Growing noob starting some Cyber Crystal

Hey folks, just thought I would share my experience with everyone here -- I'm sure that I'll have some questions and I figured putting a thread together would help give background if I run into troubles growing!

So I picked up 10 Cyber Crystal seeds from a local seed store. I've been reading like mad and I've even watched a few videos. I have very limited space right now so I am attempting to germinate just two seeds at a time. I am using the paper-towel method mentioned on this and many other sites...

The room I am germinating in has a humidifier running and is from 24-26 degrees Celsius at all times. I have kept the seeds mostly dark but they may have been exposed to a bit of light. I used bottled water to wet the paper towels.

I think I've done everything right and am now playing a waiting game... I started the germination about 34 hours ago and I've checked them twice, but there is no cracking yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will sprout soon.

For lighting I have decided to try a combination of LEDs and CFLs. I have two 80 LED bright white bulbs and will be using 2 CFL bulbs (screw in base). I am going to keep them small and put them in some sort of box, but I haven't quite figured it all out yet.

Question about soils: I have two soils at home right now, one is a bag of "seed starting" soil that is composed of compost, perlite and pete moss... the other is a miracle grow slow release soil. Do you guys think that I should plant my seedlings in either -- or should I go get something else?

I'll be sure to post pictures and all the gorey details when I get everything up and running. This is going to be a stealth box, so it should be fun.

Thanks.

Hey thanks! I'm getting a little bit antsy. My first two seeds have been covered for about 46 hours now and I'm not seeing anything from them. Should I be really concerned if nothing happens today?

are they warm? i may have missed that but i dont see anywhere that you say you are keeping them warm. mine usually pop 24-48 hours when kept ontop of my tivo box and kept dark. a modem or amp works too

blunt said:

are they warm? i may have missed that but i dont see anywhere that you say you are keeping them warm. mine usually pop 24-48 hours when kept ontop of my tivo box and kept dark. a modem or amp works too

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Yeah, I've been keeping them in a room that is about 23-26 degrees at all times (73 - 79 in Fahrenheit).

Should I put them on top of one of my radiators? I live in an old place that has rads... but that might be too hot.

take your germing seeds and place them on something warm like mentioned (I put mine on top of my hot water tank, when I do seeds). Get a small hand towel and fold it up and wet it and place it on top of the paper towel - this will keep the seed moist longer and keep it in the dark. you should see a tap root within a couple days... if not after like 3, it's a dud.

keep the towel moist with warm water.

Thanks, I'll give that a try and report the results.

Hey folks. I just had my first seed pop. It took almost exactly 72 hours, whew I am relieved!

I put the dish (with wet paper towels covered by a plastic bag) on top of one of my radiators where the temperature was constantly about 28 degrees. I don't know if the temp. helped or just waiting 72 hours helped, but finally one popped.

I'll keep you updated with pics as soon as they sprout!

Has anyone ever used tiny growing containers made from pete moss? Apparently you can just plant them right into a larger container--they will decompose and allow roots to go right through. I'm going to give them a try so I can avoid disturbing the plant with the first transplant.

they're called peat pellets, and I use them to clone... once the roots start poking out the sides, I gently peal off the fabric around the pellet and bury it in the center of a moist container of dirt.

Actually, no these are literally containers made of dried peat moss. I've used pellets to grow other things so I know what they are.

I have these containers filled with a medium made of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.

Dang i wanna see some pics already

Okay. I finally got a chance to take some pictures of the two seeds that popped so far. I am having less than stellar results with germination -- out of the five seeds that I've tried so far only two have germinated.

I'm using the paper towel method, placing them in a warm area (on top of the fridge) and checking every 8-12 hours or so to make sure they aren't getting dry. I think I might have got some bad seeds... what do you guys think?

Anyway. I planted the two that did pop in a vermiculite, perlite and peat moss mixture and they have finally sprouted! YAY. I'm getting all excited.

I've attached two images of them in this thread. The left plant (Hope) is a day younger than the right one (Towlie). They are both growing like crazy!

I am keeping them moist, and have started to water with a very very diluted nute mix (it's a miracle grow nute mix, 24-8-16 watered down A LOT).

Bent526 said:

Okay. I finally got a chance to take some pictures of the two seeds that popped so far. I am having less than stellar results with germination -- out of the five seeds that I've tried so far only two have germinated.

I'm using the paper towel method, placing them in a warm area (on top of the fridge) and checking every 8-12 hours or so to make sure they aren't getting dry. I think I might have got some bad seeds... what do you guys think?

Anyway. I planted the two that did pop in a vermiculite, perlite and peat moss mixture and they have finally sprouted! YAY. I'm getting all excited.

I've attached two images of them in this thread. The left plant (Hope) is a day younger than the right one (Towlie). They are both growing like crazy!

I am keeping them moist, and have started to water with a very very diluted nute mix (it's a miracle grow nute mix, 24-8-16 watered down A LOT).

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Yeah they will grow through those peat cups but I know some peeps who don't like to use them, as it lowers the pH of the soil...which stunts growth. I would get a soil pH meter so you can adjust if need be.

A good way to stabilize soil is to use dolomite lime (calcium-magnesium carbonate). Dolomitic lime acts slowly and continuously, so soil will remain pH stable for a few months.
Using fine size dolomite lime is important, coarser grades can take a year or longer to work. You can find fine size dolomite lime at any well stocked garden supply center.
Dolomite lime has been used by gardeners as a pH stabilizer for many years. It has a pH that is neutral (7.0). When added to soil in the correct proportions, it will stabilize soil at a pH near 7.0.

