help with seedlings!

Hi I'm new to growing. here is what have going..

I created a part of my closet as a growroom. the seeds i used were from some buds i got 1 year ago (i hope they are good!). I am using 2 different tech. to start the seedlings. first i used plantation seed starter and I think 12oz cups. and the other is the paper towel method. I have flourescent light fixture using 2/40w flourescent bulbs they each output 3150 lumens / color temp. 4100k.
the humidity level is 75% and temp is 75-80F
I'm also using a humidifier (is this ok?)

I planted these jul28. Nothing has sprouted yet. will it ever?
Here are some pics. Please let me know I have done something wrong.

cover seeds with another paper towel and put plate upside down to create humidity...
and, for future reference: soak seed overnight in a sealed water bottle; then use the papertowel method,,,seeds can take up to 5-6 days sometimes to pop out...hope this helps...some people add a drop of superthrive to their water, before they soak'em

i don't understand what do mean "another paper towel"? i was able to sprout before w/o pre soaking, but that was when i wasn't really giving it an effort to grow.

I'm also giving 24 hour light. Or should it be dark till the seeds poke through the soil and then give light?

trust me, 'grasshopper'...it looks like you don't have your seeds covered, they look too wet...and imho I learned from a wise old grower to soak my seeds overnight and BAM
2-3 days=plates of sprouts...
yousaid"I'm also giving 24 hour light. Or should it be dark till the seeds poke through the soil and then give light?".......yes 24 hrs a day until they take root and you replant them in bigger pot for veg...keep it simple...one step at a time and you will be alright.
Read the growfaqs and you will see that almost all your questions have already been answered, then when you think you have a problem or want to try something different that you don't understand...just ask and 'they will come'...hope this helps

keep them in the dark while in the paper towels. keep them in a warm spot. wet but not pooling in water. should see some roots in 2-5 days of germinating. 24hrs of light after you plant them and they pop up.

what about the ones in the soil? should they receive 24hr light?

when i started my seedws i just put em in water on top of my cpu and that got that little white thing from each seed in like 3 days.

A seedling is a seedling no matter what metnod of growing you use...seedlings/early veg 24hours (1-2 weeks)...veg 18/6 until you want flower...12/12 in flower until harvest...OK.later ;)

what he said. The heat from the light might help them germinate faster in the soil too.

should still keep under 24hour light?

yes!

Or you can keep them on 18/6.

Your choice.

I prefer the 18/6 for entire veg.

It wont hurt your plants and it wont affect bottom line yield or potency.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by homgrowr

I have flourescent light fixture using 2/40w flourescent bulbs they each output 3150 lumens / color temp. 4100k.

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SOrry fella but whomever told you that a 40W Flo bulb will put out 3150 lumens lied to you.

Even if it was the package it came in.

To reach 3000 + lumens you would need at least a 50W and a Kelvin temp of at least 5500.

Perhaps you have fallen for the 12W=40W marketing tatic.

Wow nobody noticed.

Those seeds in CLEAR plastic cups will have problems.

Roots don't like light, place those cups in a second cup that is NOT clear. You need to protect the growing roots from light or the roots will die and you will have alga growth inside the cup.

Yup...you are correct...again Zandor...on the first pics, it is obvious they are clear.

In the second pic, they looked like solid white containers.

Good eye :)

I did go and get me dark cups. I was about to go sleep the other night and just thought about the cup situation. So I at 2:30am went to 7-11 and got cups.. Thanks for the info!

Here are more pics.. plants are 5 days old...

I was thinking of keeping them under 24/0 until week3 and then switch to 18/6.
Anybody know where I can good lights for under $100?

check ebay, you might run across a deal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by homgrowr

I was thinking of keeping them under 24/0 until week3 and then switch to 18/6.
Anybody know where I can good lights for under $100?

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HD sells a brand "Lights of Anerica" security light. It's 65w floureX that they claim is like 500w of light. They cost about 40 bucks each so pick up 2 of them, that's about as cheep as it gets.

Whats "HD"?

Home Depot

Whats "HD"?

sorry.. i it the back button, but I was just going there today to see how else I can upgrade my mini cheap garden..

Thanks Zandor!!!

hi here's an update. I know I have pics in other threads but I thought I would try to continue the one I started. Can some tell me if I should transplant these in bigger pots with soil? I know I keeps asking this question. But I don't think people are aware of me using the "seed starter mix". Is this still good for these plants at this stage? Please let me know.. I've worked too hard and I don't want to do anything wrong. Every book I've read doesn't really answer my questions in mind.

Should I add another 1 or 2 cfl floodlights. Also wil these lights work for atleast the next month?

my girls are now 10 days old.

All my seeds looked like they were from the same strain, but don't know why the first plant is of a green/yellow/purple color to it..

I would say dont transplant until they are rooting, you could be able to see when the rooting is done and you're ready to repott by looking in the little holes you punched at the bottom of the container. I waited until I could see a root in the bottom and then transplanted to a 5gal. For 10 days old I have seen some better plants but given the ammount of light you are using I can understand the slow growth lol. You're using the same fan as me, :o, I got like 4 though lol.

well I took them out of red cup and the roots were starting to come out the bottom hole. I just put them in 10in. pots. I hope I transplanted them correctly. Here is what I did.
I fill the new pots with new "expert gardener perfect premium soil mix" half way. I had 10 minutes earlier water the plants to get the soil moist enough for it to stay intact when taking out of cups. So the plants come out of the cups fine and I place the pant in the pot and place soil all around the plant. Slightly tap the soil.. is this ok?? and once I had all the plants in the new pots. I waterd each plant a 10oz cup water.

Please let me know if there was anything else I coul've done or should do.

Thanks.

just keep in eye on them they will tell you if you need to do anything else.

Happy growing.

Well it's been over 12 hours and the plants look healthy.. Here is one thing I was thinking.

They say that if the roots get exposed to light it can cause the plant to go into shock. Well why not just transfer them when the second pair of leaves form. This way the roots are still covered in soil and no transplant shock.

My plants only had only a 1cm of root sticking out the bottom (not much root). I think by me transplanting these a little early they don't realize that they are in new pots. It almost seems to me that since the roots were within the original soil they din't feel anything.

this make any sense?