Help on growing from seed.

cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
Hi I have a 600w world of hydroponics HPS light, a 1.2 x 1.2 x 2m dark bud tent, and a 38cm Stewart Essentials propagator.

I've always grown from clones where I could go straight to veg so have never had to mess about with seeds. I want to try growing from seeds on my next grow and planning on getting Barneys Pineapple Chunk but don't want to spend that type of cash on something i'll end up killing. It's a poor mans set up, it's all i've got so no spare cash at the moment for any other sets of lights etc. I live in Scotland and summer is just starting, with the odd cold day, Would I get away with natural daylight until veg, or could I put them in the propagator under my 600w light, and if so how far above the propagator should I keep the light?
 
phil k

phil k

Well-Known Member
Mr.Goodtimes said:
I would keep a 600w 3-4 feet away, that's a lot of light for a seedling. If you have a spare cfl laying around that would work for the first week or so after it sprouts.
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yeah even try to get something a little less intense next time for seed starting sometimes the halides can make them stretch a bit more... T5 lights you can place very close and they keep your internode spacings good and tight.. i always start seeds under 2 2ft t-5 bulbs
 
cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
phil k said:
yeah even try to get something a little less intense next time for seed starting sometimes the halides can make them stretch a bit more... T5 lights you can place very close and they keep your internode spacings good and tight.. i always start seeds under 2 2ft t-5 bulbs
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yeah plan on getting t-5s when i've got a bit of spare cash
 
phil k

phil k

Well-Known Member
cheapgrower2014 said:
yeah plan on getting t-5s when i've got a bit of spare cash
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where r u located? if your in michgan i have a bunch of extra crap... once or twice a year we build or remodel grow rooms for customers and i have all kinds of excess equipment i give away.

otherwise get on amazon when your ready and get envirogro... good prices built well.. good reflectors.. come ready to roll just plug it in.. i use them for all my clones and seeds
 
cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
sworth said:
I'm in the UK too mate. The windowsill will be just fine for a seedling. If she stretches a little just follow this thread;
https://www.rollitup.org/t/replant-those-long-stretchy-stems-its-easy.429767/
Even better, like Mr.Goodtimes says, grab a couple of spare cfls from around the house...
(I use T5s myself, and they're great! :) )
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thank's for the thread mate, am in scotland so as u can prob tell the weather is shite lol, am just going to sit the propagator up at my bk window and see how they do. hopefully they will be ok :). if they die then i'll get t-5s straight away as soon as i've got the cash
 
ÉsÇ420PoT™

ÉsÇ420PoT™

Well-Known Member
What I do, and works 100% success. At lease thus far, Is I put the seeds ina cup of water, then put them in a dark place. let sit for 2-3 days. Once it pops and the little white tail start to come out, put in soil (or other grow medium) and stick a light above it. Simple as that. Good luck man! Just remember, it's a seedling, and growing a root system and a set of leaves, don't feed it nutrients, water with straight P.h.ed water of 6.0 for the next 2 weeks. Keep in mind, depending on your soil, it could be to hot for your seedlings and kill em... What I like to do, is put them in oasis cubes and water daily until a few weeks, then I put them into soil. This gives it some time to mature so that when transferred into soil, it will be able to handle it just fine. If you take at look at the beginning of my outdoor grow journal below. You will see the example I'm talking about. I always grow my seedlings like this, and I've never looked back. Keep in mind, this is just my method. And it works tremendously for me. There may be better methods, and you don't have to do this, it's just what works 100% for me, and thus, I'm content with it. Hope this gave some insight? Good luck man!
 
Wavels

Wavels

Well-Known Member
I have started seeds under Cfls, T-5s, MH, HPS, T-8s and the good old natural sun.
What I think is more important than lighting is the method used to germinate the seeds.
I have concluded after many years, that the best way is to simply place the seeds in your grow medium, keep moist, and then keep under the light source.
IMO, the best light source is the sun...it creates sturdy, thick stemmed seedlings, the second best are T-5s... if you keep them inches above your seedlings. Make sure you keep them as close as possible to the light.
Good luck!

