Storing Seeds

Save Your Seeds for a Rainy Day

One of the questions that I get asked most often: How should you store seeds for short or long term?


Recently, I had the great pleasure of receiving Skunk No.1 seeds from Mel Frank that were grown in 1996 and stored in a refrigerator the entire time using desiccants to control humidity. To my surprise, he was getting 100-percent germination from these 24-year-old seeds. This really goes to show that a little bit of care and consideration can go a long way towards preservation and vitality long term. Here, I’m just going to go over some of the key elements of long-term seed storage.

 

Drying 

Drying your cannabis seeds is something that cannot be overlooked, it is probably one of the most important parts of proper storage. I store my seeds in a paper bag for one to two months and let the plant material dry completely. It is extremely important that seeds be allowed to dry because excess moisture can cause moist seeds to build up heat or mold.

 

Desiccants

Desiccants are crucial in storage. They maintain the dryness that protects the husk from picking up the fluctuation in moisture that occurs in our everyday environment. I get desiccants from Amazon. Initially, they are blue, but turn pink when they absorb moisture. You can reuse them by arranging them on a pan and putting them in the oven at 220 degrees Fahrenheit. After about 45 minutes, they will go back to blue and be dried out and ready for reuse. The plastic they are in does not need to be opened and will be fine after the baking process.

 

Freezing 

The main consideration that should be taken is how long the seeds will be stored. If it is very long term, then freezing is an option, but freezing can kill the seeds if moisture crystals form on the seeds. Seed banks make sure to dry their seeds to a moisture content of five to 10-percent, because water expands nine percent when it freezes. If there is moisture in the hull, the seed can split, crack, and die once frozen. If you do choose to store your seeds in the freezer, be careful not to take them out and put them back in, as that will surely cause them to suffer humidity issues.

 

Refrigeration 

What I do and I highly recommend to others is refrigeration. Seeds should be stored between 34 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit and kept in humidity-resistant containers. I use as small a jar as possible to minimize the area inside to give the desiccants an easy job protecting the seeds from fluctuation in moisture. 

Mel Frank’s personal favorite is to store seeds in the old 35 mm film containers. I use glass jars or pharmaceutical-grade plastic containers, but always with desiccants inside.

 

Crush-proof Containers 

Seeds are firm, yet fragile. I often see precious seeds stored in plastic baggies stuffed next to other baggies of seeds, but this should be avoided. If you take care and use caution when storing cannabis seeds, they will literally last decades. 

“Make the most of the Indian hemp seed . . . and sow it everywhere!” - George Washington - Feb. 24, 1794 

 

 

As published in:
Grow Magazine, Vol.5 Issue 2
June 2020