Looking advice

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 18, 2017

Hey all! This is my first grow and I just wanted to ask when I should place my seedling under my 250 watt hps. And another thing is how does my seedling look? Look good to you guys? Thanks in advance. Right now I have it sitting in my entertainment stand on my cable box.

deno · Oct 18, 2017

Yes, get it under the light. The light should be about 3 feet above it on day one, then move it down 6" per day until it's about 18" above. Put your hand near the plant to test how much heat is coming off the lamp. Make sure it's getting a gentle breeze from a fan. Don't water it until the cup feels lite - you don't want to over water.

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 18, 2017

deno said:
Yes, get it under the light. The light should be about 3 feet above it on day one, then move it down 6" per day until it's about 18" above. Put your hand near the plant to test how much heat is coming off the lamp. Make sure it's getting a gentle breeze from a fan. Don't water it until the cup feels lite - you don't want to over water.

So its OK to go ahead and put it under my hps light?

vostok · Oct 18, 2017

I'd hold off a week or so

unless you have ur hps about 3ft up

and yeah a fan is good

good luck

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 18, 2017

vostok said:
I'd hold off a week or so

unless you have ur hps about 3ft up

and yeah a fan is good

good luck

OK sounds good. I'll probably wait a bit cause my other one hasnt sprouted yet. I just read something that said it could grow really tall like its reaching for the light if a light isn't close to it so didn't want it to just grow up and up and up and it not really be good for it. Thanks

deno · Oct 18, 2017

I run mine under a 1kw MH immediately. No issues whatsoever. That plant needs light. Also, the warmth helps them sprout. You do have to be careful, though. They only grow tall (called reaching) if they have insufficient light. Your plant might be suffering from that now. What light are they under now?

Pictures are 1 week from seed crack, and 2 weeks. My light is 24" from the plant tops, and I have a fan blowing very lightly on them - only enough to make them wiggle a little. Notice how dry my soil is compared to yours, but be careful with those dixie cups. They can dry out quickly. Judge the need for watering by the weight of the cup. You might want to use more perlite when you transplant them.

SchmoeJoe · Oct 18, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
Hey all! This is my first grow and I just wanted to ask when I should place my seedling under my 250 watt hps. And another thing is how does my seedling look? Look good to you guys? Thanks in advance. Right now I have it sitting in my entertainment stand on my cable box. View attachment 4028872

I prefer to germ mine under a light so they go straight into their begging light cycle. Get it under a light right away.

If you have the option don't use an hps. The extra red cause seedlings to stretch and can even lead to a higher percentage of males from regular seeds.

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 18, 2017

SchmoeJoe said:
I prefer to germ mine under a light so they go straight into their begging light cycle. Get it under a light right away.

If you have the option don't use an hps. The extra red cause seedlings to stretch and can even lead to a higher percentage of males from regular seeds.

All I have is an hps. Just have it like 3 feet so so above it? It's a 250 watt

deno · Oct 18, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
All I have is an hps. Just have it like 3 feet so so above it? It's a 250 watt

Yes, 3 feet just to get them acclimated. Move the light down a few inches every day. HPS is fine if that's all you have. Lots of people grow 100% under HPS. Just use your hand to judge the heat. A little warm is okay. You want to keep the light as close as possible because the intensity of artificial light drops off exponentially. As an example, 12" from my 1kw the intensity is brighter than direct sunlight. At 24" its about 25% of direct sunlight. Sunlight doesn't do this (due to the distance of the sun) so if you have the option put them in direct sunlight when you can. Well, actually that's not quite true, it does drop off, but its based on percentage change, and that percentage change is near zero with sunlight. Be advised, though, that you have to get them use to direct sunliight in a similar fashion. Its called 'hardening them off.' You get them use to sunlight by putting them in direct light for about 30 minutes, then an hour, then a few hours, ect. Keep your eyes on them, and look for signs of wilting, or leaves curling up. It's pretty easy and fool proof if you are just a little cautious.

SchmoeJoe · Oct 18, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
All I have is an hps. Just have it like 3 feet so so above it? It's a 250 watt

If it's all you have then don't even worry about. Just be careful to keep it a safe distance to start. About 36" like everyone's been saying.

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 18, 2017

deno said:
Yes, 3 feet just to get them acclimated. Move the light down a few inches every day. HPS is fine if that's all you have. Lots of people grow 100% under HPS. Just use your hand to judge the heat. A little warm is okay.

