Ok so as previously i said id get some pictures up of a transplant here they are. Gona make this my last set of pictures, veg rooms got to hot again and so has the weather, crazy british heatwave but hell im gona get some new gear and do some new tents, maybe another thread then in a month or so.
Anyway here is a basic repot, soil mix is the same as the seedling mix except this time were gona use some regular multi purpose soil. Potting mix, top mix, bat mix, all purpose etc etc are all the same here they just have more nutrients in than seedling soil and will support stronger growth and roots.
Now the plant i am transplanting was just recently topped and pinched to keep her small but overall this gives you a rough estimate of size of plant per pot. Some seem to transplant way to early but for me this is the perfect size.
So we make our soil mix, perlite, vermiculite, lime and multi purpose soil, make a hole big enough to take the old pot, can place the pot inside like i have shown to make sure you got the right size hole-
Next, which is hard to show, we gently squeeze in the sides and push up on the bottom of the pot, this should release the roots and soil from its old container. We need the soil to be fairly dry and lightish in weight water wise. More or less pressure may be required but when the plant will slide out you should simply be able to grab the stem and pull the whole lot out soil, roots and all.
So heres the size of the roots, not rootbound or stunted but had they been left a week or two longer i would have started to notice problems like slow growth and stunting. This plant has had two light feeds in the past two weeks and thats all the ferts it required, it will now get plain water for the next 3 weeks then ferts again but first it needs time to absorb the soil nutrients in the new soil then it will need external ferilization-
Ok so funs over lets pop it in the hole we made and cover with soil mix, i dont have a bucket to pre mix my soil and simply do it on the spot in the container, i pour soil, perlite and lime and mix to cover the pot as shown, might be easier for you to get a bucket and pre mix that way your not faffing about like me!lol! anyway mix it all in and voila your transplant is done after a good watering. First time in a big pot i would water the whole pot to bed the roots and soil in, get some good runoff and let drain for ten mins. You dont need to water this heavy but it dose help get you off to a good start.
I havent mentioned cultivation yet either, although not greatly needed on seedlings in small pots although it is somthing i still do religiously, simply get your spoon or fork or even a loose twig and dig uop the top inch of soil so its all loose and airy. This allows air and water to penetrate futher into the soil and will also speed up the drying process giving you more frequent waterings-
This for me is its final pot, 7inch, and will go to the flowering room in a weeks time. By finish of flower the pot will be just about ready to transplant again if i didnt harvest. If growing bigger you may need a futher transplant before flowering or maybe just use a bigger pot here on this transplant as a final bigger pot size to finish in.
Unfortunatly these will be my last pictures, i too have some work to be getting done and a lot of new equipment to set up and order.
As a closet grower and small time cultivator i have reached my natural progression and seek to ditch the fans and cfls and anything else cheap in aid of some pro gear. If i must say the biggest problem i have experienced over the years its definatly the 'Climate'. Heat and humidity are so important and can screw a amll grow over quickly, like me if you havent added any ferts and plants are small and stunted then it is most likely the heat.
Rule of thumb for me is keep veg plants and seedlings at 25 degrees celcius or under, some say 30c is ok for seedlings but mine are wilted and dying at that temp, 25 is the max for my whole grow, seedling, veg and flower and is a good rule to adopt if your a first time grower, pay attention to them temps.
Anyway i hope some will find this guide usefull, i certainly have kept it as simple as possible, all plants survived and are growing well with no problems even the one i pricked out!lol! Space issues and heat have halted me early on but i will replicate and update in a month or so when climate and gear are better.
Peace, Rep++ and love to small growers everywhere, truly the most challenging and hardest grows with the biggest rewards are those we make in our wardrobes and bedrooms. Kingrow1