Can't get past seedling size

[Sandman45]

I am on attempt #5 here now, every attempt ends the same. After 3 weeks, my plants ALL turn brown and crumble to little pieces. You can see in my picture the plant I currently have going and would prefer to break my cycle.

This is a closet grow, my fiance and I have cats, so we are limited on our venue.

I am using MG potting mix, watering lightly every 3 days, and have yet to put any plant food on any attempts yet. I have 2 100 watt eq. CFL bulbs, and one 300 watt eq. CFL bulb, now all aimed at this one last soldier.

I have gotten to where I can germinate these bastards like a Cheech and Chong style friend, but after 2 weeks, they are ALWAYS yellow and fall apart.

The little girl in the pic attached is 2 weeks old, you can see she's turning yellow on her leaf tips. This is the start of the demise every time thus far.

HELP!!!!

Thanks.

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[paltema]

lights might be too close for a seedling

 

[eatAstar]

maybe not enough ventilation? it seems like heat might be crippling it. i'm not really sure though, but that would be my best guess.

 

[SlightlyStoopid]

lights are to close... happened to mine... back em up quick!

 

[thomas232]

Lights are too close, plants overheating.
Put the lights about 4-5 inches away until it starts veg. I keep my CFLS 3-4in away and their healthy..

 

[CreepyStevie69]

after 3 weeks add nutes too. couple weeks back mine started dying. i added nutes and the problem fixed right away. they are looking real nice now. i just use a 20-20-20 formula 1/2 strength with every water (which is about ever 2 or 3 days. depending on how thirsty they are. and if i remember). works for me.

 

[Twistyman]

I keep my CFL's about 3/4" away, but I'm not using a reflector and I have a fan on them while the lights are on...16 - 18 hours...

 

[ontariogrower]

MG potting soil is your first problem
second is raise the lights about 6 inches away from the plant

 

[Sandman45]

I will try moving them off. (See attached).

I was told on another thread on here to have them almost touching. I guess I need more airflow for that to be okay?

Thanks much for the help.

 

[EyezofSnake]

wrong spectrum of light... you want 6500k

 

[mustard]

would be nice to know what the temp really is..... young plants tend to grow well in heat, but not under a heat lamp. The lights do look pretty close.

also, babies like that like a "rainforest" enviroment, but it is not necessary to make it work. I use a germination tray with a dome lid and adjustable vents. During germination, I keep it between 80 and 90 degrees in complete darkness. Then I put the tray under the light after they sprout and keep it around 78 degrees. Mist the inside of the dome daily during germination and sprout stage. Light water when needed, don't over water.

Not saying this is your solution, just sharing what I do. Best of luck!

edit: just saw your second pic. I see your are not transplanting as you are growing in larger pots from the start..... with the light that close, you would have to mist often to keep it from burning up it seems. just a guess.

 

[Galeer]

it could be the light but i was having same problem and it wasnt light turns out the water i was using was a PH of like 8.0 man thats really high so now im feeding my plants with a ph of 6.5 and they doing a lot better this time get a hyfroponic test kit and ph up and down water shit

 

[smppro]

Probably your MG soil, try a bag of peat moss instead mixed with some perlite. And you can probably back the lights off a little more, you need them close once they are past seedling, good luck

 

[Antman]

MG potting soil is your first problem
second is raise the lights about 6 inches away from the plant

DITTO!! Miracle Grow Soil already has TOO MUCH fertilizer in it for seedlings. You need plain growing medium. Something with plain dirt, some sphagnum peat moss and some perlite in it. NO FERTS!! And definately move the lights back. You can even get rid of one of them until the plant gets a little bigger.

 

[Remix]

get a thermostat and put it next to ur plant...90+ SLOW GROWTH
trust me i did the same thing with my first batch
u need good ventillation also, at least a decent fan pushing air out the grow room
you are using cfls so it shouldnt be to big of a problem, just make sure at plant level your temp is under 90
like 78-80 is ideal

 

[ontariogrower]

yep MG is the problem I can tell from here it soak the moisture away from the plants there dry as a bone

 

[stoned1]

iv had bad experience with mg i use a top soil with some peat moss mix and seems to work just fine.

 

[DarkSarcasm420]

im gonna go ahead and say that it is not the mg soil. look at this plant (my avatar) growing in some mg soil as i type. its alot bigger now but its healthy enough for MG from what ive read on here.
ide say get the lights a little further away. do you have a thermometer in there so you can keep the temp at about 72-78 degrees F. if the plant is in too high of a temperature the proteins that help to build the plant up will not function properly. therby haulting or severely slowing growth of the plant.

 

[01greenv8]

im gonna go ahead and say that it is not the mg soil. look at this plant (my avatar) growing in some mg soil as i type. its alot bigger now but its healthy enough for MG from what ive read on here.
ide say get the lights a little further away. do you have a thermometer in there so you can keep the temp at about 72-78 degrees F. if the plant is in too high of a temperature the proteins that help to build the plant up will not function properly. therby haulting or severely slowing growth of the plant.

I'm gnna have to agree with you. I've grown numerous plants in MG and have had outstanding results. Yes there are definitely better alternatives for your mediums, however I'm gonna have to disagree about everyone saying it's MG causing the problem. I would go with the light is too close for a seedling, and a heat problem too.

 

[FlyinLow&High]

Go to a Hydro shop and and get Fox Farm Ocean Crest soil, or you can order online. Your soil has a lot of wood chips it looks like, back off the lights, and and dont water so much, its a weed...