Ok so I am a first timer. After all my reading I have 3 seedlings going from some bagseed. They seem very tiny and grow oh so slooooowly. Although I can tell the 2 week old seddling looks about twice as large as the other two which are a week old. Like most newbies though I feel at this rate I might be flowering in about 3 more months! I have been misting the soil daily to keep them moist. Now that they are 2 weeks I was considering every other day watering? I don't want to drown them. I have ruled out any nutes at this point as they are so tiny. My largest has 3 sets of leaves and the smaller two only have two small sets of leaves. I was thinking of gradual nutes to the plants at 3 to 4 weeks? I just cant wait to see growth pick up! I think that germinating from seed must be twice as slow as clones? I also think growing the natural way through soil must be slower than drip systems and hydroponics. When I see 3 week old hydroponic grows they are much more developed than what I have. I used about 75 percent Scotts potting soil, 15 percent Perlite, and 10 percent sand. Light is 2 hundred watt CFL's, supplemented with another 100 watts of flourecent tubes. I cant see wasting anymore money on flourecents is that enough? I have them getting around 16 hours of light daily. I want to get a 400 hps when I am sure these are gonna make it. I have a small osilating fan, but havent really done any ventalation. I just open the closet and let in fresh air a few times daily. Anything else I can do to keep things moving let me know.
Slooooooooow growth of seedlings......
- Thread starter reeferob
- Start date
Cola.collector
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you have it together with your room. Some strains seem to grow slower than others. Could that be it? How about some pics? Also, this is just me, but I would have used more perlite, and no sand.
ADTR
Well-Known Member
for watering, just water them when the soil gets dry. Get em nice and moist but not soaking. Then water again when the soil is dries out. Theres no need for a schedule. Just look at the soil. You'll know when they need more water.
Your about right on the nutes. I wouldnt use them for at least 3 weeks from seed. then once you decide to use them, introduce it gradually using 1/4 to 1/3 strength.
As far as harvest goes, dont even think about it... if it comes it comes. more power to ya.
Your going to need to provide more specifics on your grow area if you want more help.
Thanks for the tips gentleman. I have definitley considered a different soil mix, but it's all trial and error. I went with Scotts potting as I didint want any of the added stuff in Miraclo Gro to screww up my seedlings. I was told to put in worm castings and couldn't find any. So I went with the potting, perlite, sand, mix. I was told the sand was only for drainage so I went very light with it. I will take your advice on more perlite next time for my final pots, as water retention is a big deal. Light has been trail and error, but I am considering even more as my area is 8 feet high by 5 feet wide by 2 foot deep. I know I'll need to get a 400 to 600 watt hps soon? I want to put up some pics cause I am sure you guys could really spot some things and help me out. I am totally paranoid about posting pics because I watched foresic files where they backwards traced this serial killer back to his moms house by his ip address!
ADTR
Well-Known Member
lol, serial killer and pot grower. not the same thing!!
Cola.collector
Well-Known Member
That's too funny..... where the HPS is concerned, I have yet to get one (even though I want one) and I've been doing fine with floros and fillers (CFL's and "Plant lights" for heat and extra light.)
I have an early example of my grow room in my sig line on youtube if you want to see how I did it with mostly floros.
Looking forward to those pics.
Thanks for the laugh. Maybe I am a little paranoid. I will post a few pics soon. I cant imagine a fruitfull grow with flourecents!? From what I have gathered on here, they are good for vegging, but not sufficient for good flowering. I just heard you wont yeild allot. Of course then again I havent had any sort of yield thus far. So far I seem to be adding more and more flourecent lighting as it is not terriblly expesive. Putting in some more tonight! I was lucky enough to find a new sun system dome in a rental property and a 1000 watt hps new in the box! Hmmmmn wonder what that tennant was growing. If I invest in the bottom glass, 400 watt switchable ballast, and socket I'l sink another $250 into this! I sure would like to save that if flourecents will do nicely!
Cola.collector
Well-Known Member
I guess it all depends on how much you want to get. Floros will give you what you need to get plenty of personal stash, but it's true that the yield will be better under stronger lights. If you have enough floros, you'll do fine. On my last grow, I had a total of 8 tubes, 2 CFL's for filler in 2 spots, and a "Plant" light for heat and extra light in the middle. I got about 6 ounces from 6 two foot plants and 1 four foot plant. And that was WITHOUT any topping, training, etc. Just seed to deed. The grow I'm starting will be a scrog, and I should get more yield from less plants this time. I'm doing 4-5 plants, and they're growing fast right now. All topped, 1 fimmed. The screen goes in soon. I should be able to double my next yield or better.
Ok, enough about me......