Novice Grower...Need Help With Seedlings

Hello everyone, this is actually my first post ever on this site.
Glad to Finally be a Member ^^
Anyways...

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My Two Seedlings are, as of Today, about one month old. (28-29 days)

I did not presoak them, or use the paper towel method and transplant.
I simply went old school and put some seeds I had saved from a Winter purchase into some starter pots and watered carefully.

I originally planted 10 seeds, and got only 2 sprouts (not very effective, I admit :/)

I filled their pots with Miracle Grow Organic Potting Mix.
The soil is a little chunky, but I picked out most of the bark pieces to make it softer and more fine for the seeds.

One sprouted in 3-4 days, the other in about a week.

I kept them in my room until leaves began to emerge, when I decided to put them outside for a couple hours to get some good sunlight.

This is where I think they began to have problems as my older one would scare me by wilting and fall over, so I brought them inside.

I kept them in my window to get some sun without to much heat.

I later bought a CFL bulb for a lamp and kept them growing on that for about a week.
They respond well to the CFL bulb, but I aim to trasplant them outside as soon as possible.

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The first to sprout is having serious stem problems and can't stand up straight, so I have it tied to a chopstick with soft yarn for support.
It's first pair of vegetative leaves are slightly misshapen, and have been yellowing for a while now along the tips and serrated edges of the leaves.
They are also browning at the tips.
It is growing very slowly.

The second is doing well.
It stands up straight with little effort, and is growing pretty fast.
I am still a bit worried about it though.
It's running into similar problems with yellowing at the tips and edges.

I've looked into it somewhat, and I think it's either a pH problem or a Potassium Deficiency, but I'd like some more experienced input. ^^

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I'll attach a few Pictures of them that I just took.

Please help, guys, this is my first grow and I want it to be at least half-decent!

have you checked the ph of the water you are useing and also the runoff water,also you can replant those deeper so there not so streched out,also go easy on ferts for the first few weeks,I think lighting may be an issue also good luck

I haven't checked the water, although I do have some pH test strips for testing pool water.

The water I use is tap water from our kitchen sink.
I fill up a small spray bottle, and give them a few sprays at the base of their stems when the surface is clearly dried out.
Just enough to soak through a little bit.

I haven't added any extra fertilizers as I know that Miracle Grow Soil is already overloaded with nutes :/
I know to be careful with fertilizers.

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting....
I keep them in my closet with a CFL bulb on for 10-14 hours a day.
As I type this, however, I have them outside getting a bit of early morning sunlight as I have the house to myself for a few hours.
I honestly feel that they need to be in natural light and be outside.
I intend to grow them outdoors in a forest clearing near our house as soon as they are strong enough to withstand the elements, but that seems to be so far away at this point...

I know they're in small pots, but I don't think that they're ready to be transplanted just yet.
I do have bigger pots that they could go in, but they're not ready for that just yet.

I've also read that putting plants in pots that are too big for them can lead to problems with water efficiency and root rot.
Thoughts?

What do you mean "they're stretched out?"

You mean their lanky?
How should seedlings look at one month?

Also, I'm on a low budget, what kind of light would you reccommend?
The one I'm using now I got at Home Depot for $8.
It's a 100W, 1400 Lumen, Full Spectrum CFL Bulb.

To quote the packaging on the bulb when I bought it, "Simulates Sunlight"

I was also thinking that I'm going to need to replant it soon.

Its roots should be getting fairly cramped in there for a plant that I intend to grow outdoors.
It needs to have a bigger, but more importantly deeper, pot.

Ok. First, bury them up to the set of the first leaves (round ones), Second, leave them under a couple cfl's approx 1-2 inches away for no less than 18 hours a day. Third, transplant to some less barky soil. Fourth, do not water till the day the soil feels dry approx 2-3 inches down. Fifth, make sure your cfls are at least 3000k (better for upwards of 5000k or 6000k).

Then all you have to do is wait till they get bigger and stick em outside.

Remember
Stick = You Lose
Bush = You Win!

You're already growing without a real idea of what a plants basic care and maintenance requirements are. It's not the smart way to grow. But, I never criticize, I try to improve! So, what can we do to help you improve right *now*?

1.) For seeds, put 3 wet paper towels down on a dinner plate. Then, toss the seeds on top. However many you like, try to keep em at least an inch apart so the roots dont tangle up. Then add 3 more wet towels to the plate. Hold the plate at an angle over the sink and let any "excess water" drip off the plate. That's now enough water for them to germinate within 24-48 hours. If they dont, you got shit seeds. Keep another dish plate on top of the other plate but upside down so it doesnt crush the seeds. Then, put that on your cable tv box. It's just enough heat to keep it around 85-90(f). The second plate is to ensure the seeds arent getting light.

2.) Untie the seedling you have tied up with a pencil. It'll fall over, that's fine. Let it. Add an oscillating fan, a very small personal desk size fan that makes air flow over the seedlings a little bit. You want the leaves to flutter. This will allow the plants air flow so they can breath and grow and encourage the plants to make a healthy stem which allows them to not fall over now, when you flower, or even when your ready to harvest.

3.) Whatever lights you are using are making your plants stretch. What this means is the plant is REACHING HIGH for light because its so far away. Lower the light until it's a few inches above the plant. Hold your hand over the top of the plant for 30 seconds. Is your hand hot? Was it too warm? If so, raise the light until this test makes your hand feel like a spring day at a picnic.

