First Grow: Fluorescent seed to weed

[TechnoMage]

Well I figured I should start my own grow log since I’ve learned so much from reading others. For details on my cabinet, check out my other post here.

I’m using Fox Farms Ocean Forest potting soil with straight bottled water. When I transplant I’ll be mixing in some perlite and I also have some PureBlend Pro Grow and PureBlend Pro Bloom standing by. I want to stick to straight soil however for the first few weeks.

For lights I’m using two T5, 2G11 base, 55 watt compact fluorescents that put out 4,800 lumens each. These are essentially 4’ T5’s folded in half so they’re only 21” long. Perfect for my cabinet since it’s only 30” wide. My only concern is that my veg bulbs are only 4100K. I may replace these with some 6500K bulbs. For flower I have 3000K bulbs that should work fine. I plan on building a bigger hood that will hold three bulbs instead of two. I’ll keep one 4100K in the middle slot the entire time and switch the outer two between 6500K for veg and 3000K for flower. This should give me a nice balanced light.

I ordered three packs of seed from Dr Chronic. Nirvana White Rhino, Nirvana New Purple Power and Mandala Hashberry. Doc threw in a free pack of Lockdown. I decided to try six seeds for my first grow and went with the Hashberry and Lockdown, three seed of each.

I’m keeping a daily log at home and will try to update this post every few days with details and pictures.

Thursday, November 9th 2006, 9:00 pm
Planted three Mandela Hashberry and three Lockdown in soil. Placed pots under seedling tray cover. Set light for a 12 noon – 6am cycle.

Friday, November 10th 2006, 11:00 pm
Nothing new to report.

Saturday, November 11th 2006, 1:17 pm
No growth showing, gave plants a light water.

Sunday, November 11th 2006, 9:28 pm
One Hashberry starting to poke through. Gave plants a light water.

Monday, November 12th 2006, 6:51 pm
All three Hashberry poking through soil, no sign of growth yet from Lockdown. Hashberry #1 looked like it got it's leaf a little crisped so I moved the lights up two inches.

Tuesday, November 13th 2006, 7:11 pm
All three Hashberry coming along nicely, one Lockdown poking through soil. Gave plants a light water.

Now for some photos.

Plants under lights


Full tray, Hashberry in front


The top shot


Is this crispy or just seed remnant?

Later,
-TM

[mister2]

when you say 'gave plants a Light Water' how much water are you talking? The most common ways us Noobs kill our plants is overwatering. You need to give the soil chance to dry so the roots will grow in search for water and recieve some air in the process.
As for the last pic, thats just the inside of the seed still on the plant. Not sure if you're suposed to remove it, but I did. You have to be really gentle, and if it don't want to come off, then try again the next day instead of accidently pulling the leaf off
Good luck with your grow dewd

[TechnoMage]

I don't have an exact measurement but we're only talking about tablespoons. I'll probably skip the water for the next couple of days.

[mister2]

stick your finger in the cup about an inch down, if its dry give it some water, if not leave it another 12 hours or a day

[TechnoMage]

Friday, November 16th 2006, 7:02 pm
Hashberry looking great. Still only the one Lockdown and it’s not looking good. Gave plants some water.

I noticed that my Hashberry actually has roots coming out of the bottom of the planter. Could I be so worried about over watering that I'm actually under watering? I think it's time to move to a bigger planter.

Now for the images:

Look at those Hashberry go


View from the top


I really didn't expect roots coming out the bottom so soon

[TechnoMage]

Time for another update.

Saturday, November 17th 2006, 9:16 pm
Nothing new to report

Sunday, November 18th 2006, 11:04 pm
One week from when the Hashberry first made it appearance and all three Hashberry seem to be doing fine. Still only the one lockdown and it’s definitely going to be the runt. Gave plants a light water.

Now for some pictures

The only Lockdown to show up, and it's a runt


Tray Shot


The top shot

[urgr8estfear]

When they said don't overwater your plants, they meant don't overwater your plants.

Judging from the moss I can see appearing in the last picture you posted,
you are heavily overwatering!!!!

DON'T

[TechnoMage]

Originally Posted by urgr8estfear

When they said don't overwater your plants, they meant don't overwater your plants.

Judging from the moss I can see appearing in the last picture you posted,
you are heavily overwatering!!!!

DON'T

That showed up when I had the seedling hood over them. I should have pulled it off once the plants sprouted but didn't realize it at the time. So the pots were in almost 100% humidity for about a week.

I'm only giving a light water every two days and the top of the soil is always dry when I do.

[TechnoMage]

Time for another update.

