Help Quick! Plant problems!

[The End Complete]

The stuff I planted a week ago, had two leaves on top. They we're starting to open up, and then they just closed back together! Whats going on with my plant?! Also, The stem is begginning to get heavy and lean down! Can someone please save the life of my plant?

thanks,
Bryan

[geckopelli]

Sounds like it may be overwatered.

Let it dry out- it may or may not recover.

Or maybe it's a Ph problem. Check the Ph of the soil if you can.

[The End Complete]

yeah, im kinda paranoid about whether it has enough water or not, so i spray it often. But the lights I use are strong. Thanks though..

[Jon]

I sometimes use a straw cut into about 1 inch in length then split it right down the side and put it around the stem to support the plant in its early days... and you are better off near enough leaving the soil/substrate to dry out completly than overwatering it..


Jon :)

[geckopelli]

Keep the soil moist, but not damp.


Better to let it dry completely out than to keep it too wet.

[thrawn]

Yea sounds like overwatering to me. A little more info regaring your "strong" lights would help as well. And if he bought some potting soil, i seriously doubt its a ph problem. keep us informed.

[The End Complete]

I use, for my 5 day old plant, a "clamp lamp", which provides a cheap illumination, but still good. The bulb I use is a 50 watt phospherous blue heating bulb (usually used for lizards, for basking heat/light).
C:Documents and SettingsPeter.P-YZHL84SA9VF8ZDesktopMy Picturesbluelight.JPG

[The End Complete]

okay, I guess I can't show you what it looks like.

[geckopelli]

I figure if he's overwatering than he may well be over feeding- hence the Ph worries.


Overwatering and overfeeding seem to be common among novices.

[The End Complete]

I had a PH meter, but its missing, so I am in the dark here.

It just rained here, so I got a sponge and let it catch the rain water, because if I remember, plants need the nitrogen thats in rain water, and I think its helping.

[geckopelli]

It's not enough light to mature a plant.
You might get 1/8 of buds in a few months

50 watts per square foot is fine- but not with incandescent bulbs. Too much of thier energy is converted too heat, too
little light.

Almost any other light would be better

[The End Complete]

what light would you suggest, keep in mind I'm nearly broke.

[geckopelli]

Flourescent shop lights, if nothing else. Two lights, two bulbs each, about $25.

Better, any high intensity light. Yard lights are usually sodium or florex (sp?), both just fine, and run about $30-$70. Some are Mercury Vapor- not the best for yield, but good enough to produce excellent quality bud.

Or you can wire your own if you know what you're doing and get a 175w-400w MH or HPS for about $100.

Even Halogens work, but they come with a heat problem. Still, they have enough intensity and an excellent spectrum.

If you can get your hands on a street light...

[The End Complete]

so, if I get two flourecent fixtures that will be fine? And where would I be able to get a red flourecent bulb?

[geckopelli]

Adequate... not fine. Your buds will be loose but you might get a oz.


You don't need a red one. Just mix up Daylight, Whitelight, and whatever else you can get.

You'll need to put the plant on 12 hours darkness right away. You also need to be prepared to tie the plant down too keep it short and wide. Keep the main stem growing parallel to the tubes.

[The End Complete]

alright! thanks a lot man! This is really going to work?

I was reading through my hightimes magazines from a while ago, and there is a site called discount-hydro.com. Are the lights they sell any good?

[The End Complete]

also, I have a 100 watt Red light, also phspherous and a basking light, which I was saving until next month when I start the 12 hour/12 hour cycle.

[tiedye0420]

Yeah discount hydro is practically down the street from me. they have decent prices and excellent products.


It is hard to beat their prices but i think they will meet or beat any price advertised online.

[geckopelli]

Any light is good- if you can handle the heat.


Ever see an easy bake oven? Cooks a cake with a 40 watt incandescent bulb.

Don't know the web site- but why not?

Also, plants respond better to a point source of light, so one bright light is best.

Electric cost somewher around $0.05 per kilowatt. That's 1000 watts for a nickle. Doesn't sound like much, but do the math and you'll see it's going to raise your electric bill.

[The End Complete]

yeah, the electric bill thing is a real bad issue, since I'm broke. But anyway, I have enough for one flourcent fixture w/ bulb. Should I abandon my blue incandecent bulb for the flourecent?

[geckopelli]

Yes. Da. Okey-dokey.

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