need help! autoflower and cfl

ok so I have a small closet grow box and I have my and ventilation all set up correctly. when its on its about 75-82 degrees F. and the humidity is around 40% and can drop to 26% which I know is low. I have 3 42watt cfls. witch is about over 6000 lumens. my grow space is about 1foot8iches wide and deep and about 4 feet tall. I need help with after my seed is done germinating and I plant it in my 1.5 gallon pot. do I need any light for it to sprout or do I keep it in the box with no light. I recently just planted one and a week later there wasn't anything sprouting,so I dug around where I planted it and the root was only a half an inch. but I had all 3 cfls running at 20/4. anything or any type of advise would be nice. thanks

Hey up fella sounds like you need to do a little bit of Reading up...

Check this Link out > > > >

http://www.growweedeasy.com/how-to-germinate-marijuana-seeds

http://www.royalqueenseeds.com/content/21-sprouting-cannabis-seeds

And Last but by No means Least Danny Danko(High Times)

http://www.hightimes.com/microsites/beginners/information.inc.php

Peace

thanks Mr. ganja. im just so overwhelmed starting my first grow period. so many things so much reading. I was very disappointed with my result of my last attempt. I don't know how far to keep my 3 42wattt cfls away from the pot while the seed is trying to sprout and if I should only use 1 of them or all of them?

HIya Kulp456, I've only been Growing a year n half? or about that..Stoner Memory..LOL! when the seed is still below the surface it's not so important(Other than too close) the seed IF its good will find its way to the surface(Looking for Light) but not much is needed, just 1 CFL and about 20-30cm away will be fine..Try and keep Humidty HIGHER than 26%..that's way LOW!

1.5gal = 6.8Ltr Pot Size

With a seed I always use a SMALL Pot to begin with then after a couple of weeks(Depending on Plant Size & Health) Transplant(Pot-On) into a bigger Pot, some peeps do this once, some peeps twice(For Final Pot ~ All Depends on how long you gonna Veg for)

I Think if you Pot straight into a BIG Pot the Lady spends a lot of time filling out the Pot and not so much(to begin with) Growing Bigger above ground.

I run MY Lights 18/6(6hrs of Rest) though a lot of peeps run 24/0 and 20/4 all with Results that they are happy with, but for Me I wanna stick as close to Nature as possible + save Leccy(I Run over 1KW what with Hps/CFL and Fans) so I do save a little but for a just CFL setup and Low wattage at that I wouldn't save you so much.

How far down you planted seed makes a difference to how long she takes to find the surface...

What Compost/Soil you using(Seedling Compost) have you? will you? be using Perlite in Soil...

Don't over water, should be Damp/Moist...But NOT wet through...will cause COLD soil...

Peace

EDIT: It's cc2012 and R.I.U. might be a bit Quiet due to Google Chrome at the moment...but peeps will be along....

Does anybody else want to throw some ideas out there for me.

thanks ganja again, I am using happy harvest soil, its right along with fox farm ocean crest soil. and with auto flowers I been looking up stuff everyday all day, I read a lot of people say don't transplant because of there short grow cycle, and you don't want to do anything to cause the growth to stunt. I actually just set my timer to a 18/6 instead of 20/4. im waiting on my new seed to germinate its been almost 24 hours since i put it in the wet paper towel and in a baggie. so i should only use one of my 42 watt cfl lights and at what distance. and when should i add the other 2 lights back to the grow box?

Hiya Kulp456, I'm BAKED! LOL! Yeah most peeps go with Final Pot first for Auto's..and with Auto's I think more hrs of Lights on is better(faster growth) I've got 5x KC BRAINS KC45 Germinating as we speak(Type) I think I will be seeing Tap-Root today..if not 2moz.

Auto's are new to me and the ones I picked up are Regs..I will be using small Pots for 1st week(maybe week and half) I know peeps say don't do this just go straight to final Pot..But just like Frank...I'm doing it My Way..others can Flame me for this but It won't change my mind...

(a) She will have a small amount of soil to fill out...
(b) I'm very careful when Potting-On
(c) Auto's can take longer than the "Stated" time on various site(Down to your setup and Genetics of seed and indeed Strong/Weak seed)
(d) when I transplant it will be into a Big-ish Air-Pot(better for Roots)

My Auto's are just for an Experiment and are not My main Grow.

Peace

Others on R.I.U. have loads more experience then Me, but IF I can will always try n Help Folk's

so should i only use my 1 light for how long? and then when do i add the other 2 back. and as far as i know now, i need the light or lights to be at least 6 to 8 inches away from the seedling until it has its 2 true leaves then it can go to 2 to 4 inches from plant since there cfls and wont burn my plant?

Once Ya seedling is popping through the Soil they need Light..for the 1st few days keep at a distance of say 6-8" but you can get closer and closer as seedling becomes stronger..now with CFL I believe you don't ADD the Lumen output together(Others may disagree) but for me..I treat each CFL as a single light point/source...even if I am using 2,3,8 or more..I started with CFL and did my 1st Harvest with CFL

1x 200w Giant Dual Spectrum CFL
6x 30w CFL

This gave me 4oz off 4 x Plants(just photo-period Bagseed) and was ALL new to me.

Biggest mistake I made was watering too often...needed to learn patient...

Best way to check(and you can Burn em with CFL) is hold your hand at the Level of the Tops of Plants IF ya hand gets Warm/Hot so are ya Ladies...

Once you have at least 5cm of growth start..GENTLE tapping on the top of plants, and also when about 10cm try bending stem/stalk from side to side GENTLY this causes little tears in the plants tissue and it forces it to grow STRONGER, a Small fan blowing indirectly on them is also a good idea.

Peace



After 2wks you want as much light as you can, Auto's(well any like more n more Lumens...to a point) and what colour(wrong trem) but most peeps use 5600K for Veg n 2700K for Flower..though you can use both,many do..I have! and the more Light/Lumens you can give em without Heat problems the better ya Yield CAN be...but it's just 1 of many,many factors...

Have Fun Growing...and you will get better and better with experience and time..

This is a pretty good Pdf Doc > > >
http://www.growweedeasy.com/sites/growweedeasy.com/files/cheatsheet/GrowWeedEasy.com-Stealth-Growers-Cheat-Sheet.pdf

so should i run one of my 42 watt cfls 18/6 right after i plant seed. or should i keep it in darkness until i see its sprouted then add all 3 just at a higher distance from the plant? that's the main question i have. everywhere i read its different. some people say they don't need light to sprout some people say they do. i just don't want to ruin my seed again. so light or no light? and is 1 42 watt cfl ok to keep on 18/6 while waiting for the ladie to sprout, then add my other 2 about 8 inches away from the plant or where its not hot on my hand ?

"Seeds have cotyledons that provide food for germination hence don't need light to produce food for germination but once it shoots are above the surface it will definitely need light."



Stop Stresing! Light 1 up(I just did) and Chill...once in the soil its going to grow or its not...

If you was careful when you took from paper towel you will be fine..Tip: Don't leave em in Paper Towel too long..TapRoot will attach to Towel and damage can occur..

A CFL 6-8" above the Pot Rim will not hurt you ladies...and will provide a little warmth..

Peace

word, thanks for your help.

No Worries.

I've got 2 x popping(other 3 should as well) so will Pot em 2moz...

Good Luck