Afghan Seedling leaves drooping

MrG88 · May 17, 2017

Hi All,

This is my first post, so please forgive me if I come across as a complete newbie.

I started my first grow about a week ago, I'm using seeds I got from the guy at our local Hydro store, all he told me was that the strain is Afghan.

My Seedling is on day 9 since breaching the surface but the leaves on my little one seem to be drooping alot, any suggestions to what my problem could be?

My setup is:
Grow Cupboard I built is 3x1.5x5.5 (90cmx45cmx165cm)
Using a reflector hood with 150w CFL (6500k) but will switch to 250w HPS for Flowering. The CFL is about 4-6" away from the Seedling.
Light Schedule is 18/6
Grow Medium is 1" Rockwool cube (will be moved to a larger 6" RW cube in the future.
I'm using Tap water Ph'd to 5.8 (light watering twice a day at lights on only.)
For ventilation I have two 3" PC Fans mounted for intake near the mid/bottom of the side of the cupboard and two 4.7" PC Fans mounted on the other side of the cupboard, near the top of the cupboard.
RH is around 40% - 60%
Temp is 67F lights off / 77F lights on (It's Fall/Autumn here in South Africa)

Any constructive feedback would be much appreciated.

Regards,
MrG88

kytkyt · May 18, 2017

Hello!
You add fertilizer in water? If yes tell me NKP and pmm. I see you control pH it is good!
At 9 day plant need 5.6-5.8pH, 400-500pmm and NKP ~ 40-20-50
Root go out rockwool... need lage rokwool.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Hello kytkyt,

Thanks for the feedback.

I've only added Neuts once (1/4 strength) on day 4....that was because I did not add Neuts when I soaked the 1" RW cube at the start.
I was planning on not feeding any more Neuts till about Week 3.

Unfortunately I do not have a TDS meter yet, only a PH meter at the moment.

There are two roots coming out the bottom of the RW, but I was told that I should wait a bit before moving to the bigger RW cube.

kytkyt · May 18, 2017

To each watering you need to add fertilizers

This rule if you are using RW or coco

Only once in 1,5-2 weeks you should watering clear water to remove old salt out RW.

But i did't know what is Neuts

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

I really was not aware of that, thanks for the advice!

Neuts is a slang term for Nutrients (fertilizer)

I'm currently using the Nutriplex Hydro 3 part Fertilizers and I am adding 1ml of each to my 3.3Litre jug, then I Ph it down to 5.8. does this sound correct?

kytkyt · May 18, 2017

Yes 1 ml in 3 bottle on 3.3 litre is true! After correct 5.7-5.8pH
I repeat every watering should be added Neuts.
Use this table.

your's plant starve!
this seed autoflowering or fotoalowering you know?
If it is auto... i think easier to start again.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Hi kytkyt,

Thanks alot for the info, I followed the above measurements for my mixing.

I will follow your advice and feed a 1/4 strength with every watering from now on.

I will keep this thread updated to show the results!

Axle4worc · May 18, 2017

kytkyt said:
Use this table

MrG88 said:
Thanks alot for the info, I followed the above measurements for my mixing.

Be careful about giving too many nutrients to a plant that small. That table is for more vigorous growth. You will need to veg longer if it is not an Autoflower.

I thought rockwool was supposed to be faster than soil.
Here is a picture of my seedling 9 days after popping out of soil. I planted straight into 5 gallon pots with a small area in the center with Light Warrior.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Hi Axle4worc,

Do you think that 1/4 strength nutrients would be okay to use for every watering?

Sheesh I wished my seedling looked like yours after 9 days!

Could you think of anything else I'm doing wrong?

kytkyt · May 18, 2017

I think you need 1ml each component on 5 liter and wait trefoil

MrG88 said:
1/4 strength nutrients would be okay to use for every watering?

1/4 strangth is 1ml on 13 liter??? if yes - it is very low..

Axle4worc · May 18, 2017

MrG88 said:
Hi Axle4worc,

Do you think that 1/4 strength nutrients would be okay to use for every watering?

Sheesh I wished my seedling looked like yours after 9 days!

Could you think of anything else I'm doing wrong?

I wish I knew more about rockwool. To me your seedling looks over watered.

Your temperature is a couple of degrees on both ends lower than mine was. That shouldn't be so much of a big deal though I believe you will have stunted growth below 65 degrees. Your humidity is a little low but still in a good range. You may want to add a wet towel when it is low. The biggest difference I see in our grow setup is in the light but that shouldn't matter at this point.

I use 1ml/g of Canna. Not sure what the equivalent is for you. With my 2 ml of hydroguard and 1 ml each of a + b Canna it comes out to be about 100 PPM over natural minerals in my water.

My warning was for future weeks. Chances are you're plant will be stunted compared to the feeding chart. You don't want to boost the nutrients based on time. You would want to boost the nutrients based on growth. Seedlings need very little nutrients.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Thanks alot for your advice Axle4worc.

I will see how the next few days go once I've given her a little more nutrients.

Lachrymology · May 18, 2017

Seedlings don't need nutrients. Everything they need is in the cotyledons. If they're drooping its overwatering. They would be yellow if they were hungry.

Just water in Coco and perlite 10 days from sprout:

Lachrymology · May 18, 2017

That little guy probably won't recover well enough to be worth while. If you have more beans I'd recommend starting over. Even if it does recover its going to be quite the runt and grow very very slowly.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Hi Lachrymology,

Thanks for the advice, I do have more beans and will start over.

Will try my best not to over water the next one.

Lachrymology · May 18, 2017

Seedlings need very little water. Think of keeping the medium as most as you would a paper towel for germ . They need oxygen at the roots not a drowning wet medium.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Ok great, thanks that makes perfect sense.

I think I was too paranoid that the RW cube would completely dry out during the day while I was at work, but I will follow your advice to the T.

I read another thread a while ago where the person used a shot glass to water they're seedling, I think I'll try that to better control the amount of water I give at a time.

Lachrymology · May 18, 2017

I use a straw. Dip and put your finger over to hold it in and kind of gently release pressure and let it spread over the cube (I use rapid rooter but same principle). Also, if you get a little starter dome you can keep the humidity pretty high and they won't dry out or remain too soggy. Once the tap root comes out the bottom of the cube I go into my coco/perlite solo cups.

MrG88 · May 18, 2017

Ok great, that does sound like a good way to spread the water evenly. Thanks I'll try it out.

Lachrymology · May 18, 2017

You're welcome.

Afghan Seedling leaves drooping

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