Bagseed computer case grow --> outdoor

Greetings,

My first grow, on the cheap. I've aquired an old PC case in which I'm generating seedlings and I plan to move them outdoors for most of the veg/flower stages.

As I've got nothing to smoke until I harvest, I've got a bit of time on my hands (probably too much) so I guess I'll continue this grow log to keep myself occupied (and the plants a bit safer ;)

[align=center]Day 0[/align]

Germination Technique
As these are bag seeds over the last year or so, I'm not expecting a lot. I've got plenty of pale green seeds which I didn't even bother with.

I've taken a few of the better seeds (ie.about 6 or so brown colour with patterns/speckles) and placed them in a small jar of water. Placing the jar in a dark space, I've waited about 16-36 hours for them to sink.

Most sunk, great I thought. We're on track. I then chose two methods for germinating; the paper towel method and a direct plant.

Paper towel germination
Dampening the paper towels as per the countless guides, I used a tea spoon to remove the sunken seeds from the jar of water and dropped them directly onto the paper towel. I then folded the towel over, removed excess moisture and placed in a small plastic bag.

I then placed the plastic bag on top of a computer, which I actually think was too hot for it - very warm to the touch, much hotter than a fridge or hot water service. Nontheless, I kept the towels damp and waited a day or so (checking every 6 or so hours) for my taproot.

I only managed to get a couple of seeds to open and the tap root was barely visible (still curled up, about 1-2mm out of the shell). I figured this is all I needed to do, so I decided to go ahead with planting with all the seeds anyway.

Preparing for planting

I raided my old party supplies box and found a bunch of plastic drinking cups. I used a sharp tool to poke several holes through the sides and the bottom of the cups.

I decided against new soil (as I was impatient and a bit cheap) so used some from existing pot plants I have around the place. I ended up soking the soil with water and letting them drain. I didn't sterlize the soil (with a microwave or oven) so I'm hoping this won't be too much of an issue.

I filled the plastic cups up about 3/4 or more full of the soil and stacked the cups on top of one another to compress the soil.


Planting the seed

Using the end of a pen (the non writing end), I poked a small hole in the center of the cups about half an inch deep. Using the teaspoon again, I dropped the seeds into the holes - tap root down when I could, but remember many seeds didn't give me a taproot in the paper towel so I just dropped them in sideways.

Brushing the soil over the hole with my fingers and compressing gently, I measured the weight of the cup and rewatered if nessessary.

I actually decided to plant maybe 2 or 3 seeds in one of the cups. Why? I wasn't confident these seeds would germinate. I placed the seeds around the edge of the cup instead of the center. One of these seeds didn't even sink in the jar of water, so what do I have to lose?

Good luck with the grow! I'm in the process of constructing a cab as we speak, so I'm a bit jealous of how much farther ahead you are, haha. Hopefully your seeds will pop in no time

Preparing the computer cabinet

I ended up getting an old computer which didn't work anymore. I took out all of the parts including the drives, motherboard and power supply. There is nothing in the case now whatsoever.

I found some old drive bay covers to reduce light leaks and put them on.

I also have taken some aluminium foil and wrapped it over the top of the case (with the lid off) to try and get some reflection. Dull side down, as per the guides. i'm thinking this might be unnessessary or even a bad idea..

I also used foil on the back of the case where there are now just holes from all the missing parts, the case is pretty well sealed for light.


Getting the lights ready

Still on the cheap and due to lack of space I decided to go with CFL's. I chose an 18W Warm White (6400K I think) and a more powerful 40W(?) 4700K (equivilent to 100W incandecient).

I needed to rig up a light socket for the 18W and used a desk lamp for the 40W one. I placed the light socket and lamp inside the case and secured with some cable ties - the electrical cords come out the back of the case, poking a hole through the foil on the back.

Placing the cups into the case and waiting!

Self explanatory, so here are some pics. We're still at Day 0 until they sprout.

Here is the computer case with both CFLS turned on.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7...e169dz6.th.jpghttp://img247.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif



Placing the cups in the computer case and waiting for them to pop!

[IMG=http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/820/image159mx7.th.jpg]


[align=center]Day 1[/align]

Yes! Got something. Here are some pics.


