Sickly plants

gigi you are right about that. You must cover the basics in order to achieve results. But beyond that, keep it simple. The most important elements to a successful first grow?

1. Choose a good soil. The more I see the more I like FFOF. I'm a recent convert but it sure is easy.
2. Take care of the water pH and figure out just how much water your plants need. This takes time.
3. Choose a strain that is easy to grow. Nothing exotic. Big Bank, La Confidential, OG Kush, etc.
4. If you are feeding nutes start at 1/4 or even 1/8 strength and work your way up.
5. Resist the urge to tinker with the plants or their feeding schedule.
6. Read everything you can get your hands on. Can't say that enough!

The grow was going ok but today I ran into another problem. When the seed in the rapid rooter first sprouted, I gave it just a little bit of CFL light since I thought that maybe last time I gave them too much light and it started stretching.

I am giving it normal amounts of light now but it has stretched and today it actually bent. (see photos)

I came up with a system to support the stem but the bend looks pretty ugly to me. How bad does that look? Do you think it will recover?

Besides the support, I also got the light to be on 20/4 instead of 18/6 hoping that it will give it enough boost to overcome this.

that...is one strange looking stem

They are pretty fragile at this stage. It may recover although I'm betting not...

I find it very easy to germinate seeds directly in a 18oz cup. The KISS principle.

I was planning to put this one in Hydro so the rapid rooter was necessary.

The rapid rooter was dry as a bone. The roots are white though so definitely not over-watering anymore :doh:

I think the addition of the blowing fan really dries out the soil and rapid rooters much, much faster.

Germinating another feminized auto blueberry now. I only have 2 left so I really hope that this one will take because it would really suck to get to the last one knowing I won't be able to get a blueberry if it fails. I'm going to keep two rapid rooters in now so I can check on moisture level.

The auto white widow seems to be doing fine so far. Almost have to mist the soil twice a day as it feels very very dry within 12 hours.

The oscillating fan speed is on low but it's not a very large space.

Once I get the blueberry going in hydro, I hope it will catch up with the white widow so I can have them done by the solstice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dutch Pimp

I find it very easy to germinate seeds directly in a 18oz cup. The KISS principle.

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Hey DP - so no paper towel? Just straight into the soil? I know others who do that. I always like to see the tap root but that doesn't mean it's a good method. You pre-soak?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigsby

Hey DP - so no paper towel? Just straight into the soil? I know others who do that. I always like to see the tap root but that doesn't mean it's a good method. You pre-soak?

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yes..I soak 12-24 hours in a shot glass of water.....I have lots of old seeds.
If I don't soak; the shell coats won't break open for the cotyledons.

The one in the rapid rooter is totally dry and the stem is very thin. No chance there's any water in it.
Hopefully I'll have more luck on the next try.