Very SLOW start, any problems here?!

Seedlings 17 days old and showing very little growth. Am I being impatient? Variables are as follows. Planted in solo cups with 70% happy frog 30% perlite mix. Plain PH’d water only first 14 days. Just did first feeding (very light under 275ppm) of calmag, micro, and grow. Light is 24” over tops and dimmed to 20%. They have been transplanted from solo cups to final pots with microryze. It seems to me the root system would be more established by now, and I’d be seeing some signs of more rapid growth. They look the pretty much the same daily.

They look ok for plants grown in soil. If you want faster growth then I would grow in coco next time

Fish scale said:

They look ok for plants grown in soil. If you want faster growth then I would grow in coco next time

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I did run one coco last time as a test. Was very surprised with the health and yield!

Smokenpassout said:

Seedlings 17 days old and showing very little growth. Am I being impatient? Variables are as follows. Planted in solo cups with 70% happy frog 30% perlite mix. Plain PH’d water only first 14 days. Just did first feeding (very light under 275ppm) of calmag, micro, and grow. Light is 24” over tops and dimmed to 20%. They have been transplanted from solo cups to final pots with microryze. It seems to me the root system would be more established by now, and I’d be seeing some signs of more rapid growth. They look the pretty much the same daily.

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Light and heat, will be major determining factors for growth rate, after genetics(which growers don't have much control over). You stated light is 24" above plant, dimmed to 20%, but you never stated what the total wattage of the fixture is, or temp, and humidity.

That being said, it could be a number of things. All your grow variables, would help us give a better diagnosis.

They weren't near ready to transplant.

Hollatchaboy said:

Light and heat, will be major determining factors for growth rate, after genetics(which growers don't have much control over). You stated light is 24" above plant, dimmed to 20%, but you never stated what the total wattage of the fixture is, or temp, and humidity.

That being said, it could be a number of things. All your grow variables, would help us give a better diagnosis.

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Sure.
My temps are a steady 77 degrees and humidity runs about 67. The light is an Ac Infinity EV04 3X3 light. The suggested setting was 40% at 24” however I felt that 20% at 25” was better for babies.

MickFoster said:

They weren't near ready to transplant.

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Yes I was starting to see roots in the bottom of the solo cups, which were clear. So I transplanted early. I use those as they are short, maybe half the depth of a regular solo cup. I place them on a seedling mat until the pop and then remove it.

Smokenpassout said:

Sure.
My temps are a steady 77 degrees and humidity runs about 67. The light is an Ac Infinity EV04 3X3 light. The suggested setting was 40% at 24” however I felt that 20% at 25” was better for babies.

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Raise temps to at least 80. Rh should be good for that temp.

Hollatchaboy said:

Raise temps to at least 80. Rh should be good for that temp.

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Yes, I can get the temp up to 80 no problemo. The space runs a bit humid, but since Im good, I can lower humidity as usual in flower.

Just a thought. I drop my germinated seeds in their forever 5 gallon bags. Never do I transplant. The trick for me is water/feed. I don't give water or feed to the base of the plant. I always water (even seedlings) all the way to the edges of the 5 gallon bags. Doing ths helps to make the roots spread out looking for food. A bigger root mass produces a healthier plant. Like stated before, 80 degrees and in veg shoot for 60 to 70 % rh. Keep airflow on them to strengthen their stem.
GL!

They dont show any signs of being over-litt to me, and they are all same-ish looking. Maybe a somewhat slow started strain?
One way forward would be bumping the light up a slight bit for a few hours and see what they look like after. But only for as long as you can monitor, no full light cycle. Once youve light stressed a led plant they become extremely complaining about litterally anything.

Looks like they need light.

Rocket Soul said:

They dont show any signs of being over-litt to me, and they are all same-ish looking. Maybe a somewhat slow started strain?
One way forward would be bumping the light up a slight bit for a few hours and see what they look like after. But only for as long as you can monitor, no full light cycle. Once youve light stressed a led plant they become extremely complaining about litterally anything.

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Very good tip, I have had the light low at 20% because they look a little malnourished. I think its time to increase it 10% and monitor.

Smokenpassout said:

Very good tip, I have had the light low at 20% because they look a little malnourished. I think its time to increase it 10% and monitor.

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If it were me, I'd increase it significantly, until I seen signs of over lighting, then back off if it needed to be, but to each their own.

