First Time Closet Grow - Looking for advice/suggestions

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cheezytaterz

Member
Hey all! Love the site and I've found some really great posts and advice here.

Check out the setup, looking for some input on what everybody thinks.
3x bagseed (one was old and different strain, it's really droopy)
MG Organic Choice
~30% perlite

Little bit worried about the drooping plant pictured, from an old bagseed. Any opinions?

Also, with the bigger one surrounded by perlite (had green algae in my moss); the two original big leaves are starting to droop a little bit as you can see in the picture. Especially the right leaf. The secondary and tertiary leaves look fine though. Is this anything to worry about?

I'm super excited about everything. Any suggestions/advice is welcome!
 

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ChiefsitandChief

ChiefsitandChief

Active Member
How strong are your lights, and you will need more, but how much are you watering them. Also the perlite you really wanna mix in with the soil and not place it on top it does nothing on the top of soil.
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Thanks for the response. The lights are as follows... most of them have 2 bulbs per fixture

The front is 2-2-2 6500k 23w Bulbs
The back is 1-2-1 2700k 40w Bulbs
The shop light is 4' t8 2x 32w Bulbs 6500k

The perlite is mixed into the soil. I put it on top of the soil on that specific plant to stop the algae growth (something I read on here).

I'm watering them when they feel dry and light. The big one hasn't been watered since monday morning (half cup) and then other two just got transplanted. I watered the soil and let it drain before I transplanted the other soil into it. I was hoping the roots would search for the wetter soil.
 
ChiefsitandChief

ChiefsitandChief

Active Member
Ok the watering can be tricky due to pot size and plant size, I use the weight of the pot sometimes, but mainly I watch my leaves, after watering them they really perk up and look as if they are yawning/stretching, and they will do that for a few days, but then the leaves start to even out straight to the side thats when I water them again, thats good lighting does you have a fan to keep a breeze going and help the stems to get stronger, and what are you temps right at the plant because they should be hanging quite like that this early on. Also check out my grow in my sig, and sub I got a day by day pictorial going right now and im on week 4
 
BullwinkleOG

BullwinkleOG

Well-Known Member
I think the lights are a little too close for this young of a seedling i would move them up at least an inch or two. The plants look good though dude I wouldn't worry too much about the drooping yet unless it gets worse or discoloration starts to become a problem. If it does get worse it will happen very quick at that young of a plant so just keep a close eye on it.
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
BullwinkleOG said:
I think the lights are a little too close for this young of a seedling i would move them up at least an inch or two.
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The one with the droopy plant, you are actually seeing the top of the shop light reflector, not a light super close. None of my lights are closer than 2 inches.

I do have one of those standing air purifiers across the room blowing pretty well into the closet. I've got it aimed towards the bad hanging plant (old bagseed) keeping it 'dancing' so it strengthens the stem. Otherwise the stem has been drooping REALLY bad during night hours (20/4). My temps are between 85-90 right on the soil and they are about 77 right next to the pots. Is this too low/high?

Do y'all think I should water the one with the perlite on the surface? Hasn't been watered since monday 10am and even then it was half-cup. If so, how much water to give it?
 
BullwinkleOG

BullwinkleOG

Well-Known Member
I have always been told to try to keep my plants lower than 85 F at all times. But having it droop severely at night I am unsure about. Also I'm still trying to get the watering schedules down myself so I don't want to give you any bad advice. Where are all you elite growers at when we need ya?
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Ok, I think i'm going to go water it. Should I water just until it begins to drain? or just go with about 1-2 cups?

I've read a couple times it's best to let it dry out and then fully water to drain.
 
ChiefsitandChief

ChiefsitandChief

Active Member
go to my thread on page 5 you can see the plant change after watering til when it needs water where it kinda droops, its noted on the day where I watered, also that temp is really high for a seedling, the perfect temp for your babies is about 77f, and with all that nice lighting you can move them back some more for just the seedlings, dont worry about the 2" thing until about 2 weeks in, while in this stage move them about 4" away.
 
ChiefsitandChief

ChiefsitandChief

Active Member
cheezytaterz said:
Ok, I think i'm going to go water it. Should I water just until it begins to drain? or just go with about 1-2 cups?

I've read a couple times it's best to let it dry out and then fully water to drain.
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Dont let go completly dry all the time but sometimes you can let it completely dry out as this helps the root system strengthen up, and it helps with pest by not having stagnant water sitting all the time drawing them in, and water til it drains some make sure to water all the way around.
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Just watered her until I got some drainage as well as moved the lights back just a little bit. I'll update with results tomorrow morning.

Thanks for all the help.
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Alright everyone.

This morning my temps are still high on the soil, I think that might be my main problem. They are sitting around 88 with the lights on. I have a fan blowing directly into the closet from nearby but the oscillator function is broken on it. I'm getting some 'dancing' from the leaves so I know the airflow is getting there. I also have a ceiling fan in the room circulating air downward on medium.

Any suggestions? Should I raise my lights even more (5-6" away)?
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Thanks. I'll be keeping an eye on them. I got some dolomite lime that i'm trying to work into the soil with each watering. Hopefully that will help.
 
MikeHancho85

MikeHancho85

Active Member
ChiefsitandChief said:
How strong are your lights, and you will need more, but how much are you watering them. Also the perlite you really wanna mix in with the soil and not place it on top it does nothing on the top of soil.
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first of all, you don't "need" more lights. sure more light is better, but you can grow pot with that amount of light. they do look like they've been over watered a bit and perlite is a great addition to your soil cheezy. it's mg organic choice with 30% perlite because i actually read before i posted... anyway...perlite is great on top of your medium, it reflects light and also helps keep fungus gnats from attacking your soil, which could become a problem with over watering. so i think thats a lot more than nothing. all in all chief, except for you being exactly wrong that was pretty good advice...
 
MikeHancho85

MikeHancho85

Active Member
besides a little ca deficiency they just look a little water stressed. maybe overwatering, or more specifically watering too often. what's the humidity like and are you foliar spraying? you should be able to stick your finger in the soil like an inch and not feel moisture before watering again. when the top of your soil dries out there's still moisture deeper in. being wet too often inhibits oxygen intake for the roots.
 
calicatt79

calicatt79

Well-Known Member
MikeHancho85 said:
first of all, you don't "need" more lights. sure more light is better, but you can grow pot with that amount of light. they do look like they've been over watered a bit and perlite is a great addition to your soil cheezy. it's mg organic choice with 30% perlite because i actually read before i posted... anyway...perlite is great on top of your medium, it reflects light and also helps keep fungus gnats from attacking your soil, which could become a problem with over watering. so i think thats a lot more than nothing. all in all chief, except for you being exactly wrong that was pretty good advice...
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After many attempts I've learned I cannot water until I get runoff. I am forced to use RO gal water/Mountain Spring fed water and I've dumped 2 gal before with still no runoff. So I smartened up and let my ladies tell me just when they need water. If the pot is light (like, wicked light) I water, if she is a little dry by still has a little weight, I water only a little. I have 3 gal pots and I give 1-1 1/2 gal of water per pot about every 4 says or so. Sometimes just a few cups in between if needed :)
 
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cheezytaterz

Member
Thanks guys. I'm almost sure it isn't watering too often... but possibly I am overwatering when I do. I gave her no more than .5-1 gallon and got decent drainage. My soil always seems dry to the touch on top with light moisture with fingers stuck in to the knuckle.

Also, I've got a fan blowing on them a bit closer now. My temps right next to the plant, but not directly under the light is 80 degrees.
 
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