Questions on New Garden

[FreddieFreeloader]

I had 12 seeds come up between 6/1 and 6/2 using small dixie cups (3 oz size). On 6/5 transplanted to 18 oz plastic solo cups (the roots were twice the size of the plant above soil line). Used an ice pick punched three holes in bottom for drainage. After transplanting plants soaked them very well. Soil using Vigoro All Purpose potting soil (supposedly feeds for six months; I'm sure it's fine for first two weeks). Lights have two old 40 watt tubers with 40W/6500K/2325 Lumen bulbs. Plenty of light for little ones with six in a line centered under each fixture. Plan on adding minimum of 19,200 Lumen with CFL's next Friday when two weeks old. Lumen then will equal 29,000. Plants in great shape and color with first leaves fully open and about 1 1/2" wide with leaf coming up in the center as it should be. They'll be a week old tomorrow.

Question where I am soliciting opinions on are: (1) Have lights about 1" above seedlings; think tomorrow starting the second week I should raise the light to 2" above and give a little more room for the stalk to grow and next weekend when I add the CFL's placing CFL's directly over top about 3" and side mount the 40W Fluorescents - one on each side. (2) Question on watering schedule. Right now I'm figuring on watering or mini soak every 3 days. (3) Question on fertilizer - holding off using until next weekend figuring seedlings have enough in the potting soil mixture for first two weeks. Start fertilizer beginning of week 3; use MG; just enough to color water first week and still water every 3 days.

Thanks all.

[giggletwig]

Congrats on your new babies! I just wanted to mention what I learned about lights. I'm using the big flourescents (T5 VHO 6500K) and put them down within a few inches of the plants like I kept reading everywhere. Turned out it was too hot for the little fellers. So now I keep them 10" to 12" above the plants. To judge where to put yours, just get a regular, cheap thermometer and put it at the level where your plants are (balanced on the top of the cup of something). If that temp is over 78 deg. F, they're too hot and you need to back the lights off.

Put a circulating fan on the plants (from a little distance) and they'll build nice strong stems. Every 3 days sounds about right for watering. Keep us posted on how they're doing and good luck!

[Shovelhandle]

like I kept reading everywhere
T5VHO is quite a bit hotter than T5HO. I keep T5HO within a couple of inches with no plant burning at all unless they grow into the lamp.

[FreddieFreeloader]

On temperature and ventilation here's setup.

Grow room is one of two bedroom closets built on either side of dormer in window with knee wall slanted in back on top. Giving me just over 5'6" in height to work with. Side by side = 58" wide by 28" deep. Attached eye bolt screws into bottom of closet shelf at 5'6" and four hole (two each side) angle brackets on sides - attach these with two screws leaving two hole for running poly rope thru. This way the lamp is fixed without having to tie a knot in it as the rope pulls against itself creating traction and no slippage!

Temperature: using small thermometer; temp when left on top shelf around 90 degrees in afternoon. temp when at plant height just under lights is usually 81 or 82 (plants currently sitting on top two cement blocks on sides or 8" above floor). I believe the majority of the heat in the top of the closet is from the roof heating up in the afternoon outside being transferred in and not from the lights.

Ventilation: bottom of closet door has about a 1/4" gap and I am running a small fan on floor outside directed or blowing at the gap at bottom of door. Not the best but it is working for now. Considering adding small fan inside when I add the CFL's if needed.

Shovel - I got the idea of using the soho cups from your other posts.

[Shovelhandle]

Shovel - I got the idea of using the soho cups from your other posts.

Yut, the little ones just love to party, Bub.

[TANKJR]

I don't think you will be able to water every 3 days all thru the grow...as the plants grow, so do their needs. Weed likes to get soaked when the soil drains good and then almost dry out before watering again...thinking you can just water a specific amount every 3 days will get you into trouble down the road...water and feed when they need it, and not before!