Ok, so I'm not the typical newb that throws a seed in a pot of any old soil and then starts freaking out when the plant looks weird. I did several weeks of research, planned my grow, learned the "specs", etc., and all of that still does not guarantee a successful grow, so if you're a newb that has struggled (or is struggling) then you're not alone and I thought I'd pass on what I've learned so far. As always, there will be 20 people who chime in saying "I did/did not do that and never had a problem" well....this is my experience and I'm big enough to share my mistakes so others can learn, so take it for what it's worth.
My Setup:
(2) 27 gallon totes stacked on top of one another
Inside lined w/mylar
6" in-line duct fan (240cfm) pulling air through DIY pencil holder carbon filter
(2) 2" passive intakes at bottom (then I cut a 9" hole for passive intake...see below why)
(3) vanity light strips capable of holding 4 bulbs each
CFL 23 watt/6500k bulbs for veg (and if I ever get to flower I'll switch to 2700k)
Oscillating fan (desk fan, so bigger than some)
Fox Farms Ocean Forest Soil
pH'd tap water that sit out for 24 hrs
Shallow bowl of water to help humidity levels stay up
24/0 lights
Never used nutes...too early
1st attempt they never broke soil (myster bagseed, didn't germinate long enough, planted too far down in soil, seeds rotted)
2nd attempt killed due to heat stress and then I overwatered as a result of dryness (Jamaican Dream & Royal Haze, both look like death. JD has powder mildew and RH in 7 days only has 1 set true leaves that are burnt/curling and about 1/2" tall) pics of both below.
Jamaican Dream 8 days Royal Haze 7 days after sprout
I'm having a funeral tonight...and here's what I learned:
1. Whatever your grow set-up, test the conditions w/lights on/off before putting your plants in there (test w/max # of lights you plan to use at peak grow time...my rubbermaid cfl grow box got HOT w/only (5) 23-watt bulbs and heat stress killed my girls..temps spiked to 95 degrees...be proactive, not reactive)
2. In small spaces, you're going to need a lot more ventilation than you think (I had a 6" duct fan pulling air out through a DIY carbon filter, and (2) 2" passive intakes w/(2) 27 gallon totes stacked....not enough.....I then cut a 9" hole in my box and this helped, but I bet it still won't be enough if I use max # of bulbs....again...test this shit first. I also originally had the fan pulling air out into the same space of my box. I ended up ducting the hot air into the attic so no chance of "recirculating" hot air back into box)
3. Germinate until the tap root is 1/2" long (I planted germinated seeds whose cases were only cracked and they never took)
4. Plant that germinated seed LITERALLY BARELY under the soil (3/16") (first attempt, I put them too far down and they rotted)
5. pH test your SOIL AND WATER. Granted, I tested/adjusted my water always as I had read testing soil is a waste of time, but when I got suspicious of nute probs, I tested my soil and it was at 6.0, which is acidic. The water by itself was 6.5 which is in range but nutes will often bring pH down, so TEST/ADJUST BOTH BEFORE putting seeds in soil and always pH test your water before watering.
6. Do not add too many lights too soon. I freaked and thought "Oh they're above soil...let's blast them w/lots of light since I'm using CFL's and everyone makes a big deal a/b how weak CFLs are" I started off w/one bulb (23 Watt 6500k) directly over the plant and 1 in between them. Then I added 3 more bulbs once they sprouted which both raised temps and was probably overkill for a seedling that just broke soil.
7. Yes, use an oscillating fan, NO don't put it on full blast right at little seedlings. I have no doubt this contributed to dehydration. The JD had a strong stem for sure, but put the fan where it's blowing up high back/forth and the air "bouncing off" the sides of the box (if a small grow are like mine) is what lightly breezes the plants. I think I created F5 tornado conditions for my babies.
8. No proof fully since I fucked so many other things up, but I am now a believer that Fox Farms Ocean Forest is too hot for seedlings and will start next round in Light Warrior (after pH'ing water/soil of course!)
