With marijuana becoming legalized in more and more states and countries, like Canada, it’s only natural to think about starting your own grow. If you’ve had some seeds laying around for a while, it might seem like a no-brainer to use them. Still, what if some of the seeds are old and cracked? Will a cracked weed seed still grow, or should you just buy some new seeds? 

A cracked marijuana seed usually cannot germinate, preventing it from ever growing. It’s recommended that you take great care to protect any seeds you plan on planting. At the same time, there are some people who carefully crack them, without damaging them, for better germination. 

If you’re interested in growing some of your own marijuana from seeds, but you’re not sure how to tell if they’re good, we’ve got you covered. Below we’ll review the signs that a marijuana seed is good, and even show you how you can test your seeds. Then we will go over how to keep your marijuana seeds good for longer so you can always be prepared for your next grow. 

How to Tell if a Marijuana Seed is Good

If you’ve got a handful of seeds saved up, some of them might be good. Fortunately, there are some tell tale signs you can look for to tell you whether or not the seeds you have can still germinate. 

• Check the seed for surface level damage: The surface of a marijuana seed should be smooth and dark. There should be a thin, slightly glossy, coating that protects the seed. Also, if you notice any small holes or cracks in the surface it is a sign of irreparable damage. 
• Ensure the seed isn’t brittle or easily breakable: While it’s true that great care must be taken to ensure a seed remains usable, they shouldn’t be so fragile you can break them by gently squeezing them. If you press the seed between your fingers and it’s brittle, or it collapses, it was never going to germinate in the first place.
• Look at the coloring: Healthy marijuana seeds are usually darker in color. If you have a lighter color seed it could be a sign that it’s old and will no longer germinate. If the light coloring comes in combination with a brittle shell it is definitely too far gone. 

Ensure that the seed you want to plant is firm, with dark coloring and a waxy coat on the outside. If it matches all of these requirements it will most likely still work. To find out for sure you can move on to the step of germination.  

Testing Your Weed Seeds in Water

If you want more certainty that your weed seeds are good, there is one test you can perform that requires nothing but a small glass of water and the seed itself. Just don’t do this until you’re ready to germinate the seed because the exposure to too much water can ruin it otherwise. 

• Fill a cup with warm distilled water. The size cup you use isn’t too important because marijuana seeds are small and will fit in just about anything you’ve got. 
• Simply place the seed into the glass of water and check to see if it sinks or floats. If it floats, then in all likelihood it’s no good. If it sinks on the other hand, it’s a sign that it’s ready to go, and you should start the germination process ASAP.  

Keep this test in mind if you ever go to grow anything else, as it works with many other types of seeds as well. The reason good seeds sink is because they still have all of their components inside, increasing their gravity. Bad seeds on the otherhand are often hollow or contain air pockets, which give them their ability to sit on the water. 

How Long Do Weed Seeds Take to Crack?

Another way of phrasing this question is, “how long do weed seeds actually last?” When they finally give they may crack, lose their color or even become brittle and more easily breakable. 

If they are kept out at room temperature most marijuana seeds will only last a couple of months. However, if they are kept refrigerated, they can last anywhere from five to ten years.  

How Can You Make a Marijuana Seed Last Longer?

To make a marijuana seed last longer, you must first understand what it is that causes them to go bad in the first place. Too much Oxygen, humidity, light and sudden environmental changes all contribute to marijuana seeds going bad quickly. 

To make a marijuana seed last longer, you need to store them in a place that is cool and dark with a consistent temperature. If you have a solid container you can put them in, the fridge is the perfect place. 

Some experts suggest that if you have an extra fridge–like one in the garage–you don’t use as often, you should keep your seeds there. This is because opening and closing the fridge door can lead to temperature fluctuations that can damage the seeds. 

What Can You Do With Cracked Weed Seeds

So, let’s say you’ve looked at the seeds you have and most of them can no longer germinate. Is there anything else you can do with them so they aren’t a complete waste? 

If you have a bunch of seeds that have gone bad you can crush them up and place them in the soil of any plant to provide nutrients. As they decompose their nutrients will pass through the soil and into the plant you are currently growing. 

So, Will a Cracked Weed Seed Still Grow?

Cracked weed seeds rarely germinate properly. The only exception is when people crack them a little bit before germinating them. This is because cracks often indicate that the seed is older and that important interior components have taken damage and been exposed to too much oxygen. 

That said, if you have a bunch of cracked seeds you shouldn’t just throw them out. Grinding them up and spreading them out in the soil of a plant you’re growing can work as a great fertilizer. So when you find a seed that will grow, you can still put the ones that won’t to good use.