To germinate cannabis seeds, lay them about an inch apart on a damp, not dripping, paper towel, cover them with a second damp sheet, and keep them warm and dark. Check daily, never let the towel dry, and plant each seed once a taproot shows. Expect anything from one to five days.
This is an evergreen how-to. The one part that can change is the guarantee terms, quoted as published on 19 October 2026.
How to germinate cannabis seeds with a paper towel
Gather clean supplies. Bottled or distilled water, two paper towels, a plate or sealable container, tweezers.
Wet the towels, then wring them. ILGM’s guide wants the towel “damp but not dripping or soaked”. Seed Supreme says to lift the towel and check there is no free standing water.
Space and cover. An inch or so between seeds, a second damp towel on top.
Keep it warm, dark and moist. A cupboard or drawer will do.
Plant at the taproot. Move each sprouted seed with tweezers, root down.
Soaking in a glass of water and planting straight into soil are the usual alternatives. Neither is the method either guarantee below is written around.
What the germination guarantee asks of you
This desk read ILGM’s germination guarantee and Seed Supreme’s guarantee page on 19 October 2026.
| Term | ILGM | Seed Supreme |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Its paper towel method, exactly as in its guide | Paper towel method only |
| Time or age limit | Not covered if stored over 12 months | 120 days, from the day after delivery |
| Storage | Cool, dry, stable; no extreme heat, cold or humidity | Storage guidelines must have been met |
| Proof | Order number or receipt always; photos, method, packing slip and setup photo if over 30% fail or on a 2nd+ request | Images of all seeds, germinated and not, with a dated newspaper or phone; may ask for photos or video |
| Claims | Reviewed case by case | One per order, covering only the seeds in that claim |
| Replacement | Failed count plus one, shipped free | Not stated in the text read |
Two practical rules follow. Photograph the towel, the seeds and the packing slip on day one, before you know you need to. And with Seed Supreme, germinate together every seed you might want to claim on, because seeds started before or after the claim are outside it.
ILGM’s paper towel guide also claims success rates “exceeding 90%”. That is the seller’s figure, not a measurement.
Germination is only the first gate. Our seed bank reship comparison and Royal Queen Seeds review cover what happens before the packet arrives, and how to grow CBD strains picks up after the taproot.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for cannabis seeds to germinate?
Usually one to five days on a paper towel. ILGM’s guide says germination typically happens within 24 to 48 hours with its method, which is the seller’s own claim. Seed Supreme’s instructions allow 24 to 120 hours. Keep the towel moist the whole time and plant once a healthy taproot shows.
Should I soak cannabis seeds before planting?
It is optional. ILGM’s guide describes a 12 to 24 hour pre-soak in clean water as something some growers do to soften the shell before the towel, and labels the step optional. Soaking alone is a different method, and neither guarantee page read for this post covers it.
Can you germinate cannabis seeds directly in soil?
You can, and it spares the taproot a transplant. The cost is that you cannot see what failed or why. Both guarantee pages read for this post cover only the paper towel method, so a seed that never breaks the soil surface is not one you can claim on with either bank.
Germinate only where home cultivation is lawful for adults, and check your local laws before purchasing or germinating cannabis seeds. A replaced seed is still a lost week, so keep the photos.