4.) Go to thepiratebay.org and search for "marijuana". I know, I know. It sounds fucking stupid. BUt it isnt. Go there and download all the video torrents of "Lets Grow Pot" styled videos that come up from the search. Jorges Cerventes' is the most popular probably, and pretty novice friendly. Stay away from the PDF books and junk, they are cute but the Internet is a far better reference.

When you've done #1 through #4, you're a substantially better grower than you are reading this today. It will be a few FUN hours invested in the videos. You will save yourself dead plants, be able to spot problems faster, understand the cycle of the plant and its needs. You'll save a lot of time and money by this tiny investment.

Welcome to Rollitup and let us know how it goes!

Ok, so what I've gathered from all of your posts so far, a have several mild problems and then one big one, amount of light.

Today I got an old rectangle fishtank that had been sitting in the garage for years, cleaned it out, sprayed it down.
I lined all 5 glass panes with aluminum foil and affixed my CFL light to hang 2-3" directly above both of my seedlings diagonally.
I have also added some heat by adding another lamp aimed at the stems of the plants at the other end of the tank, about 7-10" away.

All in all, it seems to look just like a real grow now. ^^
Before I was just being lazy; stuck them under a lamp and gave them good water, hoping they'd be fine.
To be honest, I guess when I see other people pulling out all the stops to grow (lining boxes/rooms with foil, using oscillating fans, vents, timers, etc.) I though that they were being obsessive and making their hobby more risky and difficult.
I've realized that those things are all necessary (at one point or another (people who pull out all those stops to grow indoors don't just raise seedlings like me, but fully raise, until flowering.))

Anyways, tomorrow I plan to repot them both into bigger containers of a soil mixture I've made.

I'llpost pics as soon as I can!

Thank You all so much for the input!
I really like this community.
Everyone stay careful with your grows and don't get caught!

looks like you're getting some great help here. It would behoove you to save this thread for future references. Pretty much all the basic bases have been covered already FOR YOU. Keep it simple, and you will come out ahead. Only thing I can add to this is this, probably the most common and arrogant message you can get but I dont mean for it to come off that way. Get a book, or a few of them, watch some videos, youtube even has some good ones. It will save you tons of agony but, not on that it will make you a better grower in general. You don't have to be smart to grow cannabis. but you do need alittle more common sense than the average joe. Good luck and I look forward to seeing some picture updates from you.

I'm back, but I fear I may have pushed my handicapped seedling over the edge.

My tank setup seems to have overheated and possibly harmed my plants..
The weak one seems nearly dead, and the other is just wilting mildly.

Anyways, I'm attaching some pics, just for the heck of it.
Comment as you will. >_>

Will be transplanting them both into wider, deeper containers this evening.
Hopefully I'll post pics of them repotted tomorrow.

The wilting one is dead. The others standing on their own will be fine.

Hey buddy one thing about your box, you need to get rid of the tin foil, it actually reflects LESS light than flat white paint, and it creates wicked hotspots, which will burn ur babies..your better of going to home depot and getting some 3/4 inch foam insulate panels and lining the inside of the box with that, atleast its flat white and wont burn ur kiddos. And if they are stretching like that as much as they are you can always read up on LST methods..sure wouldnt hurt any.

Hmm, lots of advice but i reckon you are overwatering them to start with, i may be wrong but even after years growing i am amazed at how dam easy it is to overwater seedlings, seriously a little splash goes a long way and the dry soil around the small wet roots promotes root growth as the roots seek out more water. My seedlings like the soil to dry within 4 days or they seem a little stressed. Years later i am still overwatering seedlings but only a tiny bit, your leaves look overwatered but some might say deficiency, in this case i say overwatered, the pot holders dont look great either.

Your grow room needs work but i think you got enough light to grow some wicked seedlings. Seedling stretch is due to a number of reasons, overwatering being one and light being another, leaves generally dont die like that with low light. A small fan with that cfl and no tank would do two seedlings easy i reckon. Rethink the problems but overwatering and soil are basics that take time. My seedling soil recently has a lot of uncomposted wood bark and chippings in, not great but hopefully the rest is composted.

Have you got more seeds to practice with, learn to grow a good seedling and the rest will be a lot easier than keeping these two spindly things. Peace

plants that are one month old should not be seedlings. they should be 20-30cm tall.

throw these away, you will only waste time and effort with them.

if you wanna grow outside, why don't you just start them outside in a small container in a sunny place? that way you won't have all those childhood sicknesses. i've started plants outside and it was very good. just don't use that MG soil! get better soil. and yes, do much reading and video watching before.

the problem is, it's getting quite late to plant outside now, you won't get very big plants as they start flowering by early august. still worth the effort, but you should do it now.

Here a pic of my seedlings their a week old today!

MrGhettoGrower said:

Here a pic of my seedlings their a week old today!
View attachment 1681272View attachment 1681271

Click to expand...

What the hell seedling soil is that? Looks like putty or bread!

I see the purple stems on your seedling, to me this is overwatering at the moment and adding less water will give you a greener stem, is hard not to overwater seedlings even a tiny bit? Peace

MrGhettoGrower said:

Here a pic of my seedlings their a week old today!
View attachment 1681272View attachment 1681271

Click to expand...

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Read, then dont do it again.