10 Useful Tips: Art of Storing Cannabis Seeds
Storing cannabis seeds is almost the same as storing a treasure: these little “magic beans” are not only valuable by themselves, they are a great investment in your future cannabis stash. This is why it is so important to store them properly and safely.
Whether you are living in a place where growing cannabis is legal, or you are waiting for those glorious days when your local legislation changes their attitude to this question in favor of approving growing marijuana at home, you might want your cannabis seeds to be healthy no matter how long they will be stored.
If the seeds you bought are not feminized, later you will be able to make your own stash of seeds, and those new plants will be already adapted to the conditions you provide them, whether you grow cannabis outdoors or indoors. Growing cannabis from seeds gives you an opportunity to play with the plants' genetics, to be independent of the prices on cannabis on the market, and to have your own favorite marijuana strain—always fresh and even 100% organic (if you want, of course).
So treat your cannabis seeds as the most valuable treasure, because they really are. Follow these tips, and you can be sure that the seeds you store will give you nice cannabis plants as a reward.
1. Get your seeds from a reputable seed bank
If you are going to breed your cannabis to have your own stash of seeds, this first investment is the most important. There is no need to save your money on this. The seeds on the black market may be cheaper, but then you risk buying seeds of bad quality or even of a totally different strain. These days, there are lots of trustworthy companies that sell cannabis seeds officially, but if you are in doubt, you can always go for Sensi Seeds or the White Label Seed company.
2. Do not store your seeds with toxic things
Some growers advice to put silica gel into the jar where your cannabis seeds are, but this is a bad idea. Storing toxic things together with seeds means risking their safety. If you want to put something into the storage jar to absorb the humidity, you had better choose a piece of paper (not lacker-coated paper, just simple newspaper or paper napkin).
3. Keep your cannabis seeds dry
If you buy seeds, they are mostly already dry and stored in a nice bag. But if you prepare your own storage, be sure that all the seeds are not wet or damp before you put them into the storage bag or can. Even the slightest sign of moisture can lead to damage—it can cause mold or rot appearance and destroy the whole batch. Therefore, do not forget to let the seeds dry on a piece of paper in a shadowy place for a day or two before you put them away for storing.
4. Keep the seeds away from extreme cold
If you live in areas with severe winters, it is better not to store your seeds anywhere outside. Once the temperature goes too low, the seeds can die. Some of the strains can be tolerant to low temperature, but it is better not to risk anyway. You can keep the seeds in a garage, in a closet, or in the door of the fridge. 40-45 ℉ would be quite okay for this.
5. Keep the seeds away from heat
The warmer it is, the better the conditions are for germination. This is why all the storage places near the heating system are a bad idea. If the temperature is too high, it can not only initiate germination, it can kill the seeds as well. At high temperatures, plant's seeds can literally bake, and all the live cells will “boil.”
6. Keep the seeds in the dark
Light does the same as warm temperature―it initiates germination. You should create winter-like conditions for your seeds, let them “think” they are lying in the cold soil covered with snow or fallen leaves.
7. Protect the seeds from physical damage
Even if for some reason you hide your seeds in the deepest corner of your closet or pantry, make sure there is nothing that can accidentally squash the seeds—no heavy tin cans, boxes or bags. The best option would be to place the seeds in a glass jar that would protect them from any damage from outside.
8. Check your cannabis seeds from time to time
There are lots of things that may happen that you do not expect―constant rains may increase the general humidity in your house, your place may be infected by rodents or some insects. Even if there is no disaster on the horizon, it is better to check your cannabis seeds once in awhile. If there is any problem, you can notice it on time. Additionally, it will allow you to remember what kinds of seeds you have if you have many of them (that may save you from unnecessary buying).
9. Store your cannabis seeds away from pests or rodents
Ideally, you should store your cannabis seeds in the door of the fridge. However, this is not always possible. Sometimes, you may simply not want anyone to see them, or you may have so many seeds that the area in the fridge is not enough. It is fine to store seeds in other dark and dry places as long as you pack the “magic beans” safely enough so that no rodent or pest can reach them. Use glass jars or tin cans for tea or sugar. Close them properly and make sure they will not accidentally fall or roll anywhere.
10. Label all the strains
It is obvious that labeling seeds can save you from a confusing situation: cannabis seeds are similar to each other, and even if right now you remember which is which, in several months, you may get confused. We would recommend you to write on the label not only the strain's name but also the date when the seeds were harvested, and some specific information about the strain's behavior (when it is better to plant the seeds, what illnesses or pests can damage it, and so on).
Just remember to keep your cannabis seeds safe, and the reward will be great. If all the conditions of storing are right, you may expect the seeds to stay alive for up to five years. Though some growers on the forums claim they managed to germinate even those seeds that were 20 years old, we would recommend you not to wait for so long and renovate your home seed bank at least every two years. Treat your seeds well, and you will be able to enjoy the best weed ever!
