Seedling won’t grow

G

GreenPeace22

Active Member
So, I germinate my seed and put it in the medium ( peat moss with some coco fibers and perlite). I give some water and wait. The sprout that comes out is very little, with darkish cotyledons and stem (violet-brown), and it just won’t grow any bigger even after 10 days. When I pull it out of the medium I find out that there is no root development at all. What is the problem?
 
xtsho said:
Most likely you kept it too wet. That is a common issue when seedlings fail to grow. They end up rotting.
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I thought about overwatering, but really, how much and often should I give her water when first putting it in the medium after germinating and when she's still a seedling? I always try not to overwater, and the more I try it seems like the more I do it, this overwatering thing is frustrating...
 
GreenPeace22 said:
I thought about overwatering, but really, how much and often should I give her water when first putting it in the medium after germinating and when she's still a seedling? I always try not to overwater, and the more I try it seems like the more I do it, this overwatering thing is frustrating...
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It just needs to be damp. It's better to use a spray bottle to water early on while the roots develop.

I don't like pre-germinating seeds. I prefer to start them right in soil. No paper towel just bury in damp soil, give a quick spray and let them do their thing.
 
Plant seed 1/8 - 1/4 inches in pre-moistened soil. I used to use a seedling mix but now I just screen some Happy Frog to get all the big chunks out. Some soils are hotter than others. I've had issues with Ocean Forest so I don't start in that but I do transplant into it once the seedlings get a few sets of leaves. The soil looks pretty wet in these pictures and that was on purpose. They were germinated outside in the middle of summer when the temps were in the 90's so I knew they would dry out fast. Normally I wouldn't have the soil that wet.

germ4.jpg


Water in with a sprayer

germ5.jpg


Wait for them to sprout and only water using a sprayer when the top of the soil gets dry. DON'T use a dome.

germinate.jpg


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xtsho said:
Plant seed 1/8 - 1/4 inches in pre-moistened soil. I used to use a seedling mix but now I just screen some Happy Frog to get all the big chunks out. Some soils are hotter than others. I've had issues with Ocean Forest so I don't start in that but I do transplant into it once the seedlings get a few sets of leaves. The soil looks pretty wet in these pictures and that was on purpose. They were germinated outside in the middle of summer when the temps were in the 90's so I knew they would dry out fast. Normally I wouldn't have the soil that wet.


Water in with a sprayer


Wait for them to sprout and only water using a sprayer when the top of the soil gets dry. DON'T use a dome.
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The medium I am using has an EC of 1.0. Is this considered too hot for auto seedlings? Will this medium burn it? I'm watering with RO water, because I know it has 0 EC, so it won't combine with the EC of the soil to make it even hotter. I also pH adjust the water to 6-6.5
 
GreenPeace22 said:
So, I germinate my seed and put it in the medium ( peat moss with some coco fibers and perlite). I give some water and wait. The sprout that comes out is very little, with darkish cotyledons and stem (violet-brown), and it just won’t grow any bigger even after 10 days. When I pull it out of the medium I find out that there is no root development at all. What is the problem?
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Sounds too wet, start them in root riot cubes as they are perfect moisture right out from the bag.
 
Thanks for your reply,
budman111 said:
Sounds too wet, start them in root riot cubes as they are perfect moisture right out from the bag.
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Thanks for your time, I came to the conclusion that the problem is the medium moisture, but I am growing autos, transplant is out of the question. First pot is also last pot.
 
GreenPeace22 said:
Thanks for your reply,

Thanks for your time, I came to the conclusion that the problem is the medium moisture, but I am growing autos, transplant is out of the question. First pot is also last pot.
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Then just fill up your container with the soil, put you seed/germinated seed in, water it in with a spray bottle so that you don't get things too wet. Or use the root riots like @budman111 said and put into your final pot once the seedling is growing and roots start to show. It won't hurt anything even with auto's. You just don't want to keep up-planting once they get going.
 
MickFoster said:
You're misinformed. Even Mephisto, top breeder of autos, recommends starting in smaller pots and transplanting.
I don't know who started that myth?
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The reason for not transplating autos is that they are more vulnerable to transplating stress, giving that they have such a short life cycle they don't get too much time to recover the "transplant shock" and adapt quickly to the new home. I'm a new grower, I'm learning the basics, I know a bit, and this is what I hear almost everywhere, so this is what I'm also saying...
 
GreenPeace22 said:
The reason for not transplating autos is that they are more vulnerable to transplating stress, giving that they have such a short life cycle they don't get too much time to recover the "transplant shock" and adapt quickly to the new home. I'm a new grower, I'm learning the basics, I know a bit, and this is what I hear almost everywhere, so this is what I'm also saying...
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The only way you can stress them is to be heavy handed. Sure they have a very limited growth time so it’s just more important to be careful.
 
GreenPeace22 said:
The reason for not transplating autos is that they are more vulnerable to transplating stress, giving that they have such a short life cycle they don't get too much time to recover the "transplant shock" and adapt quickly to the new home. I'm a new grower, I'm learning the basics, I know a bit, and this is what I hear almost everywhere, so this is what I'm also saying...
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Revisit this after a few dozen plants..
 
GreenPeace22 said:
The reason for not transplating autos is that they are more vulnerable to transplating stress, giving that they have such a short life cycle they don't get too much time to recover the "transplant shock" and adapt quickly to the new home. I'm a new grower, I'm learning the basics, I know a bit, and this is what I hear almost everywhere, so this is what I'm also saying...
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Like I said - you're misinformed.
If you don't believe me, go to Mephisto's site and read it for yourself. They also don't recommend autos for beginners.
Seems to me that the breeder would know more about it than some guy on a grow forum.
But, do what you want.
Good luck.
 
Rep++ for saying.

Sick of this mythical shit :-)


MickFoster said:
Like I said - you're misinformed.
If you don't believe me, go to Mephisto's site and read it for yourself. They also don't recommend autos for beginners.
Seems to me that the breeder would know more about it than some guy on a grow forum.
But, do what you want.
Good luck.
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MickFoster said:
Like I said - you're misinformed.
If you don't believe me, go to Mephisto's site and read it for yourself. They also don't recommend autos for beginners.
Seems to me that the breeder would know more about it than some guy on a grow forum.
But, do what you want.
Good luck.
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Buddy, I think you are taking things a bit too personal. I never said I know better, in fact, I admited being a complet newbie. I started to grow 4-5 months ago and since then I never managed to grow something from seed to harvest, my personal best is week 4 of veg, that's how stupid I am when it comes to growing, and I study medicine. I learn a shit load of human body science, but I can't grow a plant, I'm actually embarrassed with myself. I'm here to learn and I am opened to any new perspective and information about growing, I only said what I also heard from others, never said it's the gold standard or that it's the best way. If you want to share your growing experience with me, fine, I appreciate it, if not, it's also fine, but no need to be a drama queen. Sorry if my attitude bothered you!

Thanks for your time! Best regards!
 
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