9. Maybe most importantly: If they look healthy and they're growing LEAVE THEM ALONE and DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING UNTIL THEY ASK FOR SOMETHING. Most of my mistakes were not b/c I saw signs of problems, most were me not being sure if I was doing it right, so I changed something which led to all kinds of problems. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Love ZAT
My Setup:
(2) 27 gallon totes stacked on top of one another
Inside lined w/mylar
6" in-line duct fan (240cfm) pulling air through DIY pencil holder carbon filter
(2) 2" passive intakes at bottom (then I cut a 9" hole for passive intake...see below why)
(3) vanity light strips capable of holding 4 bulbs each
CFL 23 watt/6500k bulbs for veg (and if I ever get to flower I'll switch to 2700k)
Oscillating fan (desk fan, so bigger than some)
Fox Farms Ocean Forest Soil
pH'd tap water that sit out for 24 hrs
Shallow bowl of water to help humidity levels stay up
24/0 lights
Never used nutes...too early
1st attempt they never broke soil (myster bagseed, didn't germinate long enough, planted too far down in soil, seeds rotted)
2nd attempt killed due to heat stress and then I overwatered as a result of dryness (Jamaican Dream & Royal Haze, both look like death. JD has powder mildew and RH in 7 days only has 1 set true leaves that are burnt/curling and about 1/2" tall) pics of both below.
Jamaican Dream 8 days Royal Haze 7 days after sprout
I'm having a funeral tonight...and here's what I learned:
1. Whatever your grow set-up, test the conditions w/lights on/off before putting your plants in there (test w/max # of lights you plan to use at peak grow time...my rubbermaid cfl grow box got HOT w/only (5) 23-watt bulbs and heat stress killed my girls..temps spiked to 95 degrees...be proactive, not reactive)
2. In small spaces, you're going to need a lot more ventilation than you think (I had a 6" duct fan pulling air out through a DIY carbon filter, and (2) 2" passive intakes w/(2) 27 gallon totes stacked....not enough.....I then cut a 9" hole in my box and this helped, but I bet it still won't be enough if I use max # of bulbs....again...test this shit first. I also originally had the fan pulling air out into the same space of my box. I ended up ducting the hot air into the attic so no chance of "recirculating" hot air back into box)
3. Germinate until the tap root is 1/2" long (I planted germinated seeds whose cases were only cracked and they never took)
4. Plant that germinated seed LITERALLY BARELY under the soil (3/16") (first attempt, I put them too far down and they rotted)
5. pH test your SOIL AND WATER. Granted, I tested/adjusted my water always as I had read testing soil is a waste of time, but when I got suspicious of nute probs, I tested my soil and it was at 6.0, which is acidic. The water by itself was 6.5 which is in range but nutes will often bring pH down, so TEST/ADJUST BOTH BEFORE putting seeds in soil and always pH test your water before watering.
6. Do not add too many lights too soon. I freaked and thought "Oh they're above soil...let's blast them w/lots of light since I'm using CFL's and everyone makes a big deal a/b how weak CFLs are" I started off w/one bulb (23 Watt 6500k) directly over the plant and 1 in between them. Then I added 3 more bulbs once they sprouted which both raised temps and was probably overkill for a seedling that just broke soil.
7. Yes, use an oscillating fan, NO don't put it on full blast right at little seedlings. I have no doubt this contributed to dehydration. The JD had a strong stem for sure, but put the fan where it's blowing up high back/forth and the air "bouncing off" the sides of the box (if a small grow are like mine) is what lightly breezes the plants. I think I created F5 tornado conditions for my babies.
8. No proof fully since I fucked so many other things up, but I am now a believer that Fox Farms Ocean Forest is too hot for seedlings and will start next round in Light Warrior (after pH'ing water/soil of course!)
9. Maybe most importantly: If they look healthy and they're growing LEAVE THEM ALONE and DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING UNTIL THEY ASK FOR SOMETHING. Most of my mistakes were not b/c I saw signs of problems, most were me not being sure if I was doing it right, so I changed something which led to all kinds of problems. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Love ZAT
