Germination & Seedling Lighting questions....

Florida Girl · #1 04-18-2008, 11:33 AM

Hi all,

I'm starting my first indoor hydo grow. I'm starting with 3 seeds (White Widow from Dutch Passion). The seeds have just popped and started showing the tap root. I'm going to plant them in a Sunleaves Float & Grow tray until they spring up and then move them to a homemade bubble system.

Here is my question. Once I get them in the Float & Grow should I put them under my 400 watt MH or should I leave them in a dark humid environment until they pop up through the surface?

Once they are through the surface and in full seedling mode is it ok to have the 400 watt MH light on them at about 3 feet above for the 18/6 cycle ?

Should I do 18/6 during seedling? I read in one of my grow books that fewer hours of daylight can help promote females... would a 16/8 cycle be ok?

I'm sorry if this has been asked 1000 times before... I did read the Grow FAQS and tried searching before I posted.

Thanks

UserFriendly · #2 04-18-2008, 11:37 AM

A plant is what it is (male/female/hermy). Put them under the MH when you start to feed them nutes. 18/6

Florida Girl · #3 04-18-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UserFriendly

A plant is what it is (male/female/hermy). Put them under the MH when you start to feed them nutes. 18/6

Since I'm going to use a bubble system I wasn't planning on using any nutes until they are past the seedling stage. It seems to me they need light before then. I don't have a CFL fixture... but I do have a MH and was hoping to use that at 3 ft. above the seedling to avoid burning them. Is that a bad idea???

I'm also taking your post to mean I should keep the float & grow in a dark and humid environment while the seeds have still not broken the surface?

mrskitz · #4 04-18-2008, 12:01 PM

i use a 400watter from start to finish,obviously i change to hps when flowering,,3foot will be to high,,theyll stretch,2.5ft to start off with will be fine,then lower it bit by bit each day,,18/6 is better,ive tried both 24/0 and 18/6,,,,,the plants in the 24/0 started to look knackered in the second week,then i changed back to 18/6 and after there first 6 hours darkness they started to perk back up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,peace

Florida Girl · #5 04-18-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrskitz

i use a 400watter from start to finish,obviously i change to hps when flowering,,3foot will be to high,,theyll stretch,2.5ft to start off with will be fine,then lower it bit by bit each day,,18/6 is better,ive tried both 24/0 and 18/6,,,,,the plants in the 24/0 started to look knackered in the second week,then i changed back to 18/6 and after there first 6 hours darkness they started to perk back up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,peace

Thank you... that was very helpful. I now know I can use my 400 MH at 3 ft while in seedling mode but should gradually move down as they grow into veg mode to prevent stretching.

What about the float & grow? Light or no light before the seed has broken the surface? Would a heating pad with no light be better?

Shit... I know I'm asking a lot of questions... it's just that I spent a lot of money on the seeds and I don't want to fuck it up right out of the gate.

Thanks again