Starter plug question

Turm

Turm

Active Member
Ok so I wanted to try a new method of getting my girls going, I've always wondered about these and went out and bought some. Right now I got 8 seedlings going in starer plugs, 3 of them were starting to break through and show roots, so I placed all of them in 6x6 cubes with the hole in it. humidity is starting at around 55% now, was lower earlier. How long does it generally take for the seedlings to push through the plugs? Seems like they are a little tight almost, got them under 432 watt T5 with mix spectrum, I've been staying ontop of them and keeping them moist. Anyone on here have some experience with them and possibly able to shed some light with me? Seems to be taking quite some time to get going, growth has pretty much stopped completely it seems. Using just normal tap water right now with GH Rapid Start added to it.


idk if it maters but they are Sun Leaves Super Starter Plugs
 
The seedlings all look great, no wilting/nute burn or anything wrong when it comes to appearance. I germinated using paper towels then planted in the plugs. All of them have broke the surface , all have their first set of true leaves. originally they were in a dome with a heat pad under it for a while before placing into the RW.

I guess I should have been more clear with my question, using starter plugs, has anyone ever come across the problem of them taking an abnormally long time to root through the plugs and into the medium of choice they are using?
 
Ah ok, got it. Shows again a picture always helps (especially if people don't read carefull - I never put starter plugs in rw so can't shed some light on it like you said in your post). Good luck.
 
Sativied said:
Ah ok, got it. Shows again a picture always helps (especially if people don't read carefull - I never put starter plugs in rw so can't shed some light on it like you said in your post). Good luck.
Click to expand...

All good, felt like pic wasn't needed. Its been around a week, just used to my seedlings coming along a lot faster.
 
The plugs (Sun Leaves\Rapid Rooters) are not ideal for Cannabis seeds or seedlings. Although they are great for cuttings, and certain seeds that are really small. The tap root wants to go down about 3 inches, your container\medium should be at least 4" deep from the start.
 
Nullis said:
The plugs (Sun Leaves\Rapid Rooters) are not ideal for Cannabis seeds or seedlings. Although they are great for cuttings, and certain seeds that are really small. The tap root wants to go down about 3 inches, your container\medium should be at least 4" deep from the start.
Click to expand...

Thats frustrating, since on the product says great for starting seeds/clones.Any suggestions? Should I maybe cut the bottom of the plugs very carefully or give em more time?
 
You said they look great so I wouldn't start cutting anything and give it some more time. Unless they are too moist or completely dry, the roots will continue to go even if the plant itself seems to have stopped.

And have to disagree with the comment that rapid rooters and similar are it ideal for mj - they are nearly perfect if you just put the seed in it directly and not do the paper towel thingy... The spongepots I use are barely an inch in height.
 
They are great for cuttings, and certain seeds. But, for instance, I wouldn't use them for starting zucchini or squash for a similar reason.

I have used them in the past for starting [Cannabis] seeds, but would recommend going straight into a container at least 4" tall (e.g. plastic Solo cup) with soil-less medium if you aren't going to be growing in rockwool (in which case can't you start straight in a small rockwool cube?) or something. You should actually be able to see the tap root sticking out of the bottom of the rooter. And you're shortly just going to end up having to transplant into such a container.

That just makes the rooters a slightly more advanced 'paper towel method', from my perspective.
 
SAM_0488.jpg
One of my BB x WW from female seeds

SAM_0489.jpg
1 of my Dream Lotus from Bodhi seeds, grown the exact same way from start except just a different grow plug.
 
As for nutrients right now, just tap water with GH Rapid Start. PPM is at 215 if i remember correctly and always watering between 5.7 to 5.9.
Seedlings were in a dome with a heat pad as I said before, do you think that the roots aren't growing more because I've been keeping it moist constantly? Should I let em dry out a bit so the roots go searching?

Theyre on 24/0 light schedule as well, should I switch to 18/6?
 
