started some seeds in jiffy pellets, 10 days now 1" seedlings, time to transplant?

[kicked]

Hi, this is my first time growing... I have read quite a bit, but there is nothing like experience, so here I am with my questions.

OK, here is my plan, get some plants big enough indoors so they have a better chance outdoors.

I have Nirvana Northern Lights seeds. I took 5 seeds and put them in these Jiffy Peat pellets with hard tap water to pop. I put them in a small clear plastic container with plastic wrap over it, then stuck it in a warm dark closet for a few days. 3 seeds sprouted, then I took off the plastic and put them under 24 hour tube fluorescent lights (on a shelf in a closet). They are about a foot away from the lights. I had to leave for a couple days, so I put a little more water on the pellets, then put the plastic back on. When I came back the seedlings had emerged, and are now 1 to 1.5 inches tall. The tallest is fully opened, the other two have one of the cotyledon "leaves" folded up.

Anyway, afraid of too much moisture, I removed the plastic wrap so the peat could dry out a bit. Oh, and I put a fan blowing on the seedlings, It's about a 10 inch fan on low (doesn't mean much I know)

It has been about 10 days since I planted the seeds, and I was thinking it was time to transplant them. Is it a good idea to put them into some hard plastic 2.5inch pots I have with some quality organic soil from the grow shop? I read the thing about not planting in too large of a pot, but the guy at the shop said throw them in a 2-3 gallon pot now. Somehow I don't think he knows what he is talking about.

Oh, and my light is stationary, but my shelf is on a rack thing so I can move it up and down.

I still have 5 seeds left, but for those I will probably germinate in water overnight, then put directly into the 2.5 inch pots instead of the peat pellets.

Thanks for any input!

kicked

kicked Reviewed by kicked on 06-05-2013. started some seeds in jiffy pellets, 10 days now 1" seedlings, time to transplant? Hi, this is my first time growing... I have read quite a bit, but there is nothing like experience, so here I am with my questions. OK, here is my plan, get some plants big enough indoors so they have a better chance outdoors. I have Nirvana Northern Lights seeds. I took 5 seeds and put them in these Jiffy Peat pellets with hard tap water to pop. I put them in a small clear plastic container with plastic wrap over it, then stuck it in a warm dark closet for a few days. 3 seeds sprouted, Rating: 5

[Growbigbuds]

Sounds like a great start. But I have never heard anything about too big of a pot... From my knowledge, the bigger the pot the better, and the bigger that plant will be. Even with a 3 gallon pot, my outdoor plants became root bound within a month. and my other plants in 7.5 gallon pots are just about root bound after 2 months. So every week they are taking up around 1 gallon of root space. Another thing you should know is that its better for the plants if you transplant only once or twice. Each time you transplant it puts them threw stress, and too much stress can turn them into males.. So go ahead and throw them into 3-5gallon pots if youre going to put them outdoors, and make sure you use a very good quality potting soil. Good luck :thumbsup:

[kicked]

Growbigbuds .... nice handle... Thanks for the input, here is where I saw about not using too large of a pot: http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-gro...ency-baby.html

[kicked]

For some reason they stopped growing. Two days and no new growth. They didn't die or wilt or anything, just in a holding pattern. Yesterday I transplanted them to some Ocean Forest soil in small pots (I didn't have any larger pots at the moment). I know I need to get better lighting, right now they have been under 40w cool florescent, but maybe one warm and one cool, or a full spectrum. I think I have old school T12 in my closet at 4 foot. I know everyone is using HO T5, but I am trying to save money. However, I am not opposed to starting over with a very small seedling box with an HO florescent, it will just be a project. I put the infants on the window sill for a bit to give them some sunlight.

Attachment 292122

[Shovelhandle]

any of your florescent lamps are fine for seedling stage, at least.

[thomas2681]

So what is wrong wit his seeds why did they jus stop growing I would like to know I don't want to run in this problem with my high dollar seeds

[thomas2681]

For some reason they stopped growing. Two days and no new growth. They didn't die or wilt or anything, just in a holding pattern. Yesterday I transplanted them to some Ocean Forest soil in small pots (I didn't have any larger pots at the moment). I know I need to get better lighting, right now they have been under 40w cool florescent, but maybe one warm and one cool, or a full spectrum. I think I have old school T12 in my closet at 4 foot. I know everyone is using HO T5, but I am trying to save money. However, I am not opposed to starting over with a very small seedling box with an HO florescent, it will just be a project. I put the infants on the window sill for a bit to give them some sunlight.

Attachment 292122

So how are your seeds doing or did you just give up on them

[kicked]

Yes, thanks very much. I realized a couple of things... The larger of the seedlings IS growing, just slowly. I think that is fine, because I read during the first two weeks the plant is mainly growing its root system. Also I read out of a pack of seeds, some plants won't thrive and need to be culled. Also, I realized I could put them 2-4 inches below the bulb. Considering I have had these seeds laying around for a few years, I guess I'm lucky I got one decent one. I am soaking the remaining 5 in water, but I don't have high hopes of viability nor virility.

I do have a question about seedling watering. OK, now the seedlings are about 1 week old (not including germination). I have read too much water is bad, and not to over-water, yet also not to let them dry out too much. OK, fine, but how to judge in these small pots? Should the top of the soil look dry?

Actually I happen to have a cheap moisture meter for gardening, it has reading numbers 1 through 4, with 4 being wet and 1 dry. Tomatoes are listed at 4, meaning one should water when the dial gets below 4. The instructions are to insert the device half way between the stem and edge of pot, then stick it in about 2/3 of the way down into the soil. Now my Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil feels slightly damp, but not wet.

However, I am not sure how to use this in my situation, if at all. Has anyone used these for testing seedling moisture in small (2.5 inch) pots?

Oh, and I have a digital PH tester from the same company. Pretty cheap. It sometimes reads 7 when turned on, other times 6 or 6.5. Not very accurate. It says at watering to stick it in the soil for a reading after turning it on. The soil is about 6 I guess, if the meter is working correctly. I guess I could have mixed it with a bit of something to raise the PH a bit, but too late now.

You guys add more Perlite to the FFOF by the way?

Thanks for any input.

kicked

[Notrealname]

Things that I'm thinking...

I've never had a plant stressed and jump gender.

Starting in a small pot and transferring to larger is very common, it also keeps the root ball tighter. If a plant is started in a large container, the roots go straight down and then curl up the sides of the container.

My favorite way of testing the pH of soil is to check the run off. I like using apple cider to get the pH down.

When transferring outside, not a bad idea to bring them in at night at first. You want your plants to climatize. I've seen plants growing great in the shade of a tree, when moved to full sun they got burned.

[kicked]

Yes thanks, I am going to harden them off that way. You use apple cider vinegar or apple cider?