Young Seedling problems - Please Help

jusjd23

Member
Just tested my ph, water was 8.4 or so. Soil was finally dry so watered with 6.5, tested soil ph today with new meter, showed 6.5 - 7. Also turned a couple bulbs off the other day.

In the meantime I'm germinating 3 more ww seeds in better potting soil, jiffy brand with no nutes, states for seed germination. Mixed in a bit of perlite as well. Watered already and waiting to put seeds in once they show root from paper towel method. Figure this way soil will be moist when ready but not too wet. New soil also measures 6.5 - 7 ph.

Iont know how to do all that bruh. Chill out you still got yo question answered bruh.
 

TheICC

Well-Known Member
If your using ro water you need to add calcium and magnesium. The Ro process removes cal and mag and if your soil truly has nothing of value for your plants then without cal and mag those seedlings will die
 

Lion-O

Active Member
If your using ro water you need to add calcium and magnesium. The Ro process removes cal and mag and if your soil truly has nothing of value for your plants then without cal and mag those seedlings will die
Thanks - How much of each would I add? I also have the option of adding totally unfiltered well water, or semi-filtered water, but the semi-option has a water softener connected.
 

TheICC

Well-Known Member
Seeds generally have enough "food" to live for the first 10 days or so. After that you will start to see problems if you don't give them the nutrients they need through soil or water feedings. I would start with 25% of what the bottle says. Im almost positive your plants are showing signs of calmag deficiency, especially since your using RO water. I would stick with RO water if you can add a cal/mag supplement. If not i would use tap water, many people do. If you dont get them calcium or magnesium they will die. You can also try mixing 1/4 of tap water in with your RO ( so 1/4 gallon of tap water per gallon of RO water) This isn't a guarantee though, it depends on your tap water. Your best bet is straight tap water or use something like "calimagic" with the RO water.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
I ordered Cal Mag, and it'll be here Monday. In the mean time I mixed some unfiltered with RO water, ph adjusted and sprayed seedlings. They still don't look very good, but I'm hoping they'll have some life left and turn around once I do a proper cal mag watering Monday. Don't know how long it'll take to get them to turn around for the better though. Stems are OK, nothing is falling over yet, but the leaves look like crap. Soil is nice and dry though, so they'll be ready for a good watering with the nutes they're lacking.

I had one seedling sprout of the same variety in the mean time, and just planted another seed that had a root poking out early this morning. Two of the WW seeds have not germinated though, so that sucks.

Also stopped at local hydro store, was there for 2 hours looking around. Got some better pots, Happy frog soil, some more perlite, clay hydro balls, and a higher humidity dome setup - for when these seedlings turn around, and/or the new ones.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
I transplanted two of the seedlings yesterday to better potting soil. Think it's Jiffy mix or something. Has fewer twigs and crap, more airy. Pre-watered with the cal mag water (ph'd). Left one of the remaining seedlings alone as a control. Today there is slight change to one transplanted seedling (for the better) and the other one has what seems to be more green in the center of the leaf, possibly new growth. The control one seems to be dead. The stem is crunchy and the leaves are almost non-existent and twisted, also crunchy. Chucked it while playing TAPS was playing in the distance...

The new seedling is already much larger than the others started at the beginning of the month. This seedling didn't have cal mag yet, but is in the better soil. Two other White Widow germinated seeds were transferred to containers with good soil as well today, on a new seedmat (also used for the newest seedling), and placed in a new humidity dome. I'll give it a few days and post photos of the older seedlings (two left) and the new ones.

As I'm using CFL's I'm thinking I won't have enough light when these hopefully get larger. Looking to get an HPS, 600 watt, either wing or air cooled, haven't decided yet. Budget is around $200 for the whole light setup. Already spent more than I thought I would, but I can now see the difference in using better materials. Also plan to open the home made box up, block the two windows in the basement have them open in the room.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
As promised, here's the newest pics. The two survivors are looking better. The new one is going very well. The two originals have slow growth in the middle, and it's green, not discolored as before. The new one is the one with larger leaves.
Photo-2016-03-31-15-12-27_0694.jpg Photo-2016-03-31-15-12-47_0695.jpg Photo-2016-03-31-15-13-22_0696.jpg
 

jusjd23

Member

Lion-O

Active Member
your seedlings looking better!!!!! When they droop like the the seedling in the 3rd pic its usually due to overwatering it.
Yes, thanks. That was transplanted, watered afterwards so could get cal mag in there. Tracking watering schedule so won't tend to over water in the future.
 
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