Transplanting Question

[completeretard]

Soil grow under 400 watt HPS.
4 Sweet Deep Grapefruit plants, day 32 of veg.

I topped them 8 days ago, but incorrectly (above instead of below the third node). This left each plant with 6 new growth sites. They seemed to take to the topping well, and as soon as I thought they were comfortable I chopped them back another node. This was both for height management (I'm worried that they'll outgrow my 5.5 ft tent) and because I would prefer to work with 4 main colas on each plant.

Since then the plants look great, and there's new growth in each of the new sites, but it's been much, much slower than before. Could this be due to the stress of the two toppings?

A look at the base of the pots shows that there are lots of white roots poking out of the drain holes. I transplanted them 15 days ago from 2 litre to 11 litre pots, and their growth was exponential. That's stopped now. My guess is that they're either rootbound or very close to being so.

They're about 12" above the top of the pots now. I'd like them to grow another 6 inches before flipping. Should I transplant to 19 Litre pots?


Thanks

 

[LBH]

U did fine,...its a very rare instance that u can top below the 3rd node. 4th node is where I begin, first 5 fingered set.

If u transplant, give them a good week before flipping. More is preferred as you'll have new soil to fill with roots b4 flipping.

 

[Dr Kynes]

Soil grow under 400 watt HPS.
4 Sweet Deep Grapefruit plants, day 32 of veg.

I topped them 8 days ago, but incorrectly (above instead of below the third node). This left each plant with 6 new growth sites. They seemed to take to the topping well, and as soon as I thought they were comfortable I chopped them back another node. This was both for height management (I'm worried that they'll outgrow my 5.5 ft tent) and because I would prefer to work with 4 main colas on each plant.

Since then the plants look great, and there's new growth in each of the new sites, but it's been much, much slower than before. Could this be due to the stress of the two toppings?

A look at the base of the pots shows that there are lots of white roots poking out of the drain holes. I transplanted them 15 days ago from 2 litre to 11 litre pots, and their growth was exponential. That's stopped now. My guess is that they're either rootbound or very close to being so.

They're about 12" above the top of the pots now. I'd like them to grow another 6 inches before flipping. Should I transplant to 19 Litre pots?


Thanks

always remember, the plant you see above the soil is roughly equivalent to the plant you dont see below the soil.

if the leafy parts are bigger than you could fit comfortably into the pot from above, it needs more room below.

from 11 to 19 liters is not much of a difference for fast growing plants which will GREATLY increase their size when you start flowering. if you switch to flowering around a week after transplanting and they do like most dope, and roughly double in size before the chop, you should be ok.

if space was not a concern, i would pot em in a 25-30 liter pot, give them 2 weeks to settle in and then switch em to flowering. more room below is always preferable to not enough, and if shit gets crowded in your tent you need to get a bigger tent, flower sooner or grow a stumpier variety.

 

[completeretard]

Thanks very much for the replies. I think I'll transplant to 19l pots, as that's as big as I think my tent will conceivably hold.

 

[intenseneal]

I have found it is easier to just go from seedling/clone right into the largest pot you plant to use, less work to do and less stress on the plants. Go with 3-5 gallon pots, larger roots make bigger fruits.

 

[Dr Kynes]

I have found it is easier to just go from seedling/clone right into the largest pot you plant to use, less work to do and less stress on the plants. Go with 3-5 gallon pots, larger roots make bigger fruits.

meh, some noobs overwater and get the damping off, or underwater and kill a plant with a giant pot from seedling.

i usually start my seeds (for all plants not just dope) in 2" pots of used MG potting soil (when you've used it once it's perfect for seedlings), 2" rockwool cubes (for hydroponic cannabis only) or 2" pots of coco.

when they get big enough for hardening off i switch em to 6" pots then when im putting them outside (or under lights) i take them to their final container/the ground/ planting boxes/ bubble buckets

this means 1 extra transplanting, but it saves a lot of headaches down the road

also, 5 gallon pots are a little small for cannabis, i use 10 gal and bigger for my large plants (tomatoes, bell peppers and soils grown dope) so they can get big.

remember bro, as above, so below.

if your plant cant fit in the bucket up top, it's not fitting in the bucket downstairs either.