n00b needs advice-week old seedlings died inexplicably, what should I change for the

[kareddie]

Basic info: bagseed, 1 week old seedlings, first grow
had 4 seedlings, one survived, bout 1-2 inches tall
total 105 watts in CFL and reg FL, each bulb is 2-5 inches away from plants
using some time release MG copycat-typesoil and small jiffy pots
water daily or every other, when soil is dry
put 1/2 teaspoon MirGro in water at first, now not using ferts till it is healthier
grow room is bottom of a large closet, door open a crack for ventilation

I germinated and planted 5 seeds in jiffy pots, they were doing great for about 5 days, one seedling looked sickly but 3 others were nice. I only had bout 50 watts on them in CLFs(see setup in pic), then on day 3 I added a 2' warm white FL 33 watt stick above them and another desk lamp and added another 23 watt CFL. Within 1/2 day 2 of the nice looking plants looked terrible (see pic). the top of the plants tuned down and the leaves started to wither and get crispy. however, one of the plants still looks great, and is sitting right next to the sad lookin ones. the only variable was the extra lights so i turned off the 2' FL. I think all but the nice one are dead :( , and I want to germ more seeds and start 2 new plants but not have the same thing happen. What should I change?

I think the prob may have been the 2' FL I put about 2" from the plants was too much for the little guys and burnt them, cause 2 days after adding it they went to hell. Also, is my soil just crappy? Been readin some stuff about time-release soil having nute balls that can burn seedling roots, also a few things about jiffy pots not being worth shit. also, is it ok to leave my healthy seedling in the MG type soil? don't want to kill it by transplanting...the stem was gettin to long and spindly so i build up some soil around it and it seems to be doing well....when i transplant it to the 8" pot, can i stick with the MG soil? i'm not plannin on using anything i cant get at home depot or a basic garden store.

i've been readin the FAQs and the entire sick plant forum but can't find anything similar, so advice appreciated :) thanks!
kareddie

[kareddie]

now the nice last seedling is dying! i have no idea why as i backed the lights off but it suddenly went downhill now it looks like it might be a goner....i'm going to try again with some more bagseeds but i'm afraid the same thing will happen....maybe it was the soil with the slow release nutes in it?pllllllease give me some advice here....

[stewie420]

im very new to growing, but also killed off my first attempt.
my second attempt was turning out the way the first one
did until i changed my water...

are you using tap water?
if you are... STOP IMMEDIATELY!!!

im no expert, but i wish i wouldve thought of this or asked
someone before i killed my first grow...

good luck!!!

[jadeius]

yup yup, tap water is not good because chlorine will burn them up...they're not used to it like humans are

also, the 1/2 tsp of nutrients you used was unnecessary...if you had soil with delayed release nutrients, then you probably won't need nutes until about time to start flowering...i've used some delayed-release nutrient soil for african violets, and the plants did just fine without any more food for the first 5 weeks

if you wanna use tap water, then bring it to a rapid boil on the stove and then let it sit and cool to room temperature...the chlorine will evaporate VERY quickly

[jadeius]

oh yeah, jiffy pots aren't good

and you may have had the lights a little to close for the little babies...i've noticed that the seedling does most of its growing in the dark until it can really handle the heat and light

[Zandor]

using some time release MG copycat-typesoil - problem #1

put 1/2 teaspoon MirGro in water at first - Problem #2

Read up on seed germination and the seedling stage before you try again. That will save you trouble. Pick up a good book for reference.

[Tim33]

I thought I was the only one with this problem my two week old seedling were doing fine but then I woke up this morning and I was pissed they looked just like yours laying over, that shit suxs I know just how you feel. I think that your problem is to much fert and you burned them. now the only thing that I have to do is find out what is wrong with mine. good luck.

[Zandor]

New growers should not feed seedlings with anything but RO water.

Once you have some experience and can mix an exact balance of nutrients then you can feed them. There is a very small window between success and failure at the seedling stage. It's safer to stick with RO water.

