Mary Chiva's Papaya Aurora Indica Grow Journal

Da Kine 420 said:

get another 3 ft of chain. 12-18 in from plants. in the attic this time of year i t is probably cool, right? get it close.

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Right on man. I plan to pick up some longer chain today after work The chain I have now is going to be used for hanging my ballast in a similar way.

Your right, it's very cool right now, my temps don't get lower than 70 though cause my space heater comes on if it does.

Germination update...

The AI seed I started yesterday morning is being planted in a few minutes because it already has its tap root. The original 2 AI seeds still aren't ready, 1 of them has a tiny taproot barely able to be seen and the other 1 hasn't cracked yet. I am still waiting for the 1 bag seed and the last papaya to crack.

So...I have 3 papaya seeds - and in a minute - 1 AI seed in soil. The others are still germin'.

EDIT: I changed my mind about planting the AI seed with the tap root. I'm going to let it get a little longer and then plant (hopefully) all 3 AI seeds tomorrow. Also, by then, hopefully the remaining other seeds will be ready too.

The other thing is, I need to increase my humidity. I'm going to try placing a bowl of water near the space heater, if it works great, if not, I'm buying a humidifier.

So...to sum it up until my next post, and to tie up some loose ends with other posts......

1. I was wrong about how far the light is from the pots, I just measured everything. I am 22 inches from the bottom of the reflector to the top of the dirt in the pots. So I'm just going to leave things as is with regards to lowering the light anymore. The pots are getting plenty of light.

2. I need to increase my humidity, going to try a bowl of water in front of the space heater, starting tomorrow.

3. My local shop does NOT sell poly plastic, I was wrong, so if I want some it looks like I'll have to order from HTG. I am trying to limit the amount of things shipped in the mail nowadays, even stuff like this, so I think I'm just going to go with Mylar because my local shop sells it.

4. Hopefully all seeds will be planted tomorrow...here's hoping. I also hope the 3 planted papaya seeds crack the soil soon to begin their journey. My soil temperature may need to be increased as well. I may turn the space heater slightly just to help warm the pots a little, but I'm going to wait a few days because I probably won't need to.

5. I need to hang my ballast. This will be done in the next week or so, probably at the same time I hang the mylar.

6. I need 1 more roll of insulation.

I checked my seeds again and the 1 AI seed I started yesterday morning needed to be planted...so, I just planted it. The other 2 original AI seeds don't look like they are making much progress. Both have cracked and show a little white part of a tap root, but they haven't came out, been the same for about a day or so. If I don't see any improvement by this time tomorrow, I'm going to start germin' 2 more AI seeds thinking that these current seeds aren't going to make it.

Great news, 2 of the 3 planted papaya's just cracked through the soil. I gave them each a little tad drink of water. Hopefully the 3rd will crack soil when I check in the AM.

So...to address some stuff from my list above:

I need to increase my humidity, going to try a bowl of water in front of the space heater, starting tomorrow. I put a bowl of water out this morning (rather than tomorrow) in front of the heater, it didn't help. I'm going to have to get a humidifier soon.

I also turned the space heater this morning to aim in the direction of the pots. The pot closest to the heater dried up a little more than the rest and needed water. But, it looks like this helped the seeds crack soil, both pots with planted seeds closest to the heater are the ones that cracked soil. I moved the heater back some, but I'm going to keep it blowing towards the pots, for now. Temps were at 80 when I just checked.

My next immediate purchases (trying to go in order of importance) will be hardware to hang my ballast and bowls to place under the pots to contain the excess water. I may also buy a humidifier this week.

The following purchases will be mylar and some extra insulation.

good order of buisness.

i bet the direct heat does help some. those little ones like it nice and toasty.

do you have digital or analog hydrometer? i dont' remember?


GLaD to see you you have a little green. It was like only yesterday that you picked out the seeds.


whats the temps outside these days and night? when do ur plants experience there 4 hour share of night?

FLOWER PIMP said:

good order of buisness.

i bet the direct heat does help some. those little ones like it nice and toasty.

do you have digital or analog hydrometer? i dont' remember?


GLaD to see you you have a little green. It was like only yesterday that you picked out the seeds.


whats the temps outside these days and night? when do ur plants experience there 4 hour share of night?

