Cannabis seedlings typically go through several stages as they grow and develop. Here’s an overview of what you can expect on a day-by-day basis:
- Day 1-3: Seeds should start to crack and sprout within 1-3 days of being planted, if conditions are favorable.
- Day 4-7: The seedling’s first leaves (cotyledons) will start to emerge, followed by the first true leaves.
- Day 7-14: The seedling will start to develop a more robust root system and will start to grow taller.
- Day 14-21: The seedling will continue to grow taller and will start to develop more branches. You may also start to see the development of nodes, where leaves and buds will eventually form.
- Day 21-28: The seedling will continue to mature, developing a thicker stem and more branches. You may also start to see the development of small leaves and calyxes.
- Day 28 and beyond: The seedling will continue to mature, eventually transitioning into the vegetative stage of growth. This is when it will start to grow leaves and branches more quickly, and it will become more bushy. You may also start to see preflowers forming, which will indicate the plant’s gender.
Note that these are general guidelines and that the actual timeline can vary depending on factors such as genetics, growing conditions, and the specific strain of cannabis you are growing. We will go more in depth about these Cannabis Seedlings Day by Day growth below for each of these stages above.
How Fast Does Cannabis Grow From Seeds?
The speed of cannabis growth from seeds can vary depending on various factors such as genetics, growing conditions, and the specific strain.
In general, cannabis seedlings will germinate within 1-3 days of being planted, if conditions are favorable. After that, the seedling will go through several stages of growth and development, including the vegetative stage, when the plant will grow leaves and branches, and the flowering stage, when buds will start to form.
The cannabis vegetative stage typically lasts for several weeks to several months, and the length of this stage can vary depending on factors such as the light cycle, nutrients, and the specific strain. The cannabis flowering stage typically lasts for several weeks to several months, after which the plant will be ready for harvest.
In total, it can take anywhere from 3 months to a year or more for a cannabis plant to go from seed to harvest, depending on the growing conditions and the specific strain.
Issues Growers Run Into with Cannabis Seedlings Day by Day
One of the main diseases that growers can run into is called “Damping off”. This fungal disease will quickly kill your cannabis plants overnight in some cases.
When growing cannabis seedlings, some of the common issues that can arise include:
- Damping Off: A fungal disease that can cause the stem near the soil line to rot and the death of the young plant.
- Overwatering: Excessive moisture can lead to root rot, which can cause the plant to wilt or die.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Cannabis plants need the right balance of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to grow properly.
- Pests and Diseases: Spider mites, aphids, and powdery mildew are just a few of the pests and diseases that can attack cannabis seedlings.
- Light Stress: Seedlings need bright but indirect light to grow, too much or too little light can cause stress and affect growth.
- Transplant Shock: Moving seedlings from one container to another can cause stress, leading to wilting or stunted growth.
To avoid these issues, it’s important to follow proper growing techniques, keep the growing environment clean and disease-free, and monitor seedlings for any signs of stress or disease.
What is Damping Off Disease?
Damping off is a fungal disease that affects seedlings of many different plants. It causes the stem near the soil line to rot, leading to the collapse and death of the young plant. The disease is favored by warm, moist soil and can spread rapidly in conditions where seeds are planted too closely together or if there is poor air circulation. To prevent damping off, it is important to follow good hygiene practices, use sterilized soil and containers, and avoid over-watering.
Overwatering Cannabis Seedlings
New cannabis seedlings are very susceptible to overwatering, in much the same way as when the grower is starting seeds. Too much water can lead to damping off as discussed above as well as create anaerobic conditions in the growing mediums. For this reason it is very important for new growers to let their growing medium dry out well between each and every watering cycle. Push your seedlings into the cannabis seedlings growing mix up to your knuckle, if it is dry all the way down then you know that it is now time to water.
Cannabis Seedling Nutrients Deficiencies
As the new cannabis seedlings day by day lift goes by, it will require more nutrients to keep the plant healthy and green.
Cannabis seedlings can suffer from a variety of nutrient deficiencies that can affect their growth and development. Some of the most common deficiencies include:
- Nitrogen Deficiency: Shows as yellowing leaves and slow growth.
- Phosphorus Deficiency: Shows as dark purple or blue leaves and slow growth.
- Potassium Deficiency: Shows as yellowing between the leaf veins and slow growth.
- Magnesium Deficiency: Shows yellowing of the older leaves and slow growth.
- Calcium Deficiency: Shows as stunted growth, twisted leaves and root problems.
- Iron Deficiency: Shows as yellowing between the leaf veins, particularly in new growth.
These deficiencies can be prevented or corrected by using a balanced nutrient solution or fertilizer and adjusting the pH of the soil to the appropriate range for cannabis (usually between 6.0 and 7.0). If a deficiency is suspected, a soil test or tissue analysis can be done to determine the exact cause and the appropriate action to take.
As the seedlings get older they will start to require more of these nutrients above in order to maintain healthy and robust growth.
When to start Adding Nutrient to Cannabis Seedlings Day by Day
Many new cannabis growers tend to wait too long before adding small amounts of nutrients to their young seedlings. When your cannabis plants start to develop their first sets of true leaves around days 7 – 10 it is important that you start to supplement growth with some weak nutrients. This is to ensure that once the plants have two to three sets of true leaves the seedlings will not start to yellow on the bottom leaves. This is quite a common deficiency early in the cannabis plant’s growth.
If this happens as an organic grower you can easily add some high nitrogen Blood Meal around the base of the plant’s stem. This will generally fix this issue within a week to two weeks.
Should you worry if the Plants start to fall over in the Seedling Stage?
It’s normal for seedlings to be delicate and prone to falling over, especially as they grow taller and their stems become less sturdy. However, if the plants are falling over frequently and cannot support themselves, it can be a sign of several issues such as:
- Overwatering: If the soil is too wet, the roots can become waterlogged and unable to support the plant.
- Under-light: Seedlings need a lot of light to grow strong stems, if they’re not getting enough light they can become spindly and fall over.
- Poor soil structure: If the soil is too dense, seedlings may not be able to establish deep roots to support their growth.
In any of these cases, it is important to address the underlying issue promptly to help the seedlings recover and continue to grow.
When are Cannabis Seedlings Finished the Seedling Stage?
It can vary, but typically cannabis seedlings go into the vegetative stage of growth within 2-4 weeks after germination. The speed at which a seedling enters the vegetative stage can depend on several factors such as strain, growing conditions, and lighting. However, once in the vegetative stage, plants can continue to grow for several weeks or months before flowering.
Final Thoughts on Cannabis Seedlings Day by Day
This by far is when the young cannabis plants are the most susceptible to issues. For this reason it is one of the hardest cycles for cannabis growers to get through and into the vegetative growth stage. When given a good healthy start in the first days of growth, it can carry your plant over into the next stage and get to the flowering stage even faster by following these steps in this article. However it can lead to the death of your young seedlings when done incorrectly. If you would like to know how to get your cannabis seedling growing as fast as possible we recommend reading this article.
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