First Post, First Grow: Long Stem, little leaves...

[Xero77x]

(Sorry, i forgot i just cleaned out the bowl on my DOUBLE BUBBLER, so you guys have to wait a sec... )

One day my friend (my roomate) and I decided it would be fun to attempt to grow with things we had around the house (aka low budget grow). First, we tryed germinating bag seed seeds. We did this by putting 4 in a piece of wet toilet paper, that was double folded and folded over again, so the seeds were covered (lol sorry). We put this in a zip lock baggie, and set them on top of my computer moniter, and put a pile of papers on them. We were reading EVERYONE say "Mine had a tap root in like 2 days," but after about 4 days, we tossed them, thinking they were dead. We then tryed again. 6 in toiletpaper in a zip lock, and a TON in a half full glass of water... after another 4-5 days, we ended up tossing ALL of the ones in the glass... but forgot about the ones in the bag (dopers... lol).

2 germinated, and the taproot was HUGE! the seed fell off one of them, We ran to K-Mart and got Miracle Grow Potting Soil with Continual Release (in a big bag). Also, we got some small party cups to plant in. We filled the cups up with soil 1/3 of the way, and planted the seed, taproot down, in the dirt, and put a TINY bit of water in them. We made them AIR tight (lol), and put them next to the heater vent under my bed... Well, the next morning they had sprouted, and by night they were about an inch big. The next day, one looked like it was developing itty bitty leaves, while the other one was shorter, and still "closed." By the next night, the root one one had gotten to the plastic. I left it like that for a day, and it looked like it stopped. I transfered it into a 2 liter bottle, covered it, and put it in the dark. I also put the other one in a two liter bottle, to keep it consistant or some shit. They both got taller, but the little leaves didnt get any bigger, nor did the other one "open."

I decided i needed to get a Fluorescent light, and make a grow box. So, i found a cardboard box, and cut out a circle for a lamp with an adjustable head (lol, can you say OBVIOUS), and i bought a 100w equivialant floro. I know its not 100 W, 30 or something like that, and its all i could get, and we only have one lamp. Anyway, I put them in the box, and i had the light about a foot away, not wanting to burn them with out a fan yet. I took off the pastic wrap, and set em in there. But after a few days, the nice one's leaves all shrivled up, and i felt detached, and felt like all hope was lost (i know, it probably could have been saved, but oh well). The other one eventually did the same, and tossed it.

But alas! I had back ups ready to play. 2 in fact. Both in the same situation actually, one with little leaves, and one "closed." This time, i put the one with open leaves in the box, with the wrap on top... the results shocked me, the leaves were getting bigger then the other ones. I compaired it to the one left in the dark. The one in the dark "opened," but the leaves were neon green, and smaller (they looked like a completely diffent plant though, so i dunno if color and size was actually affected by the light). The one in the light was dark dark green, and looked extemely healthy. Soon though, they both got the long stems again, the big leaves started curling badly, and i started to become concerned... I checked on the City, and read that long stems is the plants "stretching for light, too long of stems makes them weak I put the other plant under the light, took off the plastic, and set it the box, which i also had adjusted. I put a little platform in there so they are RIGHT under the light, and a fan may go in tomorrow.

I gonna go check, and tell you if anything looks different (even thought its only been like, 4 hours...) .... The one with the bigger leaves looks happy. The leaves are uncurling a tad, and it really looks happy. The other one turned darker green, and the leaves are getting bigger. They obviously are two different plants. There is a 3rd one in there now, which is under the light after it JUST sprouted. It really is interesting to see how these all turn out.

So, i suppose if i have a question, it is how do you think this is gonna turn out? i mean, ive read all the guides and stuff, but there were a few things i couldnt understand, or find anyways, so i just did it this way. Any thing you see here that could be a problem soon? I am planning on adding a fan, getting more/higher watt lights, and some bigger pots. Thanks alot guys, it was a long, fun, high first post...

[The Shamen]

wtf i just replied to this!!!!

[The Shamen]

long post indeed ... i like the way you researched and solved your little problem before posting ... sounds like all will be well this time so good luck and enjoy ... more lights would be good so instead of having pizza tonight have a tin of beans and buy a light or 2 ...

[EolGul]

Do you have a fan yet? If not, go to wal-mart, drop $5 on a fan, and put the light closer to the plants. I almost killed a plant about a week ago with 45 Watts of fluro about 5 inches away (and only for a few hours), so dont make the same mistake as a fellow newb

Also, 2 48" shoplights and 4 fluros will cost you about $20 so I suggest getting some.

(edit: also, I dunno if you've seen this, but this post motivated me to start growing http://overgrow.com/edge/showthread.php?t=21575. My setup is exactly like his except inside 2 computer boxes stacked on top of each other and lined with foil)

[Xero77x]

wow that is AMAZING! If that was my plant, it would be smoked by now... congrats on your grow, and i hope my little guys (well, girls hopfully... lol) have that kind of potential. I think you have convinced me to actually get up (haha...) and buy those lights tomorrow! Cool White and Warm Red. about how long are those fixtures anyways? Well, thanks alot. If i can get ahold of a camera, ill post some pics...

[EolGul]

lol, I WISH that was my grow.

Im pretty sure it was just bagseed that he used.
His setup was 2 48 inch shoplights (2 flouro tubes in each so 4 tubes total). He accidentally used 34 watt tubes, but would have gotten a better yield with 40. Notice how the lights almost touch the plants, and the white walls reflect so that no part of the plant is more than a few inches away from light.

Good luck with your grow

[Xero77x]

Ha! My bad. I musta been stoned. How far along are your plants then? If i could get my plant to be HALF of that one, then WOOT WOOT!

So, a couple days later, they are looking good. The leaves are still pretty small, but it looks like its getting taller... ugh, i hope it isnt a stringy plant. I have 2 Fluoros (a Gro-Lux, i couldnt find Warm Red (found Warm White though... same thing?) and a cool white in a 48'' shop light. they are directly over the plants, about 3 inches away in a white box/area. I got a green mini fan for $10 at kmart too... i know its only been afew days, but man, these guys are taking off i think. My farthest along plant has 6 little leaves. It has two smooth leaves, and then the stem goes up 2cm and has the 4 leaves, two smooth and two with a fuzzy pattern. OH! one of my plants leaves curl up. It looks retarded, but it'll turn out i hope.

Questions:

1. If i wanted to transfer this into the shed outside, would the 40 degree tems at night kill/stunt its growth?

2. How do i tell if there is TOO MUCH or TOO LITTLE water. I dont messure how much i am putting in, lol. They look like they are pretty happy.

I cannot STAND growing! lol, not serious, but they never will be done!!! I look at them every 3 hours, but i do think they are getting farther and farther along! Tomorrow ill try and get my parents digi and take some pics. Thanks alot!

[EolGul]

Well, now I'm down to 4 plants, one just randomly died today (think I fried it by ferting too early, wont make that mistake again) but the rest are doing pretty good (2 inside, 2 outside) and one is starting to show sex.

About your ?'s,

1. Someone more experienced will have to take this one. I'd suggest leaving them where they are it you can though, just to be safe.

2. Stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If its moist, dont water.

And as they say, a watched pot never boils. The less time you spend checking on your plants, the faster they seem to grow

[Xero77x]

I just want to take that little sucker out of the ground and smoke it!

[firsttimer420]

well I would say that Miracle Grow Potting Soil with Continual Release could be one of your main problems....that and lack of light.. you should just use plain soil for seedlings, miracle grow is shit! lol, anyway man good luck on your grow, but if I was you id get some different soil and a better light =P

[Xero77x]

Ive got pictures! BUT, you gotta go to photobucket, sorry...

http://photobucket.com/albums/v230/Xero77x/

They look alright... the small one is Petey, the medium one is Buckwheat, and the big one is Charizard... lol, yep, stoned again!

[EolGul]

Cool man.
You should make a grow journal

[Mohadeeb]

it might be the light a regular incadescent bulb puts out like 1700 lumes but you want above 2000 at minimum if u got the equivelent of a 100 watt it will put out the same amount of lumes. they have some above the equivelent it should say the lum output on the box. i think a 45 cfl is about 2800 cost like a buck or 2 more. keep the light close.
good luck with next time but when u germinate dont let them get so long b4 planting and be patient seeds may take up to a a few weeks to sprout