If you know how to properly store cannabis seeds, you can keep your favorite cannabis genetics for years to come. Your best cannabis seeds can remain viable for ten years or more if stored properly. Inadequate conditions, however, will reduce the success of germinating your favorite feminized seeds and auto-flower seeds. It makes sense to learn more about how to store your cannabis seeds under ideal long-term conditions if you are a cannabis seed connoisseur who spends time, money, and love amassing a collection of the best cannabis genetics.
I Bet You Didn’t Know That Cannabis Seeds Are Actually Mini-Ecosystems.
It’s important to keep in mind that cannabis seeds are technically classified as living organisms when attempting to store them for the future. The reason for this is that their embryos can be germinated and develop into new plants. Storage conditions for cannabis seeds can be optimized in the same way that they are for any other kind of seed. When cannabis seeds are kept in unsuitable environments, germination rates plummet. The best way to ensure that cannabis seeds germinate is to keep them in a controlled environment until they are ready to be planted.
There are three main problems that can arise during storage that will lower your cannabis seeds’ germination rates (or “viability”). Light, heat, and humidity all fit into this category. The germination rates of your auto-flowering or feminized seeds will decrease as a result of each of these factors. On the flip side, your cannabis seed bank will last longer if you take measures to reduce and accurately regulate heat, light, and humidity.
1. Light Protection For Cannabis Seeds
Your seeds need to be stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry. The seeds should be stored in the container they came in. Cannabis seeds begin depleting their reserves of nutrients when they are exposed to changes in temperature or light. They won’t be able to germinate because of this tragedy.
2. What Is The Appropriate Temperature For Storage?
When not in use, cannabis seeds should be kept in a cool, dry place at a temperature of between 43 and 47 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep the seed’s environment cool, it won’t germinate without your knowledge. Growers with experience typically store their seeds in specially designed refrigerators. The best kind of refrigerator is one that never frosts up. It would be ideal if the seeds could be kept with the produce.
In addition, cannabis seeds can be frozen. Please remember to Vacuum-Pack them in advance if you go this route. Then, store them somewhere dim. It’s also recommended that you start germinating these seeds as soon as possible after removing them from the freezer. Never let them thaw out first.
Also Read: Curing Cannabis: Different Methods Of Curing Cannabis And What Are The Benefits Of It?
3. The Question Of Humidity
What is likely to occur with cannabis seeds across a range of relative humidities is outlined below.
8.2 percent: Pests and insects will be drawn to the seeds.
There is an increased risk of fungal infection in and around your seeds (9-20%). The sweating starts at relative humidity levels below 20% for them. However, the sweet spot’ for long-term storage is between 8 and 10 percent.
Humidity levels between 21 and 30 percent are ideal for storing cannabis seeds.
The Germination range is between 31 and 60 percent, but it really starts to take off once the humidity hits 40 percent.
The higher the humidity, the more at risk your seeds are. Your seeds will wilt and die in about 12 hours once the humidity reaches 80 percent.
To ensure successful germination, your cannabis seeds require a specific amount of moisture. Your seed stock will rot in storage if the humidity is too high. Only long-term storage needs extreme low humidity of around 8-10 percent. If it falls below 8%, dormant insects in the seeds will be able to become active and reproduce.
4. Correct Methods Of Marijuana Seed Preservation
You’ve learned the hard way that exposing the seeds to sunlight will ruin them. We’ve also mentioned that low humidity and fridge-like temperatures are required. Depending on how long you’ll need to keep the seeds, various options become available.
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Short-Term
A dark drawer or cupboard will do if you only need to store things for a short period of time. No matter how long something needs to be stored, maintaining a constant temperature and humidity level is of paramount importance. For example, if the temperature drops or rises too quickly, your seeds may not make it. Avoid storing items outside if you reside in an area where the days are warm but the nights are cold.
The seeds should be kept in a container with desiccant for short-term storage. Keep it sealed and store it somewhere cool and dark.
