Rookie's Journal

i'm actually not too concerned about deaths. even if i only get two females to harvest i will still likely have more grass than i know what to do with. i figure even if i increase my intake by two i'll still only smoke an oz a month .. . this first grow is simply to learn and harvest something. . . you know?

 

Okay Dudette!
Hang in there!!! Glad to see that you are taking this so well! I have said this before, I don't know how many times - the first grow really is a learning experience. Part of the problem is in keeping all the ducks in a row! I try to keep track of quite a few threads all at the same time - that means a lot of rereading, refreshing and checking back in the thread for info just to remember who and what I'm responding to and "where they're at" in terms of progress. It can, and does, get confusing at times. PM's can be a distraction because there is no "thread" to refere back to in the responce window.
I remember at one point I wasn't clear if you were just feeding with MiracleGro (I offered "Jack's Classic" as a better balanced trade-off); or if you where growing in MiracleGrow Potting Soil (in which case I recommended adding Epsom Salts). At least that is what I intended to do!!!
I'm really sorry that I got my wires crossed about the early stage you are in - yes, you are absolutely right - it's too early to add any extra nutes yet! I would add about a Tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon of water ASAP, at least once before you transplant; and then not worry about it afterword. Let the soil get fairly dry (light weight) first so it will soak all the way in. BOG's mix has good organic meals in it so everything should be fine afterwards.
You probably don't really have a Mg. deficiency yet, but waiting for it to happen just makes you anxious. And like M4N said, don't overwater! I know it's easy to do, but babies hardly use any water. As long as they look happy, don't water 'till the pot feels light!!!
I hope that puts us back on track!!!

 

hey duner, what a sweet little niche you got there for growing!! I'm on a learning grow myself. Just want to make it to harvest, nothing more, nothing less. I'm doing the opposite of what you got going: shwag seeds and stuff I got laying around. But I'd gladly trade places with ya! Conrev

 

i suspect i will have fur deaths. i think the seeds "heaved" in the peat pellets. i'll get some pics later today, but what i see is the stalk is not going into the soil, but rather is trying to stand on the end of the tap root which is not strong enough to support weight of the leaves even at this early stage. when i mist they collapse. maybe i'll try to support them with toothpicks to see if i can salvage them. i don't need them, but it's a good opportunity to see if it is possibleto bring them back from the brink.

the other six starts are beautiful and growing their second set of true leaves. i have the light about 22 inches from the tops of the plants, but will likely move them an inch or two closer today.

thanks t.h. i watered yesterday, so i'll go with the epsom salts on the next water in about three days.

pics coming tonight.

 

Hey Dudette!

I just wrote a really great post for your thread here - then my 'puter "burped" and, in the blink of an eye, it was gone!!! What it boiled down to was two things:
1. You probably don't need to mist so much. Let them dry out more, I'll bet they'll be happier!
2. It sounds like they're not rooting into the peat-pots properly. How did you plant the seeds into the peat-pots (some details)?
That's the down and dirty of what I wrote - I'll check back in later and fill in some blanks!!!

 

i simply put the seeds in and poured water on the pellets. i don't think i'll use them again. instead, i'll just start in dirt (not miracle grow) - see, i'm learning already.

here's what i was talking about - the stalk is not in the dirt

here is a group shot on day 8:

a close-up of what i presume to be a healthy girl:

by the way, are my pics smaller?

 

Hey Dudette!

Okay, so it sounds like your peat-pellets came with a ready made hole in the top. If that's true - do they swell shut before the sprout clears the surface. Or does the stem grow out of a "loose hole"? I'm thinking that the sad looking stem didn't have any proper support at ground level and just started growing crooked because it wasn't anchored or supported well - so it just fell over. If you can keep it dry by lifting the mid section of the stem off of the moist surface it might survive and stand up! Maybe put a plastic bottle cap or something under it to keep it away from direct contact with moisture.

 

Hey there Duner,

I had my babies in the same exact pots as yours are in And i would say the same thing as T.H. looks like they didn't have any support as they grew through the pellets. Don't give up on em' just see what they do.........other than that your little babies look happy and healthy. Keep on keepin on.

- 42o -

 

Day 12:

I added 1tbs (as per advice) per gallon of water when i watered today. It is the second time i have watered since placing peat pellets into the miracle grow.

Group photo: http://i10.tinypic.com/2dtvgw2.jpg

i still have ten plants alive, but four are not doing too well due to the poor rooting in the peat pellets. I am trying to lift the limp and twisted stalks out of the soil in hope they will straighten. http://i10.tinypic.com/40lq681.jpg and http://i10.tinypic.com/4cuskrc.jpg

they are starting to look like the real deal. this next pic is big, but please take a look at it and tell me if i need to be worried about the splotching on the leaves? is this normal, or a concern? http://i9.tinypic.com/4ct1jjl.jpg

conditions in the room are very steady with temps during 18 hrs "daylight" at about 80-84 degrees and down to about 70 at "night". humidity is running constant between 53 and 58 percent. plants are ranginf from 1.5 inches to almost 3 inches.

