2nd attempt growing, still confused and looking for advice before I start

[Markyb]

I'm planning on going for round 2 after my first attempt failed from the start.
So what I think happened with my first try was that I probably picked up a wrong soil for an autoflower, or that I just had bad luck with the seed. (Easy Bud)
Here's my first attempt: (https://www.autoflower.org/threads/...growing-i-think-it-messed-up-something.92157/)

For my 2nd try I got 10L (~3gal) fabric pots and BioBizz Ligh-Mix because I have seen it being praised a lot, especially for autos.
(Should I add more perlite into the mix or is it good as it is?)
Everything else is pretty much as it was with my first attempt. But before I begin I figured I should consult experienced growers first so I can plan this stuff beforehand:

- I'm still very confused about watering the seedling. I have seen many completely opposite ways people are doing the watering and I just have no idea what to actually do. I know I should avoid overthinking but not-overthinking is possible when people have at least some experience on the subject. And that's why I try to ask as much as possible beforehand.

My first intuitive is to first slowly pre-soak the soil until I start getting some run-off. Wait 24-48 hours for the soil to dry just a little bit and then plant the germinated seed.
(As far as I have understood, the soil dries very slowly on its own when there are nothing growing in it and it might take over a week before the soil dries completely)

Wait for the top inch of the soil to almost completely dry and then water it around the seedling (and NOT soak the seedling itself) until I get some runoff.

OR

Is this "run-off" way advisable or should I water around the seedling with smaller amounts of water? For me the "smaller amount" way feels counterintuitive and I get the feeling that it would be much easier to overwater the seedling doing it this way because I would have to water it more frequently? Also kind of worried that the soil around the seedling gets bone dry hydrophobic and the roots won't be growing and spreading.


Oh, and should I keep a dome over the seedling and how long?

All advice will be appreciated! Thank you for your patience.

 

[Lil Dab]

(Should I add more perlite into the mix or is it good as it is?)

Might not be a bad idea if your worried about overwatering it will help prevent that but probably not necessary otherwise they would've added it form the factory

- I'm still very confused about watering the seedling. I have seen many completely opposite ways people are doing the watering and I just have no idea what to actually do. I know I should avoid overthinking but not-overthinking is possible when people have at least some experience on the subject. And that's why I try to ask as much as possible beforehand.

Water by weight. Is the soil dry to the touch? How heavy is the pot? Use these factors to determine when to water again.

“What you need to learn about watering will come with practice. Here are the basic rules: Never let the soil dry out. Soil and or coco can become hydrophobic if allowed to dry. This means it repels water. This in turn will create dry pockets in the soil and the roots and microbes will die there. If your soil - coco have accidentally dried out use a surfactant to help re-wet it. I like yucca powder. Don't let soil remain soggy by watering too much too often. Root rot, damping off, molds, fungus gnats and other problems start in soggy soil. When you do water water the entire pot. How to learn when to water starts before you plant the seed. Fill your container with fresh soil/coco and weigh it (heft it) this is the lightest weight and consider it a dry pot. Now slowly water until the soil/coco will no longer absorb the water and run-off begins; weigh the pot (heft it) this is the maximum water, the wettest the pot can get. The difference between wettest and driest is the maximum water weight, for ease of explanation lets just say the water weighs 20 pounds. When the pot loses 10 pounds (half of the water weight) it is time to water again. There is an art to watering.”

My first intuitive is to first slowly pre-soak the soil until I start getting some run-off. Wait 24-48 hours for the soil to dry just a little bit and then plant the germinated seed.
(As far as I have understood, the soil dries very slowly on its own when there are nothing growing in it and it might take over a week before the soil dries completely)

That is the way maybe even little far as completely dry I usually like to just see a dry crust maybe top 1/2" dry. Which yes when they are young it can take a week or more

Oh, and should I keep a dome over the seedling and how long?

I remove it as soon as they sprout

 

[JP1]

Perlite is good

My first intuitive is to first slowly pre-soak the soil until I start getting some run-off. Wait 24-48 hours for the soil to dry just a little bit and then plant the germinated seed

This will work. You also want it to warm up during this time. Around 80 degrees. Domes on top until plants pop up. You're gonna need to fertilize with light mix in a couple of weeks. You have liquid nutes? Also what water are you using and do you have a pH tester?

 

[PeaceLove&Buds]

“Oh, and should I keep a dome over the seedling and how long?”

