Newbie at growing cannabis

These are my plants and the lights we have. Growing inside for about 4 months. They are growing straight up and we need to stake them. We leave lights on 70% white for 12 hours and watering every other day or 3rd day. Do these plants look okay? There are some leaves that have brown tips. They are auto flowering, the 2 with the buds are tangerine dream and the one with no buds is critical purple. Not using any type of fertilizer and they are planted in the soil in the pic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

At this point, I think you've basically got what you've got. Hard to imagine there's much you could do to meaningfully improve these plants in what time they have left. Probably best to focus on doing better next grow. The only time I've ever had plants that small was when I was starting out and seriously underwatering them, only giving like 8 ounces at a time every few 2-3 days. Even without adding any nutes to your water, they should have gotten MUCH larger than that just on the nutrient charge in the Happy Frog soil. That suggests to me it's probably a watering issue.

Are you starting your seeds in smaller containers, or just dropping it right into the final pot? Roughly how much water do you give at a time? Ever have any runoff?

That soil looks like its a bit hot for them meaning very rich in nutrients. They look good besides those yellowing tip and super dark green leaves means they are getting alot of nitrogen. Other than that not much you can really do to the soil to lessen the nitrogen or nutrients now so just keep doing what youre doing till finish and dont feed anything extra. They need more light too but if you cant thats understandable you just wont get big buds.

As far as the size it could just be bad genentics and you got the ruderalis side of it dominant. I planted a White Widow Auto by Victory Seeds into a 15 gallon pot cause it was supposed to be a big plant from what I was reading and.....

Look at this horseshit.. Its almost done now too since this pic and hasnt gotten bigger.

Fangthane said:

At this point, I think you've basically got what you've got. Hard to imagine there's much you could do to meaningfully improve these plants in what time they have left. Probably best to focus on doing better next grow. The only time I've ever had plants that small was when I was starting out and seriously underwatering them, only giving like 8 ounces at a time every few 2-3 days. Even without adding any nutes to your water, they should have gotten MUCH larger than that just on the nutrient charge in the Happy Frog soil. That suggests to me it's probably a watering issue.

Are you starting your seeds in smaller containers, or just dropping it right into the final pot? Roughly how much water do you give at a time? Ever have any runoff?

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Yes, we started in small solo cups and transplanted to 5 gallon buckets. Probably say about 8 ozs water every 3 days and no runoff.

I use Happy Frog pretty heavily. I start my seeds directly in it and never have any issues with the soil being too hot for them. Only having lights on for 12 hours at a time definitely hasn't helped them bulk up any. Doubt it's any single problem. If those plants are 4 months old and completely different strains, yet all pretty puny, it would seem more likely environmental than genetic.

Bob Simmons said:

Probably say about 8 ozs water every 3 days and no runoff.

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Think we may have found a huge part of the problem. If you were only giving 8 ounces even after transplanting into larger pots, that's not nearly enough water often enough. If water only ever gets to a small area, the roots are gonna hang out there and not expand out. Small root system, small plants.

Fangthane said:

Think we may have found a huge part of the problem. If you were only giving 8 ounces even after transplanting into larger pots, that's not nearly enough water often enough. If water only ever gets to a small area, the roots are gonna hang out there and not expand out. Small root system, small plants.

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Yup thats exactly it good call.

I done goofed a time or 2 with watering, myself. Behold, the mighty LSD 25 auto from Fastbuds!

Fangthane said:

Think we may have found a huge part of the problem. If you were only giving 8 ounces even after transplanting into larger pots, that's not nearly enough water often enough. If water only ever gets to a small area, the roots are gonna hang out there and not expand out. Small root system, small plants.

Click to expand...

So how much water should I do and how often? These are 5 gallon pots and there are drainage holes but never have seen any water drainage.

Most growers go by weight. I use 3 gallon fabric pots and typically give 1 to 1.5 quarts at a time. When the pot is thoroughly watered, pick it up and feel it's weight. Do that often. Every day feel how heavy it is. But also keep an eye on the plants while doing this. When they need water badly enough, they'll start drooping. Remember how light the pot felt right before droop started and just don't let it get quite that light. It's basically a muscle-memory thing that just takes time to develop.

It's good that you start your seeds in small containers. I use disposable 4" planters. I try to leave them in the small container for a good 2 weeks before transplant. It's A LOT easier to feel when a solo cup is dry and light, so it's harder to screw up watering. No real schedule; just water when the pots feel light.