First Timer, help needed...

Juannoisseur · Sep 9, 2008

Well, I just set up my account so forgive me until I get the hang of things.

I successfully germinated 2 seeds of some exotic (supposedly Baby Kush) with 2 more to come. I'm a student, which means i'm broke, so my set up is lacking to say the least.

Tin foil lined closet, roughly 2x2 ft and about 8 ft high.
2 CFLs (42watt) hanging about 4-6 inches above the seedlings, which are in solo cups filled with Miracle Grow perlite
home rigged wick system of 2 nylon ropes running through the lower side of the cup almost to the top

I read this could be a medium for hydroponic growing and although I learned much from forums and articles, I now feel like I know NOTHING!

The problem is that after the seedlings sprouted and the 2 jagged leaves emerged, they pratically stopped growing for the last 2 days and are starting to look somewhat droopy.

Can someone PLEASE help me?

budman500013 · Sep 10, 2008

number uno tin foil = bad news, all that does is create hot spots that can burn ur babies. id recommend putting a drop cloth down that's white and painting the walls flat white. i cant say ive ever seen a hydro system quite like urs. haha ill give u props on originality. i understand ur a college student who is broke, been there done that, but u cant expect to grow a decent plant with one 42W cfl for each plant. if i was you i would wait until i had the money to do things right. ur only going to put more time and energy into it only to have them fail. i like ur williness to learn though, just keep on readin the forum and keep learning. honestly though id stop the grow where it is if i was u cause ur yeild isnt going to be worth the risk or time.

Juannoisseur · Sep 10, 2008

Thanks for the info and brownie points on originality! Haha. I agree on what you're saying though, I feel like I've put a lot of time and energy into an almost hopeless project. The only problem is, I love my ganj and I'm tired of the "dealing" scene; all around sketchy. My love for the Jane and persistence insists I try though!

A college friend successfullly grew some indoor beasters (hi-quality mids) with soil and a flourescent light (?watt?). That gave me hope and the inspiration I needed to start my "project".

Thanks again for the advice budman500013. Much appreciated.

budman500013 · Sep 10, 2008

oh yea man...its always nice to watch something go from a seed into something that gives ya so much joy. if i was u id buy a 400W hps lamp and a mh conversion bulb that works with ur ballast. they're all over ebay and u really dont gotta worry if ur just buying the lamp. i wouldnt buy everything u need on there though, might raise some questions. when i started i had 300 in my system and grew 6 plants that yeilded aroun a qp. not great but for my first grow i couldnt complain. just keep ur passion and when u get some money saved up buy what u can when u can. b4 u know it ull be puttin ur friends bud to shame.

Juannoisseur · Sep 10, 2008

Haha... hell ya man, the passion and the love for ganja and learning about it is DEFINATELY there. I just hate waiting... definately need to upgrade to my own house and go all out instead of cheaping it!

One more question: can you grow in just Perilite or do you have to mix it with soil.
-If so what mix is good?

Juannoisseur · Sep 15, 2008

Ok, I replanted my 2 seedlings into Miracle Grow Seed Starting soil. One died and one grew like crazy over the weekend. Still same setup except no peralite, just soil.

Got one new seedling up and hopefully 2 or 3 more to come.

The oldest is maybe 2 weeks old, looking great compared to what it was. Leaves are looking regularly green but somewhat yellow on edges of 1 or 2 leaves. Also a few brown/burned looking spots on the edges of 1 or 2 leaves.

Is this just typical recovery symptoms from replanting or a potential problem arising? Solutions/help would be greatly appreciated.

dnkronic · Sep 16, 2008

you should check your university for a surplus store... I got a 400w and 250w metal halide ballasts for 8 dollars at a university surplus store. went to the hardware store, purchased bulbs, sockets, material to make hoods, cords,.... pretty much everything for about 50$ to make two lights... I got lucky. Check out to see about a surplus store though, you never know what kind of cool shit you can get from a college surplus!!!

