Blonde Newbie

OK after reading volumes (it feels like) of wonderful information that folks have posted, yet not finding anything that pertains to my particular situation, I post this in slight desperation

My situation

8" terracotta Pot
Miracle Grow Potting Mix
Shelf in closet
3 X 26 Watt CF's Mounted Horizontally (alternating directons) in a foil lined box (dull side out) w/ tin can deflectors, 4 12v Pentium 1 Class CPU Fans (don't know actual cfm's) mounted inside blowing out.

Lights are about 1"-2"
https://www.rollitup.org/attachments/do-yourself/1483d1167386427-light-box-zlights.jpg

Closet has 2" space between door bottom and floor and a 6" X 12" vent through the wall into the laundry room beyond

2 sprouts

1=short, Squat, tiny, round, starter leaves and 2 new fan leaves (short and fat)

1=tall, long stem, large, oval shaped, starter leaves, 2 thin, green, fan leaves white tips curling down and under

Never make it past this point they ALL die within a week.

being that they were sprouted in the pot, I have watered by pouring filtered water at room temp. into the drain pan of the terra cotta pot about a soda cans worth in about 2-3 days spread out over the 2-3 days. Also I have used aeration to decompress the soil, about an inch or so from the sprout because this soil tends to compact with watering and cause nutrient lock The soil is 3 weeks watered before using for the srpouts since I know it comes with nutrients in it. Plain water but filtered. I did not want to add nutes (nutrients) until I got everything settled since the soil has some plant food in it although as I said I watered the soil through for 3 weeks first before sprouting.

how much are you watering? what kind of water? plain water or nutes added?

Well, being that they were sprouted in the pot, I have watered by pouring filtered water at room temp. into the drain pan of the terra cotta pot about a soda cans worth in about 2-3 days spread out over the 2-3 days. I have used aeration to decompress the soil, about an inch or so from the sprout because this soil tends to compact with watering and cause nutrient lock. PLain water but filtered. I did not want to add nutes (nutrients) until I got everything settled since the soil has plant food in it, IM online 10:02 PST for a while if you wanna I M me

Get rid of the Miracle Grow Potting Mix!!! Burning young roots. Just water with ph balanced water. After 3 weeks water with light nutes to 10 leaf stage. Then normal nutes levels. Also check temps. sounds to cold to me.

Hooka great insights there, but is it safe to transplant the seedling being that it is already upset. I shall check the temps of the soil and the room and reply ASAP

Don't handle with bare hands, try rubber hospital type of gloves to handle it when transplanting. Also ran across this Vote's Grow Journal. Maybe write Vote a message and ask him. Seems like he knows what he is doing. Just a thought

Soil temp 75 Deg F Ambient area temp 78-80 deg F fluctuates due to fans thanks for the link, will check it out. Also I am not groing more than 1-2 plants so if any information is give please scale it to the proper nutrient and scale levels

cyphercrash said:

Soil temp 75 Deg F Ambient area temp 78-80 deg F fluctuates due to fans thanks for the link, will check it out. Also I am not groing more than 1-2 plants so if any information is give please scale it to the proper nutrient and scale levels

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I start my seedlings in a wet paper towel. Then when they have sprouted and are about 3/4-1" long I place in a 1" rookwool cube, and then I place in a small plastic cup and keep moist with Ph balanced water, no nutes for first week or so. My Florescent light is about 2" above plants. Fan & light goes all day (18 hour grow cycle). Soil temp on average is 68-70 (F) day and night. Air temp. on average 70-72 (F).

Dumb Luck said:

Air temp. on average 70-72 (F).

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Is that air temp in the grow room, or just under the hood, obviously under the hood will be a fer degrees higher?

So much info for plants that made it past this stage and not much about the Sprouts

Dumb Luck said:

I start my seedlings in a wet paper towel. Then when they have sprouted and are about 3/4-1" long I place in a 1" rookwool cube, and then I place in a small plastic cup and keep moist with Ph balanced water, no nutes for first week or so. My Florescent light is about 2" above plants. Fan & light goes all day (18 hour grow cycle). Soil temp on average is 68-70 (F) day and night. Air temp. on average 70-72 (F).

Click to expand...

That's about how I do mine as well. I use T-5 lighting for seedling's and vegging. Lights run real cool around 70 degrees.

Ok Im talkin sprouts with their first ridge leaves forming not seedlings. I get them to sprout but they always die at that point. First ridge leaves then as second set forms plant dies.

It's the Sprout stage I can not seem to get past

Miracle Grow potting soil i believe has a starting ph of 5. if that's not changed it will probobly kill your plants (i think).

The soil or the MIX I know there is a difference

Miracle Grow Potting MIX 0.21-0.07-0.14 N-P-K respectively.

I am still at a loss this is like trace elements compared to 20-20-20 or the 5. that people say is in this stuff. Can I possibly be that OFF, I am blonde though.

Miracle Grow Potting MIX 0.21-0.07-0.14 N-P-K respectively.

I am still at a loss this is like trace elements compared to 20-20-20 or the 5. that people say is in this stuff. Can I possibly be that OFF, I am blonde though.

It sounds like everything is basicaly in order. I agree with get rid of the miracle grow. because it comes with nutrients in it, you realy shouldn't put any food till the nutrient supply runs out (that would be eigther 3-6 months after original potting.) Even then, before you start the nutes it is best to flush out the soil. Use a moisture meter, do not over water. I know it's exciting to give your plants stuff to eat and drink, very important, don't over do it!

OK Now I have 4 26 Watt (Real watts) with 4 PC Fans.

I transplanted the Sprouts (used latex free gloves, and very low light,) to a 0 Nute soil (no added stuff like Miracle grow)

Also I ph'd my water and damed if it was not like almost 8.0 PH. Threw some PH down in (like 5 drops to a galon of tested water) and Voila 6.5 sprayed this on the soil which was semi moist and light misted the leaves lights are 2" (cant get em any closer cause of the height of the pot but at least I wll not have to transplant em again) How am I doing SO far, think they will live?

OOOOOH also got the lhgts and fans on a 18 hour light schedule via a home timer.

DEAD. Oh well