Hi all! I'm new to the forums and new to growing this beautiful plant. So any advice you guys have to offer I am all ears (well eyes)... I picked this plant up from my mate two weeks ago ( plant is now 6 weeks old ). I have put it under two 55w, 1000k White tubes and two 55w, 420nm blue lights for 8hrs per day. There is also a small fan in the box set on low for air circulation. I water once a day (maybe every second) with a spray bottle, when ever the soil feels dry to the touch. I had no idea about what growing medium to use, so I went for the one as pictured as I was transferring it to a bigger pot. Please give any advice you have, it will all be taken on and noted. thanks in advance! I'm super keen to start learning.
Looking good. When you transplant , make sure to add perlite to the soil mix. Should water when soil is dry about an inch or two down. Have you started feeding?
Your plant looks good. You may want to water when you water. A spray bottle doesn't get down into the soil. If the water is down deep the roots will reach for it. If you only spray the surface you're probably not getting good root growth. That said, it's impossible to argue against success. What you're doing so far is working fine. You may want to top her before she gets taller to keep her shorter and bushier. Good luck, mate.
I've added perlite to the soil. I haven't started feeding yet.. was going to let it settle for a little after the transplant as there are added nutrient in the soil. What do you suggest I give it? And do I feed during the watering process? Cheers.
Thanks for the reply! When I water with the spray bottle I well and truly soak the surface. what do you suggest I water with?
You don't just want to wet the surface- think of growing plants and where their roots are- under the ground not on the surface. You wait to water until the top inch or so is dry, then thoroughly water. Then let it dry until the top inch is dry again. Pick up the pot when it's dry and then again after a good watering- you should be able to tell a big difference. Tomatoes don't just get watered on the surface- no growing thing just needs water on the top of the soil. There's no water for the roots.
Sorry, I think you miss understood how much I actually soak the soil. I use about 500ml each time I water. The reason for the spray bottle is for an even soak; not just drowning it.
Looks good so far, do you know what strain it is? When you got it was it pre-potted or did you get to see the root system?
The strain is called "The Doctor" It was pre potted when I got it, I transfered it into the pot pictured. Root system looked healthy, but very dense.. I teased the roots very gently to try and encourage root growth in other directions.
When you transplant you can put rooting hormone on the roots before you finish the transplant to encourage growth too. that's what i did. seemed to go well =)
Don't use any root hormone on the existing roots. The reason the roots haven't gone all around yet is because when watering, you want to make sure to cover the top of the planter, pretty much soaking it...the roots will get there, or the planter was on a slant and the water went one way. The plants looks good, it ain't broke, don't fix it..
I like square pots as they promote better root branching and you don't wind up with the tap root all coiled round the base of the container like I so often see in round pots.. Stop messing around with that spray bottle.. Get a cup full of water and pour it on.. You want 5% running out the base drains when you water.. Leave the plant in a catch tray for up to 20 min to absorb what water it will.. Now lift it.. Record in your brain what it weighs.. Fill a matching container with an equal amount of stone dry soil.. Lift that.. the light one is a #1.. The just soaked is a #10.. Your plant will do best between 3 and 7.. Over-under watering is the #1 newbee mistake.. If I have a group of plants I'll let them go dry till one actually wilts before watering the bunch.. A bit to dry and an occasional wilting is far better then to wet.. I use several sizes of containers and transplant frequently.. 3x3x3 inch to start then a 5x5x7 then an 8x8x10 letting the plants roots fill the container so each transplant I invert the plant and a slight push on the base slides the root mass out intact with never a dropped grain of soil... A 3x3 cup may go as much as a week when the plant is small between watering.. As it reaches 12 inches tall it'll need watered every day.. BNW
The advice I was looking for... Will start watering more and daily.. What/when do you suggest I feed the plant? Many thanks!
If you are 6 weeks in you can start feeding it now. Start off half strength and go from there. If it is The Doctor from Greenhouse you can get an idea of feeding schedules from other grows as that is quite a well known strain. Not world beating but well know none the less
Just thought I would give you guys an update. Grow is going well, no pests or discoloration on the leaves. Top two pictures were taken on: 09/09 The bottom two were taken on : 14/09.