[kareddie]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I actually went out and bought distilled water that i let sit out to come to room temp before i watered, but from what others have said, basically everytime i watered (which was like daily) i activiated the nutes in the soil, building up to a toxic level till i killed the poor guys. i've gotten lots of advice, and tomorrow i'm going out to buy some potting soil, organic if i can find it, with good stuff like peat moss and vermiculite and organic ferts if i cant find anything w/o the ferts. there's a nursery nearby that carries "professional potting soil", metro mix 360 potting soil, etc so i'm gonna get one of those, as well as some organic ferts. any suggestions on brands of soil or ferts nute concentrations? why are jiffy pots bad? I can easily use clear plastic cups so i can see the roots growing, just wondering why not jiffy pots.

[Zandor]

Who said Jiffy pots are bad? For seedlings I like those things they work better then Rockwool. You can wash off the roots and transplant them to Hydro or grow in dirt.
They are pretty generic and don't have any nutrients just stick with RO water through the seedling stage. Another thing seedlings like warmer soil temperature like in the 80's. A humidity dome helps to keep the seedlings moist. Don't over water only water when they are dry. Roots grow best when they need to work a little to find water. If you use Anti-wilt spray there is no need for a humidity dome. What lighting are you using and what is the temperature at the top of your seedlings?

[kareddie]

thanks for the input Zandor...i jut germed 4 new seeds in wet paper towels and they all germed in 24 hrs, i planted them in a mix of 50% perlite 50% organic potting soil, 1/2 inch down in 16 oz clear plastic cups with holes in the bottom for drainage. the vlear cups are great, i can see the moisture level of the soil and eventually the roots. i am just letting them chill in my closet grow room, about 3' tall, 3' wide, 2.5' deep, which is lined with emergency blankets from wal mart. right now i just have a 33 watt warm white 2' flouro about a foot above them till the seedlings pop thru. i stretched some saran wrap over the top of the cups with a hole for ventilation. temp is about 75-80 in the room. when the seeds pop thru i have 120 watts from CFLs and the 2' flouro, a mix of "daylight" and warm white i will put like 3-5" away from the seedlings so i dont burn them, move the mcloser if i have stretch issues. keeping my fingers crossed to see them pop thru, i have some organic fertilizer i'm planning on using 2 weeks in. i'm trying not to plan further ahead yet in case these die too :)

[kareddie]

ps all the original seedlings died, i def learned my lesson about using straight soil with lots of nutes already mixed in that burns the seedlings. i think it was being released every time i watered (daily) and after a week or so the nutes built up to a toxic level. i've read stories about jiffy pots not actually decomposing when transplanting, so i figure the plastic cups are just as easy and a lil bigger.

[Zandor]

Do your self a favor and cut the bottom out of a second cup that the first cup will fit into. You don't want the light to get to the roots. Light will kill the roots and that will kill a young seedling. You don't need to transplant just wrap something around the clear part. If you use a second cup it's easy and you can still separate them and view the root growth with out light killing the roots.

[Joel]

Genius zandor!

[kareddie]

zandor you are my hero :)

[MeatRulz]

i wish i would have known not to use tap water b4 even tho this thread isnt about me thx stewie but i got a pond in backyard do you think i can use water from there it has high amounts of sulfer because we are using well watertho.

[Joel]

If you made that kind of a mistake, you need to buy a book and go read up...

[HARDDON]

I say you killed your pants for the same two examples Zandor related.

MG soil AND fertilizer.

With good soil no need to nute until week 3-4 and then only if it is organic in nature.

5-1-1 is good but only after week 3 or 4....

NEVER BEFORE.

ANd, MG sucks...in my opinion unless you grow vegetables to eat.

[HARDDON]

where is the fan at?

You do have one right?

I advise PRO MIX potting medium.

It has, essetnially every thing need from germ to flower.

But it online or your professional nursery should have it.

You wont find it at Lowes or T H Depot.

[stewie420]

i wish i would have known not to use tap water b4 even tho this thread isnt about me thx stewie but i got a pond in backyard do you think i can use water from there it has high amounts of sulfer because we are using well watertho.


ive just started using poland spring water and my plants
are doing well again, except i think my biggest plant is
going to be a male. anyways... i wouldnt use the pond
water just in case, you could try it for a few days if
you want just to see, but 12 bottles of water were only
like 3 bucks so i think its worth it just to be on the safe side.