grow upwards to the surface in search of light, and the root will grow downwards looking for water. Amazing, no?

Now you wait… for between 1 and 8 days, while the seed germinates. All you need to do is check the pots regularly and ensure the Perlite does not become too dry or too wet. Be patient; they will come - so don’t blow it by opening the pots to check what’s going on!

What’s going on is that the root is elongating and the seedling is working hard to pop its head out of the compost. It may emerge with its seed case sitting on top of the two seed leaves. Just leave this to fall off on its own, as attempting to peel it off yourself creates the risk of damaging the fragile shoot, which is vital for starting the feeding of the young seedling.

Once the babies have grown by 2-3 cms they’re ready for re-potting. Carefully take the Smart Start tray out of the propagator and slide the seedlings gently from their plastic Smart Start pots taking care not to damage the fragile young roots and the shoot. Leave the compost around the young plant, and pop the whole lot into your grow medium (soil, hydro, expanded clay pebbles or whatever it is you’re using).

And that’s the end of the Smart Start and the beginning of the (hopefully, still smart) care and feeding stage of the grow operation.