Purple Stems.. Time to add nutes?

OK.. 1st timer here. I've read some conflicting opinions on this site and need to see if I can get somewhat of a consensus as to what to do with my specific "problem".

Popped 30 seeds directly into some rockwool and some rapid rooters. 29 of them popper out within 48 hours. I was very happy to see that.

OK, well here we are less than 48 hours from the time they showed themselves and every last stem is purple. Now I've read that this may or may not be a problem and that sometimes they just have purple stems (albeit it rare), but all 29 of mine are at least half purple.

Now, most people suggest to just supply them with water for the 1st two weeks (I've been trying to keep them damp without soaking). No nutes. But the reason often given is due to soil having some nutes in it.. Well, that obviously doesn't apply to me, since I am not using soil.

So..

Should I start with a very small amount of nutes now? 2 of them just wilted (on the right in the foreground) and I don't want anymore of them to fall over.

There's no yellowing or anything other than the purple stems that would lead me to think they are deficient in nutrients.. BUT being that it was less than a week ago that I popped the seeds in, I wonder if that is even possible? Do they need nutes at this tender young age (in my NON soil set-up)?

Right now they are just sitting in a tray, directly under a T5. I have the T5 currently about 6" off the tops. I had is about 3", but pulled it back up just a few moments ago until I can get some feedback and figure out what the problem is.

What else.. OK.. I have the lights on 24/7.. and I am regulating the temp.. Have it at a constant 80 degrees F (that a good temp? I can easily adjust it). Small oscillating fan blowing on them from a little over a foot away..

Here's a pic. Not sure if it will help, but just in case..

also.. growing several strains. So genetics are different, but still all of them looking very purple.

thanks

OK...

Just checked my water.

I brought the PH down to 5.8. So that was OK.

But I didnt check the PPM, since I assumed it to be pure water. It's bottled and I paid an arm and leg for it. PPM on it though is somehow 280. What could possibly have the PPM on bottled water that high?

Anyhow, I have installed a RO recently and the PPM on that is 20. So I am going to switch it up now.

Any chance that this was my problem? And if so, is it too late now?

Also, I JUST watered them with the "bad" water... Should I add more now of the "good" water OR should I let them dry out a bit 1st? I was thinking it would be best to sorta flush that "bad" water away, but I don't want to drown them.

dnt stress mate just sit back an let them grow there is nothing wrong with em
purple stem is probably just cause of the strain it is chill mate

jzs147 said:

dnt stress mate just sit back an let them grow there is nothing wrong with em
purple stem is probably just cause of the strain it is chill mate

Click to expand...

I'd like to sit back and go along with your positive thoughts, but 2 problems concern me.

#1. I have 3 seeds of TEN different strains. lol So unless they are all supposed to have purple stems (I doubt it), then that can't be the case.

#2. 3 have wilted in the last 12 hours. I don't want more to follow suit.


PS - to my amazement, I lifted up the Rapid Rooter plugs and MOST of the seedlings have already shot our root tips through to the bottom. I did not expect that to happen after only a couple days post germination. Think I need to put them in rockwool already and drop them in my aeropoincs system, but this just seems to be too far ahead of schedule (again, I am a newbie, but based on everything I have read).

thx

the plant dont need nutes yet.....those cotyledons(round leaves) r the plants food...
when u have a four true leaves,u can start 1/4 strength nutes
the purple stem is somewhat normal
dont water again til its dry
idk y the other plants wilted....could it be that u overwatered them?
if u see roots coming out then yes,its time to transplant

yeah i there fine all my seedlings have purple stems , its when there a tad older i would worrie if there stems are purple , would give em nutes for another 9 days

OK cool. I'll definitely hold off on the nutes. I've read countless posts and know that almost everyone recommends waiting 2 weeks or more, but a lot of those people are starting in soil. Enough said.

Almost all of them had at least one root protruding from the bottom though. Some of them had 3 or more.. (amazed that they have grown so much in such a short time).. So I went ahead and put them into the pots/hydroton.

Thinking of just watering them from the top for now and waiting for the roots to make their way through the hydroton as well. OR can I just go ahead and kick on my water pump now? I suppose the water would work its way through the rocks, right?

Also, I know most people leave their sprayers on 24/7 when cloning, but should I put it on a timer (4on 1 off or whatever) while dealing with seedlings? Thoughts?

thanks

moash said:

the plant dont need nutes yet.....those cotyledons(round leaves) r the plants food...
when u have a four true leaves,u can start 1/4 strength nutes
the purple stem is somewhat normal
dont water again til its dry
idk y the other plants wilted....could it be that u overwatered them?
if u see roots coming out then yes,its time to transplant

Click to expand...

PS.. I was worried about overwatering, so I only watered them about 3 times a day and not all that much. Just a few sprays and enough to wet the top of the rockwool/rapid rooters.

When I just pulled them out of the tray though, they seemed a bit dry. Especially the rockwool.

Seems 3 times a day is just not enough OR I am just not putting enough during those 3 times. Maybe that is why it wilted, not ENOUGH water?

the lights being 3" above them and the fan(s) blowing on them dries out the medium rather quickly.. seems almost instantly. so tough figuring out how much is enough and how much is too much.

Maybe I will spray them 4 times a day now OR just give them a little more each time.

PS.. I used both this time as an experiment, but I DEFINITELY like the rapid rooters best.

Cissy said:

PS.. I was worried about overwatering, so I only watered them about 3 times a day and not all that much. Just a few sprays and enough to wet the top of the rockwool/rapid rooters.

When I just pulled them out of the tray though, they seemed a bit dry. Especially the rockwool.

Seems 3 times a day is just not enough OR I am just not putting enough during those 3 times. Maybe that is why it wilted, not ENOUGH water?

the lights being 3" above them and the fan(s) blowing on them dries out the medium rather quickly.. seems almost instantly. so tough figuring out how much is enough and how much is too much.

Maybe I will spray them 4 times a day now OR just give them a little more each time.

PS.. I used both this time as an experiment, but I DEFINITELY like the rapid rooters best.

Click to expand...

yeah,lack of water will do that also
just water it....dont try to be so precise....and when it dries repeat

It is my belief that low temps can cause purple/redding stems. Check to make sure your temps remain constant, using a 24/hr temp recorder type thermometer works well for most people.