First Grow Seedling Questions

[adammiller34]

Hi guys i have just started my first grow and have a few questions... I will try to get some better quality pictures on here asap to give you all an idea of what im getting at but here we go...

Equiptment right consists of:

Lumatek 400W MH/HPS digital ballast

• 1 400W MH Light w horizontal reflector on 18/6 placed about 1 1/2' - 2' above seedlings, also have 400W HPS for later on
• Propagation heating mat
• Closet grow area is about 6'x5-6'
• Air Purifier and air recirculating fans etc.
• Air temp is right around 78-79F when the light is on and like 70F when it is off.
• I also have a roll of mylar i will be adding to the room on tuedsay for additional lighting etc...

I planted 40 seeds (from decent bag seed) into a Rapid Rooter starter tray and have gotten about 13 to sprout within 3-4 days. I planted them on 11/11/08 just to give you an idea of how far along they are. There are 6-7 pretty healthy looking seedlings but each seedling only has one set of true leaves so far and seem to be stretching a bit... each seedling is approx. 3-4 inches tall with the exception of a few that are only 1 1/2 - 2''... i dont know why this would be happening with a 400 watt MH bulb which im guessing puts out around 50,000 lumens and the space is relatively small... It is my first grow and i know i am probably just getting ahead of myself and causing anxiety for no reason... I guess from what ive seen and read (6 or 7 books plus hundreds of things online) they should be doing a little better than what they are... I have been feeding them PH adjusted filtered water and every other time i water with a little bit of Super Thrive and a small amount of high quality Nutrient Booster... not too much tho mainly just water and a little something for the roots... i dont know if overwatering might have caused them to stretch, but i dont believe it is the light... overwatering could very well be the reason but i have no idea and thats why i am here... so any info and feedback is much appreciated... thanks alot guys... ill try and take a few better pics and get them on here soon the only ones i have now are from a crappy camera phone taken 5 mins ago... now it wont let me post pics untill i have posted 15 threads or some **... But i think i just attatched them to the post so hopefully it works thanks again guys...

 

[adammiller34]

..

 

[pothead4life]

my seedlings did the same thing using 150 hps just few inches away. Idk why i wish i could help you. But when you move them in bigger pots just bury the stem little bit deeper

 

[adammiller34]

ok i definitely hear that... thanks for the reply... just wondering... did your plants end up ok and am i worrying my *** off that they are going to die for nothing or what lol... thanks again for the reply though hopefully ill get a few more generous people to do so with their time

 

[adammiller34]

ohhh and is it normal for them to only have one set of serate leaves after 6 days under 18/6 400W MH at 1 1/2 - 2' or should i be changing something here?? sorry for so much ranting i just really want to take good care of them

 

[pothead4life]

dont worry thats normal i will take some pic of my lil ones they only 2 weeks and working on 3ed and 4th set of leaves. is a long grow bro here is some GEEN MOJO

 

[pothead4life]

 

[leafminer]

Growth rate depends on the strain. Some indicas are really slow, some sativas go like rockets. When you transplant those bury them up to the cotyledons.

 

[adammiller34]

ok thanks alot for the replies guys... if anyone else has any other tips of what i can do let me know i was just worried having only seen one set of true leaves 6 days in but i guess thats ok... the only other question i have is if anyone has any recomendations of what to transplant them into... i was thinking on going with crushed lava rocks and perlite??? if anyone else has any IMO's please let me know... i plant on placing them in 6 - 8'' pots on basically a flood table and feeding them that way... i could go organic if someone can convince me but any opinions are very very helpful as this is my first grow... thanks again guys and gals if there were any...

 

[adammiller34]

well i went out and bought some high quality organic mix instead of the lava rock and am going at it the old fashioned way... if anyone has any tips for transplanting from rapid rooters into an organic potting mix or what nutes. i should be giving them please let me know... im still 3-4 days away from transplanting but any info is much appreciated....

 

[GeezerBudd]

I'd use 5 gallon buckets.That way it's the last time you should have to transplant.
You want there to be enough moisture in the rootball for it to hold its shape.You want to keep as much root in the ball as you can.You might have to kind of invert the rapid tray to get them out.
Or use a big spoon.
Don't pack the soil after you transplant. I only tamp very lightly.
Does'nt look like to me you have a nute prob so I would say go with the same and try to up just a bit as they grow.
I tried to look for a transplanting thread.I believe there is one that a mod made a sticky.
Good luck and looking forward to more pics.

 

[GeezerBudd]

Here's a supercropping thread-there's few tips on transplanting here too.
If you have'nt already:


http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23201


Gb

 

[adammiller34]

bump

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Just plant the rapid rooters into your new soil. Be careful of the roots. A fan blowing on the plants will help strengthen the stem. I have never heard of plants stretching because of the watering regime. It is more light and strain related.

You are severely underlit for a 5 x 6 space--30 sq ft. You really need about 3000 lumens per sq ft for vegging and 5000 lumens per sq ft for flowering. Your 400W MH is probably putting out about 35000 lumens, your HPS will put out about 50000. Your lighting is good for about 10 sq ft.

 

[adammiller34]

my bad i meant to write that it is 5 feet in length and two feet in width but the ceiling hight is 5 or 6'

 

[adammiller34]

and im only using about 3/4 of that space so its really even less

 

[umbra]

Just plant the rapid rooters into your new soil. Be careful of the roots. A fan blowing on the plants will help strengthen the stem. I have never heard of plants stretching because of the watering regime. It is more light and strain related.

You are severely underlit for a 5 x 6 space--30 sq ft. You really need about 3000 lumens per sq ft for vegging and 5000 lumens per sq ft for flowering. Your 400W MH is probably putting out about 35000 lumens, your HPS will put out about 50000. Your lighting is good for about 10 sq ft.

I concur. the fan will strengthen the stems, it also stimulates the root ball. stretch from water, i dunno, doubt it.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

my bad i meant to write that it is 5 feet in length and two feet in width but the ceiling hight is 5 or 6'

Okay, 400W iwill do just fine for 10 sq ft. However, unless you have a portion actually blocked off, you are dispersing the light over the entire 10 sq feet, not just 3/4 of it.

 

[adammiller34]

ok thanks alot for the quick replies guys... yeah i plan on cutting the space off with the leftove mylar placed onto styrofoam or plywood or something any suggestions much appreciated... thanks again guys

 

[adammiller34]

Bump