First serious grow attempt, commentary welcome

Discussion in 'Indoor Grow Journals' started by *-_Chef_-*, Sep 18, 2015.

  1. #1 *-_Chef_-*, Sep 18, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2015
    Hey guys, new to the forums. Though I've done a couple half-assed grow attempts in my college days(throwing some reggie seeds in some miracle grow under an incandescent light bulb in my closet). I've recently decided to undertake a serious, well thought-out grow using my modest but steady " adult with an actual career " Budget. I've watched quite a few youtube videos to educate myself, and read some articles online But I dont have a plethora of actual growers I can talk to in real time at the moment for good advice.


    okay so, I purchased some Strawberry kush seeds from an online seed bank in Europe, I wont say wich because I'm not 100% about the forum rules for posting about online stores. All 3 seeds arrived on time and undamaged, and 3/3 Germinated and are now planted in solo cups under a CFL fixture. They are still in the seedling stage so I haven't given them anything other than PH balanced water(between 5.5 and 6.5) I am using an 18/6 Light cycle.


    The 3 plants are looking healthy, although a bit stretched because They grew about an inch and a half taller when I was at work one day while I had them a bit too far away from the lightbulb, But I have since moved them to about 3-4 inches from the bulb and the leaves have started to open.


    Pictures coming soon! stay tuned!


    any beginners advice welcome.

     
  2. So I sent my wife to the grow store the other day with a grocery list, She managed to find every single thing on the list and even some extra stuff the shop owner told her about.


    Heres the Haul. soil.jpg



    nutes.jpg




    Also ordered a 400W lamp from Amazon, and it should be here wednesday which might be perfect timing to switch my seedlings from CFL to MH. What are you guys' thoughts? Did I miss any important supplements?
     
  3. The Ladies
    Babies.jpg

    Like I mentioned above, they stretched a bit but I'm pretty sure I corrected it in time.


     
  4. Been having some issues with my CFL bulbs. Turns out I bought the worst bulbs by the worst Brand on the market, according to the reviews. The pack I got worked solid for almost one day, now I have to have all 3 of my seedlings crammed under one lamp, and I have to switch the bulb out every 45 minutes because it dimms out when the connector starts to get hot(WAY hotter than it should, its almost impossible to touch)


    Luckily I have another day off tomorrow and I can make a run to Home Depot and get a more reliable set of bulbs. Like I mentioned above, I have a MH lamp coming in on Wednesday so I'm not going to invest a boat load of money into some beefcake CFL, it only has to last for 4 days. Cant have my babies sitting in the dark for 4 days or worse yet on my balcony where the Florida fall skies might wash them away at a moments notice.


    Just as a warning, the bulbs I bought were Ecosmart 23W 3500k(claim to be 100W equiv) CFL spiral bulbs, do not buy these they are VERY unreliable.
     
  5. I have had no reliability issues with EcoS leds, which I recommend over cfls


    Get spot lights, so all the light shines down on your canopy

     
  6. went to Home depot and got some phillips 6500k Bulbs, all 3 are working for now. All 3 have their own bulb now, and they're looking a bit bigger than they did yesterday!


    3.jpg





    20150919_131003.jpg


     
  7. So this is kind of bugging me and I cant get a straight answer online through google.


    Looking at the pictures, do you guys think that my plants are stretched enough that I should re-pot them a little deeper in the soil? Or are they just fine and I'm being paranoid?
     
  8. I would add soil into the existing cups rather than risk a transplant at this age. When you re pot them out of those solos bury them deeper.
     
  9. Thanks for the quick response!


    Added a couple spoon fulls of Happy frog to the top of each one and now I'm much happier about the length of the exposed stalks






    moresoil.jpg
     
  10. #10 *-_Chef_-*, Sep 20, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2015
    Started introducing a VERY minimal amount of General Hydroponics Rapid start root enhancer and a drop of un-sulphured molasses with my normal watering today, just trying to strengthen stalk and root structure, and because I introduced a soil with Mycorrhizae.


    Will post pics tomorrow night if there's a notable difference.
     
  11. End of Day3 in the soil






    day3.jpg


     

  12. Thank you so much!
    I'll try and have this thread updated every day. Always good to have knowledgeable people around because this is my first ever attempt that I've ever actually put money and effort into.
    Welcome and, Cheers!
     
  13. Like a flick? or more of a tap?
     
  14. Hey Chef . Looking good bro . Like somebody else said I wouldn't worry about repotting yet but within 2 weeks im thinking about 10 days I would put them in something bigger and burry almost all of that stem .the burried stem will grow roots as well . They are in plastic right ?? I like to let the plastic cups dry out so the dirt doesn't stick to the cups during transplant . Than cut the bottoms off the cups . Cut length ways from top to bottom . Than you put them in there new pots and they will slide ride out . If you do it right they don't even know they was moved
     
  15. I actually have my autos in 16 oz solos cups with the bottoms cut out and cut down the side .i have the solo cups burried in 2.5 gallon trash cans . This allows the tap root to grow out and keep my starter soil separated form my fox farms ocean .. I also have a 400 hps . Even funnier thing is I was a chef for years . I started cooking at around 16 and cooked till I was in my early 30s . I make glass now . Lots in common though .. I'll be rooting for you on this grow
     
  16. ImageUploadedByGrasscity Forum1442718170.721790.jpg if you repot them like this and be very careful with the knife when making cuts you will not disturb the roots . I did mine at a week old and they didn't skip a beat . The growth actually exploded when I did it . They I are like 10 days old now . I'll pull out the cups in about a week maybe . I imagine the roots are getting pretty deep now . The top 2 inches of my soil is very dry . This will force the roots deeper searching for water
     
  17. #20 HInugs, Sep 20, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2015
    This is probably legit for now. I can't imagine those tiny little seedlings drinking up too many ray's just yet. I think you have some days available to sort out a better lighting solution.


    Edit for typo. It ruined the entire sentence.



     

Share This Page