 

Did you say there now in Miracle grow soil? If so don't add any feed as miracle grow soil has a lot already in it. M.G. can be a little strong for small seedlings and can cause blothcing on the leaves. As long as the blotches don't get to bad don't worry, as the plants get bigger they need the extra nutes that are available in the soil and the blotching should stop. At some stage its a good idea to add some magnesium (Epsom salts) as Mg dosn't have much in it. No need to do it yet though. You can grow big plants with MG but most growers will tell you Organically grown stuff tastes better and is friendlier on the enviroment. Saying this my last crop was grown in Mg and was just fine. Good luck with your grow.

 

Hey B'man!
Yeah! The first potting was in MG soil - repotted with BOG's organic mix soil added. I may have jumped the gun a little by advising to add Epsom Salts already, but I figured it wouldn't hurt anything. Cheers!!!

Hey Dudette!
I think that's about about all you can do for now; except getting those "lazy" seedlings to stand up on their own. Be alert so the "sharp" edge of those metal pieces doesn't pinch into the tender stems!! If they survive, it should only take a few days for the feeble stems to become vigorous at this early stage.
The spotting doesn't look too bad - but we want it to go away!! Hopefully it is just a very mild case of nute burn; so that as the plant grows - it will grow out of the condition.
So we'll just wait and see!!! Keep us posted!!!

 

question about transplanting:

day 14

I just took measurements of all seedlings

#1 - 2" height 4.75" spread
#2 - 2.5 X 5
#3 - 2.5 X 5
#4 - 2.5 X 7
#5 - 3 X 3
#6 - 3.5 X 6.5
#7 - 3.75 X 5.5
#8 - 3.5 X 6.5
#9 - 3 6.X 5
#10 -2.75 X 6.5

plants 1-3 are the ones that were being braced up due to the weak stalks, but are now standing on their own.

Transplanting Question - when i was labeling and measuring my seedlings i noticed i can see roots in the vent holes on the bottom of my pots. i thought i would be transplanting in about a week (at day 21 or so), but now i wonder if it is time to transplant into the 2 gallon pots in the next day or so? The plants look fine other than the blotching in the previous photos. Does anyone have advice on this?

 

If you can see roots in the drainage holes, it's time to transplant to a bigger container.

 

Yep!!! Time to repot! They grow like weeds don't they? Glad to hear they're all standing up on their own!!! After repotting, as the plants get bigger and the roots spread out into the organic soil, The blotches should not appear on the new growth - it may take awhile.

 

shit. that means i have to go and write a rubber check for some soil tomorrow. oh well.

i watered with a half-strength mix of grow fertilizer today.

 

I know everybody says it but testing the ph of your soil is a good idea as if its out it can cause allsorts of problems that can be mis diagnosed for something else.

 

Hey Dudette!

What B'man just wrote reminded me of something that hasn't come up yet - flushing! With chemical nutes (MiracleGro) you should flush your pots about once a month - with organic nutes it isn't really necesary, or desireable. Now you will have some of each!!! ??? Just something to think about!

 

day 16

transplanted all ten plants into 2-gallon pots. they take up a hell of a lot more space now. i hope my light (400w) can still provide enough sunshine. i was checking out some stats from BOG and see that i can veg for about five weeks in these pots and go to flower without another transplant. what are the thoughts on this? remember i'm not looking for a huge yield as there will be no profit. will potency be effected?

flushing? that's just running a shitload of water through the soil, right?

 

"transplanted all ten plants into 2-gallon pots. they take up a hell of a lot more space now. i hope my light (400w) can still provide enough sunshine."
Once the males have been identified and removed there will be plenty of room for the females. You have enough "good light" to cover about 8 square feet.

"i was checking out some stats from BOG and see that i can veg for about five weeks in these pots and go to flower without another transplant. what are the thoughts on this?"
Contradict BOG - are you kidding? LOL As long as the plants are showing "maturity" they are developed enough for the flowering cycle. The reduced veg cycle (smaller size) just makes it possible to operate in a confined space. Now would be a good time to start learning about cloning (taking cuttings) - you can eliminate the males altogether and just reprocuce your best female plant/plants by using clones.

"remember i'm not looking for a huge yield as there will be no profit. will potency be effected?"
Little if any!!! It is mostly a matter of maturity and proper care. The genetics determine the overall potential of the plant - what happens after that is up to you.

"flushing? that's just running a shitload of water through the soil, right?"
Yeah, more or less! The purpose is to leach out the chemical salts left behind by chemical fertilizers (MiracleGro) before they can build up to a toxic level.

 

got a reliable ph meter today and my soil is running at about 6.8, which i believe is good.

weird thing - when i transplanted into the 2 gallon pots the temperature has decreased by about 8-10 degrees (from around 80-82 to about 72). i'm not sure why since i figure larger plants and more soil would hold more heat. could the shade on the temp sensor from the plants have this large of an effect?

so far they are looking pretty good and starting to spred out nicely and the stems appear sturdy with the oscilating fan blowing on them to simulate wind. the grow room is smelling delicious and the carbon filter is doing the trick so far, but i imagine the smell will increase quite a bit as the plants get bigger.

CLONE QUESTIONs: i've started work on a clone cabinet. at what point should i take clones? when i go to 12/12 or do i wait to determine sex first? does it matter? i don't have the money to buy another ballast, so how long can i grow clones under cheap florescents?