The Beginner's Guide to Growing Cannabis from Seed
Everything you need to know to get started — from germination to harvest. No experience required.
Why start from seed?
Seeds give you a clean genetic slate. Unlike clones, seeds carry no pests or diseases from a mother plant, and starting from seed means you get to experience the full life cycle of the plant — from that first tap root cracking through the shell to a mature, resinous plant ready for harvest. It's also the only way to grow genetics you've specifically chosen for your goals.
What you'll need
For a basic indoor setup you'll need: a grow tent (60x60cm is ideal for beginners), a LED light (200–300W for a small tent), a fan and carbon filter for air circulation and odour control, growing medium (soil is the most forgiving for beginners), pots (start in small 1L pots and transplant up), nutrients (a simple 3-part grow/bloom/micro system works well), and a pH meter and pH-up/down solution. Don't overcomplicate it — a simple setup run well beats a complex setup run poorly every time.
Germinating your seeds
The paper towel method is reliable and easy to monitor. Place your seeds between two damp (not soaking) paper towels on a plate, cover with another plate to retain moisture, and keep in a warm dark spot at around 22–25°C. Check daily. Most seeds will show a tap root within 24–72 hours. Once the tap root is 5–10mm long, carefully transfer to your growing medium, root-down, about 5mm deep. Keep the medium moist but not waterlogged and maintain warmth. Seedlings typically emerge within 2–5 days.
The vegetative stage
Once your seedling has its first set of true leaves, it enters the vegetative stage. Under an 18/6 light schedule (18 hours on, 6 off), photoperiod plants will grow vigorously without flowering. This is the time to train your plant — low-stress training (LST) by gently bending and tying branches outward creates a flat canopy that maximises light exposure. Veg for 4–8 weeks depending on how large you want your plant. Feed with a nitrogen-heavy nutrient solution during this phase.
Triggering flower
Switch your light schedule to 12/12 (12 hours on, 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness) to trigger flowering in photoperiod strains. Within 1–2 weeks you'll see pre-flowers forming — pistils (white hairs) on females, pollen sacs on males. If you're growing regular seeds, remove any males immediately to prevent pollination. Feminised seeds will all be female. Switch to a phosphorus and potassium-heavy nutrient formula during flower.
Knowing when to harvest
The most reliable way to judge harvest time is by examining the trichomes (the tiny resin glands) under a jeweller's loupe or digital microscope. Clear trichomes mean the plant isn't ready. Milky/cloudy trichomes indicate peak THC. Amber trichomes signal THC is degrading to CBN, producing a more sedative effect. Most growers aim for a mix of mostly cloudy with 10–20% amber for a balanced effect. Pistil colour is a secondary indicator — when 70–90% have turned orange/red, you're in the harvest window.
