Are my gals doing ok?

Hi growers n tokers!

This is my second ever grow (my first was a lowryer outside in a secluded area which did fine, nothing special) and I'm doing an indoor grow with red/blue LED lights and planting an autoflower amnesia haze and an autoflower northern lights, both from ILGM (which is a branch of AMS I believe). So I germinated the seeds via paper towel, and when they got their tap root I put them into their soil, and they emerged from the soil not even 3 days later. The first day that they both were above the surface I called the start of "veg week 1", and it is now been that whole week, but my girls still both only have 1 set of true leaves (and small ones at that, roughly 1 square centimeter) yet they are very enlongated (each one about 10cm tall) so I'm wondering if this is characteristic/normal of autoflower plants after a week, or if my lights are perhaps too bright/too dim (I wouldn't think they're too dim though, they're high power LEDs and I've definately seen plants growing in much darker grow lights) or if they are underwatered? (the soil is damp with good drainage so I don't think thats it either) or they might need more nutrients? (ive been reluctant to feed them yet since they are so small I don't want to burn them! but the soil should contain a decent bit of nutrients at least for the first week) The actual color of the girls is good, they are both a rich dark green with perky leaves that aren't drooping or curling in any way, just their size is on the smaller

I'll take some pictures of them and their setup when I go downstairs next and put them here.


TL;DR - my two autoflower plants are looking good in color but only have one set of true leaves in a week, is this normal?

My setup (mainly the picture is to show the lights though)


Auto Northern Lights


Auto Amnesia Haze

They need a LOT more light, they are far too tall and spindly. They are 3 times taller than they should be for that growth. They will never be able to support their own weight that skinny.

What kind of light do you have exactly? And what wattage?

And since they are autoflowers you should start them in a 3-5 gallon pot to start with, apparently autoflowers don't like to be transplanted. I would move them immediately into their final pots and bury them at least halfway up that stem and get them under some better lighting.

Put light closers and repot put more of the stem under dirt, if you can get more light you should do so.

Night grower09 said:

Do you think she looked normal
View attachment 4027354

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That looks dead or close to it

Im using LED strip grow lights, 120W total I believe (9.8A 12V used) but I can definitely move them closer. I could also get some CFLs instead or complimenting them if they are not at all bright enough. The soil bag is their final potting because of the limited space, but thats about 12L of soil for each of them so I think they should have enough root room? Let me know though. I will also try planting both of them deeper so they can support their own weight.

So ive moved the whole lights closer to the plants, and ive propped the plants up so they don't collapse under their own weight

I'm afraid you'll need more light. I've never used led strips but I have two seedlings, two & three days old under a 13w cfl (almost touching) each.

upnsmoke13 said:

I'm afraid you'll need more light. I've never used led strips but I have two seedlings, two & three days old under a 13w cfl (almost touching) each.

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The total light power of these lights is about 120W over about a square meter, so since ive moved the lights closer to the plants, most of that energy should be available for the seedlings to use

The plants aren't going to get much oxygen growing in those bags, I would recommend repotting like now.

Also the drainage won't be too good with the bags, so a pot is a must. Imho

Autos, i've read, will grow slowly until roots develope. I've grew a few autos & honestly think they're picky plants. A fan will strengthen the stems & provide fresh air. Do you have extra holes in the bags? Autos feed lighty, go easy with the nutes - like 1/4 strength.

upnsmoke13 said:

Autos, i've read, will grow slowly until roots develope. I've grew a few autos & honestly think they're picky plants. A fan will strengthen the stems & provide fresh air. Do you have extra holes in the bags? Autos feed lighty, go easy with the nutes - like 1/4 strength.

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I went ham and cheese with holes in the bottom for drainage! Ive got a fan running dual purpose (scrub air of smell and blow air onto the plants gently) also thanks for the tip on nutes, I'm making sure not to burn them, especially while their this tall and vulnerable!

MzanziMarijuana said:

The plants aren't going to get much oxygen growing in those bags, I would recommend repotting like now.

Also the drainage won't be too good with the bags, so a pot is a must. Imho

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there is some perlite in the soil for oxidisation, plus the fans running and the holes in the bag like I said above, it serves the same function as a pot. Also autoflowers don't like to be repotted I'm told.