When growing in containers, add one cup of fine dolomite lime to each cubic foot of soil. Mix the dry soil thoroughly with the dolomite lime, then lightly water it. After watering, re-mix it and wait for a day or two before checking the pH. When growing in an outdoor garden, follow the dolomite lime manufacturers instructions.
Lowering soil pH: small amounts of composted leaves, cottonseed meal, or peat moss will lower the pH of soil.
Raising soil pH: small amounts of hardwood ashes or crushed oyster/egg shells will help to raise the soil pH. Hydrated lime can also be used to raise the pH of soil. In containers, use no more than 1/8 cup of hydrated lime per cubic foot of soil (per application). Mix it into warm water, then apply the water to the soil.

Good luck man on your grow.

the babies look good now man IMO stop with the nutes till they are atleast 3-4 weeks old its just like underage drinking its not going to kill them if its a real weak solution but it can cause them some harm cause their bodies cant handel the stuff yet

A little late in the thread, but I germed 5 seeds (4 came into being). One took 36 hours, one around 48, and the other two took around 5 - 5.5 days. Anybody see a problem, or will some seeds just do this occasionally?

I'ma Joker Midnight Toker said:

Yeah they will grow through those peat cups but I know some peeps who don't like to use them, as it lowers the pH of the soil...which stunts growth. I would get a soil pH meter so you can adjust if need be.

A good way to stabilize soil is to use dolomite lime (calcium-magnesium carbonate). Dolomitic lime acts slowly and continuously, so soil will remain pH stable for a few months.
Using fine size dolomite lime is important, coarser grades can take a year or longer to work. You can find fine size dolomite lime at any well stocked garden supply center.
Dolomite lime has been used by gardeners as a pH stabilizer for many years. It has a pH that is neutral (7.0). When added to soil in the correct proportions, it will stabilize soil at a pH near 7.0.

When growing in containers, add one cup of fine dolomite lime to each cubic foot of soil. Mix the dry soil thoroughly with the dolomite lime, then lightly water it. After watering, re-mix it and wait for a day or two before checking the pH. When growing in an outdoor garden, follow the dolomite lime manufacturers instructions.
Lowering soil pH: small amounts of composted leaves, cottonseed meal, or peat moss will lower the pH of soil.
Raising soil pH: small amounts of hardwood ashes or crushed oyster/egg shells will help to raise the soil pH. Hydrated lime can also be used to raise the pH of soil. In containers, use no more than 1/8 cup of hydrated lime per cubic foot of soil (per application). Mix it into warm water, then apply the water to the soil.

Good luck man on your grow.

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Thanks very much for the advice.

I'm just going to grow them in those peat moss pots until they are big enough to be transplanted and then at that time I will add some crushed egg shells to the medium in order to even out the pH of the soil and transfer them to regular plastic grow pots.

I also have some coffee grounds waiting in the freezer, but I am thinking that they might also mess with soil pH... I'm going to poke around the forums and see what people have to say about it.

I will keep my eyes open for a pH tester as well. I don't want to spend too much cash right now, so if I can find a decently cheap one I'll grab it.

Thanks again.

My pH meter cost me $20 from the loacl nursery and it's idiot proof and accurate

Hey folks, back with some troubles and was hoping for some help.

I think that feeding my seedlings some diluted nutes was really bad for them. I stopped as soon as you guys advised me too but I think the damage was already done.

I've attached three pictures... first two are my plant "Hope" she is looking decent but is starting to turn yellow. I am very concerned. I flushed the soil last night and am hoping that I stopped the yellowing.

I also inlcuded a pic of her with another seedling that I germed a few days later and DID NOT use any nutes on... you can see how much greener it is.

The last pic is the plant I've named "Towlie" -- she's a hurting, I'm afraid that I'm going to lose her. Very yellow!

Is it possible that I am overwatering? I am watering once a day, only so much because they seem to be bone dry each morning! The temp is a bit high in the box sometimes, around 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees F).

I just added more light for them all as well... they are now under 4 daylight 27w CFLS and 2 warm 23w CFLs ... about 10000 lumens worth of light.

I'd really appreciate your advice!

hello Bent...well looks like your having fun huh? well you have learned not to give nutes untill its time huh? I have learned that not to give nutes until the little round leafs (cant remember the right name sorry) turns yellow and starts to fall off..Which is about 2-4 weeks as Dubbaman said..I did the same thing and those will be fine..be sure to water with PH correct water..I use disstilled...also pick yourself up a moister reader from garden center..there like $10...seems that water everyday is a bit much...the soil on top will allways dry out in a few hours..you need to know whats it like at the bottom...those peat pots are good I have used them but not for MJ..as far as your temps go its hard to help without some info on your setup...Do you have a fan in ther running 24/7? do you have exaust? what is your light cycle?...and how close to the plants are they? what is the size of your grow room? Sorry for the Book here just tryn to get a picture of what you have going on..Good Luck

Thanks for the response 4u2smoke... I appreciate the insight!

I am growing in a tall cabinet with adjustable shelving, right now the grow area is about 18" x 22" x 21"

In terms of ventilation I have temporarily rigged two computer fans, but I am going out today to get some more permanent. One is rigged for exhaust and one to give a bit of a breeze for the plants and intake air.

I am lighting 18h right now, on a timer. Lights are about 2-3" away from the plants.

I haven't PH tested my water, but I am fairly sure it's in range. I will go out and get a kit today -- it's tap water, but I always let it sit for 24 hours to get rid of any chlorine in it.

In case you missed it, soil is peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. I'm really happy with it, it drains like a champ and stays wet for a good amount of time (I think it's drying so fast because the lights are so close right now and because there is very little soil).

Thanks again for your help.