Turm said:
Should I let em dry out a bit so the roots go searching?
Click to expand...
Whether you actually should I will leave up to you but that is what I meant yes, because too moist 'could' explain why it's taking longer than usual. I would keep lights on 24hr for now, keeps the temp of the cubes constant. Speaking of temp, it's not too cold right?
 
Nullis said:
They are great for cuttings, and certain seeds. But, for instance, I wouldn't use them for starting zucchini or squash for a similar reason.

I have used them in the past for starting [Cannabis] seeds, but would recommend going straight into a container at least 4" tall (e.g. plastic Solo cup) with soil-less medium if you aren't going to be growing in rockwool (in which case can't you start straight in a small rockwool cube?) or something. You should actually be able to see the tap root sticking out of the bottom of the rooter. And you're shortly just going to end up having to transplant into such a container.

That just makes the rooters a slightly more advanced 'paper towel method', from my perspective.
Click to expand...

Well, actually that for the most of it I can and do agree with, and is why I said nearly perfect. If you're growing on soil for example it's the best next thing to putting them directly in soil. But, they are convenient, an easy to keep humidity level and temp stable, and if you transplant them asap it really isn't another transplant as most of the root(s) don't need to reattach.
 
Sativied said:
Whether you actually should I will leave up to you but that is what I meant yes, because too moist 'could' explain why it's taking longer than usual. I would keep lights on 24hr for now, keeps the temp of the cubes constant. Speaking of temp, it's not too cold right?
Click to expand...

Constant 80 F
 
80 deg in the room or temp at the tray? (I'm assuming the cubes are in a tray?) The only time I've ever encountered slow or retarded growth was when the propagation tray got too cold. The floro lights weren't enough to sufficiently warm them, so I put a heating pad under it and the they took off again.
 
Hey all, Auto Skunk seeds in Jiffy plugs popped in 3days. Trainwreck 7-9 days. Sorry dont have my notes handy.
Warming pad and dome. 80 degrees, 100 humidity.
The Autos were banging on the dome in a day or 2.

Greatest thing I'm learning from RIU and growing.....Patience
 
Jack Harer said:
80 deg in the room or temp at the tray? (I'm assuming the cubes are in a tray?) The only time I've ever encountered slow or retarded growth was when the propagation tray got too cold. The floro lights weren't enough to sufficiently warm them, so I put a heating pad under it and the they took off again.
Click to expand...


I guess I'll try throwing some of them under a heat pad, hopefully when I throw my new light over em this weekend (1000watt dimable digital) But I meant the room temp, I'll check the temp of the medium shortly, maybe thats the problem.

Its gotta be one of two things then in my eyes..

Too moist but not water logged, roots aren't searching outside the plugs

or

Medium temp is too low, room is at 80 but floor is concrete that is in an underground basement.

What do you think?
 
Ok so rw/plug were in the low 70s sooo thats not it, I'm gonna wait and see how they do when dryer. If not it has to mean they need more nutes and 200ppm isn't enough.
 
I'll bet anything it's the temps. 70's is a tad low IMHO. Mine seem to do best at between 78 to 85. I rarely do the seed thing anymore, but when I do, I do what you did, germ in paper towels and put the seedlings into jiffy pellets. I know plenty of other gardeners who germ seed in them from the rip. Get a heat pad http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefro...nt+heat+mats&gclid=CJCkg87Hs7YCFQ6ynQodsngAyg not necessarily from here, but this will give you an idea what's available, or just use a household heating pad.
Seedlings are using the nutrients and hormones stored in the seed itself, and from there in the cotyledons. They won't use any of the nutes you are giving them. At first, you can use a rooting hormone solution (Auxin, either indol butyric acid or indol acetic acid) but any nutes you are using are giving you a "warm fuzzy", helping you more than they are helping the plants. Good temps, and a dome that gives you 100% humidity will do way more good.
I wouldn't waste a 1K light for seedlings. Get a T5 fixture with grow lamps. WAY more cost effective.
 
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