Do you want to plant cannabis seeds and are looking for a simple step-by-step guide? Then you are exactly right here. In this article, you will learn everything important about planting cannabis seeds – including depth, substrate, timing, common mistakes, and professional tips for optimal conditions.
👉 Note: If you want to know how to properly germinate cannabis seeds, first read our detailed article on the germination of cannabis seeds.
🔍 Why proper planting is crucial
Planting the cannabis seeds is the first step in growing your own cannabis plants. If a mistake is made here, it can lead to poor root formation, slow growth, or even the death of the seedlings. Therefore, it is especially important to plant the seeds correctly – with the right substrate, the appropriate depth, and under optimal conditions.
🧷 Requirements: What you need to plant cannabis seeds
- 🌾 Pre-germinated cannabis seeds
- 🪴 Small pots or seedling containers (e.g., Jiffys, peat pellets, 0.2–0.5 L seedling pots)
- 🧂 Suitable substrate (e.g., seedling soil, coco, or light mix)
- 💧 Spray bottle with water (ideally standing or filtered)
- 🌡️ Optional: heating mat, humidity dome, or LED grow light
🪴 Step-by-step: Planting cannabis seeds correctly
1. Choose the right substrate
Definitely rely on light, nutrient-poor soil. Ideal are:
- Seedling soil: promotes root formation, low pre-fertilization
- Coco substrate: breathable, hardly molds, ideal for beginners
- Light mix soil: suitable for later repotting phases
❗ Tip: Avoid heavily fertilized potting soil – this can damage sensitive seedlings.
2. Prepare the pot and moisten the soil
- Fill the seedling pot loosely with substrate.
- Do not press the soil too firmly – loose structure = better aeration for roots.
- Moisten the substrate lightly with the spray bottle so that it is evenly moist (not wet!).
3. Insert seeds: depth & orientation
- Planting depth: 1–2 cm is optimal.
- Make a small indentation with a wooden stick or finger.
- Carefully place the germinated seed with the root (white part) facing down into the hole.
- Cover it lightly with soil, without pressing.
🧠 Remember: Too deep = seedling cannot break through. Too shallow = drying out or light damage.
4. Control moisture & temperature
- Spray the soil surface gently with water.
- Optionally cover the pot with clear foil or a mini greenhouse – this increases humidity.
- Place the pot in a warm spot with 20–25 °C.
- Gentle light is sufficient until the seedling is visible.
5. First days after planting
- Keep the soil evenly moist (not wet!).
- Ventilate daily when using a greenhouse to avoid mold formation.
- After 2–5 days, the seedling breaks through the soil surface.
🧠 Professional tips for planting cannabis seeds
- Do not water, but spray! Too much water can "drown" seeds.
- No fertilizer! Only fertilize when the plant has 2–3 pairs of leaves.
- Pay attention to root direction: root tip down promotes quick growth.
- Use clean tools – contamination can kill seedlings.
🚫 Common mistakes when planting cannabis seeds
| ❌ Mistake | 💡 Better this way |
|---|---|
| Seeds planted too deep or too shallow | Maintain 1–2 cm depth |
| Soil too wet | Only moisten, no waterlogging |
| Planted directly in hard potting soil | Use seedling soil or coco |
| No light after planting | Gentle light from day 2 improves development |
