A Learning Experience in Progress..

[RAINHAZE]

Well, I decided to grow my last two ak47 autoflowering lowryders beans.
I made a new grow cabinet, and added some 300w cfl's.
The seeds germinated in less than 2 days, and sprouted in no time.
I planted them each in small styrofoam cups and put them under two 100w cfl's at first to go easy on the sprouts and keep temps low.
(I added the other lights when they got they're 3rd set of leaves.)

Everything was going smoothly the first 4 or 6 days or so, and then I noticed only one of them's leaves starting to curl down.
Right away I thought; overwatered, ..even tho I watered them both the same amount each time. hmm.

Well I got to thinking and came to the conclusion after a week or so that it might be time to get a ph tester and check my water.
I went to sLowes and bought ph testing strips. ( yeah I know, but I'll get a better ph tester later) When I checked the water out of the tap
it read in the 7.4ph range! I checked my water jug and it was the same. So I added 1½ tspns of lemon juice per gallon to lower it down to 6.2ph.
I flushed both plants twice and got the runoff down to about 6.8ph.
Well needless to say they both are now acting like they are overwatered. (Imagine that)
Bottom leaves are turning yellow, but the top leaves and new growth still look real good.
I have been able to maintain a 78 degree fahrenhight temp with around 30% humidity using a small ac unit and an exhaust fan. I have 11,148 lumens from 4 cfl's, and I only water when the container they're in feels very light.
I still have about a week till they are ready for transplanting and I'm concerned about how bad this will stress them at this stage. (right now they seem stable)

To help aleviate the stress a bit I'm doing a low stress transplant of sorts.
I took two empty styrofaom cups (like they are in now) and filled two new clean 1 gal pots with new mg soil around them. I watered the soil but I didn't pack the soil in around the cups. Once the soil is dry, and the seedlings have shown signs of sex, and dry, I'm going to take out the empty cups and gently do the transplant.
I did 2 previous grows using the same room temp tap water with no ill effects at all, whatsoever. And with great results too I might add.
I'm not freaking about this at all, on the contrary. To me it's all a learning by doing experience that fascinates the hell out of me!
I'll keep ya posted.:thumbsup:

RAINHAZE Reviewed by RAINHAZE on 11-28-2010. A Learning Experience in Progress.. Well, I decided to grow my last two ak47 autoflowering lowryders beans. I made a new grow cabinet, and added some 300w cfl's. The seeds germinated in less than 2 days, and sprouted in no time. I planted them each in small styrofoam cups and put them under two 100w cfl's at first to go easy on the sprouts and keep temps low. (I added the other lights when they got they're 3rd set of leaves.) Everything was going smoothly the first 4 or 6 days or so, and then I noticed only one of them's Rating: 5

[RAINHAZE]

Next morning.....
I still have about 5 days to go b4 I need to transplant, but I went ahead and did the transplant anyway just now because they are not looking as healthy as they should be at this point. Hopefully this doesn't fuck 'em up anymore than they already are. If it does oh well. (I have another seed germing as we speak.)

First I cut the bottom of the cups off. Then I slit down two sides and placed them in the new soil & pots that I previously got ready before hand. I pulled the sides of the cups out and it went smooth as silk.

We'll see what happens, I'll keep ya posted.