When I’m dealing with real low rh i leave my dome on the dirt til they’re a week old with no problems at all.

 

[Markyb]

Thank everyone for the advice! Sorry I have not replied earlier, I was traveling and now that I'm back I can concentrate on the second attempt again.

 

[MesaBoogie]

I would suggest an alternative. Nothing wrong with the road you are about to travel it will work just fine. However, I would recommend not starting in the final pot. It adds a lot of complications. Start off in a solo cup. I know the idea of transplanting might seem scary at first, but honestly it's far easier than messing with watering a tiny seedling in a 3g pot.

Here is a super simple transplant method. Take 2 solo cups. Cut the bottom off of one and cut a slit down the center. The 2nd cup just poke some holes in the bottom for drainage. Put them together and add your dirt and seedling. When it comes time to transplant simply separate the 2 solo cups. Drop the inside solo cup with the bottom cut out and place inside your pot. Once your plant is in it's new home, simply slide the the solo cup off. I'll include a pic incase my description was hard to follow.

 

[FullMoonparty]

Some basic advice here.
Small cups to start with. Watering - I pick up each cup in the morning to feel if the seedling needs water. does it feel light, or does it feel like when you started? Don't let them dry out and don't drown them. Practice, practice, practice. Since you are using small containers, you can tip them to get an idea about the weight.
Direct planting is tricky but worth it.
Here's a note about winter weather. Cold and wet is no good. Keep your room or tent warm at night. Don't let it get below 68f for long. That's fine for older plants but it will slow down or almost stop little seedlings from growing. I go down to 70 at night and keep it in the low to mid 80s all day. I try to keep the humidity up to 65% or at least not let it drop below 50%
Make sure the water is not too cold. My well water is 52f, so I fill up a spray bottle and keep it next to the seedlings in the warmth of the grow room. Keep the humidity up. The house is dry in the winter.
Small pot size means you will have to come up with some sort of feeding plan.
I have found it easier and get better results in 7-gallon pots or 2 x 4 beds with no feedings.

Next choice - Elaine Ingram style or Linda Chalker Scott's no BS approach.

 

[Markyb]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I will try once more with the direct planting in the final pot, even though suggested otherwise. And I'm starting to have regrets about it right away.
I I took this approach because I have read many autogrower use and use the big pot and pre-water the pot so I don't have to be watering it during the first week maybe at all.

I have not yet planted the seed but it's germination now. My approach was to let the soil dry a little bit while the seed is germinating.
It might dry pretty fast because I'm currently strugling with extremely dry air (RH under 10%), but before planting I will ramp up the RH as high as i can.


So I mixed the BioBizz Lightmix and perlite (7 liters of Biobizz and 3 liters of perlite). So there should now be more than generous amount of perlite in the mix. I gently "dropped" the fabric pots to clear out air bubbles inside the soilmix (The drop really was gently as it can be, I did not want to compact the soil). I SLOWLY pre-watered it with Ph6.8 water, it took 3 liters to get the runoff going and the amount of runoff was 0.5 liters. (This is the method I have read many growers to praise on)

However, few hours after pre-watering, the soil now feels extremely hard and compressed.. Like, if i try to just stick my finger into the soil I can't because its way too dense and I have to "dig" into it. Never done this before so I don't really know what is too dense and what is OK.

As you can see from the pictures, the soil has compressed during watering it as expected. But I had no idea it would compress this much. I could still take the soil out and "fluff" it before I have to plant the seed. Would that be advisable?

This is how it looks right after mixing, the mix is still dry:

After pre-watering it:

I'm using a stainless steel grill between the pot and the tray so it won't stay soaking in the runoff water:

 

[Markyb]

Perlite is good

This will work. You also want it to warm up during this time. Around 80 degrees. Domes on top until plants pop up. You're gonna need to fertilize with light mix in a couple of weeks. You have liquid nutes? Also what water are you using and do you have a pH tester?

Hi! Thanks!
I have Canna Terra Vega and Canna Terra Flores nutrients. Yes, I also have a pH tester.

 

[Lil Dab]

I have read many autogrower use and use the big pot and pre-water the pot so I don't have to be watering it during the first week maybe at all.

That’s how I like to do it in soil or coco. The pot should be fine no fluffing needed. With that perlite there should be plenty of air. I tamp my pot on the ground to get media to settle in just like you said then water in and plant seed