RedEyeJedi420
Member
Well, this was my first grow so it was almost expected that some of my plants, if not all, just wouldn't make it to maturity, but the roller-coaster of nonstop problems and mishaps completely blindsided this newbie. I was under the impression that given the right elements these plants, being a true weed and all, would thrive with little to no help. Now, I don't think that they're a Ronco (set it, and forget it!), by any means, but I had thought that once everything was set up for these babies they would flourish. I am pretty sure that my first batch can just be uprooted and chucked out the window, but I am eager to start anew and would very much appreciate any advice so that I won't have a repeat of my initial disaster.
The project was started eighteen days ago and the conditions were monitored multiple times a day, so I have an accurate report to share with you all. If anyone needs further details please don't hesitate to ask.
Conditions and Details:
Four days in to the initial grow I had six seedlings (out of ten) peeking up when I noticed a fuzzy green mold on the edges of the pots. I did some research and learned that it wasn't harmful to my babies seeing as it was living on the pots and not the actual plants. Still, I wiped away as much of the mold as I could with a soft cloth and no new mold ever presented itself.
Eight days into the grow it was apparent that little bugs were flitting around inside of the box. Upon examination and more research it was determined that my babies had Fungus Gnats! I can only assume that these suckers were attracted to the aforementioned fuzzy mold that I thought I had eradicated. I misted each plant with a dish soap/water mix and curbed down the watering for a few days and that seemed to do just the trick on those little gnat buggers!
Thirteen days in the seedlings were getting way too big for the tiny Peat pots and were drying out quickly (which I assume shocked the roots at least a little) and so they were transplanted into bigger pots (about 6'' tall and wide).
Now, and this is important, I had read somewhere that those nasty Fungus Gnats probably came in the soil so I switched to Fox Farm Ocean Forest mix, which has a pH of 6.8, when the seedlings were transplanted. To add extra drainage I used some seashells at the bottom of each pot.
Fourteen days in and the babies got about 1/2 cup of Fox Farm Grow Big, which was diluted at 2 tsp to 1 gallon of water. I know that was probably an unwise choice since they had just received a nutrient overdose from being transplanted into the yummy new soil.
Seventeen days in I noticed that "the girls", as I started to hopefully call them, had these little specks moving around on the pots, and in the soil. I have really good eyes and I'm glad that I do because it was the beginning of a Spider Mite infestation. There were, and still are, only a handful of the jerks on the plants, but from what I've read this pretty much equals certain doom. I squished as many as I could see and then misted the plants with the same soap/water mix that solved the gnat problem.
Eighteen days and I wake up to find one of my girls completely toppled and her stem is dry and almost brittle, definitely way thinner than it used to be. I gave them another good misting with the soap and water mix and squished some more of the Spider Mites, but I'm ready to give up.
It would only be slightly heartbreaking to start all over again seeing as I'm only eighteen days in, but as I said before I would really appreciate any advice that you all are willing to dole out.
I've attached some pictures and they were taken at the eighteen day mark.
The general synopsis, if you don't feel like reading all of the above information is:
I think I over-watered them. I think they were a bit "nute burned" from the Grow Big. They had mold, gnats, and now Spider Mites.
I've already decided never to use the Jiffy pots and have purchased some cheap plastic flats like they use in the garden stores, and I heard that a little ground cinnamon at the base of each plant will deter Spider Mites. I plan to continue on with the Fox Farm soil, and will use the Grow Big much later in growth next time.
Thank you all in advance for your help!
The project was started eighteen days ago and the conditions were monitored multiple times a day, so I have an accurate report to share with you all. If anyone needs further details please don't hesitate to ask.
Conditions and Details:
- "Grow-Box" is constructed of 3/4inch plywood (untreated and heavy as a bitch) and it's dimensions are roughly 4'x3'x2.5'
- Lighting consists of two 20w Fluorescent Plant/Aquarium Wide Spectrum EcoFlux lights and the plants are always 3'' to 6'' from the lights at all times and are on a 24 hour light cycle
- Fan is about 4'' in diameter and has been on the plants since sprouting and was periodically shifted throughout the box to provide even "strengthening" of the plants
- Soil (with a tested pH of 5.5) began as Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix
- Jiffy Peat Pots were used for germination until they were transplanted into 6'' pots thirteen days in
- Temperature was taken daily and averaged from 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water was filtered through a Brita filter system and left to sit out for at least twenty-four hours before use and the seedlings were watered a few tablespoons each day
Four days in to the initial grow I had six seedlings (out of ten) peeking up when I noticed a fuzzy green mold on the edges of the pots. I did some research and learned that it wasn't harmful to my babies seeing as it was living on the pots and not the actual plants. Still, I wiped away as much of the mold as I could with a soft cloth and no new mold ever presented itself.
Eight days into the grow it was apparent that little bugs were flitting around inside of the box. Upon examination and more research it was determined that my babies had Fungus Gnats! I can only assume that these suckers were attracted to the aforementioned fuzzy mold that I thought I had eradicated. I misted each plant with a dish soap/water mix and curbed down the watering for a few days and that seemed to do just the trick on those little gnat buggers!
Thirteen days in the seedlings were getting way too big for the tiny Peat pots and were drying out quickly (which I assume shocked the roots at least a little) and so they were transplanted into bigger pots (about 6'' tall and wide).
Now, and this is important, I had read somewhere that those nasty Fungus Gnats probably came in the soil so I switched to Fox Farm Ocean Forest mix, which has a pH of 6.8, when the seedlings were transplanted. To add extra drainage I used some seashells at the bottom of each pot.
Fourteen days in and the babies got about 1/2 cup of Fox Farm Grow Big, which was diluted at 2 tsp to 1 gallon of water. I know that was probably an unwise choice since they had just received a nutrient overdose from being transplanted into the yummy new soil.
Seventeen days in I noticed that "the girls", as I started to hopefully call them, had these little specks moving around on the pots, and in the soil. I have really good eyes and I'm glad that I do because it was the beginning of a Spider Mite infestation. There were, and still are, only a handful of the jerks on the plants, but from what I've read this pretty much equals certain doom. I squished as many as I could see and then misted the plants with the same soap/water mix that solved the gnat problem.
Eighteen days and I wake up to find one of my girls completely toppled and her stem is dry and almost brittle, definitely way thinner than it used to be. I gave them another good misting with the soap and water mix and squished some more of the Spider Mites, but I'm ready to give up.
It would only be slightly heartbreaking to start all over again seeing as I'm only eighteen days in, but as I said before I would really appreciate any advice that you all are willing to dole out.
I've attached some pictures and they were taken at the eighteen day mark.
The general synopsis, if you don't feel like reading all of the above information is:
I think I over-watered them. I think they were a bit "nute burned" from the Grow Big. They had mold, gnats, and now Spider Mites.
- Should I start over?
- If/when I do start over what steps can I take to prevent these things from happening?
- Any tips, hints, advice for this newbie?
- How is my set-up?
I've already decided never to use the Jiffy pots and have purchased some cheap plastic flats like they use in the garden stores, and I heard that a little ground cinnamon at the base of each plant will deter Spider Mites. I plan to continue on with the Fox Farm soil, and will use the Grow Big much later in growth next time.
Thank you all in advance for your help!
