Lil background I have only grown outdoors twice before. Last year being the first time I went from seed to harvest all on my own (white widow and Blueberry kush) I live in the north east so keeping my lady's happy till harvest is a Lil hard for me and I'm still learning. The wife picked up a 5x5 tent setup for me came with filter fans light some pots. I started my seeds in a glass of water with a splash of peroxide sens they been in the fridge for the last year seeds did great less the 24 hours and they split so I pulled them out put them in paper towel and in a bag 24 hours later got long tap roots so put them in small pot and under the light everything was going good until I jumped the gun and went from small pot to big 5 gal pot. My 2 plants didn't like it I think growing went very slow Lil to no stretch. They are going on 7 weeks. I used fox farms ocean with a bag of warm castings and some perlite I top dress with a mix once a week. I thought maybe because my pots sat on the floor (concrete) in the basement (where the tent is set up) the roots might be staying colder then they liked so I lifted them (put blue board under the removable liner) temp seems to be goo anywhere between 75 and 80 with humidity anywhere from 50 to 60. I just lifted my light all the way up to see if that will get the plants to climb. As for the power of the light I'm not sure I can't find much info on it. Photos of the plants and set up (plants are Allen wrench and are photos) any advice is appreciated thanks
That looks like a pretty weak light. That being said, probably not the issue at this point, if there even is an issue. You can expect growth to be stunted when you transplant. I transplanted some plants that had been in very small containers way to long; i tore off about 90% of the balled up roots and topped them and did some heavy pruning. They havent visibly grown in a week but they are about to take off like a rocket.
The plants have been in the pots for about 4 weeks and have been topped once already. I'll give it some more time and look into a new light for the future. Thanjs
That light you got looks like a green painted version of the 100W King LEDs I use a supplemental (the white ones) Without knowing the specific make and model or your light I can't really make and accurate judgement, but just assuming its similar power and spectrum (and likely a "blurple" or red/blue light instead of a more full spectrum white light), I'd say look into an upgrade. I also started with lights like this, and while you can grow plants on them, they never seem to do as well as the plants under LED board or bar lights. You using a gorilla lite line grow tent by chance? Looks a lot like some of mine just from a casual glance. Also, what size and shape where the plants when you transplanted, I tend to start seeds in rooter cubes in trays until they have fully opened cotydelon's, then they go to 1-liter starter pots. Somewhere around 4 weeks in the starter pots, I transplant (typically when I see the roots poking out the bottom, or once the leaves have grown to the edge of the pot) At times, I've transplanted too early and this caused a longer period of recovery. these days I usually wait till they are about like this before they go in the big pots (mostly same mix as you, some Fox farms stuff on top and the really nice organic living soil on the bottom, which you can see the roots vastly prefer. If you need more specific details on how I do everything, from seed to harvest, this is probably my most detailed grow journal with the specifics (There is still a fair amout of off topic BS in there though) anyway best of luck mate, hit me up if you want to know anything specific about how I do it (there are lots of successful ways to grow cannabis, esp if you are a hobby grower or otherwise not overly concerned about profits) Bruce Banner / Gorillia Glue scrog dirt grow for octogenarians and more! Best of luck and happy gardening mate!
The tent is a mars hydro same with the light mars hydro Reflector 192 led 430 watt from what I can find out about it. I transplanted early because silly me wanted to get them in the tent. I start my seeds with a smaller light in my utility room. I went right to a 1 liter once the seeds had a good tap root. And about 2 weeks later into the big pots I had I few good nodes. But very weak stems to the point of one needing to be braced. I'm hoping I could get a couple clones off these for my outdoor grow seasons before I flip them. I was trying for April to start flower. Guess time will tell. Thanks
I've had goods results adding silica in veg. 2-4ml per gallon 1-2 times per week. I use TPS, but I mean its silica, as long as its soluble for plants and not too high in concentration, it probably doesn't matter what brand. they also sell it in much smaller jugs, I just buy everything in bulk as I have the space to store stuff so I try to save here and there when I can. At the same time, sometimes they just grow a little leggy, what I do in this case is buy some cheap thin dowels to lay across the pots, allows the plants to sway in the breeze and get stronger, but not get pushed so far that they topple or get leaves stuck to the soil. I used to get them in 1/8 inch diameter 3 foot sections, usually enough to lay across 3-4 pots in a row, but so far I only had one little straggling girl that needed some help.
So, you topped them, transplanted them, and they were sitting on a cold floor for a period? I think they look just fine for all that. I have some that are 5-6 weeks and they are not much bigger and I haven't done any of that stuff.
I guess I'm not use to seeing how they grow in a tent and basing how they look on just the few I started and grew last year. I'm also tweaking the setup as I'm going. And I'm new to the fabric pots and soil. My outdoor plant I can just put in the ground and water and they get over 7 foot lol..
Yep, mother nature does a pretty good job. Indoor takes a lot more work. ultimately you can pull a better product though.
That's what I'm learning. I know my first few times are going to be a bit of a challenge but I'm looking forward to it and being able to take what I learn and use it for future grows indoors and out.
Yes, for me topping usually sets a plant back 2-3 weeks, and cold roots can really stunt/ slow growth. I had plants that grew dwarf leaves for awhile because of cold roots since I have to use my basement. Took about a month or more to get normal growth back. Messing with the roots can set plants back a lot. It's where they store their energy so that's part of why they respond so quickly to pruning but get transplant shock for example.
I grew some giant magic bean sinse in still steaming horseshit lol jk. I noticed you top dress every week? starting which week? Too mas imo.
Yeah it's been a learning curve for me that's for sure. I did notice a nice Lil jump yesterday in the height so I got my fingers crossed I'm doing something right. Thanks
I just started at week 5 top dressing. As I am not familiar with the soil in the pots and I'm used to Growing Outdoors in my yard in my regular soil wasn't sure how long I could go without supplying nutrients to the plants when they start the veg. When I got the soil mixed I also added minerals. I haven't notice any missed colored or misshapened leaves. As of right now all new growth have 8 fingers instead of the 7 on the leafs. You think I should hold off on the top dressing?
I think so but I also think I'm handsome. Not needed imo unless your soil is crap, which doesn't sound like the case. it takes mucho time & exp to hear what the plants are telling you, still a newb here, aint we all?
update for anyone interested, Thursday i started to notice so light tip burn on the lower leafs, after searching the site reading a few posts it would make sense it was nute burn, between the foxfarms and top dressing, today i started flushing, after coming up with a way to catch all the run off without making a mess of my tent, i know a lot of growers say 3x the pot size for flushing, wondering if i did half the amount if i would be better off? i dont have any test kits to check the run off or ph, i use water straight from a spring not my well. i have not noticed any signs of nute burn on my other plant but im thinking it wont be far behind seeing as i used the same soil mix and top dressing, so ill be starting to flush that one once i finish with the first.