Monday, November 20th 2006, 9:09 pm
Not much change in the plants. Added a light baffle shelf to the cab and got the Mylar smoothed down.

Tuesday, November 21th 2006, 9:57 pm
Hashberry is doing great. Lockdown is getting bigger but is still the runt. Added 22,400 lumens of 6500K side lighting to the cab. Gave plants a light water.

Now for pics

Tray Shot


Top Shot

Only 15 more weeks to go hopefully. God that sounds like a long time.

[TechnoMage]

Wednesday, November 22nd 2006, 8:47 pm
Plants seem to be loving the new side lighting. Gave plants a light water.

Thursday, November 23rd 2006, 11:58 pm
The Hashberry looks to be growing nicely. Not much height, only 1.5 inches, but lot’s of leaves. Lockdown is doing better, nothing on two of the pots. Tomorrow if nothing is showing I’m pulling the pots. Soil was dry so I gave them another water.

I need to pick up some macro extension tubes for my camera so I can can get closer shots.

So on to the photos:

Tray Shot


Top Shot


Hashberry #1


Hashberry #2


Hashberry #3

[mister2]

looking good to me dewd

only 15 more weeks to go, god that sounds like a long time

I know how you feel dewd, hope its worth the wait for you and you get some females

[TechnoMage]

Just chilling out with a pomegranate martini and some weed, thought it would be a good time for an update.

Friday, November 24th 2006
Wasn’t home to check plants.

Saturday, November 25th 2006, 11:05 pm
Sprout +13
Still not much height and I noticed that the leaves on the Hashberry are drooping down and have a slight yellowish cast to them. Lockdown is doing a little better.

Soil was very dry and the pots were very light. I gave them some water and a lot of it dropped right through. I then gave them another heavy water. I know that over watering is the big danger to a novice grower but I think I might have been over doing it.

Got rid of the two that didn't sprout after I took the photos.

Now for photos:

Tray Shot


Top Shot


Hashberry #1


Hashberry #2


Hashberry #3

[urgr8estfear]

The first three weeks are always the hardest under fluros.
The bigger the plant the more forgiving it becomes.
Looks like you made it past the hard part.

I notice slight leaf deformation on the older leaves, probably due to excess water in the beginning.
Keep an eye on it, the newly formed leaves theses should be OK.

Good to see you have the waterings under control now, moss gone and all.
If the soil is very dry and the water falls through may mean you did not compact the soil hard enough when filling the pots with dirt.

When loosely packed certain soils may expand & contract up to 20% in size due to the waterings and subsequent drying out cycles.
Pack it more tightly in the future I'd say.

[TechnoMage]

Originally Posted by urgr8estfear

Good to see you have the waterings under control now, moss gone and all.
If the soil is very dry and the water falls through may mean you did not compact the soil hard enough when filling the pots with dirt.

When loosely packed certain soils may expand & contract up to 20% in size due to the waterings and subsequent drying out cycles.
Pack it more tightly in the future I'd say.

When should I think about transplanting? Right now they're in 9oz cups with holes in the bottom. I've got some 6" pots standing by.

[urgr8estfear]

Theoretically speaking as soon as the roots touch the bottom of the cups.
We don't want to obstruct root growth unneccesarily.
People forget about the roots sometimes because the don't see them,
but the size of the roots determine how fast the plant can drink & eat and thus grow.
Providing there is something to drink and eat that is.

I'm pretty sure your roots are at the bottom already.
You can transplant now.
Just take the entire content of the cup and place it in the 6 inch pots.
You can easily hold those plants upside down in your hand with the stem between your fingers.

When you put the plants in bigger pots water a bit.
Not too much, soil that comes in bags is a bit humid already.
Make sure you water the entire surface of the soil and not just around the plant.
Then let it dry out.
Don't be shy here let it go for a week or two you're growing with CFL so no problemo.
Check everyday if the plant is drooping water it.
This may seem harsh but it has two benefits.

1.The soil will crack allowing your to recompress/rearrange the soil a bit when its dry.
It's easy to do when the soil is dry.
This will prevent contraction and expansion of the soil in the future.
The roots will like the stable environment, no more pushing and pulling.

2.You'll force the plant to grow roots all the way to the bottom right away.
It may seem as if the plant slow growth after transplant but most of the growth is underground and you don't see that.
This is a big advantage over the coming months of growth left.

I grow in about 9 inch deep soil with fluros.
After a thorough watering with a little bit coming out the bottom,
my plants can do without watering for about two weeks.
So I water them every week.
This way I always have 1 part dry soil on top with 1 part wet soil at the bottom.
So the roots can always drink and breathe!
Good luck transplanting!