# Paper towel method

> The paper towel method germinates seeds between damp paper towels in a covered container until the root shows, then moves them to a medium.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/paper-towel-method.html
- Also written: paper towel germination, paper towel method germination, towel method, wet paper towel
- Glossary category: Cultivation and training · Evidence: Grower practice
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

The paper towel method is a [germination](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/germination.md) technique in which seeds are placed between two damp (not dripping) paper towels, usually on a plate or in a sealed box, and kept warm and dark until the [radicle](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/radicle.md) emerges. It lets the grower see exactly which seeds have popped and count a germination rate.

## In practice

Fold seeds into a damp towel, cover to hold humidity, and keep at about 22-28 °C (72-82 °F). Check twice a day. Move each seed to its plug or pot once the root is about 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in) long, root pointing down, handling it by the [shell](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/seed-coat.md) rather than the root. Waiting until the root is several centimetres long invites [root hairs](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-hair.md) growing into the towel and damage during transfer.

The trade-off: it adds a handling step. For [autoflowers](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/autoflower.md), sowing straight into the final pot avoids both that step and a later [transplant](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/transplanting.md), which GenetixBay prefers.

## Don't confuse with

- **Soaking**: seeds in a glass of water for 12-24 h; often done before the towel step, but long soaks risk oxygen starvation.
- **Direct sowing**: seed goes straight into the medium with no pre-germination.

## Related terms

[Germination](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/germination.md), [Seedling](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/seedling.md), [Taproot](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/taproot.md), [Transplanting](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/transplanting.md)

## Read more

- [Germination methods compared: soak, paper towel, plugs, direct sow](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/germination/germination-methods.md)

## Sources

1. Sorokin A, Yadav NS, Gaudet D, Kovalchuk I, 2021. Development and standardization of rapid and efficient seed germination protocol for Cannabis sativa. Bio-protocol 11(1): e3875. https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.3875