Seedling Issues

[Tmonney]

All I know is it's not normal for a 3 week old plant to still be on its first real set of leaves. These little ones have been stunted for sure. I'd definitely listen to m.o.g though he know his stuff really well.

 

[n00bie]

This is not true in hydroponics and coco is hydroponics. Seedlings need to be fed from day 1. 25% strength balanced nutrients along with kelp and Humic Acid, 50% strength week 2 along with Bio-stimulants, Silica, B-Vitamins Kelp and Humic Acid. Then bump the nutrients up 10% per week until you get a bit of tip burn. Then back off 10% and you will be dialed in on what this plant likes.



Never feed a single element. You should always feed a balanced fertilizer. If you need to add Cal-Mag because you see the need add it to your regular feeding. Where did you get your Feeding schedule? New growers always want to reinvent the wheel?

When you feed a single element it is 100% of what is presented to the roots. Elements do not blend in the media (except water) So by presenting only Cal-mag you will be locking out Potassium, Magnesium and Boron from the plant.
View attachment 1238390


IMHO it is best to use a vendors entire line ONLY. They spend millions of dollars developing nutrients to work together to achieve the best possible results. It is all about Liebig’s law of the minimum. When you understand this you will understand why you should not mix-n-match your own. The only exception to this rule is when you have deficiencies (it won't happen often if using nutrients correctly). There are a couple of additives I do like and use: Azos and Mykos are microzae and beneficial fungus, Botanicare HydroGuard protects roots in Soil/DWC. I use the Bio-stimulants Kelp, Humic Acid, and B-vitamins. Other than this I use a vendors entire line only on their schedule for what I am doing. As to the strength, the vendors charts are a beginning point and for many strains or phenos it is too strong but not all strains or vendors. So I have a system where I start seeds at 1/4 strength for the first week with a pinch of kelp and humic acid then 50% for the next and I continue to increase by 10% each week until tip burn is observed then back off 10%. This gets you to where the plant likes it not just blindly following the chart.

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 roots there will die. 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.

Nutrition seems to be the most complex part. I think I will just have to play around with more trial and error. Thanks for all the tips, I will definitely experiment more with my plants.

 

[Tmonney]

I wouldn't go too crazy with experiments. Remember it's not going to change immediately so if you do too many things at once you won't know what's working and what's not. Slow and easy is the way to go

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

I have tortured more than one plant with my experiments Document what you do in your journals here. It is an adventure

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I have tortured more than one plant with my experiments Document what you do in your journals here. It is an adventure
View attachment 1238498

Yeah the majority of us here have probably tortured some plants and even killed some plants along the way. I know I have done both. Live and learn though. Costs money and time for some mistakes. Lol

 

[n00bie]

So after I came back to work today, I checked on my plants and the girl who was having more issues was looking worse than usual. I also saw a couple of small flies, which I assumed were fungus gnats, buzzing around. Decided to pull her out and it was bad...turns out the roots were all gone. She's a goner but I learned from my mistakes. Good news is the other one is growing stronger than before and 3rd set of leaves are out. Will be planting another one soon when I get my full set of nutes from Dyna-gro and my full set of supplies. Thinking of documenting my second grow. Also, since I have a fungus gnat infestation, I'm scared for the other plant. Read up on preventative measures and all that but thought I'd get a better idea asking here. What works for you guys when you guys get an infestation?

 

[n00bie]

Have 3 seeds left - 2 purple punch and 1 gorilla glue. You guys choose my next grow.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I'd pop a purple punch so u got 1 left of each. But get rid them gnat larvae in the soil eating your roots. Mosquito dunks or bits work great and safe 4 plants. Sticky traps for adults. Apple cider vinegar mixed wit lil warm water and dish soap and sugar. Shake it. Saran wrap on top. Poke small hole so they get on but dont get out. Or beneficial nematodes if u dont want to use mosquito bits or dunks. Best of luck

 

[Tmonney]

I'd pop a purple punch so u got 1 left of each. But get rid them gnat larvae in the soil eating your roots. Mosquito dunks or bits work great and safe 4 plants. Sticky traps for adults. Apple cider vinegar mixed wit lil warm water and dish soap and sugar. Shake it. Saran wrap on top. Poke small hole so they get on but dont get out. Or beneficial nematodes if u dont want to use mosquito bits or dunks. Best of luck

Neem oil also works, just don't get it on buds.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Neem oil also works, just don't get it on buds.

Neem oil works great for spraying the plants to deter the gnats. And if you use it as a soil drench that can also kill larvae I believe. Your right bout that. Was high last night and forgot to add that. Lol