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Medium-Term
Once you go beyond short-term storage (a couple of months), you should use an airtight container. Mason jars and Ziploc bags are two common types of storage containers. The refrigerator is the proper location for this hermetically sealed container. You should know that opening the refrigerator door can cause a significant temperature drop. A second, under-utilized refrigerator is perfect for this purpose.
In addition, you need to know that the humidity levels in today’s refrigerators are quite low. Low humidity causes seed nutrient consumption.
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Long-Term
Using a vacuum-sealed container will allow you to keep your seeds for at least six months. The effect can be duplicated by compressing a Ziploc bag without using any of the space inside. Vacuum-sealed storage containers are also available for purchase online. Refrigerate the contents of the bag by placing it in a dark container.
The seeds can also be frozen for later use. Though, keep in mind that you’ll need to start the germinating process as soon as you can after taking them out.
Also Read: Variety Of Cannabis: Various Strains Of Marijuana!
Insects And Other Pests: A Remark
Buying seeds at a cost of $100 or more and putting them in storage only to have insects destroy them seems like a nightmare. One insect in a sealed container can wipe out your entire seed supply. One must take care to protect themselves from extreme dryness first and foremost. But this is the correct method for long-term warehousing!
Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) can be spread around the storage area as a potential solution. Sand is composed primarily of fossilized algae. It is crucial to our ends because it is an effective natural insecticide. Unfortunately, D.E. shouldn’t be used if you plan to keep your seeds in the fridge with other food.
How Long Do Cannabis Seeds Usually Last In Storage?
Cannabis seeds have a long shelf life when kept in the freezer. Even after five or more years in the fridge, germination rates of fifty percent or more are to be expected. The rate at which seeds germinate decreases noticeably without refrigeration.
You probably don’t need to worry too much about how to store your cannabis seeds if you typically germinate them within a few weeks or months of purchase.
You want to make sure you’re getting at least 90% germination from the cannabis seeds you buy, and a reputable vendor can guarantee that. Most cannabis seeds will germinate even after being stored in the refrigerator for five years.
Growers who have discovered the perfect cannabis seeds for their operations can rest easy knowing that their favorite cannabis genetics will be preserved for future generations.
Imagine You Discovered A Sealed Bag Of Seeds That Had No Expiration Date.
The best conditions for preserving cannabis seeds of any kind, including F1 landrace cannabis genetics, are low temperatures, dry air, and complete darkness. These days, many cannabis farmers have large, expensive collections of cannabis seeds.
Though it won’t affect germination rates, dating each seed packet will give you an idea of how old the seeds are and are a good practice. If the quality of your seeds, to begin with, was high, you should still see some germination after storing them in the fridge for 10 years at 4 degrees Celsius.
Some cannabis farmers may provide unusual advice to boost the germination of very old seeds. Due to the high risk of damaging the seed, Dutch Passion cannot endorse these methods. One such method involves a light sanding of the seed’s outer shell and possibly its lateral ridge. The reasoning behind this is that older, tougher seed shells require extra effort to crack open.
Dutch Passion prefers to stick with tried-and-true methods for germinating seeds that have a good track record of success. Cannabis seeds should be germinated in a dark, warm place between two moist cotton pads for a few days.
Closing Remarks On The Sustaining Of Cannabis Seeds
There shouldn’t be a problem if you buy marijuana seeds and immediately start cultivating a crop. However, it is still recommended that you shield them from sunlight. For the time being, a dark cupboard will do as long as the temperature and humidity are appropriate.
When keeping cannabis seeds for months rather than weeks becomes the goal, the whole process shifts gears. Refrigerating an airtight container is a must. If you want to keep the seeds for an extended period of time, such as a year or more, you should include a vacuum-sealed container.
The conditions in which cannabis seeds are kept must never allow them to germinate. This necessitates shielding them from sunlight. Keep in a cool, dry place with humidity between 20 and 30 percent (8 to 10 percent for long-term storage). Avoid pests by keeping the area clean, and use the advice given above to revive dormant seeds.