Are you planning to plant cannabis seeds and looking for a simple step-by-step guide? Then you've come to the right place. In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know about planting cannabis seeds —including depth, substrate, timing, common mistakes, and professional tips for optimal conditions.

👉 Note: If you want to know how to germinate cannabis seeds properly , first read our detailed article on cannabis seed germination.

🔍 Why planting correctly is crucial

Planting cannabis seeds is the first step in growing your own cannabis plants. A mistake here can lead to poor root development, slow growth, or even the death of the seedlings. Therefore, it's especially important to plant the seeds correctly— with the right substrate, at the right depth, and under optimal conditions.

🧷 Requirements: What you need to plant cannabis seeds

• 🌾 Pre-germinated cannabis seeds
• 🪴 Small pots or growing containers (e.g. Jiffys, peat pots, 0.2–0.5 L growing pots)
• 🧂 Suitable substrate (e.g. potting soil, coco or light mix)
• 💧 Spray bottle with water (ideally stale or filtered)
• 🌡️ Optional: Heat mat, humidity dome or LED grow light

🪴 Step-by-step: How to plant cannabis seeds correctly

1. Choose the right substrate

Be sure to use light, nutrient-poor soil . Ideal soils are:

• Growing soil: promotes root formation, low pre-fertilization
• Coconut substrate: breathable, hardly molds, ideal for beginners
• Light Mix Soil: suitable for later repotting phases

❗ Tip: Avoid heavily pre-fertilized potting soil – this can damage sensitive seedlings.

2. Prepare the pot and moisten the soil

• Fill the growing pot loosely with substrate.
• Don’t press the soil too firmly – loose structure = better aeration for roots.
• Lightly moisten the substrate with the spray bottle so that it is evenly moist (not wet!).

3. Planting seeds: depth & orientation

• Planting depth: 1–2 cm is optimal.
• Make a small indentation with a wooden stick or finger.
• Carefully place the germinated seed into the hole with the root (white part) facing down .
• Cover it lightly with soil, without pressure.

🧠 Remember: Too deep = seedlings won't grow. Too shallow = drying out or light damage.

4. Control humidity & temperature

• Carefully spray the soil surface with water.
• Optionally, cover the pot with clear plastic wrap or a mini greenhouse – this increases the humidity.
• Place the pot in a warm place at 20–25°C.
• Gentle light is sufficient until the seedling is visible.

5. First days after planting

• Keep the soil evenly moist (not wet!).
• If using a greenhouse, ventilate daily to prevent mold growth.
• After 2–5 days the seedling breaks through the soil surface.

🧠 Professional tips for planting cannabis seeds

• Don't water, spray! Too much water can drown seeds.
• No fertilizer! Only fertilize when the plant has 2–3 pairs of leaves.
• Pay attention to the root direction: root tip pointing downwards promotes rapid growth.
• Use clean tools – contamination can kill seedlings.

🚫 Common mistakes when planting cannabis seeds