Hello Al B.,
Allow me to introduce myself-I am Old, last name Way.
After much debate I have decided to engage in public discussion (or go online or communicate electronically in any way about anything) regarding my new op. First let me join the masses in thanking you for your active involvement here and the guidance you have provided for the other members here. Now I have what is likely to be the start of many questions for you.
It took three months to get me here but:
I spent weeks pouring over the information here in order to use it in my planning and as part of my guide. Then spent weeks building out 2 13'x13' rooms- Long story short i have modeled my op after yours with the exception of the flower room where i am using 3 top-drip res/tray combos (3.5m. trays/265liter res-each serviced with 1kw HPS on 2 meter light rails, air cooled and glass enclosed reflectors, all thermo/humi/vent equipment automated) to harvest 8-10wk strains at a rate of 3.5m.sq. every 19-22 days in a sog-about 72 plants. My nutrient resevoirs in the flower room are formulated Day1-18, Day19-40, Day 41 (right about 6wks)-finish.
My first question is....That should work, right? Rather than the 4 resevoir set-up for wks 1-2, 3-4. 5-6, etc
Second Question-Is it normal for seed grown plants to stretch a fair bit 7-8cm prior to stopping and putting out true sets of leaves.
I know clones grow laterally right from the grow medium but i expected my seedlings to stay much more compact. I am starting with good genetics from reptutable sources and just finished germinating my first batch of 48 plants 5 days ago (47 germinated-I will allow all to preflower then destroy all males and turn about half the females into mums to keep up with the 72 clones I need every 19 days and run the rest through in the flower room to sample the genetics before the sog harvests are pepetuated).
I should let you know seeds were germinated directly from the starter plugs (instead of paper towel-to plug-could that be the difference?)and have started their lives under under a 1kw MH in the veg room. Light was started a meter above and moved down to optimal height over the course of 2 days. The room is kept at 24-25 degrees, humidity at 50-55%-again all automated environmental controls, and the nut solution is at 1.4EC or 700ppm for the first 6-7 days. I am using a quality grow formula at 45% strength and a 25% dose of fulvic acid and a drop of superthrive/4liters. Ph is maintained at 5.5-5.6 a light dose of hydroguard has also been added and i should probably mention while this is my first grow I come from an extensive backgound in ornamental horticulture and floriculture. I am looking forward to preflowers so i can start propagating. (Here I am using a 90 cell aeroponic cloning machine-Its all about enjoying the fruits of your labor not laboring over your fruit)
The seedlings have been growing true sets of leaves for 5 days now and many are starting third sets. (At this point there is no further stretching taking place and growth looks dense and healthy just hoping the initial stretch is not going to lead to excessive height. And again is this normal for seed grown or has there been a mistep? Either way is it going to be detremental in any way since most of the females are being grown into mums leaving only 16-18 +,- female bushes (trees maybe) to move to flower for our taste testing.
Thanks for the time to answer yet another nooby question. I will sleep better if i know where i went wrong or if it is the norm.
Sincerely,
Old in the Way