Leaving seedlings for 2 weeks?

Hey guys,

So Im going away for two weeks (leaving one week today so enough time to get them sprouted). Im wondering if I can get away with starting another crop now rather than when I return. I usually start straight under the 600w but this will dry them out fast so I'm thinking 125w cfl. Looking at using 12.5l pots, 12/12 from seed. I'm planning on using 2l bottles filled with water with a pinhole dripping into the pots. How feasible is this? Im not worried about wasting seeds as I have loadsso if theres a slim chance this will work I will test it out.

Cheers!

if you have the option to start when you return, do that. that is the best option.

Leave em outside, they'll survive. Indoors I wouldn't. ...

But as above, just wait it out

Its only 2 weeks after all!

noysy said:

Leave em outside, they'll survive. Indoors I wouldn't. ...

But as above, just wait it out

Its only 2 weeks after all!

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I'm in the uk, so over christmas its more than likely there will be a frost and they will die. How about just on a windowsill under no lighting?

sunni said:

if you have the option to start when you return, do that. that is the best option.

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My thought process is this... If i start now I have 14 weeks inc the 2 weeks im away to get everything done. After that 14 weeks I am away for another 3 weeks with work therefore starting when I return is probably going to mean I wont have time.

MorroN said:

My thought process is this... If i start now I have 14 weeks inc the 2 weeks im away to get everything done. After that 14 weeks I am away for another 3 weeks with work therefore starting when I return is probably going to mean I wont have time.

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sounds like you need a trustworthy neighbor/friend man...
Or a new hobby...
or a new job..
Or if you are super confident a bluemat with automated everything in a built soil that needs no nutrients...
that may work. but not for seedlings, that could work in 14 weeks when they are flowering though
bottomline is they need attention man

Plant them just before you leave, drench the medium and put them under a small cfl in a dome., they should be sprouted when you get back and need a watering.

greasemonkeymann said:

sounds like you need a trustworthy neighbor/friend man...
Or a new hobby...
or a new job..
Or if you are super confident a bluemat with automated everything in a built soil that needs no nutrients...
that may work. but not for seedlings, that could work in 14 weeks when they are flowering though
bottomline is they need attention man

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It's really rare that im away with work, I have enough to tide me over however if I can't start another crop for 17 weeks I will really be struggling!

*BUDS said:

Plant them just before you leave, drench the medium and put them under a small cfl in a dome., they should be sprouted when you get back and need a watering.

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Cheers man, I may well try this out. What kind of pot size would you recommend? im just thinking that bigger pots=needing a bigger light to cover the area= more rapid drying but smaller pots = smaller light but less water in the soil anyway

MorroN said:

It's really rare that im away with work, I have enough to tide me over however if I can't start another crop for 17 weeks I will really be struggling!



Cheers man, I may well try this out. What kind of pot size would you recommend? im just thinking that bigger pots=needing a bigger light to cover the area= more rapid drying but smaller pots = smaller light but less water in the soil anyway

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with the amount of time youd be gone for id plant directly in a 5 gallon pot. would take a long time for the seedling to use all the water, especially if you put a dome over it.

Right okay so I've got some 17L poly pots that I'll be using, soil mix will be 6/10 Biobizz all mix, 2/10 worm castings and 2/10 perlite. Would you recommend using less perlite and some vermiculite to retain more water?

As for domes over the top I cant find any that will fit over the pot so plan on using clear sandwich baggies with some holes poked in. Budget, but it should work.

It worked, 10 happy seedlings. 3 looking wilted and weak, 7 non starters