My first grow - journal w/ pics

Stanky Danky · Post by **Stanky Danky** » Mon 1st Nov 2010 02:29 pm

Your seedlings took a pretty long time to break the soil surface so I'm thinking you might have planted them a little deep. You only want to plant about a quarter inch deep because the seeds don't have alot of stored energy to break the surface.

ZBeebs · Post by **ZBeebs** » Mon 1st Nov 2010 02:37 pm

Yes, I definitely planted them too deep, probably about half an inch deep. Know better now for next time.

The hulls from the seeds are still attached to some of the seedlings - should I leave it alone or pluck them off?

Cisco · Post by **Cisco** » Mon 1st Nov 2010 05:19 pm

Boner wrote:
Dirty Uncle Ron wrote:At this stage no artificial light is needed, seriously, so save some money (not to mention energy). Place them near a window where they can receive natural light, or, use a cheap fluorescent.
A seedling needs 18 hrs of light minimum otherwise it'll start flowering (even from seed) so yes to the fluorescent (for the first 2ish weeks) but no to using natural light (obviously depends on time of year).

Would natural light not make them leggy/stretch to try get the light ?

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Mon 1st Nov 2010 05:25 pm

cisco wrote:
Boner wrote:
Dirty Uncle Ron wrote:At this stage no artificial light is needed, seriously, so save some money (not to mention energy). Place them near a window where they can receive natural light, or, use a cheap fluorescent.
A seedling needs 18 hrs of light minimum otherwise it'll start flowering (even from seed) so yes to the fluorescent (for the first 2ish weeks) but no to using natural light (obviously depends on time of year).
Would natural light not make them leggy/stretch to try get the light ?

Yeah especially if you leave them too long, I suppose you could put them on a windowsill until they've broken the surface and then put them under your light, personally every seed I have gets soaked for 24 hrs then put in the growing medium and put in a propagator under my 200 watt cfl.

Stanky Danky · Post by **Stanky Danky** » Mon 1st Nov 2010 06:17 pm

ZBeebs wrote:The hulls from the seeds are still attached to some of the seedlings - should I leave it alone or pluck them off?

The seedlings will work their way free just let them be.

ZBeebs · Post by **ZBeebs** » Wed 3rd Nov 2010 06:10 am

6 days in, this is what I've got:

I thought they'd be bigger by now. I guess planting them too deep set me back a couple days. In the scheme of things, not a big deal I hope.

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 3rd Nov 2010 06:13 am

ZBeebs · Post by **ZBeebs** » Wed 3rd Nov 2010 06:43 am

roker wrote:ffs

What?

roker · Post by **roker** » Wed 3rd Nov 2010 07:25 am

I was cursing the no vote....

templeball · Post by **templeball** » Wed 3rd Nov 2010 11:17 pm

thanks for sharing your experience so painfully honestly and with everyone putting forward their best grow tips this will become surely almost like a masterclass in basics. Ive already picked up several really useful things just so far and I loved your post when you couldnt sleep and had to get up to see how many had sprouted, classic...Lastly, I completely and utterly relate to every word you say about how much you have spent on weed and having to perpetually hide the level of consumption from the mrs, been there..

100% best of luck and please keep the great pics coming, it makes the whole account so much more vivid..

Cal X · Post by **Cal X** » Thu 4th Nov 2010 03:08 am

It looks like a lot of water Zbeebs, especially Pic 2 & 3. You want to keep the soil moist but not wet. The sprouts look pretty good for there age, but you will want to avoid stretching by keeping enough light on them without increasing the heat. Air temp around the plant's should be around 72F. Just a little Root stimulator, like Root 66 mixed with the water might be a good ides as well.
They all popped, Zbeebs, that's a 100% germination rate, good on ya!

ZBeebs · Post by **ZBeebs** » Thu 4th Nov 2010 03:33 am

Cal X wrote:It looks like a lot of water Zbeebs, especially Pic 2 & 3. You want to keep the soil moist but not wet. The sprouts look pretty good for there age, but you will want to avoid stretching by keeping enough light on them without increasing the heat. Air temp around the plant's should be around 72F. Just a little Root stimulator, like Root 66 mixed with the water might be a good ides as well.
They all popped, Zbeebs, that's a 100% germination rate, good on ya!

I had watered right before taking the pics, might be why they look a little wet. Tent is low 70's. Adding a small clip on fan tomorrow.

ZBeebs · Post by **ZBeebs** » Fri 5th Nov 2010 04:44 am

Here they are, 8 days from seed:

Hope it's not too many pictures. I will always post them in the same order, left to right, back row first, same as they are listed in the first post.

I've been reading about people going to 12/12 after 3 weeks...will I really have enough growth by then? My tent is 6' 7" tall, want to use all the space. How tall can I let them go before 12/12?

My wife wants to go away next week...We will be leaving on Thursday morning (they will be 15 days) and will be gone until Sunday, late afternoon. They will be on their own for a little more than 3 days. Nothing to worry about, right? I can't tell my wife we're not going because I gotta watch my plants...

Kermit · Post by **Kermit** » Fri 5th Nov 2010 08:57 am

12/12 is up to you, i dont flower any seed grown plant until at least 4 weeks after sprouting depending on growth. Cuttings on the other hand can go in when rooted into the small blocks and straight on bloom.

I would take some cuttings if i was you as it will speed up your next crop, you have plenty of time to decide so no worry yet but do keep it in mind.

They will be fine whilst you are away, they could do with the break from being constantly watched.

enjoy

Cal X · Post by **Cal X** » Fri 5th Nov 2010 07:26 pm

Hey, Zbeebs! As Kermit suggested I would wait at least 4 weeks before you switch to 12/12.
You want to have 5 developed branches on a nice healthy plant before flowering. It could be 6 weeks to 2 months ,depending on the speed of growth. You also have to consider space. your plants will double, (roughly) in size once they have fully flowered, you don't want them to cramped in your tent, but, you want to have enough height and girth for a good yield!
Also what Kermit was saying, you can take cuttings, (Clones), you can do tht right before flowering. That way by the time you harvest, (depending on the speed of each plants), your cuttings should be ready for 12/12; if done right you can keep that cycle going for a while without having to buy new seeds.
And, as Kermit said, your plants will be fine left alone for 3 days. Just make sure they are watered, (not to much though)! If you don't have one Zbeebs, get a hydrometer; so you can see how much moisture is at different levels of your 5 gal pots. Don't stress Dude, it's going well!