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I have a digital temp and hygrometer. Right now inside temps have been 69-80, higher now that the heater has been turned. Humidity is averaging the 20's, which is way to low...also why I need a humidifier.

"nighttime" right now is 12PM-4PM, the warmest part of the day.

Germ update: My 1 bag seed is showing the start of a tap root along with the 4th papaya seed. The other 2 AI seeds still aren't doing much...darn. If nothing from them by tonight I will start germin 2 more. The bag seed and papaya should be ready for planting tomorrow.

All 3 planted papaya's have cracked soil. Here's some pics. The last one is the seedling that just cracked...sorry its a bad pic.

they are really taking off.

i just put two in the dirt, so it looks like were just about in time. although, you have a much much better brand here. it will neat to follow along and see differences. that is if i don't go crazy on mine and start trying new things...

things look like there going really smooth. i bet you feel alot better about this setup...


making me smile man. (dont know if that matters or not, but its true)

FLOWER PIMP said:

they are really taking off.

i just put two in the dirt, so it looks like were just about in time. although, you have a much much better brand here. it will neat to follow along and see differences. that is if i don't go crazy on mine and start trying new things...

things look like there going really smooth. i bet you feel alot better about this setup...


making me smile man. (dont know if that matters or not, but its true)

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Yay for starting plants at the same time . Yes, I am much happier with my new setup. I'll be glad when I feel it's done...soon, very soon.

Quick update...the 2 original AI seeds must be DOA...::sigh:: The 1 bag seed has also seemed to stall from growth...which sucks cause it had the start of a tap root and it was some KILLER weed. I'm still going to let it go for now. Has anyone seen a seed crack its shell but not go any further?

Because of the 2 stalled AI seeds...I just started germing 2 more AI seeds. Hopefully these 2 new ones are good. Also, hopefully the bag seed is OK, if not, then I am going to start another papaya seed. Then I will be back to a total of 8 plants.

Tomorrow morning I'll be planting the 1 papaya seed I have germinating, it has a nice tap root. After I do this there will be 4 planted papaya's and 1 planted AI.

So far, I've had 100% success rate germing the papaya seeds. Out of the 3 AI seeds I've germinated, 1 germinated, the other 2 haven't...hopefully these 2 new AI seeds are good and will germinate in the next day or so. I want to get them in the ground with the rest.

Updates to come in the AM.

the beginning is always so exciting. i am always worried they might not come up. will enjoy watching your grow.

Thank Da Kine - stay tuned .

I just planted the 4th papaya seed. The other 3 papaya's have lost their shell and are looking strong in the dirt . The 1 planted AI has cracked soil and will probably be at the same stage tomorrow as the 3 papaya's are at today.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be planting the 2 newly germinated AI seeds. The bag seed still looks stalled. If it doesn't get anywhere by tonight, I'll start germin the other papaya for my total of 8.

mary.chiva said:

. Has anyone seen a seed crack its shell but not go any further?

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i have seen this. i started a few seeds and the conditions changed on them mid way through and they stopped. i have also seen this and an odor started comming from the bag. i think that was from water growing stuff. you know its warm water. perfect for bacteria.

i would try perhaps a new paper towel or bag. after a few days i would imagine the quality of the environment degrades a good bit.

FLOWER PIMP said:

i have seen this. i started a few seeds and the conditions changed on them mid way through and they stopped. i have also seen this and an odor started comming from the bag. i think that was from water growing stuff. you know its warm water. perfect for bacteria.

i would try perhaps a new paper towel or bag. after a few days i would imagine the quality of the environment degrades a good bit.

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I'm sure alot of this is just practice to get better at germination. If the 2 new AI seeds don't do their job (they already cracked, just checked) I will start a new towel. As it is right now, I don't want to bother them since they cracked already. I did smell the odor you are talking about...

Update: My local hydro shop DOES in fact sell panda plastic, and, I bought some today. When I get time, and after my company leaves this weekend (folks in from outta town), I will spend a few hours working on my area...adding more insulation, hanging the panda plastic, and hanging the ballast. I'll be adding the flower bases to collect water soon.

I'm going to wait on buying a humidifier. I suspect adding the panda plastic will keep a lot of the humidity in the room without it escaping like it is now (wood sucking up moisture in the air, etc). We'll know after next week.

mary.chiva said:

Has anyone seen a seed crack its shell but not go any further?

