Newbie CFL Grow..Could use advice and criticism

[killa12345]

Well guys it looks like im on my own. No one is really leaving comments or saying anything, but i will continue the log because i see people are looking just not commenting..please i need it to stay organized with my thoughts

Well its Day 8 since the seeds popped out of their lovely little jiffy pellets. 6 of the 12 are getting their 4th set of leaves while the others are still on their third set of leaves. I bought a moisture meter to make sure the soil was damp enough.

2 babies are starting curling downward but are still growing..I think this was due to letting the soil dry out to much....these 2 plants heve been the runts throughout the grow till this point so i thought i leave them in the box till day 14.

on a good note......all my friends who have grows going which told me to wait for clones are all starting to come through...Hopefully in the next few days i might have some clones of pink or strawberry cotton candy, og black haze (which is a local strain that been around probably over 30 yrs. and is some of the best bud ive ever smoke except that it takes usually over 12 wks. to flower), and the origanal sour diesel ( which my friend said he got from one of his long time NY grower):thumbsup: We will see though i been promised clones for the last 2 weeks, and is the reason i ordered seeds last week.

I also added 2 drops of superthrive to 1 gallon tap water to help with root stimulation.

I continued to water each plant 2oz of water every other day which seems to be working.

Here are the pics.....Please leave advice or comments...i could really use some confidence....being my first solo grow.

[killa12345]

Heres some pics of my droopy plant

And all the pics from above are pics right before today watering..

2nd pic below is all the babies in da box
till next time

killa12345:thumbsup:

[hudson88]

Hey Killa,

Looking good, the watering becomes easier as the plants get bigger, like you said when they're happy the leaves point upwards then when they start dropping they're telling you they want watering. Give them a good watering and let them dry out, cannabis likes a wet/dry cycle rather than being permanently wet.

Glad to see you sorted your pics out

[SimonMakus]

Actually they look overwatered to me because of the soil, unless you just watered. If that's the case and they were too dry you've already solved your problem by the time I'm posting. Those lil guys are just in styrofoam cups so knowing when to water by weight is super easy. You don't need a moisture meter

When the cups feel light (and before they start drooping) give 'em a good watering, enough so a little bit comes out the bottom drainage holes.

Do this a couple times and you learn to differentiate very well.

Happy growing, Killa!

[should]

i use a moisture meter to know when to water, it takes a little getting used to but once you do it makes it alot easier.

[killa12345]

I plan on transplanting the plants on friday which is only 5 days away.....I need a soil mixture...This is what i was thinking:

Also i can see the roots coming out of the hole i made for draining....should i transplant eariel than my proposed date.

30% Premium Top Soil ( its the only soil i can find with no nutrients in it...)
maybe scotts or schultz or anything i can find at lows,hd, walmart, or taget.....All the potting soils had nuts for like 2 months to 9 months.....

30% candian peat moss

30% perlite

10% worm casting

some dolomatic lime for soil and peat moss..Ph levels

I plan on using alaskan fish fert for veg maybe with something else like bat guano or something

On another note...im really trying to find grow bags or square pots to utilite space the best...any suggestions would help.....i need them by friday

Like i said i hate going to the hydro shops around even though they are very close I REALLY HATE THEM....on that note....i also have tons of landscaping and nursuries around do you guys think they might stock a better soil mixture or my grow bags and pots

PS....the plants are really looking good after yesterdays watering with superthrive......Now most of them have their 4th set of leaves and all of them including the droopy ones are looking much stronger with the superthrive.....another watering tomorrow...hopefully with pic.....until later...peace out
killa12345

[Technique2]

I currently started 15 seeds from some bagweed i had which id like to practice and get my skills before i buy some exotic seeds. all 15 seeds germinated within 2 days and i planted them all in jiffy pellets and placed the pellets in 2 inch jiggy pots until 2 days later i noticed the roots like 4 inches below the jiffy pellet in 2 days. So i replanted the jiffy pellets in 9 oz syrofoam cups so i wouldnt have to transplant the plants again for like 2 more weeks.

My process was VERY similar to yours. I however, lost my first two batches of germinated 'bag seeds' and eventually got the process right. I am now nursing my little sprouts along nicely.

They are doing well. I will post updates images to my Grow Log and my post in the Indoor Growing forum.

My sprouts are responding well and steadily growing. You are doing an excellent job keep at it.

[SimonMakus]

Thanks for the update on your grow, Tech

Yo Killa, what's happening? Your soil mix is alllllmost there - composted manure and humus instead of top soil (lowe's, walmart, etc) and use less moss, just cut the peat out of the lineup totally.

I do about 50% manure/humus, 35-40% perlite, and 10-15% potting mix (peat based) and a handful or so of lime per container. I could probably live with a bit less perlite though, and a little more compost. No castings for me right now, but feel free as I think it would be ok at 10% or so. Maybe check around some more organic boards to be sure.

Everything else sounds good. I run 3 gallon buckets in a sog-ish perpetual that I bought from Lowe's for like 3 bucks a piece. Wally world has plant-specific 3.x gallon containers for about the same price.

[killa12345]

Hey SimonMakus, and Technique2

For Real Thanks forthe input.....I appreciate it....The problem about humus and cow compost is that is only come is 40lb bags around here and they are both sold seperately....not very expensive $2.00 a bag or so...which would be ideal...but dont you have to mix the soil and let it sit for like 2 weeks before you use.....

I really think my plants are getting rootbound already...which makes this even more of a problem..

Why I think my plants are getting rootbound:

1. My roots are coming out of every hole it its container usually 3 or 4 roots coming out of each hole. (7 holes in each 9oz cup) at the very bottom of the cup.

2. With may water schedule staying consistant.....2 oz every other day.....the plants are looking to slowly need water sooner....my plants are getting droopy after being very perky..first it was a watering every 60 hrs.....then they started to get droopy after about 48 hrs.....Now they look perfect for about 40 hrs then get very droopy. Which tells me they are using the water much quicker....i will take pics of the soil today before i water...

Last night before i went 2 sleep i looked at the plants and after being peerky all day......all the plants at night all lok droopy...so i gave each plant 1 squirt from the water bottle which equals about 2mL or 1/50 of a oz of water......not very much.......I woke up all the plants look perky again...

i think i need to transplant already.....but its only 12 days from the time they sprouted and 10 days since their first set of true leaves.

Thanks again for the comments and input
Killa12345:thumbsup:

[killa12345]

Well i just came home for lunch to waterthe babies and what do you know back to droopy..They all were very perky this morning when i woke up after the 1 spray last night..i think i see when my babies are tell me they need water....i guess that 1-2ml only lasted 12 hrs....6 of which the lights where off.

Heres some pics: (all these pics are before watering today)

Pic 1: one of the babies today before watering
Pic 2: some pics of the babies
Pic 3: One more pic of one of the babies
Pic 4: Some of my plants curling toward the ground ( i think tell me it time for water)
Pic 5: Soil Shot to show dryness

Any comments would help
Until next time!
Killa12345:thumbsup: