New Grower needs advice =)

[blank_21]

Hello there Cannabis Connoisseur's!!

Hi, im a first time grower and have a couple questions to ask of all you pro's out there.

First some background, i was sitting at home one day pulling huge skit bongs (south african for cheap terrible weed,consisting of leafs,twigs&seeds,maby an occasional head,woohoo!) and surfing the net. I came across a dutch seedbank website and after and hour of checking out all the killer strains decided i just had to buy one,so i chose "Bubbelicious" for its sweet bubblegum smell & Euphoric high(according to the site). Preparing for the arrival of my seeds i got hold of the "High Times,Ready..Set..Grow!" DVD, wow it was great,told me basically everything i needed to know.

So my seeds came and i germinated the little buggers using the paper towel method(all 10 germinated:cool: ),2 days later the tap roots were out =D so i planted them in little pots consisting of a soiless mix(1/3 peat moss,1/3 Vermiculite, 1/3 Perlite) and watered. i placed the pots into my growbox(big plastic rectangular box with two 18watt flourecents secured to the top, inside of box lined with emergancy blanket, a fan at the top blowing in air and air escape holes drilled near the bottom) Will use the box for clones later,not to grow in,i have growroom prepared with a 400w MH for veg and 400w HPS for flowering.

Couple days later up they came, all 10 became healthy seedlings =D

question1
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Two days later two of the seedlings suddenly drooped over, the stem looked constricted like some1 had pinched them,and they just died?? Any1 know why??

question 2
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Because i used a soiless mix there are no nutrients in the soil, i bought a 6-1-3 NPK fert but hav not used it yet cause i read on the forum you dnt need to use nutes untill after they are 3 weeks old,is this true? Im scared to burn them!!!

Thanks for any advice guys
Yours is Growing
Blank_21

[Chronic Chrissy]

Pics are really helpful but I think I have the answer to question 1. Your seedlings probably stretched towards the light because they weren't getting enough. So they reach making them tall with a thin stem and the poor thing just fell over. Prop it up by tieing it to a stick of some sort and move them up towards the light, they should only be a few inches away.

Question 2
I don't know much about nutes, but when you do start (2 weeks after sprouting roots should be good) Start with 1/4 strenght for a feed, then 1/2, then 3/4. Alternate between feed water and pH water till you learn what your plants can take. Also I hope you have a pH tester, test your feed and water (I use 6-6.5pH) and also test the run off 25252525222555555522252222222222222225252252522522 5222252255552525252525252high every body22222222222222222222222222222( my husband saying hi andtrying to lure me away from the comp)

Anyways if your run off's pH is way off you may have salt built up and it's time to flush, but alternating the feed and water should help avoid it.

[dusto2k3]

dude, for seedlings you gotta make sure the temp is not too high 73-78. Splint them seedlings with toothpick or something.

[blank_21]

Thanks for the help, ive splinted the bent seedlings (dnt think they'll recover) and lowered the flourecent to 3 inches above the plants, will let you know the outcome

[stinkyattic]

Your potting mix is going to give you problems.
Peat has a pH ~4.5
You need 6.8.

[smokinbomb]

use a fan pointed at the wall to allow the air to bounce off the wall alittle and make your seedlings quiver just a bit it will help grow strong fat stems make sure you dont let to much air blow on them or they will dry out

good luck-Bomb

[blank_21]

The two seedlings died:( , but the remaining 8 look great =D Thanks Stink_attic but dnt worry about the ph, its actually palm peat made entirely from coconut fibre, it has a ph of 6.4.
Thanks Smokinbomb, thats a good idea will do

Can any1 answer.....
question 2
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Because i used a soiless mix there are no nutrients in the soil, i bought a 6-1-3 NPK fert but hav not used it yet cause i read on the forum you dnt need to use nutes untill after they are 3 weeks old,is this true? Im scared to burn them!!!

[Hagbard Celiene]

afaik, you shouldn't need to use nutes untill about 2-3 weeks... the seedlings will be drawing their nutes from the seed leaves. this should be enough to get them through this time. I would start to use nutes when these seed leaves start to turn yellow, as this is a sign that they're close to being used up. and as stated above, you want to start at 1/4 strength, and work your way up.

[blank_21]

Thanks for the advice Hagbard Celiene, much appreciated!! :D

[stinkyattic]

dnt worry about the ph, its actually palm peat made entirely from coconut fibre, it has a ph of 6.4.

