i just planted the one seed as i found it in some weed so it's just kinda like a little experiment and if it works then it's a bonus but yeah i germinated using the paper towel method, and 2 days ago (15th March) it was ready for planting so i immediately planted it and put a 20w = 100w CFL Bulb over it in a little box lined with aluminium foil for extra light distrubution but now 2 days later (the 17th) the stem is already about an inch high and starting to open Bear in mind it has only been about 48 hours since the little shoot first cracked from the seed in the paper towels also i have no idea what kind of weed it is so yeah thanks in advance
That's normal growth. The seedling is now stretching to find decent light. 20 watts will not be enough. She will keep getting taller and taller. I recommend you read the stickies in this forum and find out everything you can about growing. You will need more light asap, a fan blowing on it and most importantly of all - a plan!
Eh, as long as your light is 6500k, I don't feel like you need too much more light YET but each person is different. If you can afford it, it's not like it'd hurt. But keep those things within one to two inches max, a fan blowing on them will really help. Any higher than that and your baby will streeeeetch.
OK thanks i'll have a look also instead of buying 1 or 2 high wattage bulbs could i instead buy multiple 20w or would that just not work? and another thing is i read somewhere that it's not good to have the fan directly ON the plant and more just to the side of it what do you find works best? i've got a mini fan that seems to be working well Edit: also my light is only 2700k, have had a look around on the net for shops local to me that have 6500k bulbs but can't really find any, i'm in the UK so if anyone knows any stores could you let me know thanks again
Where does it say that he has 6700k? You need ACTUAL wattage, not equivalent. The equivaleent wattage means nothing to a plant. You need roughly 100 actual watts per plant to see it to harvest. You don't want the fan to blow your plant over, obviously. Just keep it dancing. I'm in the UK too, I tend to order online. I like Growell.co.uk but they are not the cheapest.
allritey cheers for the help guys, i've found a shop near me that sells 125w CFL bulbs for £22.50, will i need to get it ASAP or will i be able to last a little longer on the 20w i have as i'm low on funds until the end of the month lol
Get rid of that tinfoil. It is the worst possible reflector and makes heat. Your little baby is on the verge of getting fried, not in a good way. Cheers.
That's nonsense. Tin foil is fine. The hotspots thing is a myth. Use the dull side tho.....and Mylar or flat white paint is still better. You could survive with that light until the end of the month, but you need to get it about an inch away from the seedling so that it doesn't keep stretching, I would also add more soil around the stem to offer some support.
added more soil to the base and moved the light closer, also i notice that the top layer of soil drys out really fast should i spray a little mist on it to keep it moist or just leave it?
Great work man. Don't mist it. Water when the soil has dried right out, then give it water until it comes out of the holes at the bottom of your pot. After that, leave it until the soil is completely dry again. You'll get the hang of watering, it's a noob issue, trust your instincts. Edit: Put the back of your hand under the light and just make sure it's not too warm for your sprout. Should be fine, but that's a good way to check the distance.
Sorry freedom, gotta call you on the tinfoil. Why would you tell a newbie that its alright? I dont mean to get into it with you.
if your looking for a good website i use Holland Hydroponics New Products. Hollands hydroponics is really good and i jus recently ordered my hps from there and it was prompt and really well priced. Looking good to dude =) good luck. Nice to see fellow growers around
My question to you is the same!! Respectfully, why would you tell a newbie that aluminium foil will burn his plants? Can you provide a picture of the damage that foil will cause a mj plant? Or of a so called hot spot? Or the scientific proof that suggests a crease in foil will concentrate heat to an extent that it will burn a plant? Edit: I know lots of people think it, doesn't make it so.
I think its conventional wisdom speaking to not use foil on an HID, just cause it would super heat the foil, and whatever adhesive you used to stick it to the reflector. I read that someone somewhere blurred the lines on what would get burnt in what situation when foil was involved with different wattage reflectors. With a 20w, they dont put out any heat for the foil to refocus onto the plant. My $.02 on your plant is it looks fine. I feel the lighting issue is this: your "weed" can survive in a lot of extremes. However, it's always best to provide it with as much light as you can in your individual situation. Not how little light you can use to get by. Again, just $.02.
I dont know if the foil would actually cause hot spots or not but I do know you can get a space blanket at walmart for like 2 dollars and it is basically mylar for cheap so you might pick up one of the next time you go out. You wont have to worry if you have hot spots or not and it will be more reflective to boot
The foil debate is an age old one that has been debated to it's death and back many times. It is basically irrelevant as a discussion with regards to growing though as it is a pretty crap reflector of light compared to it's more popular rivals. Op's seedling will be fine and that's the important. thing.
It's funny how threads get sidetracked, and I'm just going to add to it. LOL. My opinion on the foil, or space blanket for a light enhancer is not the it will get too hot, but that because you can never get the foil to be perfectly flat (it always seems to kink and crease) and it seems to reflect the light at wacky angles, some of which aren't even hitting the plant. I prefer to use plain flat white paint, or table cloth. I believe that the flat white reflects the light evenly. It may not matter at all, but this is my thought. Too comment on the original OP, the seed is growing, be HAPPY! I just can't imagine a plant ever growing TOO fast, unless it's a male. Then you may need to watch it.
its so exciting watching a seedling grow lol but when it takes off the excitment dies down. But then when harvest day nears the excitment boils up again haha Growing is jus amazing!