LowRyder #2 - CFL - Grow Log

[chadsvb]

Thanks for dropping by. I've started germinating 4 LR2 seeds using a wet paper towel. After a couple days, they should be ready to put in the dirt. I intend on using this log to track my progress, so hopefully I'll have enough time to include day-to-day info.

When I get a little more time, I'll list my specs (Lights, Fans, etc...) and upload some pictures.

And don't worry, I'll be asking plenty of questions. So, if you're full of knowledge, consider me your friend.

QUESTION
I'm using some soil that contains nutes. Would it be safe to put the soil in my peat pots, then leech it before actually putting the seeds in?

Thanks,
Chad

chadsvb Reviewed by chadsvb on 02-23-2009. LowRyder #2 - CFL - Grow Log Thanks for dropping by. I've started germinating 4 LR2 seeds using a wet paper towel. After a couple days, they should be ready to put in the dirt. I intend on using this log to track my progress, so hopefully I'll have enough time to include day-to-day info. When I get a little more time, I'll list my specs (Lights, Fans, etc...) and upload some pictures. And don't worry, I'll be asking plenty of questions. So, if you're full of knowledge, consider me your friend. ;) QUESTION I'm Rating: 5

[Loafyboy]

I personally wouldn't use soil with nutes for seeds/seedlings. I would use seedling/potting soil because seeds have enough nutes to sprout and soil with nutes in will probably be too much for seedlings that young. Potting soil isn't expensive, and it is worth investing in some.

You should put some pictures up man, everyone loves pictures and you will get a lot more people having a look!

Good luck! :thumbsup:

[chadsvb]

Loafyboy: Yeah, I still have time before they get planted. I'll take your suggestion on the potting soil. Thanks! As for the pictures, the beans are still germ'ing, so there's really nothing to post yet.

[Loafyboy]

I forgot to say, in order to improve drainage you should mix some perlite in with the potting soil. Mix approx 30% perlite, 70% potting soil. This will help keep your roots healthy and aerated. :thumbsup:

[johnnypants]

Don't use anything with NUTES!

Go get Jiffy Seedling Mix. It's available at homedespot now that they have started stocking Spring related stuff...

Wait until you get to the veg stage 5th node and move to a nute-less soil mix (I use 30% top soil/30% MG ORGANIC Mix/ 40% Perlite).

You want to be able to control the nutes through watering.

[johnnypants]

I forgot to add:

GOOD LUCK!

[chadsvb]

First off, thanks LoafyBoy and JohnnyPants. I appreciate the tips!

Unfortunately, I was unable to find anything local that was not 'self-feeding'. I didn't see the info about 'homedespot' having Jiffy Seedling Mix until after I got them in the dirt, but I may get some later just to have some on-hand. My wife told me to go by Home Depot, but last time I went through there they had barely anything in the Gardening area. I guess it does make good sense that they'd start stocking it now. I just didn't think about it and, as I said before, I didn't check on here until after I planted them. I did, however, mix around 30% Perlite with the MG Organic Potting Soil.

First, my setup:

Two Fixtures containing 4 Light Sockets each. From those eight sockets, I've put in eight Y's, so each fixture is running 8 lights (I think I've spotted this same setup in a couple other grow logs on here). For a total of 16 CFL's. These are 6500K CFL's @ 26W (100W Incandecent Equiv.) I'll check the lumen's later and report back. If I don't, remind me...

--

Ok, so here's what I've got going on right now. As you know, there's 4 LR2's in the dirt (All germed in paper towels for around 3 days). Two of the LR2's were around 1.5in long, the other two beans were curled up a little (and much shorter than the first two), so I think they'll be a little longer coming up for light. Hopefully we'll see them pop their heads up sooner than later.

Now, for the part I didn't mention in the title of this thread: I got some Mind Binder beans free with these LR2 seeds, so I popped two of them in the dirt and let them go on their own. The first MB popped the surface about a week ago. The other has just breached the surface this morning, but I planted it about one week after the first. It has already stood up to the light. Matter of fact, it's spreading it's initial leaves right this minute.

On another note, I picked up a Digital pH Pen and some pH Up & Down. My water is around 5.8pH out of the fosset (or is it faucet?). I up'd it to 6.8pH, hoping to keep it as optimal as possible without getting it too high. This way, in my thinking, I will help keep the self-feeding nutes from making the soil too acidid. Is that correct? I tested the runoff of the soil I'm using, with the 6.8pH water and it was 6.5pH (tested on the oldest MB).

Tomorrow, I'll get things looking nice and organized, then snap some pics.

I may read this tomorrow and wonder what the hell I was talking about on some of this, so correct me where I made an ass of myself. :thumbsup:

Next time...

[Loafyboy]

On another note, I picked up a Digital pH Pen and some pH Up & Down. My water is around 5.8pH out of the fosset (or is it faucet?). I up'd it to 6.8pH, hoping to keep it as optimal as possible without getting it too high.

Next time...

That pH straight from the faucet seems incredibly low, tap water is normally above 7.0 to help protect metal pipework from years of acid errosion. Did you buy any buffer solution to calibrate your pH meter? I would check that asap, because it seems very odd to me. If your meter is out of calibration you might have tap water of say 7.5 and you have upped it to say 8.5. I hope i'M wrong, but I would definately check it out!

[chadsvb]

Well, Loafyboy, let me tell you the story behind that one. First off, it's well water that's coming out of my faucet. I'm not sure if that's what you had in mind or not, but anyways. I got the pH Pen, which was supposed to be calibrated from the factory. It did, however, come with 7.01pH Buffer Solutions. Last night I tested my water and it came to 6.4pH , which can't be the case. Last time I tested my water, I used the cheap pool test kit with the vials and stuff. The pool test only goes as low as 6.3pH and my water was even lower than that, so I guessed the actual pH was around 5.8. That's when I decided to recalibrate the pH pen. The 7.01 Buffer Solutions was showing 8.0 on my Pen, so I dialed it back. All that info, just to tell you, I calibrated it last night.

When I get back, this evening, I'll get some pics posted.

Next time...

[chadsvb]

Well, I got home and I can see all four LR2's breaking ground. Not enough to get them on camera, but you should be able to see them tomorrow (I'm hoping...).

First picture: Obviously, the front of the setup.
Second picture: A top-down view of the setup.
Third picture: The first MindBinder that I planted.
Fourth picture: A 4" fan to get that hot air out.

Other than that, nothing big happening today.