Lights too close!? Brown/Yellow!

[Rekisito]

Originally Posted by jjng5

Wow.. I wondered if it were the lights. I had 7 26W CFL's on them and noticed extremely slow growth and quickly noticed a yellowing in color until I've ended up where I am now. I have 3 lights on now and the most damaged/smaller plants are further away from the bulbs. I hope I am able to save these!!

I wonder why the light is too much for them?

i've really got no proof to back that up, but that's what my problem seemed to be.
i really dont know though, i mean everybody says more light is better, so wtf?

[jjng5]

Well I've done everything. I've flushed, transplanted some, and switched to only using 2 CFL's. And today for the first morning in about a week, they haven't looked worse then they did before I went to bed. So maybe that is a good sign. I am going to keep these conditions the same and hope everything improves.

Thanks everyone. If anyone has any further advise, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[TootyFrooty]

dude my shit looked the same...yellow, necrosis, and stunted growth throughout. contrary to popular belief i'm starting to think its lack of nutes not over nutes...but shit i've never cared for plants this small so wtf do i know really. I just know that for shits and giggles I ferted the one full strength a couple weeks ago and shit perked up right away and grew more. Looks better than the others still. But i also have saved the best for last (ph tester!!) but according to the tracker it will be here today!! So hopefully that will help cuz i've been thinking maybe my soils been too acidic and locking shit out. Another theory ive developed is the possibility of just having bad genetics cuz its some green shwag bagseed. I'm gonna keep my eye on u and i'll tell ya if any of the shit i do helps. Good Luck.

[TootyFrooty]

I at first thought my lights were too close also (t5 tubes). Moving them didn't help any for me so i don't think thats it.

[Rekisito]

any updates?

[SmknVTEC]

Don't think its the lights. I did not do the math but if it does not exceed 75 watts per square foot the lights are fine. Its the hot soil. I did not notice they were in peat pots. I usually advise against peat pots for a number of reasons.

[Rekisito]

Originally Posted by SmknVTEC

Don't think its the lights. I did not do the math but if it does not exceed 75 watts per square foot the lights are fine. Its the hot soil. I did not notice they were in peat pots. I usually advise against peat pots for a number of reasons.

peat pots? it looked like he had them in solo cups.

[SmknVTEC]

The first few pics look like the peat pots were dropped into the solo cups.

[jjng5]

Yeah I have them in peat pots. Would I be better off transplanting into the solo cups alone? I have increased the light back to 5 bulbs (130W total in a 1.5' x 1.5' area). I am starting to think that I over watered them, gave them a bit much Super Thrive + Epsom salts combo too early, and had too many lights running on them too early. I even exposed the little ones to my 400W for a few hours here and there and I think it might have shocked them. Maybe even some bad bag seed on the smaller ones?

Now I have cut back on watering, am sticking with only 5 bulbs for now, and have the bulbs 2-3" above them to help them reach a bit for the light.

I am starting a couple more seeds to practice a bit more before my Nirvana seeds arrive (Blue Mystic + I think Durban Poison is the freebie).

Update: The plants are all improving slowly and have not gotten any worse. The worst seedling I had to remove two leaves from b/c they looked dead. Since, they have replacements coming in. I will take some more pics in a few days.

Any further advise? Should I do away with peat pots? Not use seed starter soil from now on?

Thanks!

[SmknVTEC]

Yes no seed starter soil for seedlings and yes lose the peat pots; solo cups only.

[jjng5]

Here are my updated photos. Some of them are doing better and some are just slowly growing. Very little growth as you can see. Most of the drooping/yellow/spots were from before. The taller ones might have acquired a few more minimal spots. I have started two more seeds to give them a try. I just cannot seem to get these plants turned around. I let them all go without watering for 4 days (because I had over watered in the past). The smaller ones perked up and aren't as droopy. The larger ones did not. I am starting to wonder... maybe the larger ones are under watered? I added the smallest amount of 15-30-15 nute into my water this time. I have read that the middle number helps with early plant development and root growth.

Notice on the taller ones the weird spots they have. I flushed them all out a week ago without using any Super Thrive. None of them had received nutes prior to today (Day 18) and even still such a small amount. They are currently under 104W of CFL 6500K total (4 bulbs).

Any thoughts?

[SmknVTEC]

Dude your plants are already over fertilized and you keep giving it nutes. Peat pots are not great because they make it tricky for a beginner to tell when they need water. Its hard enough to tell with just a pot now you add a peat pot which is like putting a sponge in the pot ass well. Yes people can grow in peat pots and some do, but a beginner has trouble by evidence of your plants and tons of other beginners I have talked to over the years, who have trouble telling when to water. Try sticking your finger in the soil. If you can go over an inch deep and not feel any moisture then it is time to water. If it is wet up to an inch or so deep don't water.

[GigZ-16]

yeah, no fertilizing for a while at the beginning of their lives. I didn't read any thing but your updated pics, but its obviously an over fert. I would check pH as well.

I wouldn't recommend transplanting as your bound to rip off the tap root. I would start over, but that's just me.

Good luck

[Rekisito]

not to be negatve but maybe you should mulch the little ones who aint makin it and start over? My one remaining plant is bushing out pretty nice for only being under 4 26w bulbs.

I dont think you really need to water seedlings that much. I've only watered mine a couple times in small amounts and haven't had any problems.

[GigZ-16]

Originally Posted by SmknVTEC

Yes no seed starter soil for seedlings and yes lose the peat pots; solo cups only.

I actually use seed starter for my plants, and I've seen no problems. I've manage to start seeds and keep them alive until flowering using MG seed starter, then transplanting in half scotts and half peat moss.