Early Problems

[Scarlet Begonias]

I just built this little grow box and planted 8 germinated seeds. Everything seemed to be going fine for like 2 days until the two plants closest to the CFL pretty much just shirveled up. I did add a pinch of 10-18-12 fertilizer to each of the cells. What's going on? Are there any other problems with this setup? I plan to move them outside in a few days.

 

[Pookiedough]

I dunno about your setup since from the pics I cant tell much,but I do know you may have made them unhappy with fertilizer they do not need any fertilizer when they are very small.

 

[Scarlet Begonias]

It's basically a 12L box with a 9 cell container, each with potting soil, and a 15W CFL. Box stays closed with tin foil on the top to reflect the light back. If I'm moving them outdoors, how tall should they be when I do so?

 

[kushmonster]

they should be healthy first thats for sure!! no nutesin the first cople stages of life, when your first set of pedals turn yellow and die off is when you can safely start to feed them nutes, but go slow with them 1/4 strenth to begin with and move up from there. good luck

 

[sir smokesalot]

i wouldnt transplant them till they are about 3 weeks and have gotten stronger. no nutes fo the first 2- 3 weeks though, the seeds have enough built in energy till then, just ph'd water till then

 

[Pookiedough]

And replace that tinfoil with mylar or at least just paint it flat white tinfoil will burn your plants.

 

[newtoit]

It's basically a 12L box with a 9 cell container, each with potting soil, and a 15W CFL. Box stays closed with tin foil on the top to reflect the light back. If I'm moving them outdoors, how tall should they be when I do so?

hope you mean more than 1 15W cfl... they need more light than that... I have 2, 24 watt 24" T5 sunblasters on small seedlings and am kinda under doing it as i am going to plant outside... and ya tinfoil is a big no no. and hopefully you have a fan blowing on the plants, makes them grow stronger for outdoors

 

[Scarlet Begonias]

Thanks for all that. How important is it that the water be below below neutral pH? Will distilled water be all right? Why will the tin foil burn it but reflecting it with white paint not? I don't think a fan's doable, how important is that? What should my light cycles be? Yup, I'm a noob.

 

[newtoit]

Thanks for all that. How important is it that the water be below below neutral pH? Will distilled water be all right? Why will the tin foil burn it but reflecting it with white paint not? I don't think a fan's doable, how important is that? What should my light cycles be? Yup, I'm a noob.

at the start you can have lights on 24/7 you want a ph of around 6.7 and tinfoil causes hot spots, and will give your plants a light burn, you can find all this info by searching the forums... that is how i learned how to do this.
I read thru threads for 2 weeks before i made my first post and searched everything i could think of...

 

[minimojoman]

about the tin foil, I have read of a few people that say it doesnt burn if you make sure their are little to no wrinkles in it when you use it. I mean I bought mylar and have never used tinfoil, it just sounds like a bad idea, but then again a few people say it work pretty well.

 

[sir smokesalot]

18/6 light cycles, and you def want a fan. it will help strengthen the stems and keep it bushier than with out so if you are working in a small space it will be invaluable

 

[Scarlet Begonias]

at the start you can have lights on 24/7 you want a ph of around 6.7 and tinfoil causes hot spots, and will give your plants a light burn, you can find all this info by searching the forums... that is how i learned how to do this.
I read thru threads for 2 weeks before i made my first post and searched everything i could think of...

18/6 light cycles, and you def want a fan. it will help strengthen the stems and keep it bushier than with out so if you are working in a small space it will be invaluable

So, 18 or 24 light cycles?

 

[kushmonster]

During the vegitation process, some growers do 24/0 some 18/6 guess diffrent strokes for diffrent folks. I can understand both kinda, 24/0 the will grow faster in a shorter amount of time, but I did hear something about 24/0 light cycle, you have a better chance of getting males, dont know how much truth there is to that....someone help me out here. I myself have done the 18/6 thing but that works for me!!

 

[newtoit]

So, 18 or 24 light cycles?

i personally started my seed on a 24 on cycle, then switched to a 18/6 after they sprouted