When to turn on the light for the first time?

Hi there!
I'm starting my first grow (a few years ago I did so, but I had to give away the plants as the owner of the apartment was living with me and didn't like the idea that much). I've read a lot of different stuff on the internet but right now my biggest doubt is when to turn on my 400W HPS light.

I germinated the seeds in humid cotton, as I did a few years ago, and I had 100% success (as I did last time). Then I transfered the seeds to 33 cL (11,5oz) cups with fertilized soil and covered them with a litte bit of it. Should I light them as soon as they rise above the soil? I did it a bit after that, when the seed was opening and the cotyledons where starting to show but one of the plants seems, the most advanced one, seems to have "dropped" its "head", as if the stem became weak and no longer has the strength to lift it. Was it too soon? Or too much light maybe? Now I changed them back to a fluorescent reading lamp I have but this way it will take forever:S

I had the HPS about 40cm (15 inches) above them. Now I have the fluorescent lamp maybe 5cm (2 inches) above them.

One last thing... by now, should I leave the light (HPS) turned on 24/7 or 18h/day? Also, I bought some vitamins/amino acids for them. When should I start it?

Thank you!

ide say ur good with just the floros untill the first set of leaves come out. ur babie that bent over stay wattered? entirely? def go with an 18hr day, seems to b the general consensus. goodtimez

If you read these 2 threads you should have all the information you require to get started.

>>> https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/937-how-grow-marijuana.html <<<<<

>>> https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/1326-101-already-asked-questions.html <<<


I personally use a 24w T5 6400k flouro for 10days
Then a 200w ECO CFL for 15 days
Then i switch to my 600w HPS.

You have to take care during the seedling stage otherwise you will fry them. They need high'ish himidty and lower temps to begin with as the heat from HPS will cause them to fall over.

J

Yes, it is watered and it doesn't look bad apart from that. 18h until flowering or should it go 24 when I start with the HPS? I only tried it now with the HPS because as I said, the floro is a reading lamp so I thought it would take forever. The other time I used a better floro (not mine) so it looked easier (and definitely faster). Thank you for your help.

So... if I keep it watered with the floros, is there any chance it will recover? If is not likely, I can replace it another seed (I have a a few extra seeds). Will the vitamins/aminoacs. help at this time?

You shouldnt give anything to your plant until a few weeks old.

You shouldnt keep it watered you should allow the soil to dry out a little bit in between waterings to allow the roots to search out for more water.

You could try staking the little thing up and hopefully it will recover. I had a little seedling topple to one side and i repotted it and burried it up the stem a little higher to keep it upright and now it is my strongest bushiest plant.

J

Ok. In that case I'll stop watering her (I hope) for a while. I already added a bit of soil around the stem to do something like that. just didn't repot it as I was afraid that could "hurt" it's root. Is it ok this way or should I repot it anyway?

its ok this way.

the only reason i done it was because i was doing all my others at the same time.

Dont worry let it do its thing.

Make sure you only water when it gets dry an inch or so down in the soil.

J

Ok. Thank you for your help! Later I'll post its fate.