Choosing from a group of seedlings what are the best characteristics??

Hello RIU,
a question that I really need help with as I can find no definitive info on the subject.

the strain is Blue Dream any strain Advice Please throw it At Me!
Ebb n Flo system with 4 tubs 1 res a good air stone two pumps and some hose and fittings.

oh and I used rock wool and Hydroton as a medium so plants are locked into a spot in the tubs.

I have 10 bag seed plants at 20 days old.

8 are together in one 10 gallon Rubbermaid tub

two are in the tub next door along with older plants and growing slower under the same light

Fans 3

light cycle 18/6 --- 3 side by side Fixtures 4 bulb CFL T5 95 watts ea.

The leaf structure is the same among the 10 but I need to cull among the 8 to make room.

If I new what I was doing instead of fumbling in the "dark" of Noobism it would be great!

I would create clones with the plants culled but wont they be to young to give off proper cuttings???
am I correct that cuttings would be useless off a young plant?
Or can I restart them by cloning the culled plants?

I think I can seperate the 4" cube from the 6x15 log below it but I would have to cut roots, anyone think they will survive root cutting?

I have been told cuttings can be taken after the second set of 7 point leaves, is that correct?

I guess The age will vary by strain to reach
the proper size but the plant must be mature to create mature clones, right?


OK about my plants,
some are taller( not stretched) with more growth, some are short with tighter internodal spacing.

what are the characteristics for a great plant, the tall fast grower or The slower lower grower?

Thanx for letting my mind spew!

questions keep me up all nite, I like answers so I can sleep.

Bless,
DZ

If they're not from feminised seeds, you need to sex them before choosing otherwise you could end up with males in ur mix. Other than that, what other criteria are there?

Hi Y0da,
these are all from bag seeds and I have it all growing to find the females.

where I live seeds are hard to come by....

I was under the dull idea that sex shows in all plants in Veg when the plant is mature enough.

all my past xperience could fit in a thimble.

Thanks for any Wisdom!

A big thanks to let's get critical for liking my Noob work!

Bless,
DZ

Plants will show in veg but it will take a very very long time. It's best to switch to flower at a given point then go from there.

Trying to cull this early is just guesswork. I have found that the fastest growers and best lookin' seedlings are most often male. So culling prior to sexing doesn't work well, as Yoda and Mr2shim allude to. Wait 5-6 weeks or so, or clone and sex (you will know for sure in like 2 weeks). Or my fav, and Mr2shim's, grow em out til they show (or flip em) and cull the stragglers and males then.

Them babies look friggin' great! Don't you dare murder any of em yet....

Good luck with your grow!

R2T