Once you find the perfect strain, how do you save those seeds so that you can use them for future plants? It’s not that hard; actually, you just need to keep them cold, dark, and dry. However, there are few other things that you could do to preserve your precious seeds – keep reading to learn more.
The Importance of Proper Containers
When storing cannabis seeds, the first thing to think about is your container. Do not use just any random container that you come across. The ideal container should be made of one material.
Avoid containers with a mixture of materials. An example of this would be a plastic container with a metal lid or a glass container with a plastic cover. Containers made from more than one material react differently to temperature and other changes, and this can create room for undesirable conditions to reach your stored cannabis seeds. For instance, the metal lid on a glass jar will expand at a different rate when the temperature rises, and this may allow some moisture to enter the container.
Why Glass is Better
Many people suggest using plastic containers for long term storage when asked how to store cannabis seeds, but that isn’t a great idea either. Plastic has tiny (microscopic) pores that can let air infiltrate the container and damage your seeds. If you want your seeds to last, don’t store them in a plastic container. Glass is a much better solution.
Chances are you are storing more than one strain of cannabis seeds. Even if you are storing just one variety of seed, you must label the container. Otherwise, if you store the seeds for years, you may forget which strain they are and that they are even cannabis seeds!
This part is simple; germination needs light. If you do not want your seeds to sprout, keep the light out. That’s why the most immediate answer to “how to store cannabis seeds” is “keep the environment light free.”
Want an easy way?
Try using an opaque container. If the glass jars you used aren’t opaque, then place your seeds in something opaque, such as black plastic wrap, then put that in the glass jar. Again, keep in mind, plastic is not the best for long term (years), but if you are purchasing at the end of one grow season in preparation for the next, it should work just fine.
You can also place your cannabis seeds in a fridge that doesn’t get opened much or another dark location.
Keep the Temperature Constant
Another thing that you need to think about when storing cannabis seeds is to maintain a stable temperature. Try and keep the seeds around 40° Fahrenheit. You do not want them to freeze.
Many people do this by keeping their seeds in a fridge or freezer. (Again, do not allow the seeds to freeze.) The most critical thing is keeping that temperature constant. Your cannabis seeds can deteriorate when the temperature fluctuates.
Keep Moisture Out
Moisture is the other condition that is required for germination, so you’ll need to keep your seeds dry as well. Depending on how much moisture your cannabis seeds are exposed to, they could either germinate or even rot while in storage.
For the best results, keep moisture levels between 5% and 9%. An airtight, sealed container is a great way to do this. You could also add something to help absorb any moisture, such as silica packets or even uncooked rice.
If you decide to use one of these methods, make sure you use something food-grade. Remember, this material will be sitting in storage next to your seeds. It’s also a good idea to use some sort of barrier, such as some cotton wool, between your moisture-absorbing packs and the cannabis seeds. This will leave the seeds undisturbed while the moisture problems are addressed.
Keep the Storage Environment Clean
How to store cannabis seeds properly also means keeping the storage environment clean. If you’re not careful, pests can quickly destroy your seeds if they access the storage container and its contents.
A clean environment also keeps other contaminants, such as microbes, from compromising the quality of your seeds. After all, you will eventually plant those seeds, and you don’t want to consume cannabis grown from contaminated seeds.
Nature designed seeds to last until the ideal germination environment occurs. Therefore, if you follow these storage tips and prevent that environment from happening, you could store cannabis seeds indefinitely.
Does it need to be perfect?
No. If you only need to store cannabis seeds for a few months, you don’t need to be that strict. However, if you’d like to keep your seeds for years, plan ahead and take the necessary precautions, and you’ll be delighted that you did.
Be sure to check out our online shop for the best cannabis seeds from the best US seed bank!
*Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health or fitness regimen.*