Ok cool. Thanks!

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 19, 2017

deno said:
Yes, 3 feet just to get them acclimated. Move the light down a few inches every day. HPS is fine if that's all you have. Lots of people grow 100% under HPS. Just use your hand to judge the heat. A little warm is okay. You want to keep the light as close as possible because the intensity of artificial light drops off exponentially. As an example, 12" from my 1kw the intensity is brighter than direct sunlight. At 24" its about 25% of direct sunlight. Sunlight doesn't do this (due to the distance of the sun) so if you have the option put them in direct sunlight when you can. Well, actually that's not quite true, it does drop off, but its based on percentage change, and that percentage change is near zero with sunlight. Be advised, though, that you have to get them use to direct sunliight in a similar fashion. Its called 'hardening them off.' You get them use to sunlight by putting them in direct light for about 30 minutes, then an hour, then a few hours, ect. Keep your eyes on them, and look for signs of wilting, or leaves curling up. It's pretty easy and fool proof if you are just a little cautious.

So I just put it under my light. Are you saying only let it sit under it for about 30 min and then take it out from under it? And then like tomorrow for an hour or what do you mean by that?

secks.exe · Oct 19, 2017

At this stage, I really don't think you need 250w - A cheap, lower power alternative that doesnt run the risk of stressing her out is a simple 100w (equivalent) compact fluorescent, the twisty bulb ones. I start 2-3 seedlings under three CFLs and you can get the light prettymuch as close to the plant as you want.

You can run it under the CFL for the regular veg 18/6 immediately, and your power bill will thank you for not firing up the HPS. Plus you can get a CFL with 6500k color temp, which is best for veg.

With any luck it'll be ready for transplant and a bigger lamp within 2 weeks.

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 19, 2017

secks.exe said:
At this stage, I really don't think you need 250w - A cheap, lower power alternative that doesnt run the risk of stressing her out is a simple 100w (equivalent) compact fluorescent, the twisty bulb ones. I start 2-3 seedlings under three CFLs and you can get the light prettymuch as close to the plant as you want.

Now I do have my ballast turned down to 50 percent so it's not full blast. But that is all I have right now. I don't have a cfl to put it under. I will invest in one but can't right now.

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 19, 2017

secks.exe said:
At this stage, I really don't think you need 250w - A cheap, lower power alternative that doesnt run the risk of stressing her out is a simple 100w (equivalent) compact fluorescent, the twisty bulb ones. I start 2-3 seedlings under three CFLs and you can get the light prettymuch as close to the plant as you want.

You can run it under the CFL for the regular veg 18/6 immediately, and your power bill will thank you for not firing up the HPS. Plus you can get a CFL with 6500k color temp, which is best for veg.

With any luck it'll be ready for transplant and a bigger lamp within 2 weeks.

How about I stead of my hps I use my 50 watt fluorescent shop light? You think that will be good enough?

secks.exe · Oct 19, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
Now I do have my ballast turned down to 50 percent so it's not full blast. But that is all I have right now. I don't have a cfl to put it under. I will invest in one but can't right now.

If that's what youve got then yeah dude, let her rip. I agree with other comments - 3ish feet from the plant and keep an eye on heat. Make sure theres a fan thats circulating air in the area to help control stretch, you should see the seedling wobble just SLIGHTLY as if its being blown by a gentle breeze

secks.exe · Oct 19, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
How about I stead of my hps I use my 50 watt fluorescent shop light? You think that will be good enough?

Oh yeah that should work too - Is the light fairly blue/white?

Dilan R Wertz · Oct 19, 2017

secks.exe said:
Oh yeah that should work too - Is the light fairly blue/white?

And yeah I've got a fan on low. You can barely see it moving.

SchmoeJoe · Oct 19, 2017

Dilan R Wertz said:
And yeah I've got a fan on low. You can barely see it moving. View attachment 4029122

That's perfect. 18/6 is the best light cycle but you can also run 24 hours a day.

undercovergrow · Oct 19, 2017

welcome to RIU. congratulations on starting your first grow - it's a great hobby. your seedling looks to be in danger of over-watering (from dark discoloration at bottom of stem), so please be careful over the next week. in fact, it looks from the first picture that you might not need to water at all for quite some time. feel the weight of the cup now and try not to water again until you feel it noticeably lighter. good luck on your grow!

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