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3...e162ny9.th.jpghttp://img145.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

More pics from day 1

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7...e163be6.th.jpghttp://img522.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2...e164nl0.th.jpghttp://img515.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1...e165ei4.th.jpghttp://img515.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif


http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6...e168jj1.th.jpghttp://img511.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif


The seedlings are drooping a bit. I'm hoping its not due to heat stress. I open up the computer case for air several times a day and it is quite warm. No cooling fans as yet...

[align=center]Day 2[/align]

I've gotten 3 seedlings with a forth on it's way. Not too bad for bagseed I guess!

I don't think they're growing as quickly as they should so I've moved them outside for a few hours. Good idea or not? They're up to their first set of real leaves, with the second on their way!

sitting outside:

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5...e174bq1.th.jpghttp://img262.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif


http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/638...e174ky3.th.jpghttp://img89.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

Thats all I'm up to so far... Any comments, tips or suggestions?


General details

- 24/0 lighting cycle

- Intention to move outdoors for flowering and veg growth (I'm in AUSTRALIA if you think I'm a bit odd doing it now.. Its almost the end of Spring so I've started late!! Any comments?)

- Bagseed as mentioned so I'm interested in the results of the strain.

- Can I place plants outdoors during the long daylight hours, then back to CFL during the night?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RamblerGambler

Good luck with the grow! I'm in the process of constructing a cab as we speak, so I'm a bit jealous of how much farther ahead you are, haha. Hopefully your seeds will pop in no time

---

Let us know how yours goes. I found the case great as I shouldn't have to paint it (metal reflects naturally, right?)

Trust me you get a lot done when you've got nothing to smoke until these! :wtf:

as for your comment about the tinfoil on the inside of the cab...
even with dull side out, you're going to create hotspots. with just 2 CFLs going it may be okay. but i'd either:
A) find some way to exhaust the hot air
or
B) remove the tinfoil entirely

personally, i'd do both A & B, then on a nice sunny day, spray paint the interior flat white. glossy white will absorb light. metal, btw, is not automatically reflective.

it looks like you've got some light leaks still. perhaps 2 layers of black duct tape over the spots in question before you spray paint?

just my opinion. good luck.

Thanks Graham,

I've followed your suggestion and have moved the foil entirely. I'm not sure if i'm going to do much with the light leaks as I don't intend to flower inside the computer case (well, maybe one plant - it's too small as it is!)

I'm still thinking what to do with the cooling aspect. I noticed on day 3-4 that the tips of some of the leaves are turning into a yellowly brown colour. Is this a heat issue? It's only very slight and you need to look closely to see it.

thanks again for the help, update to follow!

[align=center]Day 4[/align]

Not too much to report as there's nothing too special about seedlings. Most seeds have germinated; not bad for bagseed!

I think I need to do something fairly quickly about lights. I'm getting quite a bit of stretching.

I'm thinking of leaving the seedlings outside during the daylight hours and then putting them under fluros during the night.. any objections?

I also noticed the bottom leaves on a couple of seedlings are turning purple. It's bagseed so no idea if its the strain or some sort of deficency.

pics included..

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3231/image177re4.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5016/image178br7.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7789/image179mt4.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/354/image180qt2.jpg

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4219/image181gl6.jpg

i've had two attempted, found and killed grows but even i can tell you this.
your plants are nutrient deficient and are going to need some form of air circulation. you might want to mist the leaves not leaving large drops of water to increase transpiration. so far so good, don't fall asleep with it open, i can assure you it's not a good idea!

shit ya, they're growing. looking all right.
read up in the 'growing information' section of this forum.

what are you growing in now, potting soil?

good luck, Bub!

they're seedlings, they're gonna stretch towards the light, don't worry about stretching until you see your first true secondary leaves.

Only objection to taking your plants outdoors is you're exposing them to bugs.

and the bottom leaves on those, I think you mean the cotyledon? the first two non-serrated leaves? they usually die once the plant takes off with true leaves.

other then that, I see no nute burn, or deficiency, so keep on keepin' on. :thumbsup:














LOL this thread is from last year.