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now ive really seen it. right at home. out of the five seeds i put down a or two after you. 2 of them have legs and the other three have a small crack but no growth. thats funny. i'm giiving 1 more day, but it is really begining to be too long. we will see.


your right abou the plastic. also the smaller space made with the plastic will help promote humidity.

FLOWER PIMP said:

now ive really seen it. right at home. out of the five seeds i put down a or two after you. 2 of them have legs and the other three have a small crack but no growth. thats funny. i'm giiving 1 more day, but it is really begining to be too long. we will see.


your right abou the plastic. also the smaller space made with the plastic will help promote humidity.

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Sorry to hear about the stalled seeds, mine are still stalled (dead...) as well. I'm going to check all seeds tomorrow morning and get rid of the stalled ones (if still stalled). My guess is the 2 newly germinated AI seeds will be ready, but I'm going to wait to check till the AM.

I can't wait to install the panda plastic...like u said, it should help with humidity..and it will also make sure there are absolutely no light leaks (in or out)...PLUS, I obviously get the reflective properties...yippee!!

I also bought hardware to hang my ballast today.

More germ updates. 1 of the 2 new germ'd AI seeds was ready and is now planted (plant #6 in dirt). 2 of 2 should be ready tomorrow, and will make plant #7 in the ground. The bag seed was still stalled, along with the 2 original AI seeds, all are now discarded...argh. I am starting to germ another papaya seed now to make for my 8 total plants. Hopefully all with be in the ground before the weekend is over.

Grow updates. The 4th papaya cracked the soil (barely) so that makes for 4 papaya's actively growing. The 1 AI that cracked soil is now at the same place the papaya's are. The 2nd AI was just put in the ground today, so hopefully it cracks soil tomorrow.

Instead of buying the flower pot bases, I'm going to try sopping up the excess water with a towel and hanging the towel to dry between waterings. Those stupid bases are around 2 bucks a piece! What a rip off.

Can't wait to install the panda plastic and hang the ballast This will be done next week, at least I have the stuff now.

Things are movin' along nicely.

Updates...I just planted the 3rd AI seed today. We now have 3 AI's in the ground, but 2 of them still need to crack soil. The 4 papaya's are growing nicely, along with the 1 AI that cracked soil. Hopefully the 1 papaya seed I have germinating will be ready to plant tomorrow, it was starting to look 'swollen' this morning.

This will then make all 8 in the ground and germination will be complete. That is considering all plants crack soil and begin their journey.

It looks like the last seed germinating (papaya) has the start of a tap root (as of 2-3 hours ago). Hopefully it will be long enough to plant during my next grow visit and I can be done with the germination stage.

I'm excited to be on my vegetation journey.

just a foot note on germination...

i know and see a lot of people using the paper towel method. to me, this is just outdated. from my personal experience, using rock wool is the easiest and most efficient. i just wet down 1 inch rockwool cubes with RO water ph'd at 6.3 and drop in the seed.. keep it moist and it will grow. no nutes, just water. this is how my sensi serious grow was done.

show me some pics bro! if you use the platic on the floor, make sure it is loose and will move. otherwise you will pok holes in it.

Da Kine 420 said:

just a foot note on germination...

i know and see a lot of people using the paper towel method. to me, this is just outdated. from my personal experience, using rock wool is the easiest and most efficient. i just wet down 1 inch rockwool cubes with RO water ph'd at 6.3 and drop in the seed.. keep it moist and it will grow. no nutes, just water. this is how my sensi serious grow was done.

show me some pics bro! if you use the platic on the floor, make sure it is loose and will move. otherwise you will pok holes in it.

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Actually my good man, I just so happened to pick up something just like rockwool. Well, it's those same small cubes made for clones and germinating. I haven't used them yet, but will on my next grow. For this grow I just did the ol' paper towel method to see how it would pan out. So far, out of 11 seeds I've germinated, 8 have been successful. Not toooo bad.

I haven't gotten the plastic up yet, but will do that next week. I'm not sure if I'll put any on the floor, I may....I do have 100 ft of it.

I'll get some pics of the babies tomorrow and some more pics of the grow area when the plastic is up .

put the plastic on the floor for spillage. it is a must. you will not regret it.