Short Term Memory Loss · Sep 18, 2008

thanks for the comments. i will also be checking to see your progress. If you are in a dorm room BE VERY CAREFUL! Don't tell anyone!

peace,

Juannoisseur · Sep 18, 2008

Just took these pics:

having some kind of deficiency/problem and can't figure anything out from the "diagnostic guidelines for plant problems"

please someone give some advice!!

~peace

Igotdialup · Sep 18, 2008

oooh here they are! Niceee. looking good, how far away are you lights still? Try to get 1-4 inches away, but get a general idea based on heat.. will that fan you have get rid of it okay so your plants dont burn? Also, do you have a light timer? If so, what is your schedule? Those brown spots... i'd also like to know what they are. I have a few. Try: https://www.rollitup.org/marijuana-plant-problems/88003-plant-problems-pic-s.html

Juannoisseur · Sep 19, 2008

thanks bro, my lights are about 3" away, lights are warm but touchable so not too hot i dont think. my fan is ok, it oscillates and another fan airs my room (window open while gone). no timer on lights b/c the electrical cord has 3 prongs and the timer has 2... therefore schedule is a 24/7. I'm thinking it's just wrong pH b/c i have no meter and subsequenntly haven't adjusted accordingly...

my #1 got way worse today tho: here's pics... help me someone!!

Igotdialup · Sep 19, 2008

I'm not sure about ph, ive never messed with it... I prolly should use some good pure drinking water, that should be fine. I wonder if they are droopy cause of over-watering? just a thought. You know there are little things you can buy that allows you to plug 3 prong into a 3prong extension that makes it 2 prong right? find one of those

ismokecrack · Sep 19, 2008

there like dieing

Juannoisseur · Sep 19, 2008

you've never messed with pH? you lucky SoB! i've read that inaccurate pH is one of the biggest mistakes 1st timers make so i just went an bought some sulfur, limestone, and a pH reader :weed:

GAMETIME!

dont jinx me ismokecrack! ha

NoDrama · Sep 19, 2008

One of the biggest mistakes is really what you have done here. You got MG soil which has MG fertilizer in it, or you are giving it some sort of fertilizer, I'm not sure which . also probably giving it too much water, how often do you water it? Are there holes in the bottom of that cup?

Those are probably the 2 top mistakes made, overwatering ( Mothering them to death) and Fertilizing too soon(Too much love).

Give the plants some time to come around, no nutes for at least 1 month. Repot into Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil if you can get it, its got the right PH for Weed to grow and the right organic nutes that won't burn the plants. Water when the pot is dry, but water really slowly and enough to make it dribble out the holes on bottom of pot. You will soon learn to weigh the pots and will instinctively know when to water. Dry pots weigh less.

Those lights should be able to veg out some 2 foot plants pretty well, any bigger and you will need to supplement.

bobman · Sep 19, 2008

two of the biggest mistakes are overwatering and messy with it too much. put some holes in the bottom of those cups. holes will help with drainage and help dry out ur soil. stop watering until dry. when u think its dry wait another two days. you will be amazed how long they can go with little water. ph is a real problem if u do not have good drainage. if u have good drainage then u do not have to worry about it. at least i have not. if they continue to sit in soggy soil its going throw off ph. drainage, drainage, drainage.

agree with above except i think u said u put them in mg seedling mix without nutes. that should be fine.

Juannoisseur · Sep 20, 2008

Thanks for the advice and help bobman & nodrama I'll make some immediate changes and update w/ pics asap... we shall see

Juannoisseur · Sep 20, 2008

what they look like today before changes

TGFW21 · Sep 20, 2008

over watering?
Under watering?
to hot for them?
root bound?

Juannoisseur · Sep 21, 2008

still having problems w/ the lower leaves brown/yellowing... obviously they're dying but she keeps on growing...

same cycles on everything: have drainage holes in bottom of all cups, water every 2 or 3 days (or when soil is dry 1" down). Definitely not too hot (only CFLs, and ventilation is half decent...

I'm almost positive i haven't under/over watered them but what does rootbound mean? i'm fucking stumped on this one... plus i dont think my pH reader works? :wall:

First Timer, help needed...

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