First timer needing some advice!

[NorthernSmokeOH]

Thank you for taking time to help! A little background on my girls. They were gifted to me about 3 weeks ago and were already about 6-12 in high. I'm pretty sure I have 2 Sativa and 2 Indica no idea what strains. I transplanted them into 5 gal pots with holes drilled near the bottom for drainage. I have only used Mother Earth potting soil and (I know some say its taboo) used 1 dosage of miracle grow veg food 1 time.

I use only RO water and I've noticed its been 5 days since I last watered em and the soil is still damp. I'm noticing some yellowing here and there and a friend suggested some cal/mag to help it out. Its my first time and its outdoor only and I'm concerned about sunlight. As of right now I am getting 5-6 hours of direct sunlight (security reasons) and am not sure if its enough.

Any help or tips anyone can give me would be a huge help!

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Thank you for taking time to help! A little background on my girls. They were gifted to me about 3 weeks ago and were already about 6-12 in high. I'm pretty sure I have 2 Sativa and 2 Indica no idea what strains. I transplanted them into 5 gal pots with holes drilled near the bottom for drainage. I have only used Mother Earth potting soil and (I know some say its taboo) used 1 dosage of miracle grow veg food 1 time.

I use only RO water and I've noticed its been 5 days since I last watered em and the soil is still damp. I'm noticing some yellowing here and there and a friend suggested some cal/mag to help it out. Its my first time and its outdoor only and I'm concerned about sunlight. As of right now I am getting 5-6 hours of direct sunlight (security reasons) and am not sure if its enough.

Any help or tips anyone can give me would be a huge help!

They look hungry for more light. Plants that small would take a couple weeks to drink all the water out of a fully saturated 5 gallon pot. Likely just looking a little pissed because of overwatering. Potting soil should have enough nutrients to get you 6-8 weeks into your grow if not more. You should be adding cal mag if you are using RO water.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Looks good. Might just be hungry for nutes.

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Looks good. Might just be hungry for nutes.

Potting soil should have enough nutrients to get you 6-8 weeks into your grow if not more.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Potting soil should have enough nutrients to get you 6-8 weeks into your grow if not more.

Depends on what potting soil. I’ve had potting soils that only last 3-4 weeks.

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Depends on what potting soil. I’ve had potting soils that only last 3-4 weeks.

Sure. but the guy just repotted and the plants are tiny. No way they used all the nutes up. No way.

They have no branches and are tall and skinny. Classic lack of light.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Sure. but the guy just repotted and the plants are tiny. No way they used all the nutes up. No way.

They have no branches and are tall and skinny. Classic lack of light.

I have grown with the same amount of direct sunlight with no issues. My temps and rh might be different though. I never have an issue with soil being wet for too long unless there is an issue going on at the root zone.

 

[JoeBlow5823]

I have grown with the same amount of direct sunlight with no issues. My temps and rh might be different though. I never have an issue with soil being wet for too long.

Your idea of direct sun and his might be a little different. And "direct sun" where i live when it is cloudy 9 outta 10 days..... You put little plants in giant pots filled with potting soil that absorbs tons of water and fully saturate them and dont have issues with them staying wet to long?

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Your idea of direct sun and his might be a little different. And "direct sun" where i live when it is cloudy 9 outta 10 days..... You put little plants in giant pots filled with potting soil that absorbs tons of water and fully saturate them and dont have issues with them staying wet to long?

No. We have dry hot summers though.

 

[NorthernSmokeOH]

Your idea of direct sun and his might be a little different. And "direct sun" where i live when it is cloudy 9 outta 10 days..... You put little plants in giant pots filled with potting soil that absorbs tons of water and fully saturate them and dont have issues with them staying wet to long?

Holy crap man thanks for that I think I made the mistake of over watering when I transplanted. They have been growing, I can always post new pics, those are about a week old. They are nice and dark green and the tops are a bright green. Is their any other tactic or method to help with light? I clocked how much light they get and since we are moving towards the summer solstice I clocked 7 hours of direct sunlight yesterday (I've got a big old walnut tree that blocks direct light from 5pm til sunset). I'm going to get some cal/mag this weekend. I read I should wait to water until the soil is dry on the top from 2-4 inches correct?

Thank you for the advice guys!

 

[NorthernSmokeOH]

I have grown with the same amount of direct sunlight with no issues. My temps and rh might be different though. I never have an issue with soil being wet for too long unless there is an issue going on at the root zone.

