New Grower when to put under light

[doobydoobydo]

I have just germinated some think different. I have put them root down in some compost in small pots ready to transfer. Do i now leave them covered until they show, or put them under light. My ballast adjusts to 250.
cheers
namaste

 

[namvet25]

To late now but you should have put them in there final pots unless your using reg seeds.Just keep moist and cover them with plastic wrap and keep them under your lights but not to close and remove plastic when they pop up.

 

[HotBunz]

I have just germinated some think different. I have put them root down in some compost in small pots ready to transfer. Do i now leave them covered until they show, or put them under light. My ballast adjusts to 250.
cheers
namaste

What is your reason not to plant straight into the final growing pot? While there has been a few folks with limited success autos do not like to be transplanted.

To answer your question though there is no real reason to light them up till they are starting to break the soil surface.

 

[doobydoobydo]

Thank you, i have cut out the bottom of some 4inch pots and also cut them up the side and used a piece of tape to hold them together. When i transplant them i shall make a hole the same size in my pot slip them in and carefully remove the pot.
This way i will have more room for the first week.
How near should i put them to the light avoid stretching.
thanks
namaste

 

[Discretepete2676]

Hps or led? Size light?

 

[late]

Another way to do that is to take two starter pots. I use ones that would hold at least 8 oz of liquid.

Cut the bottom out of one, and put that inside the other. Germinate, and when it's time to transplant, take the inner pot out and put it in it's new grow space.

Works like a charm.

 

[doobydoobydo]

I have 2 lights both 600 hps Only one of my ballasts adjusts to 250, the other only goes down to 400 hps i was worried that if i put the seeds straight into the final pots i would not have enough spread at 250 for 8 plants. My theory is to put them under the 250 for a week in the small pots then transplant them into the final pots and then turn on the other light and have them both at 400 for a week or so then bang them both up to 600. I am certain i can transfer them into the big pots without disturbing them.
SO my final question is how soon do i put them under the light and how near. I have had lots of trouble with stretching and leggy seeds which i am trying to avoid.
any tips would be appreciated.
thanks
namaste

 

[Ripped In Oregon]

I don't know about the transplanting part I have always heard that they don't like it. You don't want to stress them out and take a chance on damaging new delicate roots that just my guess. I just put mine in the 5 gal pots about an inch or to the first knuckle dropped them in and 4 days later they broke soil. I did have one out of the three that it seemed like the minute it broke surface it was already stretching towards the light. I just lowered my lights about a foot above the seedlings just put your hand above the plants and leave it there for about 20 seconds or more if it is uncomfortable to you then it most likely is to them. I put my lights up as far as they would go and left them on 24 hours until they popped. It's cold on the Oregon coast so I had to keep them warm and the humidity up around the mid 50's to low 60's. Just remember when they pop keep the lights as close as possible and check on them daily as much as possible. If they start bending towards the lights then move the lights up and turn the plant the opposite way for sun and straighten out. You would have coverage with the 250 and then once they break fire up the 400 and get the coverage you need. Hope some of this helps.

 

[doobydoobydo]

Brilliant thank you, i germinated on tissue paper and when they had burst i waited a day until the root was longish then planted them about half inch and covered them lightly. So just to confirm.... i now put them under the 250, as close as possible WITHOUT too much heat. In the past i have lost lots of seeds due to stretching and probably too much heat.
I will try to post a picture later
namaste
ps I assume that transplanting autos is only a bad thing IF you disturb them. I reckon i can transfer them without doing that but will get back to you all on that

 

[doobydoobydo]

Just seeing if I can get a picture up