Awesome. That's still a touch low for soil but anyway all the peeps here call that stuff coco, or coco coir, to differentiate it from peat MOSS. :D

[blank_21]

Oh ok thanks for the info, will keep a eye on the pH :rastasmoke:

[faithlessxxx]

afaik, you shouldn't need to use nutes untill about 2-3 weeks... the seedlings will be drawing their nutes from the seed leaves

The reason you shouldn't nute the first weeks is because most soil already has nutes and adding even more will burn the seedlings.

[blank_21]

Thanks faithless but im using a soiless mix which has no nutrients

[blank_21]

Hey every1
im having a problem with one of my seedlings, the tips of the leaves are yellowing and turning down,and there are a couple yellow spots, its not over fert cause i havnt even fertilised yet, and its not over watering either, i water every 2-3 days when the soil becomes dry. What could it be???
Please Help!!

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/blank_20/Photo-0084.jpg

[brookerosebud]

i may be flamed for this, but i think you are watering too little. beanies need to have moist soil AT ALL TIMES... if it dries out, the seedling falls over, and dies (sound familliar?)

keep a mist bottle to mist the soil everyday, several times a day...

brooke

[blank_21]

:jointsmile: Thanks for the advice brooke

How do you post pics?? i had to use photobucket cause i didnt know how to attach a thumbnail... :stoned:

[babystarbud]

it dosent look too bad from the pic, but it would help if it was in focus a bit more!

your medium sound like it will hold water ok, and they are stood up ok, i would say you watering schedule is ok for now...

i would just sit tight for a few days and see how they get on


to post a pic, click the blue reply button rather than using the quick reply box.
then click the paperclip symbol to upload files from your PC

[canuck grower]

You're going to have to wait until you have 50+ posts before you turn into a Registered+ member and you can attach files. Welcome to the board! :jointsmile:

[blank_21]

Tanks for da replys d00d's:rastasmoke:

[blank_21]

Ok guys, my babies are goin under a HID for the first time, a 400w Metal Halide to be exact.
What would be a good distance to have the light from the top of the plants?
I germinated them on the 15th of Jan, they all breached the soil on 20th of Jan, so theyve been above ground under a flourecent for 9 days.
Thanks for the advice :D

[stinkyattic]

Keep them under the flouros for a little longer I think.
When they have 4-5 nodes and are ready for feeding, they should also be ready for HID but put your hand at the level of the canopy to feel what the plants feel... if it feels at all uncomfortable, raise the light.

[blank_21]

Well ive got them under the 400w MH, about 23 inches above them, ive got a fan blowing on them so they dont feel hot, is this too far? can i have the MH closer?? theyve been under the MH for 16 hours and didnt show much growth, im wondering if they arnt too far away :confused:

[blank_21]

Helooooooo!!! Anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:confused:

[Hagbard Celiene]

the best answer is to get a thermometer, that way you wouldn't be guessing. i got an indoor/outdoor w/ hygrometer at radio shack for like
bucks.

[blank_21]

Can no-one tell me a good height to have a 400w Metal Halide from the top of the plants?????? just someone give me an amount in INCHES FOR FLIPS SAKE :mad:

[blank_21]

Well ive moved the 400w MH to 12 inches above the plants, i hope this is a good distance, theres a fan blowing on them and my hand doesnt get hot if i hold it above the plants so it should be fine......i hope

[Land of Drought]

Put Your hand under the lamp once it isnt too hot for your hand youll be fine asking for inches is a little much!!. Once it doesnt burn ull be fine.hahah
The best way is too lower the lamp until your uncomfortable then Stop..

Peace Out D...
Ps Growing requires Patience

[blank_21]

Thanks LOD, appreciate the help :D
yep i need some patience, guess im just nervous, dont wana skrew up my first grow, anyways thanks for the help
:rastasmoke:

[canuck grower]

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-growing/62334-all-you-need-know-about-lighting.html

I searched for "400 halide top height" and found that. Don't expect everyone to do your searching for you though I just want to set you on the right track. Topics such as that have been discussed thoroughly and you'll probably find a better answer searching for a previous discussion than asking for a quick one-liner here.

Apparently about 3 ft is a good height for a 400W light, but I have no personal experience which is why I didn't answer before. Hope you figure it out soon!

-canuck :jointsmile:

edit: I should read both pages next time before I post! I hope that lighting FAQ by LIP will help you anyway.

[blank_21]

Thanks :rastasmoke:

[blank_21]

Check ouy my babies =)

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-growing/101374-bubbelicious-babies-pics.html

[dusto2k3]

huh, how'd i end up here