Indoor First Auto Grow. part 1

[hitman_64]

My initial batch is the Shortstuff Mix purchased from Dope-seeds. All 20 were started on June 21 at about 11 PM. Within 24 hours 18 had popped. The remaining two took a half day longer. As of day 11 I have 11 left. A mouse took care of 6. I broke one beyond repair while adjusting a light and I pulled 2 because they were pissing me off. Thanks goes out to DS though. 100% germination is all you ask.
The way I start my seeds is my way. It works very well for me but may not for you. I use sunshine LT5 soil. Its formulated for tobacco but since tobacco, tomatoes, and cannibis are related it works well. I premoistened the soil to the point of runoff. I take a handful of soil and place it in an unused coffee filter. I then place the filter in a small cup of some kind. Bottoms of soda bottles, detergent lids, etc... I them take a sharp object and create a depression 2x the width and 3x the heighth of the seed. I then place the seed in the hole with the point down. Next using a 32 oz. Spray bottle set to a steady mist I give the sees 3 shots of either 20-20-20 or 20-9-20, whichever is closest at the time. I lightly cover the hole and using a second spray bottle with water I give about 3-5 more mists.
Usually I have my first seeds in 6-12 hours. The majority will pop within 24. If they take longer than 48 they get seperated from the others just because I don't feel like they will make it.
Once they establish a tap root of say 3/8-1/2" I take the filter lightly tear the bottom and set it in my already prepared 3 gallon grow bag.
Day 3: I give the plants their first supplement which is an acid complex as well as a inoculation with Mychorrizhal and beneficial bacteria. Both these items can be bought on eBay from kelp for less.
Day 7: I give the plants something to eat. 1/2 tspn. of feed. (mixture: 1/2 tspn 20-20-20, 1 tspn. Epsom salt, 1 tspn dolomite lime per gallon.
Here we are at day 10

 

[Joe Dirt]

Welcome to AFN! You certainly have a very unique approach... look forward to seeing the results.

 

[hitman_64]

My light system is graduated. Prior to the seeds popping they see very little direct light as it isn't really needed. After the seed pops I place it under an 18" T-8 tube(700 lumens). I do this for two reasons. One at day one in not trying to encourage vertical growth and two the seedling is very delicate and I'm not trying to cook it. After 18-24 hours I move it under 2- 23 watt cfls. on day 3 is when they hit the lights. My area for autos is approximately 30"x48" I run 2- 150 watt hps and 4- 26w cfls I use the cfls to give the plants some blue light as I believe it promotes more females than males

For those that look at the pictures and might wonder what the white stuff is ill tell you. Its a white trash bag cut into sections. It serves multiple purposes and can be used both indoors and out
1.it helps absorb some of the impact of watering. without the aid of an automatic watering system there's a bit too much risk for my taste and I don't want to jeopardize a plant or for that matter a sale because I didn't water at the right time.
2. It prevents rapid drying that leads to overwatering as well as improper watering that causes dry pockets.
3. It provides some reflectivity for the under branches. Not all plants have a central bud. I think it benefits the plants that have multiple bud sites. It might be a fallacy but for no more than the cost is if it adds 1 gram of product I think that more than pays for the trash bag.

 

[hitman_64]

since my last report there's been some vertical growth by some and some bulking up as well as branching. The pictures are at the day 16 mark. The plants are a lot tighter than I'm accustomed to so I've not bothered checking for sex. This won't be a problem in any case since my main goal is seed at this point.

On a side note. This is the shortstuff mix so if any of you have an idea as to what I'm growing feel free to give me your input. I have other seeds I could start to help identify them but I'd rather not at this time. Most all are now showing some sativa influence so it would appear my harvest date is pushed back a bit.

 

[Scott817]

Did you say you are spraying the seeds with nutes directly?

I have never seen a seed pop up out of soil in 6-12 hours. Did you presoak the seeds first?

 

[hitman_64]

Did you say you are spraying the seeds with nutes directly?

I have never seen a seed pop up out of soil in 6-12 hours. Did you presoak the seeds first?

To your first question the answer is yes. 32 oz. Spray bottle set to heavy or steady MIST. 3x with a concentration of 1tspn. Per gallon.
Question 2: pop meaning open and start setting root. Coming out of the soil I call sprouting or breaking the surface.
6 to 12 hours to "pop" is not the norm but in my case it happens pretty frequently. The majority pop within the 24 hour window and generally break the surface within 24 hours of opening.
Question 3 no I don't presoak seeds. I see it as a waste of time and have the opinion that if you can't throw the seed in the dirt and absorb its own moisture them its not worth fooling with. In fact is have to say that from experience presoaking is detrimental to starting seed. People talk about not overwatering plants and not to make the soil soupy. Tell me what's wetter than water. Many people do it and it works. Many people use papertowels. That's what's great about growing I just told you how I get 99% germination but you might try the same thing and never pop a seed. That's the fun part.

 

[Northern Grower]

They are looking great man!

:booya:

--- double post prevention ---

They are looking great man!

:booya:

 

[hitman_64]

They are looking great man!

:booya:

--- double post prevention ---

They are looking great man!

:booya:

Thanks Bailer. I appreciate it. They look pretty good to me but being the first time wasn't sure if they could or should look better.

 

[hitman_64]

Ok. Small update for yall. I had sex today..yippee. Had to wait in a few that were showing a little late but out of the 11 I have 2 males and 9 females. I segregated the boys from the girls. If there are new growers that need it want to see sexing at its various stages so they know what to look for before its too late let me know and ill post some pics. Otherwise ill wait till there is a major difference from the last set of pics. They are growing like weeds..haha.
Took them to the barber shop the other day and got them their first cuts. Wasn't really wanting to because I wasn't sure how they would like it. Didn't want them to start crying and get all depressed on me. They seemed to like it though. They showed me by flashing their bud sites. These things have almost made me want to give up photo growing if it weren't for the lack of yield come paycheck time I would.

 

[hitman_64]

Pot size...for those that are still in question as to what size pot to use. I use 3 gallon grow bags. I think with the soil in them they are about 12-14". When I seperated the boys and girls. One male has roots coming out the weep holes in the bottom of the bag. That's after 3weeks of growth so from that you can see the bigger the pot...the bigger the plant. Less chance of problems. Its a win win.