Basically ill give you a description, i have two 200 watt CFL lights from Petco, and a space heater, allowing the room to be a solid 78 degrees with a high of 81. The room is humid, and I wanted to know if my seedlings look healthy. They are not straight, they stand up tall, but their stem is like curvy on some. Are they gonna die? I water them daily, and am using a high moisture potting soil, high in Co2 as it was recommended on another forum post. Any thoughts? I can take it, so tell me the truth. Got three plants in a fish tank, with a drilled hole at the bottom for water to leave. While i got two other ones in a pot, with a bucket to hold the water.
They look pretty good to me except they look like they're stretching a little. It's really no big deal but if you want you can paint the glass white from the outside or line it with white paper or something to get maximum light reflection. Also seedlings really don't need much so be careful not to over water them, especially in that high moisture soil.
Also if they get too tall and top heavy you can just add more soil until they are able to stand. The stem should grow roots eventually. And ALSO (sorry lol) you want the lights as close as possible. With CFLs you can get pretty close without them burning. If you put your hand at the level of your plants and it's not hot you're fine.
Definitely stretching, so I would move the lights closer. I'm also curious exactly what lights you are using. You call them 200W CFL's. Is that 200W" equivalent? If so, you probably will also need more lights.
My bad i shouldve specified more, i will post the exact light http://www.petco.com/product/122052/Exo-Terra-Reptile-UVB150-Bulb.aspx?CoreCat=MM_ReptileSupplies_Lighting This is similar, it looks exactly like the box, but i already disposed of it, i couldnt find a 200 one that look like this, but the guy told me that it mimicks sunlight, and gives off synthetic sun.
So from what I can tell, they are only 26W bulbs, not 200W. I also have a suspicion that they are a warm spectrum, not a cool spectrum... meaning those bulbs would be better for flowering. However, if that's not exactly what you have, I guess we're still sort of in the dark.
They actually produce no heat what so ever, ive grown a seedling into the vegatative state, but to my own fault I accedently killed the plant. But that was my own mistake for transporting it, and not looking where i was stepping.
Spectrum has nothing to do with the amount of heat the bulbs produce. I think you should do some more reading. Good luck with it.
in addition to what these guys said you shouldn't have to water everyday, only water after the soil dries out, you will be able to tell when the pots get light.. over watering is a common newbie mistake, the roots need oxygen so let the soil dry out and breathe before watering again
Will do thank you Slightly, Im trying to do trial and error, as I have a lot of seeds. While at the same time, I dont want to kill my plants, as they're alive. Sorry for my mistakes.
No ones asked this yet. Does that fish tank have some kind of drainage in it? That soils going yo be wet forever... Journal: http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1290525-400w-MH/HPS-mixed
They look good! Like smokey said they are streching for the light! If its cfls drop the light 1-2 inches above plants and just check daily. You want light to hit your plants all over not just from above, this is why painting the tanke white was suggested. As it reflects light without causing hotspots. If you dont want to ruin the tank use that white cardboard stuff for school projects, tape it around the glass. Good luck, im intrested to see how she does!
Right at the bottom above the pics, he said it has a hole for drainage, will that be enough? Only time will tell
You might want to drill a few more holes evenly spread out, because the water will probably have a pretty hard time making it out only one in the middle. I have a plant in a shallow dish about half the surface area of your tank (mint, not pot but same concept) with one hole in the middle and it wasn't enough, so I had to make more holes around the dish for the water to properly drain. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I currently have three seedlings growing individually in three separate pots doing beautifully along with a plant in it's vegetative state, but that's for my own trial and error as this batch will be my "grass city batch" basically apply what I learn on here to my plants. And I not need one more female to clone because I know how to do it, but refuse to clone my vegetative plant as I would like to take notes till flowering stage, and past that because I plan on gaining my PHD in horticulture and I taken notes on many plants. But yes, I placed the pots in the dirt in the tank and it actually keeps the pots warm and humid as the dirt is warm and wet. Idk but ever since I did that my seedlings have doubled in size and one even tripled.