New grower in need of some advide

[bigbudz82]

whats up guys, after looking at a buch of threads on here and getting some good advice, I have a few more questions. I built a small grow box out of a cabinet that was not being used. I germinated a few seeds about 2 weeks ago and planted them. I have one little plant started, and right now its not doin so hot. I am afraid i might me overwatering it, but i will let you guys be the judge. there is also a pic of my setup. thanks! :rasta:

bigbudz82 Reviewed by bigbudz82 on 04-19-2007. New grower in need of some advide whats up guys, after looking at a buch of threads on here and getting some good advice, I have a few more questions. I built a small grow box out of a cabinet that was not being used. I germinated a few seeds about 2 weeks ago and planted them. I have one little plant started, and right now its not doin so hot. I am afraid i might me overwatering it, but i will let you guys be the judge. there is also a pic of my setup. thanks! :rasta: Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

That plant is probably not even worth trying to resuccitate.

First, I like the cabinet. How's the ventilation in there?

Okay now your plant and stuff...
Soil- WTF is that soil? it looks TERRIBLE. Like, beyond terrible. Those chunky things on top- if it's gravel, yikes, like soil dug out of a driveway... if it's bark chips, that's bad too for pH reasons.
For your soil you need to start out in a better quality dirt, like seed starting mix from Home dePOT with some extra perlite mixed in for drainage. It will make your life easier and your seedling won't be dead.
Okay, and for a POT, you can use terra cotta if you insist but it is not that great; when you go to transplant the root ball has a really hard time sliding out. Plastic is where it's at.
Size of the pot, it is actually better to start seedlings in a pretty small container, a lot of people use keg cups with a bunch of holes poked in the bottom. I recommend that. Then when your seedling is ready to transplant, it is also ready for its first feeding with real fertilizer.

You are right that overwatering is no good... when you change to a better quality soil with EXTRA perlite added, that will be a lot easier to control.

Good luck... and you must be some sorta genius to figure out how to upload thumbnails with only 1 post... everyone else has to wait until postcount=50!

[bigbudz82]

thanks for the response. if I REALLY wanted to keep the plant alive, what would you suggest?

the ventilation is great, i have two little computer fans running whenever the lights are on.

the soil is Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix from home depot. didnt really know what to look for, this shit looked alright.

[Weedhound]

I have to agree w/Stinky.....that is one SAD looking seedling. What's the temp in your cabinet and what kind of light are you using?

[bigbudz82]

i dont have a thermometer in there yet, but i am going to make a wild guess of about 70. i just put the fans in a few days ago. It was getting pretty hot in there before the fans, but the plant looked healthy then. the problem seemed to come after the fans. could it not be hot enough in there? Ive got one 150 watt halogen bulb and one ~50 watt halogen spotlight.

[foxysox]

Ive got one 150 watt halogen bulb and one ~50 watt halogen spotlight.

There's your problem; ditch the halogens. Get a bunch of BIG cool white CFLs. Huh, that's miracle grow organic? Well, it needs a LOT of perlite mixed in with it.

[bigbudz82]

alright, what wattage should i look for with those cfl's?

edit: what is the big problem with the halogens?

[Weedhound]

kind of looked like it was melting there.....

[foxysox]

alright, what wattage should i look for with those cfl's?

edit: what is the big problem with the halogens?

wattage- all of it, lol. Seriously the biggest ones you can find.
Halogens suck. They give off a lot of HEAT, use a lot of juice, and the light is in totally the wrong spectrum for a plant.

[bigbudz82]

ok this is what i have, i have always called them haolgens, but is this a cfl?