Keeping your cannabis seeds safe and viable is essential. To help you get the most out of your “magic beans”, here are some handy dos and don’ts for correctly storing cannabis seeds.
1. DO – keep your cannabis seeds dry.
Damp or wet seeds will begin to germinate, and even small amounts of moisture or humidity inside packaging can cause rot and mould.
2. DON’T – let them get too warm.
Warmth will also encourage germination, and high temperatures can damage cannabis seeds, effectively ‘cooking’ the insides.
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3. DO – keep them in the dark.
Darkness encourages seeds to remain dormant; long exposure to light may damage and degrade the health of the seeds.
4. DON’T – squash them!
Pretty obvious really, but make sure the shells remain intact. The shell is the seed’s natural defence against outside elements.
5. DO – keep them labelled.
Cannabis seeds do tend to all look very similar; make sure your strains don’t get mixed up!
6. DON’T – let them get too cold.
Freezing cannabis seeds will damage at least some of them. The door of a fridge is the ideal temperature (5 – 6 degrees centigrade).
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7. DO – keep your hands, working area and any equipment clean and dry.
Mould and fungus can grow on seeds even when they are refrigerated.
8. DON’T – let pests or rodents get to your cannabis seeds.
Keeping them in the fridge is a good way of ensuring this also.
9. DO – make sure you buy cannabis seeds from a reputable seed bank, such as Sensi Seeds or White Label Seed Company.
Seeds should arrive in the original packaging and be clean and solid.
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10. DON’T – pack your cannabis seeds with NON-FOOD GRADE silica gel.
Or anything else that could be toxic!
Following these handy tips for storing cannabis seeds should keep the original germination rate (which, if you bought seeds from a reliable seed company, should be around 95%) unchanged for at least two years, and potentially as many as five! After some years, the germination rate will gradually decline. However, thanks to the naturally stubborn survival traits of cannabis, there is no deadline at which all the cannabis seeds in a batch will suddenly lose the ability to germinate. Anecdotal reports of cannabis seeds that were over 20 years old when they were germinated and still produced a 60% germination rate can be found on various cannabis forums, so with correct storage, your precious seeds will remain an investment for years to come!
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
If I buy seeds and the weather is below freezing will the seeds get damaged during cold weather shipping?
No
Thanks that was very helpful
Freezing seeds above 6% humidity will kill them. Master drying (your own)… whoch takes time and care… or don’t freeze. Just chill. (Sensi’s advice is good)
My cannibus seeds were delivered and left in my mailbox for 1 day with Temps in the 90s. Would this ruin my germination rate? I did put them in the refrigerator as soon as I got them out of the mailbox.
for 1 day it shouldn’t matter too much, but definitely not optimal.
I dont believe freezing damages cannabis seeds. if they are properly dried and are around 6 to 8 percent humidity freezing is the best way to keep them for longevity. Banks that keep heirloom/landrace cannabis seeds do so with cryo freezers and I don’t think they would do that if it wasn’t the best way.
Good afternoon John
I hope you’re having a great day!
Thanks so much for your sharing your opinion,
Normally, we advise that all seeds should be kept in a dark dry, cool place. Ideally around 4º C.
Freezing seeds with excess moisture and humidity can often lower he germination rate when done incorrectly.
Thanks again, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog!
Mark
So basically freezing is the best way but the conditions may be harder to obtain due to having to be below a threshold of 8% humidity. For someone not technically as savvy as you two, wrapping them with paper towel and storing in the refridgerator would suffice for obtaining mesobiotic seeds. Now freezing them would give you macrobiotic seeds.
Thanks for the information. If I had read this article I may have saved many seeds that I have been saving that refused to germinate this past season. I just would say to all the readers to AVOID any seeds from Humbolt Seedbank. They are a rip-off from the word go.!!!!!
Jon
Can cannabis seeds be damaged,by the warmer weather in the post?
Thanks
Karen
Hi Karen,
If the seeds were in a very hot place for several days, it is possible that the germination rate might be affected, but in the normal course of deliveries, this is not something that would cause problems.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
is it ok to store cannabis seeds in room temperatur for a couple of months?
Hi there,
Thanks for your question. Of course it is impossible for me to say with any guarentee, but if your room is around 20 degrees C or lower, and it’s only for two months, this should not affect your germination rate. Do make sure you keep them dark and dry though, and try to refrigerate them as soon as possible.
With best wishes
Scarlet
Can food grade silica gel cause the seeds to dry out too much if in an enclosed container? After all, they’ll just keep sucking up moisture if they don’t fill up.
Thanks for the information. Gloria
Hi Gloria,
You’re welcome! Thanks for your comment 🙂
With best wishes,
Scarlet