questions about germination, seedlings and LED strips

CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
I recently planted 4 seeds that i germinated in paper towels.

planted them in coco, in dixi cups and realized I have alot more questions about environment.

I am running 12 4 foot bridgelux LED strips in a 5x5 tent, ducting carbon filter etc and a clip on fan inside, just ordered another one.


My biggest question is how far should my leds be away from the top of the dirt in cups?

Secound question is whether the lights should be on 24/7 until they pop out of the coco

Third question is if i should put the lights down to low power and turn off the in line fine so i can keep some more humidity in the tent as right now with everything on the RH wont go above 20

fourth question is how to get humidity up when there is so much airflow.

5th question is how long would it likely take for the seedlings to sprout out of the dirt.

6th question is how long can i keep my ph'd water on hand before it goes stagnant and i have to make a new batch?

Sorry for long post with so many questions but i feel like a parent with my first child and i'm constantly worried thinking about what i should be doing to make everything perfect haha

Thanks in advance for any replies
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
Strips can be a few inches away. For easy access. Just dial your driver down to the right lux.

Get a lux meter app on spart phone.
It works good enough
received_2009416585996324.png

Light should be 18/6

Get a small humidifier. Put your exhaust fan on a timer. Maybe 15 on, an hour or two off... Play with it.


Few days to pop out of dirt

Water will last a week ish.

When starting coco, water it when it's about 50% as heavy as when you just water it.

Until it gets a root system then feed every single day. Never give plane water.

This is hydro . They get dissolved air when you feed them. It's nessecary.
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
CBDseeker said:
My biggest question is how far should my leds be away from the top of the dirt in cups?
Click to expand...
That's a huge waste of energy. You need to set up a seedling area where you can use just a few small strips, LED bulbs or even CFLs. Lots of folks just use a small 18" T8 flouro lights for aquariums to light up seedlings. Let them outgrow that setup, before putting them under the big strips.

CBDseeker said:
Secound question is whether the lights should be on 24/7 until they pop out of the coco
Click to expand...
They don't need light until they break ground - then go 24 hour light.

CBDseeker said:
Third question is if i should put the lights down to low power and turn off the in line fine so i can keep some more humidity in the tent as right now with everything on the RH wont go above 20
Click to expand...
Seedlings are not going to need a lot of air circulation, but they like humidity. That's why you can start them under a dome.

CBDseeker said:
fourth question is how to get humidity up when there is so much airflow.
Click to expand...
Reduce airflow.

CBDseeker said:
5th question is how long would it likely take for the seedlings to sprout out of the dirt.
Click to expand...
Varies - anywhere from a few days to as much as two weeks.

CBDseeker said:
6th question is how long can i keep my ph'd water on hand before it goes stagnant and i have to make a new batch?
Click to expand...
Depends on what's in the water. Fairly pure water (like from RO/DI filter) will keep indefinitely. Water with organic material will go sour quicker potentially within a few days, depending on what's in it. Adding a small amount of chlorine will sterilize the water and make it last longer. And no it will not poison the plants.
 
CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
projectinfo said:
Strips can be a few inches away. For easy access. Just dial your driver down to the right lux.

Get a lux meter app on spart phone.
It works good enough
View attachment 4088171

Light should be 18/6

Get a small humidifier. Put your exhaust fan on a timer. Maybe 15 on, an hour or two off... Play with it.


Few days to pop out of dirt

Water will last a week ish.

When starting coco, water it when it's about 50% as heavy as when you just water it.

Until it gets a root system then feed every single day. Never give plane water.

This is hydro . They get dissolved air when you feed them. It's nessecary.
Click to expand...
what do you mean by light should be 18/6 if you don't mind me asking good sir?
 
CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
nfhiggs said:
That's a huge waste of energy. You need to set up a seedling area where you can use just a few small strips, LED bulbs or even CFLs. Lots of folks just use a small 18" T8 flouro lights for aquariums to light up seedlings. Let them outgrow that setup, before putting them under the big strips.



They don't need light until they break ground - then go 24 hour light.



Seedlings are not going to need a lot of air circulation, but they like humidity. That's why you can start them under a dome.



Reduce airflow.



Varies - anywhere from a few days to as much as two weeks.



Depends on what's in the water. Fairly pure water (like from RO/DI filter) will keep indefinitely. Water with organic material will go sour quicker potentially within a few days, depending on what's in it. Adding a small amount of chlorine will sterilize the water and make it last longer. And no it will not poison the plants.
Click to expand...

Turned off my lights after reading this and upon asking some other people apparently that was a bad move, hopefully it still works out lol
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
CBDseeker said:
Turned off my lights after reading this and upon asking some other people apparently that was a bad move, hopefully it still works out lol
Click to expand...
LOL - why would it be "a bad move"? Seeds are buried - NO LIGHT. Turning several hundred watts of lights on before they break ground is simply pissing money away.
 
CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
nfhiggs said:
LOL - why would it be "a bad move"? Seeds are buried - NO LIGHT. Turning several hundred watts of lights on before they break ground is simply pissing money away.
Click to expand...
Hey dude sorry for the late reply. My local hydro and Projectinfo told me that as long as the seed has sprouted its taproot (which they did before i put them in soil) it is good to have light/heat on them so as to let the plants know which way they should be growing. I turned them on after reading/hearing that from those 2 dudes and the plants began to thrive and still are. Perhaps they don't absolutely need it but it definitely seemed to help from what i observed.

it seems that everyone has their own way of doing things though and i don't think that it means yours is wrong. Thank you for your input!
 
CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
projectinfo said:
Strips can be a few inches away. For easy access. Just dial your driver down to the right lux.

Get a lux meter app on spart phone.
It works good enough
View attachment 4088171

Light should be 18/6

Get a small humidifier. Put your exhaust fan on a timer. Maybe 15 on, an hour or two off... Play with it.


Few days to pop out of dirt

Water will last a week ish.

When starting coco, water it when it's about 50% as heavy as when you just water it.

Until it gets a root system then feed every single day. Never give plane water.

This is hydro . They get dissolved air when you feed them. It's nessecary.
Click to expand...

I had a few follow up questions for you sir!

1. Does Coco have any nutrients in it?

2. How long after the serated leaves show up should feeding begin?

3. How do you know if your plants have developed a root system?

I have just been giving them PHd water so far but i feel like i should start feeding them shortly.

Thanks for your last reply. Been following what you said and it has been going great so far
 
gwheels

gwheels

Well-Known Member
coco is inert you have to feed with every watering. You usually know your plants have roots because they start to grow. They will stall a while as that tap root gets lower in your pot and then they start to fill the pot and suddenly the explosive veg stage really begins.
Feed from when you see the 2nd leaves and with every watering.
And you do not need a light on for a sprouting seed. They plant will always grow up. It is nature.

:)

Light nutes to start too or you will burn the plants. PH coco to 5.8 to 6.2 after you have the nutes in it. That is the sweet spot to ensure no PH lockout of nutes for coco.

I do not stress too much. If the pen hits 5.8 to 6.2 after I nute I just use it. I add PH up or down if needed but with coco you are using nutes all the time so it is easier to control PH. The nutes bring your PH down.
 
CBDseeker

CBDseeker

Active Member
gwheels said:
coco is inert you have to feed with every watering. You usually know your plants have roots because they start to grow. They will stall a while as that tap root gets lower in your pot and then they start to fill the pot and suddenly the explosive veg stage really begins.
Feed from when you see the 2nd leaves and with every watering.
And you do not need a light on for a sprouting seed. They plant will always grow up. It is nature.

:)

Light nutes to start too or you will burn the plants. PH coco to 5.8 to 6.2 after you have the nutes in it. That is the sweet spot to ensure no PH lockout of nutes for coco.

I do not stress too much. If the pen hits 5.8 to 6.2 after I nute I just use it. I add PH up or down if needed but with coco you are using nutes all the time so it is easier to control PH. The nutes bring your PH down.
Click to expand...

By the second set of leaves do you mean the first serrated set of leaves that come after the initial 2 cotyledons, or the second set of serrated leaves?

And i'll admit im a little confused by your first paragraph :p

Do you mean that when explosive growth into veg begins, that is the sign the root system has been well established?

Thanks for the help!!

Also right now the lux meter on my phone is showing around 9000 is that too low for them right now? 3 of the plants have 2 cotyledons and 2 serrated, and the 4th plant has 4 serrated leaves but i think thats because i fucked up and broke off half of each cotyledons so i think it just tried to replace them quick haha.
 
gwheels

gwheels

Well-Known Member
start feeding them now. The first set after the cotyledons is when you start light feeding.

And exactly about the explosive growth. I start mine in a solo cup and you can see the roots in the bottom of the cup when they are ready to move.
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
CBDseeker said:
By the second set of leaves do you mean the first serrated set of leaves that come after the initial 2 cotyledons, or the second set of serrated leaves?

And i'll admit im a little confused by your first paragraph :p

Do you mean that when explosive growth into veg begins, that is the sign the root system has been well established?

Thanks for the help!!

Also right now the lux meter on my phone is showing around 9000 is that too low for them right now? 3 of the plants have 2 cotyledons and 2 serrated, and the 4th plant has 4 serrated leaves but i think thats because i fucked up and broke off half of each cotyledons so i think it just tried to replace them quick haha.
Click to expand...
This was posted for the led eb strips
Not sure how accurate it is for other lights but it's been working for me and my strips... Try it but don't quote me on it haha

received_2009416585996324.png
 
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