Newly transplanted clones too stressed?

Got these clones from a high end club and asked the girl if they were ready for soil as I've never seen clones in soil not potted before, I'm used to Rockwool clones, she said they were.
I had to drive them quite a bit home, about 6 hours.
They seemed very happy the next day and very perky so I put them in soil and set them up in the room I have for them.
Got a T5 fluorescent light which I've always used for clones and vegging. Fed them a good amount of just PH'ed water once when I put them in soil on Friday (the 26th)
The next day they seemed pretty droopy but I just assumed they were shocked and stressed due to the drive and transplant.
I had them on a 20-4 schedule but noticed when I went to turn the lights back on after their dark schedule they were flared back up and happy so I decided to go to a 18-6 schedule to give them more time in the dark to rest. By the time I turn their lights off they're droopy and sad looking, but every time I turn their lights back on after they rest they're perked back up and happy so I thought maybe they're too close to the lights and lowered the plants a bit.
I haven't seen much growth but I was hoping they'd be back to health and over the shock by now.

My next worry is their stems. Pretty dark. So I first thought make sure my PH meter was working so I got some 7.0 solution and it's reading fine, then I thought temps so I threw a heater in there and kept it at about 70-75 F.
No change but I've only been doing that for the last 2 days so hopefully that helps.
I fed them once again last night (28th) as I've been checking the soil to make sure it's still damp as well as checking the weight of the pots. Don't want to drown these guys.
(doing about 5.8-6.0 PH'ed water when I feed them)

Any suggestions? I want these guys to be happy and I don't like seeing droopy plants and dark stems. Worried they don't take and start going downhill and my little babies are gone.
Pictures attached.

Took this when turning off their light after 20 hours of it being on.



Here's my whole setup so you can get an idea of where they are now.
This was about 2 hours after turning the light back on, you can see they're a big more perky here.

You just transplanted them? They need to adjust to their new environment. Keep the light higher up off of them, keep humidity up, and do not over water. They cannot handle a lot of light at this point. You'll know once they want more light, their top leaf sets will start to reach for it. Then lower it down. I wouldn't fertilize them either. Droopy can be an over watering issue (but could be other things too). Keep an eye on them and keep them comfortable. They'll bounce back, just give them the time they want to turn things around or else you'll stress them more.

Get the light closer. It’s a T5. The plants will get over it. Do not overwater. The #1 killer of plants. Mist them lightly with plain water. Lightly. Keep air moving around them but not on them.

Suggest using a beneficial sprinkled on the roots at transplant. Great White or something similar. Will really help rooting.

jjng5 said:

You just transplanted them? They need to adjust to their new environment. Keep the light higher up off of them, keep humidity up, and do not over water. They cannot handle a lot of light at this point. You'll know once they want more light, their top leaf sets will start to reach for it. Then lower it down. I wouldn't fertilize them either. Droopy can be an over watering issue (but could be other things too). Keep an eye on them and keep them comfortable. They'll bounce back, just give them the time they want to turn things around or else you'll stress them more.

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Transplanted them on the 26th. Only watered once when I put them into the soil, and once today.
Will make sure to not over water but don't think these girls are being over watered as the soil was really light when I watered them today.

Only had about 6 inches from top leaf to light so I lowered them, now there's about 12 inches from top leaf to light. Hopefully that eases them a bit.

hotrodharley said:

Get the light closer. It’s a T5. The plants will get over it. Do not overwater. The #1 killer of plants. Mist them lightly with plain water. Lightly. Keep air moving around them but not on them.

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Well damn dunno if I should move them closer or further away now haha
What's the safer bet for stressed out plants?

Anongrows said:

Well damn dunno if I should move them closer or further away now haha
What's the safer bet for stressed out plants?

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Higher but quickly lower it. The closer the better. They’re photosynthetic units eh? The light. The light.

You won’t burn them and I doubt at this point you will stress them too much. If they start turning away from the light then raise it.

I hate to disagree with hotrod but I don't think rooting clones or new transplants need a ton of light. I run my T8's 16-30" above new clones or transplants. After a week when they perk up I will put the T8's 3" above the plants. Your T5's may be a little brighter. Your clones look like they are adapting to the new environment and should be fine in a few days.

70's natureboy said:

I hate to disagree with hotrod but I don't think rooting clones or new transplants need a ton of light. I run my T8's 16-30" above new clones or transplants. After a week when they perk up I will put the T8's 3" above the plants. Your T5's may be a little brighter. Your clones look like they are adapting to the new environment and should be fine in a few days.

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This is what I've found to be true as well. Less light and higher humidity during the transition. The top leaf sets will begin to perk up and reach for the light when it's ready to lower them down again. Right now you want the plant focused on establishing it's root zone in it's new environment. Once it's done with that then it'll be ready to focus on leaf growth, but not yet.

It’s been how many days since you got them home?

Hey guys just to close this off in case it comes up for anyone googling this or whatever.
I decided to raise the light, keep it warm (About 75 degrees F), and use a misting sprayer about twice a day with PH'd water. In about 2-3 days they perked back up, I lowered the light once they were stabilized in a few more days, and they began to grow very well!
Thanks for all of your input guys. I appreciate each different outlook and possibility from the different experienced growers!