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H

harris hawk

Well-Known Member
Wavels said:
I have started seeds under Cfls, T-5s, MH, HPS, T-8s and the good old natural sun.
What I think is more important than lighting is the method used to germinate the seeds.
I have concluded after many years, that the best way is to simply place the seeds in your grow medium, keep moist, and then keep under the light source.
IMO, the best light source is the sun...it creates sturdy, thick stemmed seedlings, the second best are T-5s... if you keep them inches above your seedlings. Make sure you keep them as close as possible to the light.
Good luck!
I agree just plant the seed in the medium (soil) - simple easier - and natural !!! CFL's do work fine - just watch for "over-watering" which is a common mistake
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cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
ÉsÇ420PoT™ said:
What I do, and works 100% success. At lease thus far, Is I put the seeds ina cup of water, then put them in a dark place. let sit for 2-3 days. Once it pops and the little white tail start to come out, put in soil (or other grow medium) and stick a light above it. Simple as that. Good luck man! Just remember, it's a seedling, and growing a root system and a set of leaves, don't feed it nutrients, water with straight P.h.ed water of 6.0 for the next 2 weeks. Keep in mind, depending on your soil, it could be to hot for your seedlings and kill em... What I like to do, is put them in oasis cubes and water daily until a few weeks, then I put them into soil. This gives it some time to mature so that when transferred into soil, it will be able to handle it just fine. If you take at look at the beginning of my outdoor grow journal below. You will see the example I'm talking about. I always grow my seedlings like this, and I've never looked back. Keep in mind, this is just my method. And it works tremendously for me. There may be better methods, and you don't have to do this, it's just what works 100% for me, and thus, I'm content with it. Hope this gave some insight? Good luck man!
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thanks esc420pot, i was going to try the paper towel method but your's sounds easier :) so will be doing that.
 
cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
hi i was thinking off putting the seeds in jiffy pellets then into the propagator up at my window sill, they should germinate shouldnt they?
 
Wavels

Wavels

Well-Known Member
cheapgrower2014 said:
hi i was thinking off putting the seeds in jiffy pellets then into the propagator up at my window sill, they should germinate shouldnt they?
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Yes, as long as they get at least 9-10 hours of direct sunlight...move them to other windows if possible.
I would simply put the seeds right into the jiffy pellets, just keep them moist.
 
rnint

rnint

Well-Known Member
paper towel method worked fine for me and i would just use the 600W and just make sure its well above the tops because natural daylight in the uk as a bitch and a half, you can also get cheap as shit cfls mate like £20 off amazon or something if you just search daylight lamp you should find something. Anyway good luck man!
 
cheapgrower2014

cheapgrower2014

Well-Known Member
rnint said:
paper towel method worked fine for me and i would just use the 600W and just make sure its well above the tops because natural daylight in the uk as a bitch and a half, you can also get cheap as shit cfls mate like £20 off amazon or something if you just search daylight lamp you should find something. Anyway good luck man!
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lol yes scottish weather is pant's :(, i looked them up on ebay and seen a light going for £31 so alot cheaper than i thought just need to sweet talk the other half lol
 
rnint

rnint

Well-Known Member
cheapgrower2014 said:
lol yes scottish weather is pant's :(, i looked them up on ebay and seen a light going for £31 so alot cheaper than i thought just need to sweet talk the other half lol
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you should also be able to find a way to get some ridiculously cheap lights if you do your research properly I've read things on here about people getting loads of little lights from pound land and that apparently worked really well and stuff so it should be easy enough to find a solution
 
ÉsÇ420PoT™

ÉsÇ420PoT™

Well-Known Member
cheapgrower2014 said:
thank's mate thats what i plan to do straight into jiffy's :),
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yup thats exactly what I do, the paper towel trick I feel actually pops them faster than a cup of water, however im to damn busy for that crap, as you need to check on it constantly, as when the paper towel dries, your seeds are dead... Thus easier to just stick in a cup of water and check as needed. To each their own, 4 million ways to skin a cat in this sense.. Regardless, This is almost exactly what I do, jiffys and oasis cubes are technically the same thing.. I think doing thecup of water or paper towel method to pop them, then right into the jiffys would be more than efficient. Just remember to place the white tail downward the part with the seed shell still attached is what will continue to grow upward and in time sprout leaves. Also make sure them jiffys stay wet/moist! That is a must. Don't spray your seedlings with a mister please... unnecessary.. By moist, I mean water your jiffys. Good luck man!

Ill say it once and Ill say it again. if you goin for a broke tokers club, use these lights hands down!!!! only around 35 bucks for the bulb, cord socket, and a small reflective hood. Puts out 2900 Lumens! Equivalent to 300 watts but only uses 65! Super freakin cheap! I use 4 of these for my seedlings and holy shit do they grow fast! Unless your willing to dump around $120-$150 for a T5 Floro set up, I'd for sure go with these. Buy 4 of them and it's equivelent to my T5 4ft 4 tubed set up. It puts out 10K lumens, 4 of these cfl's will put out 11600 leumens. You do the math. Good luck man!

Link:
Click here for the CFL LINK
 
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