by Nebula Haze
Small, flimsy cannabis seeds can grow into hardy, beautiful plants…. or they might not even germinate. Learn how to tell the difference.
Want reliable germination? These cannabis seeds are known to sprout strong: Purple Haze, Northern Lights #10 and Do-Si-Dos.
Are pale cannabis seeds viable? Maybe.
Small, pale seeds can grow great cannabis plants, but often they’re just immature. Here’s how to tell the difference:
Are these cannabis seeds good?
- Good breeder & stored well? Likely fine.
- Soft or breaks apart? Probably bad.
- Unsure? Plant it and find out.
You might be surprised to learn that many incredible plants come from strains that tend to produce small, pale seeds.
Some strains tend to have small seeds, like Candy Games #38, but the seeds still germinate strong.
Yet many small or pale cannabis seeds are simply immature and needed more time to develop. In these cases, the seeds have poor germination and often produce slow-growing seedlings if they do sprout.
How can you tell the difference between “good” and “bad” small seeds?
Here’s a quick mental map for how to decide if pale seeds are still good.
First, ask yourself, “Where did the seed come from?”
If it came from a proven seed source with a seed germination guarantee, then small, flimsy, or pale seeds are likely the result of genetics alone. Good seed companies strive to only sell seeds that geminate well (otherwise they’d have to pay to replace everyone’s seeds)…
If your seed isn’t from an actual breeder, then your results with pale or flimsy seeds will vary.
The best way to determine if a seed is viable is simply to plant it and see what happens.
If the seed sprouts a healthy standard plant, then it was a good seed. At that point, the results you get are the result of the genetics, not what was going on with the seed size/color.
This Pacific Punch cannabis plant grew from tiny, extremely flimsy seeds. I really wanted to grow the genetics, so I tried germinating them anyway, and plant grew beautifully.
Example: All these cannabis seeds sprouted… except the Critical Purple Kush. With that kind of disparity, it’s very likely the issue was the seeds, not the germination method.
Tropicanna Banana was a standout this grow.
Why are cannabis seeds different colors and sizes?
Maturity – Seeds that are harvested too early are typically, pale, flimsy, and fragile. These seeds rarely germinate, and when they do the seedlings are often sickly and slow growing at first. But that’s not the only reason seeds might be small or pale.
Genetics – Seed formation is determined by genetics. Just like buds from different strains, the seeds from certain strains form with varied colors or sizes on average, but still have great germination rates. Remember, cannabis strains are typically selected for how plants and buds grow, not what the seeds look like.
Handling – Cannabis seeds often have a dark outer tiger stripe coating. This coating can come off based on how the seeds were harvested and handled. That means seeing dark tiger stripes is generally a good sign, but doesn’t necessarily prove the seeds are viable.
Natural variation – Some individual plants make seeds where the coating doesn’t grow, or tends to separate from the seeds when they’re harvested. Even on the same plant, some seeds are bigger or smaller, or have the coating or not. These factors don’t necessarily reflect viability.
Storage & Age – This doesn’t affect color or size, but it doesn’t greatly affect germination. Make sure seeds stay dry, dark, and cool. Learn how to store seeds. Always buy from a trusted seed company like Seed Supreme, North Atlantic Seed Co, or Seedsman to ensure seeds were well stored before they get to you.
Are big, dark, hard seeds always better?
Not always. Sometimes very hard or big seeds germinate less well, because seedlings can’t fully crack open the seed, or the shell gets stuck on the seedling leaves, causing bucket heads.
What seed sources can be trusted?
Here are several vetted seed banks I personally use. In general, look for seed sources that…
- Proven over time – Used successfully by lots of different growers for many years
- Germination guarantee – Offer a refund for seeds that don’t germinate.
- Stealthy shipping – Seeds come in plain nondescript packaging with a neutral “from” name.
- Payment options – Accept cards or crypto. Don’t send money orders or cash through the mail.
Here are 5 safe websites to buy marijuana seeds:
- Seed Supreme – Florida, United States
- ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana) – California, United States
- MSNL (Marijuana Seeds Netherlands) – Amsterdam seed bank now ships from US, Canada & UK
- North Atlantic Seed Co. – Maine, United States
- Seedsman – Ships from US & Europe
Learn more about buying cannabis seeds online.
Durban Poison is a high-yielding strain with excellent germination rates.
