How to Store Cannabis Seeds: Jars, Envelopes, Vacuum Bags or the Fridge

To store cannabis seeds, keep them cool, dark and dry: an airtight glass jar or vacuum-sealed bag with a desiccant pack, kept in the fridge, is your safest bet. Stored like that, good-quality seeds can stay viable for two to three years, whether you're saving a few cannabis seeds back for next season or sitting on a pack you don't have room to pop yet. Plenty of people would rather grow their own flower than buy it, starting either from a clone off a mother plant or from seed, and seed growers almost always end up with more than they can plant.

What matters when you store cannabis seeds?

Location

First things first: seeds belong somewhere cool and dry. Well-stored, high-quality cannabis seeds can last two to three years depending on their size, and bigger seeds generally hold up longer than small ones.

To keep them cool, your best bet is the fridge, or any room where the temperature stays low and steady.

Temperature and humidity

The other big factor is humidity, which needs to stay low, around 8%. Your best move is a sealable storage container with the seeds inside along with dry rice or silica gel to soak up moisture from the air, with a layer of cotton or paper between the seeds and the desiccant.

Labeling

Last tip: label every cannabis strain clearly so you don't have to open containers until you're ready to plant.

Where should you store cannabis seeds?

If you've got seeds but aren't ready to germinate and grow them yet, there are several solid ways to keep them fresh and safe. 

Glass jars

If you want to store your weed seeds long term, glass jars are a great choice because they keep moisture out. They come in big and small sizes. Drop a desiccant pack inside to regulate humidity, and use cotton balls to separate the pack from the seeds and soak up any extra moisture that could damage them.

Close the jar with an airtight lid, and wrap it in an opaque cloth if you like. Done right, this method lets you store seeds for years.

Paper envelopes

If you're wondering how to store cannabis seeds for a short stretch, envelopes work. Just make sure the paper is thick enough to block the light.

Keep the seeds somewhere dark, since light is one of the triggers for germination, so they stay dormant and don't sprout on you by accident. And label the envelope with the strain name, the date you stored them and how long you plan to keep them. 

For extra insurance, add a few grains of rice or a desiccant pack to the envelope to regulate humidity. Keep the envelope indoors so bad weather can't get to it.

Vacuum-sealed bags

Another option is vacuum-sealed bags. They're fully sealed and keep oxygen away from the seeds. Vacuum bags are a good fit for storing lots of seeds for a long time.

You can use the vacuum bag on its own or put it inside a small container. Both work, and the seeds will stay dormant for as long as you need.

Refrigeration

Cannabis seeds can be kept in the fridge for a long time. Before they go in, though, put them in sturdy plastic bags made to handle cold temperatures.

Most important of all, make sure light can't get in, because it can harm the seeds.

Unusual ways to store cannabis seeds

Burying the seeds

Plenty of people ask how to store seeds, and as strange as it sounds, some growers bury them, dried, until planting time. Underground temperatures stay cool, which keeps conditions fairly steady.

Plastic bags

We mean zip-top bags like Ziplocs. They're fine for storing cannabis seeds for a short period.

A dark basement

No fridge? A cool, dark basement will do the job.

With any method that isn't airtight, the seeds should go inside an opaque envelope or bag. Moisture and light are a seed's worst enemies, so if you want seeds that last and stay healthy, keep both of them out. 

A quick guide to growing indoors

Here's a basic guide to growing cannabis indoors at home, including tips on germinating your seeds quickly and reliably.

1. Set up your space: First you need a suitable spot for an indoor grow. A spare room, a closet or a corner of the basement can all work. Make sure you can handle ventilation, temperature and humidity.
2. Pick your seeds: Fast, reliable germination starts with high-quality seeds. Buy them from a reputable seed bank or shop, and choose strains that suit your space and experience level.
3. Germination: There are several ways to germinate cannabis seeds. One of the most popular is the paper towel method: place the seeds between two damp paper towels and keep them somewhere warm and dark. Within a few days they should crack open and show a small taproot.
4. Prep your growing medium: Once the seeds have sprouted, it's time to move them into a suitable growing medium. Use a quality potting soil or a hydroponic mix, and make sure it has the nutrients your plants need to grow healthy.
5. Lighting: Light is everything indoors. You'll need grow lights, like high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps or LED grow lights. Keep them at the right distance from your plants to avoid light burn.
6. Feeding and watering: Indoors, your plants depend on you for nutrients. Use cannabis-specific fertilizers and follow the manufacturer's directions. Keep an eye on watering to avoid both overwatering and underwatering.
7. Odor control: If you're growing in an enclosed space, you'll want to keep the smell in check. Carbon filters and a good ventilation setup will keep the odor under control.

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