Beautiful gardens brother beautiful! I'm near the Great Lakes region so my temps right now are from 80-90 almost every day. I moved them indoors during thunderstorms because I fear the high winds will kill em and the rain will drown em. Last night we had alot of storms and after I got them indoors the tops all drooped but the bottom fan leaves were just fine. I let them sleep and this morning they all look really good nice and flat any idea why that would happen?

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Holy crap man thanks for that I think I made the mistake of over watering when I transplanted. They have been growing, I can always post new pics, those are about a week old. They are nice and dark green and the tops are a bright green. Is their any other tactic or method to help with light? I clocked how much light they get and since we are moving towards the summer solstice I clocked 7 hours of direct sunlight yesterday (I've got a big old walnut tree that blocks direct light from 5pm til sunset). I'm going to get some cal/mag this weekend. I read I should wait to water until the soil is dry on the top from 2-4 inches correct?

Thank you for the advice guys!

I water when the pots feel as light as they did when i filled them with dirt out of the bag which is moist but not wet or dry. If its sopping wet on the bottom 6'' of the pot, its to early. Thats where going from solo cup to 1-2 gallon pot to 5 gallon pot is the way to do it. You want your root zone and plant size to be pretty close to your pot size.

 

[NorthernSmokeOH]

I water when the pots feel as light as they did when i filled them with dirt out of the bag which is moist but not wet or dry. If its sopping wet on the bottom 6'' of the pot, its to early. Thats where going from solo cup to 1-2 gallon pot to 5 gallon pot is the way to do it. You want your root zone and plant size to be pretty close to your pot size.

Ok makes sense. When I got these girls they were already germinated and growing. They were all stacked in a small planters box, I'm talking 20 seeds in a 3ft by 6 in space. They were crammed together so when I got them they went straight into a 5 gal pot. Should I assume they were stunted? They have doubled in size since I transplanted them but I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing with em. Will it be harder for them to create a good root structure because of what I've done?

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Ok makes sense. When I got these girls they were already germinated and growing. They were all stacked in a small planters box, I'm talking 20 seeds in a 3ft by 6 in space. They were crammed together so when I got them they went straight into a 5 gal pot. Should I assume they were stunted? They have doubled in size since I transplanted them but I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing with em. Will it be harder for them to create a good root structure because of what I've done?

The hard thing is watering a little plant in a bigass pot. When you put a solo cup size root ball in a 5 gallon pot you have to carefully try to water just were the roots are for the first couple weeks until they stretch out into the entire pot. If you go from solo cup to 1.5 gallon to 5 gallon, you will always have a decent size root ball compared to the size of the container.

 

[NorthernSmokeOH]

The hard thing is watering a little plant in a bigass pot. When you put a solo cup size root ball in a 5 gallon pot you have to carefully try to water just were the roots are for the first couple weeks until they stretch out into the entire pot. If you go from solo cup to 1.5 gallon to 5 gallon, you will always have a decent size root ball compared to the size of the container.

Ok so minimal water just around the stem would be the way to go for a few weeks? Today I've noticed the soil is getting alot dryer.

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Ok so minimal water just around the stem would be the way to go for a few weeks? Today I've noticed the soil is getting alot dryer.

well at this point the roots have probably stretched out a bit. plants are a bit small though, not using a lot of water.

 

[NorthernSmokeOH]

well at this point the roots have probably stretched out a bit. plants are a bit small though, not using a lot of water.

Don't mean to keep bothering you but so I'm clear, add a little cal mag with veg food, watch the water amount and let em grow?

 

[Budzbuddha]

Once they hit sexual maturity and plant hasnt vegged out decently ( LONG LIGHT PERIOD ) they will flower with whatever areas on plant are ready ... whether you like it or not. Those 5-6 hours of light all but guarantees a smaller , less fruitful plant.

Is there any way to run these indoors before they move to next stage prematurely?

 

[JoeBlow5823]

Once they hit sexual maturity and plant hasnt vegged out decently ( LONG LIGHT PERIOD ) they will flower with whatever areas on plant are ready ... whether you like it or not. Those 5-6 hours of light all but guarantees a smaller , less fruitful plant.

Is there any way to run these indoors before they move to next stage prematurely?

once a plant goes outside, never bring it back in.

 

[Budzbuddha]

If plant doesn't get the appropriate “ length “ of usable light for good growth , it will never fully utilize that about of medium it has been transplanted into. Plant is creeping along as much as it can without enough light ... slow growth , slow rooting , lanky structure. No bottle feed will correct that.

It is environmental ... not what you can dump into it.