Back for Another Try at CFL Growing [New Box]

Hello all,
After stomaching through my last slaughter, I packed away the lights for a while. So now, with my passion coming back stronger than ever I have decided to give this another try with a couple plants. Changing my tactics a bit this time around. I am afraid my previous trials were plagued with being overly careful about water and ended up failing numerous times by under watering (assumed).

I got rid of the metal cabinet and now have a new box under construction.

Below are some shots of the girls in progression.

I do have a question, in the last couple of days Plant B has began to droop drastically, yet Plant A seems to be thriving. Last two pictures are of each of the plants. I am afraid that I may have over compensated in the opposite and gave it to much H2O. [Last Pic]

Any thoughts on why she's reaching for the soil rather than the light now?

Looks good, may follow this around.

She started drooping at the 8/9 day old mark and that pic was taken last night at 10 days old.

Fingers crossed that this round pulls through. Some reason I have always been the grim reaper of horticulture. I have more faith this time around.

But I am getting even more concerned for my second plant. Any thoughts on the cause of the drooping in one of the plants and not the other. The watering, lighting, soil etc... all the same.

A.)
B.)

i really think its heat+ over watering....... try to get your temps to 70.......and wait till your soil is dry before rewatering...

i<3 said:

i really think its heat+ over watering....... try to get your temps to 70.......and wait till your soil is dry before rewatering...

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I havent really been to concerned with heat... Has maxed out at 81degrees at the most, (have a 24hr recorder temp gauge) and very short period of time. It usually remains in the mid 70s. Watering is definitely what I am afraid of and seems to be my achilles heal. In my first couple of attempts, I was gun shy of watering after all the hubub about it being the most common mistake. This time around I am watering about once every 48 hours or so, till it feels decently heavy and just before its comes out the bottom. They are in small growing containers with Jiffy Soil.

Definitely confusing me. I water them equally the same, same light, same containers, same soil.. same everything, but one is thriving pretty well and the other is taking the opposite of a wasp after being swatted. Wings down. lol

You are overwatering.

When your plant is that small you might only water it once, twice a week at most. You most likely are commiting the ultimate green thumb sin of watering a sproutling every day.

Easy rectification. Every time your plant wakes up from its night cycle, stick your finger in the soil in various areas just enough to feel it. If it's dry and crusty, water it a little bit every minute until you see drainage from the bottom of your pot, then stop. If it feels wet at all, wait until later or better yet in your current stage, wait until the next day when your night cycle is over again.

Eventually as your plant grows you will notice that the soil becomes dry and crusty sooner. This means your root structure is getting stronger and the plant is using up more water. So you start to water it more often.

Haha, that was my concern. This Jiffy soil is difficult to judge. After about 36-48 hours it gets hard to stick my finger and not shudder the seedlings. And I go down about a first knuckle and usually in that amount of time (36-48hr), its dry. But then again, I am likely over compensating and just assuming its too dry because of my past underwatering misfortunes.

cazman said:

But then again, I am likely over compensating and just assuming its too dry because of my past underwatering misfortunes.

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Usually this is what plagues new growers and it's sad to see it. Trust your instincts and especially your plant. Your plant will tell you what it needs just by the way its behaving and the way the leaves look. There's a good sticky in Marijuana Plant Problems that describe a lot of common problems, their causes, and the solution. I would recommend checking it out just for educational purposes.

Looking good, pulling up a chair. That little black fan a usb fan? Just picked up one for each of my boxes...love those lil things. Didn't see any mention of your genetics...is this a bagseed grow? If you're having to water that so frequently it's probably your soil. You said you are using Jiffy? You might want to invest in something with better water retention for your next transplant. My vegging girls are loving Roots Organic right now. My flowering ladies are nearly finished in MG organic....both only need water every 3 days.

Also, those pots tend to wick water from the soil. Maybe new pot/soil combo for transplant?

Yeah I have found the Jiffy to be a decent starter seed soil, but beyond that, it dries up quick. And I have been suspecting the weaved pots to be playing a roll in yanking water from the soil. I have some MG soil to transfer into. I have pulled back from watering since Sunday night and have some inner struggle on whether to water today or not. haha. Cant wait to get em into some soil that allows easier judgement on watering. Hopefully once done the moisture levels will be more obvious.

Seedling Mix used


Intended Transfer Mix (Concerned it may have too much (junk) in it. Thoughts?


NEW PICS (as of today) 12 Days Old Each

Plant 1



Plant 2




The water droplets are from quick sprits from a spray bottle. Just checking the color of the soil between how it was when I got home and after a lite mist of H2O. I am not a fan of the Jiffy mix at all.

dannyhero said:

Looking good, pulling up a chair. That little black fan a usb fan? Just picked up one for each of my boxes...love those lil things. Didn't see any mention of your genetics...is this a bagseed grow? .......

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Neah, not USB style. Just a straight plugin personal fan from Target. Works great though. As for the genetics, its merely bagseed. Good stuff but unpredictable. Trying to get decent at this. Broke my heart enough annihilating my previous bagseed attempts. Would have a stroke if I did the same to some quality seeds.

Seems its been a few days since my last update. But oddly enough, in just under a weeks time, still not really any changes. Ironically the curled plant has a bright green hue and the previously, seemingly healthy plant has began a purple-ish overcast.

Thoughts?

18 Days Old... Must be a runt.

Did lose one... pretty sad. But I still got Number #1 left and she is starting to add some new leaves.




The purple has be a bit nervous though.

wow, if that is 18 days old then there is definitely a problem. plus the purple has me worried also. Ive only seen buds and stems turn purple so far...

I do believe, dear sirs and madames of RIU... that, cursed, be I.

Can you give us a thorough update on your conditions? Usually within the first month you should have a LOT of growth. You are still barely starting to see your first leaf set and what leaves are there are super purple. I agree with bill I have never seen that.

Temps, Humidity, How much you have watered it recently, lighting conditions (how close are the lights, what lights are you using, what is their kelvin spectrum rating and their lumen output?)

All of this from like, today. All recent updated information. Hopefully, even if I can't, one of us can use that info to help give you an idea.

these are in that same miracle gro dirt u have and are one week old under cfl's 26 watt 6500k six of them i think your jiffy dirt and pot's suck

tristynhawk said:

these are in that same miracle gro dirt u have and are one week old under cfl's 26 watt 6500k six of them i think your jiffy dirt and pot's suck

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"Soil Sucks" is one way to put it haha. "Soil is Shltty as hell" is likely better.

- 2x - 6500k, 42w CFLs no more than 2-3" away, side angle mounting for better light. (See earlier pictures)
- Jiffy Seedling Starter Soil
- General garden weaved pots
- No additives
- Diluted, bottle water
- Water every 48+ hours or when dry by touch.
- 24 hr light cycle after germination
- 18/6 light cycle after sprout