Seedling Leaves Curling Up

I know this has been covered millions of times, but i didnt find any pertaining to seedlings only about 10 days old. Here's the short setup

1 part perlite
3 part peat moss
1 part vermiculite

Soil ph steady at 6.7 Watered with tap water buffered to 6.0 w/sulfuric acid (perhaps this is issue, first grow using s/a as ph lowering?)

No nutrients

1000w mh bulb was at 8" above plants, now at 24" above plants. Cooled hood, no heat issues. Good air circulation, not direct at plants.

Humidity always 40-50% day temp 78deg, night 72deg

My last grow was with a 400w hps and I didnt have this issue. Anyone seen this before? All seedling are feminine white widow and Himilayan gold. Since they show this curl regardless of genetics, I'm gna rule that out. All seedlings treated the same since birth.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any ideas. I'm hoping this thread may help me and many others

that's a new one to me sorry...

Thanks for the replies so soon. Im new to the 1000w club, but so happy ive got too much light...for anything. Im using this potting mix until i repot into 3gal w/1 part perlite and 1 part verm. Im still so confused about the earth juice i got, Im not sure how to ph it.

I had read NOT to give nutes in the first 2 weeks, but mayhaps they are already gna need some? Im doubting this is a nutrient issue..yet. They are soo young. If the light kicked their ass, are they gna bounce back now that I've moved it up? Man I hope so, I was hoping for a 3x3 (9) plants, and am so running out of seeds. Im staring in on 'em every 4hrs or so, so I'll keep close tabs on it. For now, the light has been raised to 24" for the last 36hrs, let's hope that bounces em back. Any chance this is from over watering? Thanks again

Shanus said:

Thanks for the replies so soon. Im new to the 1000w club, but so happy ive got too much light...for anything. Im using this potting mix until i repot into 3gal w/1 part perlite and 1 part verm. Im still so confused about the earth juice i got, Im not sure how to ph it.

I had read NOT to give nutes in the first 2 weeks, but mayhaps they are already gna need some? Im doubting this is a nutrient issue..yet. They are soo young. If the light kicked their ass, are they gna bounce back now that I've moved it up? Man I hope so, I was hoping for a 3x3 (9) plants, and am so running out of seeds. Im staring in on 'em every 4hrs or so, so I'll keep close tabs on it. For now, the light has been raised to 24" for the last 36hrs, let's hope that bounces em back. Any chance this is from over watering? Thanks again

Click to expand...

no its not a watering problem.

Well, Ive since watered my babies with 1/2 strength earth juice grow and a touch of bloom. I repotted them in perlite/verm mix and they took the transpant well it seems. Tiniest drooping, but success i think. I know the roots aren't logged in water, and the lights have been at 32-36" above plants for about a week now, yet all the leaves are still curling? WTF! My temps and humid are always spot on, and even the new leaf growth shows signs of curl from the get go.

Im now out of seeds for the space I've alotted, so off to spend another 75$ to try 10 more beans. How aggravating, all the best plans in the world and BOOM, time to regroup. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

HOORAY, all panic was a waste of time! My babies pulled thru.

Thanks for all the help. I think I've confirmed the curling issue.

I switched out my 1000mh (it was 36" above plants, to my old 400hps (now 16" from). After about 48hrs, the newest growth looks strong and healthy. Most of the curling in the old has gone, cept for the worst on the lower leaves. Im now about 12-16 days on these, and the excess light actually slowed growth.

I think I'll wait until the babies go thru one bout of lst (8" tall), before I hit the mh back on. Maybe only 2-4weeks at 1000w mh. Im taking time in veg, LST is my newest obsession.

Thanks again, here's the most recent pics. Hope my mistake helps prevent someone else's. -Peace

Well, i switched back to the 1000w mh at 32" above babies, and the new growth started curling again. I even upped the humidity to 70% to try and combat it if it was too dry for 'em. So, after about 6 days of the 1000w, I'm back to the 400w hps. Why did I buy that 1000 mh, can someone remind me again? Oh well, I'll wait and switch again, but I am convinced that too much too early slows down growth. Just my two cents.

you're not referring to the rounded cotyledon's are you?

Naw, these babies would actually be about 6" tall if i hadnt lst'd them. The starter leaves are 3 nodes down now. Im referrering to the curling of the new growth. These are at about node 4 or 5 i think. Its like cause and effect; install 1000mh, the new leaves coming out of top will even start to curl. Install 400hps, the new growth on top goes healthy and fast. The little cotyledon leaves are ummm. hell, i dont think they've quite lost those yet.

you need to keep that 1000 watter 3 feet or so away for a the first few weeks brotha. seedling do not like light that intense, hence alot of folks using t5's and cfl's to start their seedlings.

I have to agree way too much light for those babies. Use the 400 watter until the plants are fully developed. Plus why waste the energy and kill the plants at the same time. I veg 8 at a time under two 26w daylight cfls in a small cab for weeks and they look way healthy.

Advice taken, ran em under the 400 for about 10-12 days, then went back to the 1000hps at 32". After a week, Im down to 18" and they seem to be taking the light. Yep, too much light too soon. I must say, easier too handle too much light than stretching cuz not enough! Thanks again!

Shanus said:

Advice taken, ran em under the 400 for about 10-12 days, then went back to the 1000hps at 32". After a week, Im down to 18" and they seem to be taking the light. Yep, too much light too soon. I must say, easier too handle too much light than stretching cuz not enough! Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Confirmed!!

Too much light. Now the plants are healthy (enough lol) and dont mind 1000w at 18"

So, to start babies, dont overwater, use cfl's until 3rd leafset,

repot and switch to 400w or wait a tad and hit em with the 1000w (if stretching)

A classic case of less is more in the beginning.

Im gna have to say that with this lighting routine, One can grow like mad. Just control the height of the lights and the times you switch, dependant on the stretch and size of the leafsets

Thanks for all the help. I guess im one of those that continues to overdo the simpler things....

thats a ph problem it looks like to me . before i had a ph testing kit it would happen all the time.. and then now?? not so much.. some of my seedlings will drooop for no reason.. maybe over watering .. but this looks like ph issue

Cheers Shanus,

Been lowering my light since I put the babies in my room a week ago thinkin to get it close as possible as soon as possible (currently 10" away) to avoid any stretching . One has just started to show the symptoms of "over exposure". Luckily found this thread, was gonna flush it. I'll raise my light when it comes on

I've not done no acid since the 70's!

my seedlings were doing the exact same thing, this thread saved my ass.

cheers dude

Shagg

its from heat stress, 1000 watt Mh puts out way too much heat to have seedlings that close to them. Now that they are under a 400 watt it should solve ur problem as long as u don't have it too close. Put the back of ur hand under the light at the same height of the plant for 30 secs, if its too hot, its too close.