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Originally Posted by b3nner
Is it ok to keep my seedlings under cfl's for the 1st month at a 18/6 light cycle and then move to a much more powerfull 400hps bulb to complete vegetative state?
any recomendations on good soil? totally clueless here..
should nutes be added right away as soon as I start watering my seedlings?
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1) Your lighting plan should be OK. When you switch to the HPS keep some distance between the plants and the light at first, perhaps 2 feet, and you can decrease that distance to the minimum tolerance over the next week or so. (Minimum should be about 12", its the distance at which you can keep the back of your hand under the light level with the plant tops comfortably for 30 seconds or so).
2) Any general purpose organic potting soil should be good. Make sure it is not pre-fertilized, especially time-released ferts. A good mix I have used is:
- 40% organic potting soil
- 30% sphagnum moss
- 20% worm castings
- 10% perlite (for good drainage)
- Line the bottom of the pot with 1/2-1" of perlite or sterile rocks
3) Definitely do not add nutes right away. Wait until about 3 weeks in, then add at 1/4 the strength indicated on the label.