Thing about using high amounts of light successfully, is Fresh Air Exchange. If one doesnt have enough fresh air exchange, the plant, wont be able to use the light, and will show stress.
I myself start seedlings under a 1000w Hortilux Blue, or a MMS 1000w Halide, at 20-24 inches, and let the plant, grow into the light. Seldom, do I ever have any light stress related problems. Mainly, IMO, because of massive fresh air exchange.
The sun, is at least 2100umol, and the outside Air, has a CO2 PPM, of 421 ppm. Ever wonder why they dont show stress under such high light conditions, and Seemingly Low CO2 PPM? Because even though the ambient air is only 421ppm, it is inexhaustible. Always a fresh source of CO2, that can never all be used.

Id try cranking the light up more, raising the temps, feeding them a bit more. Though, not much. And IMO, 1/2 a gallon of water, is WAY TOO MUCH, at this stage. In that container, and plant size, I wouldnt give the plant any more than 12oz-16oz of water. Making sure the root ball, and the outside perimeter of the root ball, get some water. Generally, the root ball, is going to get dry, long before the outer edges, for the simple reason, most of the roots, at this point, are concentrated, at the root ball. I would slightly increase water amount, as I see them responding, in a positive way. So if you water too much at the perimeter, vs root ball, you chance the perimeter staying wet, for too long.
I dont like my plants being wet, longer than 3-4 days. 4 days max. If they go longer than 4 days, at 75f-84f temps, constant fan on, I will use less water next time.
I myself use a CHEAP LOWES/WALMAT Moisture Meter, and also use the Lift Test. I let the plants get to the lowest point, on the MOIST SCALE, and try not to ever let them read DRY. I do go to the line of Dry/Moist, but do not want the plants to wilt. This sets up Nutrient Burn Possibilities. If they get to dry, this concentrates the Dissolved Solids, and when Rehydrated, nutrients are Rehydrated, in a concentrated form. Add on possibly feeding even more, and it is a set up, for disaster.

General rule of thumb, if you're growing in living soil, water in 5-10% water to soil volume. 5% when plants are smaller, 10% when they get a lil bigger. At 10% it should get you to right before runoff. Water in slowly. Give the soil a chance to absorb the water, instead of running by a dry spot. You don't want runoff. Maybe a tiny bit, just to know you're getting full saturation.

If you're watering in synthetic nutes to runoff, water in to ~20% runoff. Again, do it slowly.

Don't let the containers sit in runoff, let it drain away.

In both cases, wait until the containers get a lil lighter, then repeat.

After a while, you'll know when to water, without having to pick up the containers to feel the weight.

Ok here we are with some more progress. 23 days since sprout. 2 of the plants seem to have taken hold and started growing in size. The 3rd is still quite small half the size of the other two, However the small stunted plant is now greener and not showing yellowing, yet still very much a dwarf. All are the same blueberry muffin strain. Variables: Happy Frog perlite mix. Light bumped up about a well now to 30% from 20% at about 24” high. Nutrients (3 part GH) fed last feed up to to a gallon used to water all @ 2ml micro, 2ml grow, and 2ml bloom (about 375ppm). On alternate watering using 1ml cal mag and 1ml silica. Also top dressed once with Gaia Green glacial rock dust (minerals) at half recommended dose 3 TBLS per 5 gallon.

They are alive! Not sure what you are giving in regards to amount, but for me, when the fans reach the outer edges in a 5 gallon fabric bag I am at 1 gallon feeds. Just make sure your giving them enough and keep feeding/water to the edges too. You got this.

420 Garden said:

They are alive! Not sure what you are giving in regards to amount, but for me, when the fans reach the outer edges in a 5 gallon fabric bag I am at 1 gallon feeds. Just make sure your giving them enough and keep feeding/water to the edges too. You got this.

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Good question. I may be underwatering but I’m doing it every 3-4 days like clockwork. I am
Only using a gallon between the three. Watering slowly toward around the center outwards. Was thinking of now bumping up to 2 gallons between the three 5 gallon pots. Also I am an advocate of a light foilar spray down sometimes on inbetween days for extra hydration. Just distilled water in my spray bottle with a touch of silica no nutrients at lights out.

When you see the fans get to the edges of your 5 gallon bag put a gallon all over the soil. Keep temps around 80 degrees and r/h around 60%. Count the days you wait between, should be 3 to 4 days. As that root mass grows they want more and more.