Dead Babies

I've grown 5 times till harvest with 4 24" T5 floro bulbs without much problem. I decided it was time to move up to HPS & MH bulbs for a better yield. I started the same way I did with the T5 bulbs. Germinated and then into the grown medium (coconut husks, "crop circles"--excellent wicking properties) in an "auto-pot" system that is self watering. The girls (feminized seeds) came up after a couple days as normal but they didn't look very healthy. The leaves didn't get any bigger and in just 4 days, they both (I can only grow 2 plants at a time) just fell over. The light isn't too close (about 3 feet away as I didn't want to burn them either) and the other grows the seedlings came through just fine. Do you think I should have started the seedlings in a small starter container like a "jiffy pot" and use the MH bulb, or should I just start them as I did before with the T5 bulbs until they get a good foothold and then go with the MH bulb? Input PLEASE, I don't want to bury any more baby girls.

babies are too small for hid lighting, let them sit in a window til it has 2-3 nodes b4 you put them in your grow room

Where the seedlings you killed under the MH? Doesn't sound like a light problem, how was the temps? Perhaps the self watering is the issue. Personally I would suggest starting with your fluros then once they have taken hold introduce the MH, then when you hit flower swap to HPS. Do what has worked for you before. MH should be okay for seedlings, but why fix something that isn't broken....3 feet away should be enough as well. Seedlings are hardy things on the whole when it comes to light....

Jarhead said:

I've grown 5 times till harvest with 4 24" T5 floro bulbs without much problem. I decided it was time to move up to HPS & MH bulbs for a better yield. I started the same way I did with the T5 bulbs. Germinated and then into the grown medium (coconut husks, "crop circles"--excellent wicking properties) in an "auto-pot" system that is self watering. The girls (feminized seeds) came up after a couple days as normal but they didn't look very healthy. The leaves didn't get any bigger and in just 4 days, they both (I can only grow 2 plants at a time) just fell over. The light isn't too close (about 3 feet away as I didn't want to burn them either) and the other grows the seedlings came through just fine. Do you think I should have started the seedlings in a small starter container like a "jiffy pot" and use the MH bulb, or should I just start them as I did before with the T5 bulbs until they get a good foothold and then go with the MH bulb? Input PLEASE, I don't want to bury any more baby girls.

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couldhave been over waterd, heat but definatly not the hids. whats you air flow like

I have a fan blowing about 10 hours a day and I also have a fish tank air pump bringing in fresh air from outside. The temps right now are around 70 degrees with a little variance by 3-5 degrees. The other possibility I thought of after posting this is, I wonder if the self watering system dried out the top section of the pot before it could wick more water toward the top of the container. So far from what you folks say, the MH shouldn't be a problem if all else is working right as in water, air and heat...correct? I think I will start them in Jiffy pots to keep them moist enough and after a couple nodes, I'll bring out the big gun...MH bulb. Sound good? Or should I just stay with the MH and figure it out?

Jarhead said:

I have a fan blowing about 10 hours a day and I also have a fish tank air pump bringing in fresh air from outside. The temps right now are around 70 degrees with a little variance by 3-5 degrees. The other possibility I thought of after posting this is, I wonder if the self watering system dried out the top section of the pot before it could wick more water toward the top of the container. So far from what you folks say, the MH shouldn't be a problem if all else is working right as in water, air and heat...correct? I think I will start them in Jiffy pots to keep them moist enough and after a couple nodes, I'll bring out the big gun...MH bulb. Sound good? Or should I just stay with the MH and figure it out?

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i use a 400 wtt mh for seedling. i even put my seeds to germenate under the light. youwill be fine

I start my babies out under CFL's - less chance of frying them that way. If I was you, I would go with your fluoros just to begin with.

Thanks for the input all, and rep ups to all that I can give. Unfortunately, it wouldn't let me add a rep up for you DoeEyed, yours was the last rep up I gave (a while ago) and it's telling me to spread it around...sorry. But to the rest, thank you and I will use your feedback with the satisfaction that the "Pros" have my back.

Good luck bru, you should be right with the Jiffy's. Just holla if you need any advise. DST