# Seed shell stuck on the seedling's first leaves: likely causes and fixes

> Seed shell stuck on the seedling's first leaves on cannabis is most often Seed coat stuck on the cotyledons (helmet head). How to tell them apart, the fix for each and what recovery looks like.

Also called: helmet head, seed shell stuck, cotyledons trapped in seed coat, seedling can't shed its shell.

Run the checker with this sign: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/diagnose/?at=new&s=seed-shell-stuck

## Likely causes, most likely first

### Seed coat stuck on the cotyledons (helmet head) (Likely)

- Kind: Physical damage; urgency: Deal with it this week
- Fix: Mist the shell to soften it and raise RH around the seedling (dome) for a few hours; if it is still stuck, ease it off gently with clean tweezers. Plant seeds about 0.5-1.5 cm (1/4-1/2 in) deep so the medium scrapes the coat off on the way up.
- Recovery: Cotyledons open within a day.
- Confirm: Check temperature and RH at canopy height with a calibrated sensor: Put a calibrated sensor (salt test: a sealed bag with damp table salt reads 75% RH after 8-12 hours) at canopy height, out of direct light, and log for 24 hours including lights-off. Look for lights-off RH spikes and dew point.
- Article: [What do I do if the seed shell is stuck on my seedling?](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/seed-shell-stuck-on-seedling.md)

## Note

Guidance, not a guarantee. The checker weighs common causes against what you tell it; confirm with the tests before you treat, change one thing at a time and watch the new growth.