About seedlings and pots!

start your seeds in small containers about the size of a soda can. when there is a good root system formed in your container then transplant into a larger container like a 1 gallon. etc etc. If your careful and gentle with your plants they will be just fine. when you transplant them into a larger pot let the soil dry out a little bit and it will be easier to remove the soil and roots from the container. I have seen square plastic bags at the hydro shop that are super cheap and great for what your asking about. As for the reason why you DON'T want to start seedlings off in a large container they will just use all the energy to build a huge tap root and not build a very good root system. read some books watch some movies. Don't just take my word for it, do you reserch and make your own informed decision. Maybe try starting a seedling in a 5 gallon container and do the remaining seeds the way i said and see how it does.

Jorge Cervantes - Ultimate grow is a great investment.



small seedling container > 1 gallon > 3 gallon > 5 gallon



As for your lights, Starting seedlings under 400w is a bit much, most people start seedlings off under Florescent lights. However I have started seedlings under a 1000w and had no problems but I was very careful. Make sure your lights are far away from the seedlings to start with, 4-5ft, keep an eye on them make sure the light is not too strong and burning them. then slowly move your light closer a couple inches a day until you find the correct height (2ft +/-)

 

watch ready set grow also

 

Hey Zero, I just did the same thing w/two of my ATtitude indica seeds ... I read so much my eyes were crossing and I did read about many people having success with the larger pot to start with to avoid transplant stress. My last two seedlings did NOT form a root structure, even in a tiny little seedling pot (like you find trays at the garden shop). So, I'm not sure what the answer is ... it's all such a huge learning curve. Frustrating for me right now. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best!

xoo
Melissa

 

You didn't f-up that bad. Since 3 of your seedlings are already planted in 5 gallon pots then don't worry about them. From what I have researched its better for the plant if you transplant when it has out grown the pot so the roots can develop better. The seedlings being planted in the 5 gallon buckets are going to be ok, I really wouldn't worry about it. When plants are out in the wild they never get transplanted................ who knows maybe plants get transplanted into larger pots because smaller pots are easier to manage, like less water nutrients, etc etc. Try transplanting a couple seedlings like the way I said and compare the two ways and make your own informed decision. Just don't over water them.

Just read some books, watch the Cervantes videos and learn from your mistakes and all will be well. Best of luck.

 

You can start in larger pots, but it's easier to maintain proper watering for a seedling in a smaller pot. If the seedling is in a large pot then its roots are small and shallow yet the soil is much deeper, so when you water you can have moist soil at the bottom while up near the roots it can get too dry. In a smaller container you can control this better, that's the main benefit of starting in smaller pots and transplanting up.

 

well put.

 

Other disadvantages include but not limited to are,dry areas of the larger pot which has roots can die or just grow faster searching for water which can slow the top growth,stress the plant making it more prone to disease and pests,waste water,nutes and pH adjusters and all while washing away the good stuff in the soil which has yet to see roots.

Transplanting following a few lil rules can eliminate anything negetive while the advantages keep stacking up.

IMO it's best to use a pot vollume bigger than the previous pot by a factor of 2-5x.

 

I just darn near lost two seedlings (well, I did lose one, but the other came back, thank goodness) in tiny pots, which is why I did it different this time. I had one of those starter trays and cut two of the little compartments out of it and planted a seed in each. They never developed a root system. The one that I buried today only had a little taproot and was 2 weeks old. I also have another seed soaking to germinate it in a party cup instead of the tiny pots or the larger ones ... figure I'll try different things until I get it right. I live at 8500' and wonder if that's having an effect on my babies ...

xxoo
Melissa

 

Well, since i have two seeds in a larger pot, should I try to transplant them down to a smaller pot, or just let them be once they sprout?
x
xoo
Melissa

 

This is all true. The plants develop better root systems when transplanted throughout their life. The roots will go deep into the pot before they start to grow the side roots and hairs off of the taproot in larger pots. In smaller pots they gey grow the side chutes and hairs much quicker making them take up water and nutrients much faster, making the root system more efficient. If you transplant them when the soil is dry it is very easy to pull the whole thing out of the pot and put into a new one. I never notice much of a slow down in growth when I transplant.
Melizzard, If you want to transplant down then just scoop out a big chunk the size of the cup or use a small 3"-4" pot if your afraid of damaging the root system.
The reason for seeds not taking off could be poor genetics, or you had your light too close and burned them. Or the MG burned them.

Good Luck with your grows!!!!

 

which are??? I wanna know!!!

 

I answered it. As long as you don't damage roots you should be O.K. The plants will do fine, you are not screwed!