I've started and sprouted, quite a few girls before, but never had the luxury of being able to carry them all the way to finish, like I do now. Usually, I just use the paper towel method, and plant the already emerging tap root into the soil. This time I just planted directly into a peat pellet, which i then set in some seedling starter soil, inside of a bigger pot of FFOF. So pretty much planted them in the only pot they'll be throughout the grow. Except, things aren't going like I would expect. Usually when I germ first I get sprout within a couple days. It's day 4 now, and when I look down into the hole of the peat pellet, I can actually see a root/stem. The problem is, it curves forming a horseshoe, making me thing they might start growing under the dirt( have had happen) and just die. It's kind of like this. From the ones I can see, they all look to be doing it. Should I worry? What should I do if they do in fact grow upside down in the dirt? How would I fix it without harming/killing my delicate seedlings?
Leave them alone. They are too deep or planted upside down. They will grow out if they are not too deep. Disturbing them now is the worst scenario. PW
Usually the seed stays attatched to the stem until the cotyledon and first leaf set form. Generally the seed will weight the stem down if it is stretched. It takes tencil strength to support the stem. The reason it is taking longer than usual is that you skipped germinating them in the paper towl. Which generally takes a day or two then it takes another day or so for the sprout to break soil. I personally think you will be fine just leave them alone and make sure the soil is moist enough to induce growth. Also it may be possible that your lights are too far away I'm going to make an assumption that you are using CFL's? if so they need to be 2-3" from the plant tops. Your going to be fine just give them some time.
Germinating Sprouting Marijuana Seeds http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseeds.info/how-to-germinate-marijuana-seeds.html http://growmarijuanaseeds.com/planting_germinated_marijuana_seeds.htm PW
Well, I'm using a couple cfl's right now, just to get these seedlings started. To be honest, when my seeds arrived I got really anxious and started right away. I have a grow tent, but it's not being used because I don't have, my fan yet. My 600w hps is in the mail as we speak, but for right now I'm stressing about these cfl's. I don't really have much of a way to drop the lights 2-3 inches, they're actually pretty far away. I had to mount a 2ft t5 to the wall, and just have a clamp light with a cfl in it, shining on them with it. Problem is, I'm so unorganized right now, I have 6 different pots, and not enough light to spread across them. I really don't plan on them staying that way though, like I said within a week, they'll be under the 600w in their tent, they'll be home. I just don't get why the root would push the seed up, just for it to u-turn, and go straight back into the dirt. Edit: @PW Thanks for the links. I've read most of that info previously, as I've done my share of reading. I was just under the assumption that sowing the seed directly in the dirt, would be simpler, and in all honesty, more natural. Really though, if I could go back, I would definitely germ them, simply for peace of mind. Ah well, testing the waters, seeing what works. You live you learn. Edit 2: They probably are planted to deep, when I first put them in the peat pellets they fell into the little hole, probably close to a half inch. I couldn't even see the seed anymore. Now I can either see the seed, closer to the top of the soil, or I look down in the hole and see that horseshoe root, like it's running from the light or something.
[quote name='Sciapodus'] I just don't get why the root would push the seed up, just for it to u-turn, and go straight back into the dirt. This is the normal physiology for the seed germination, they always turn, and the shape is u-shaped, the radical goes down and the seed is lifted upward to break the soil. I never pre germinate the seeds before planting and don't have any problems. PW
Don't lower your lights raise the plants. I use books and magazines as risers so I can keep the lights in one place but raise/lower the plants. Also what color spectrum CFL's are you using? You need to be using 5500k-6500k during the veg process but switch to 2700k during flower. As I Sao earlier you just took an alternative growing path you have done anything wrong it's just gonna take a couple extra days because you did not germinate them.
Hah. So after 8 hours of work, I came home to see 4 little sprouts out of the 6 I've planted. I'm a little bummed because one of the two that haven't sprouted was a Lemon Skunk auto and the other was an Auto ak(I have 5 planted, 4 sprouted). Now here's where I worry. I still have to make due for another week with really shitty lighting, meaning only one 2ft T5 flouro (5500k) and one 42w cfl (5500k) until my HPS comes in the mail. Do you guys think they might stretch a bit too much from now until then? Seems no matter how I arrange it, those two lights just aren't enough to cover all 6 pots(should have started in solo's, would fit perfect. Tbh. I'm not really sure if these plants will be ok in a a week from now. Sad faced.
I really wouldn't worry, they don't all sprout at exactly the same time. I have 10 of 10 right now, and I think it was either 3 or 4 days between the first and the last. Be patient.
Not so much worried about them not sprouting anymore as I am killing them while starving them of light for the next week.
They'll be fine for the week. You can get those lights fairly close with out killing them. A week isn't anything to worry about.
They will be fine under your lights for a week. If they stretch a little, plant them deeper at transplant time. Plant them with the cotyledons just above the soil line. PW
Well that's the thing. I planted directly into the pots they'll be in until harvest, so if they stretch to much, I'm gonna be kinda fucked. Also if I drop the light too close(just right) only two of the plants will receive it because of the pots they're in. I could drop the clamp light I have on one other, but that still leaves me three full sized pots with no light what-so-ever. So right now, they're about 6-8 inches about the pots, and 5 of them are lit up decently. the 6th one has a bit of shade on its edge's. Looking back, starting them in solo cups first would have been, way, way, better.
if you see a white stem coming up instead of green you planted your seed wrong lol...i did that on my first grow..below i dug out the seed and flipped it over with a little bit of the top seed popping out and a couple days later i got a sprout