This is the first time I have seriously tried to do this. I have a 5 day old seedling sprout (from bag seed...wanted to get the technique down before moving on to some good stuff)in fox farm ocean forest. I water every other day and put it in the saucer at the bottom of the pot. It is a grow box with 4 100w cfl and and an intake and exhaust fan. I have also read that I should keep the plant about 2-3 inches from the light. The round leaves on the plant are singed and seem a little shriveled. Am I not watering it enough or too much? Should I pour the water directly on the soil? Is it too close to the light? or is it normal? The larger pointed leaves are green and seem healthy. Any input would be much appreciated. Thx!!

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the round leaves die off eventually. everything seems normal

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Those first sets of leaves that grow that don't look like weed leaves always die and fall off. Usually not so soon but if the leaves closest to the lights aren't burnt i would worry about the distance, but you do have it right with CFL's you want them CLOSE. Watering is the hardest part of growing, there is no set regiment. As long as you let the soil dry a little but in between watering you should be fine. That watering technique sounds fine as long as you see the water seep to the top of the soil ( the top of the soil is wet )

Thanks, good to know instead going nuts trying to figure whats going wrong and do something stupid and screw it up.

I'd switch to watering from the top as its much easier for a new grower to do. I use the weight method myself, soak it till it drains a little then lift the pot and feel how much it weighs. Wait a few days till the top inch or so is dried up and lift it again and you will feel the difference. Then just lift it once a day or so and see where your at and water again when it feels too light.

I would also recommend watering from the top. Leaving them sit in water too long, can lead to root rot.

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yeah just water whenever you can feel an inch deep down into the soil and not feel water or moisture, and do that in a couple different places, and thats when you know its time to water. cfls should be as close to the plant as possible. keep them about an inch to two inches from the plant, and the more the better just watch the heat.

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Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. My other question is, I currently have it on a 24hr cycle, with soft white 100w cfls, should I put in daylight bulbs, and does the wattage matter? I have 4 cfsl in the box, and it seems to be growing pretty fast, its day 6 and this morning I saw another set of leaves forming at the top. Also this may be a dumb question but because I have it on a 24 hr cycle will need to be watered more?

Another question that has been bouncing around my head, is it more important to have the spectrum or wattage? I was looking to get some daylight cfls, and there are 40w daylight bulbs @ 6500k, will it make a difference with 100w daylight bulbs @ 6500k. I am currently using 4 soft white 100w cfls (which if i am not mistakened is between 2700k and 3000k). And I have read that this is ideal for flowering, so which brings me back to the question...wattage or spectrum? Thx RIU for any help or input.

6,500K is for veg
2,700K is for flowering

alot of people like to mix and match them while useing CLFs

2 to 1 lighting depending on the stage

Edit -

- Water your plants from the top and not the bottom
- Never start giving your plants plant food till they are at least 3 - 4 weeks old and when you do only give them 1/8 strength and if your going to feed them every watering just stick with 1/8 strength
- Always do a soil rince once a month (take the medium size of water and slowly poor it on top of the soil, let it sit for 3 to 5 mins then take the same amount of water and poor it over the top again) the first water is to let the salts in the soil desolve and the 2nd water is to help wash some or alot of the desolved salts.
- When growing with CFLs always have the lights 1 to 2 inches from the tops to ensure they get alot of light.

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