How to Store Marijuana Seeds

Not all of the seeds that you purchase will be planted the season that you purchase them, which means the left overs require storage. However, if they aren’t stored correctly, you risk losing that seed to environmental factors that could affect your yield – or maybe your marijuana plant won’t grow at all. This article is about how to correctly store your seeds until next season

The main things that we need to protect marijuana seeds from:

MoistureTemperatureHumidityLight

This means that the best way to store marijuana seeds is to restrict moisture and light and control the temperature and humidity where the seeds are located.

We'll start off discussing the light. To keep your seeds dormant, and prevent premature germination, keep them away from areas with light. A little bit of ambient light for a few hours is not the end of the world, but under no circumstances, should they be exposed to any direct sunlight. If the UV rays of the sun can burn a human, imagine what they do to the DNA packed inside a fragile, little seed.

We recommend that you place your seeds inside a vacuum-sealed bag and then place it in a dark cupboard or drawer. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer available, be sure to choose a container that is airtight—such as a glass jar with a lid. Most plastic containers are not recommended, as their seals are not always airtight; additionally, a water molecule is small enough to get through the pores of plastic containers—plastic containers are best for short-term storage only. On that note, plastic baggies, such as Ziplocs, are not recommended, as they allow light and temperature to fluctuate, and they are not sufficiently airtight.

Containers with lids and bodies made from two different materials (such as glass body with a plastic lid, or plastic body with a metal lid) are not favourable either, as different materials expand and contract at different rates. This permits moisture to intrude and/or exposes your seeds to temperature fluctuations.

Overall, glass containers are highly recommended for optimum storage conditions. They are suitable for long- and short-term storage. A glass jar with a glass lid and seal is ideal for storing marijuana seeds. They are available from most local supermarkets and are reusable. But most importantly these containers are airtight and help maintain the constant environment that your seed needs.

Humidity is the number one seed killer. Keeping them in a dark, wet space is how we trigger germination. So, if you're keeping them in a dark place (you are, aren't you), even a little bit of excess moisture can result in a catastrophic mess.

Your container and dark drawer or cupboard should protect your marijuana seeds from outside moisture, but what about the water that is already in the air? You can use Food Grade Silica as a desiccant to dry the air near your seeds, however it can be fairly expensive. Using a desiccant inside your seed storage containers has several advantages. A desiccant will maintain moisture levels inside your airtight container during the storage period; desiccants will also absorb excess ethylene produced naturally during the aging process, thus further extending the life of your seeds. Rice is also an effective desiccant, but should be replaced periodically for optimum results.

Why food grade silica IS A WORTHY INVESTMENT for your marijuana seed STORAGE?

Maintains a healthy storage humidity for your seedsKeeps your seeds in the ideal environment ensuring positive and on time germinationProtects the genetics and the traits of the strainEliminates moulds and their health risks

We recommend that you store your seeds at 8-12 ºC. That’s however colder than most people’s homes, so you may require refrigeration.

Your refrigerator is cool and dark, yes—but there are also fluctuating moisture factors to consider each time the door is opened and closed. Storage within a refrigerator in an air-tight container is a viable option for seed stability and may adequately deter mould production. We recommend that you store your container toward the back of the fridge where the least moisture is present.

Make sure they are stored away from anything like fresh vegetables. They will leak water into the air around them. Whatever you do, do not store them in the vegetable crisper, it's designed to hold onto humidity, which is exactly what you don't want.

You might not have a spare fridge to keep your seeds. If that's the case, keep them in the driest, coolest place in the house, and don't move them. Keeping the temperature stable is more important than storing seeds in a specific area of your home. If the seeds are regularly fluctuating in temperature, so is the water contained within them and in the air around them. Preventing moisture from being gained and lost is the number one thing you need to do to preserve your seeds.

Though they contain no psychoactive components, seeds are a staple food source for many groups around the world, particularly in south-east Asia. Though Marijuana Seeds SA customers rarely order their seeds to eat, their edibility does impact how you store them because humans aren't the only ones that find cannabis seeds delicious. Both insects and rodents will happily chow down on a hidden loot of seeds, and they won't even stop to appreciate those fine genetics. Ensure your storage area is clean, with nothing else present that might attract a hungry rat or cockroach. As an extra precaution, you can sprinkle some safe, and non-toxic, diatomaceous earth around your storage vessel to keep the bugs away. Rats and other rodents are a bit more complicated, which is why we recommend a glass jar with a glass lid and seal to keep most rodents at bay.

If you are storing numerous strains of marijuana we recommend that you clearly label them. Labels will also help keep light exposure to a minimum.

Place a layer of cotton wool between the desiccant and your seeds to create a physical boundary between them. This helps absorb initial excessive moisture and ensures your seeds will not be physically disturbed in any way.

Add pre-dried seeds to your container and seal.

Place your seed container in the desired storage location and wait!

Cannabis seeds are natural, living things and should be handled with care. When properly stored, you can expect your cannabis seeds to remain viable for approximately 5 years—perhaps longer. After 5 years, germination rates tend to drop; however, plenty of growers have successfully grown plants from seeds that were ten years old or more. Enjoy the fruits of your next harvest!