Why am i drying out my seedlings

D

defeatedtea

Well-Known Member
Every time I have tried to start from seed to sprout I end up drying out my sprouts no matter what i do. Or they just dont sprout and the seedlings dry out inside of the canna cube
I am using a 400w light.
I presoaked the canna cubes and ph'd the water i used before putting in the seeds. I did this without germinating them because I figured they would sprout on there own inside the cube.

do I need to use a different light to germ? and should I have germinated using the paper towel method and then putting that into a cube? ( i feel as if this would dry it out again)
 
GeeTee

GeeTee

Well-Known Member
when germinating seeds you do not need a light until it has sprouted. 400hps that is the reason your cubes are drying out really fast man. if you want to get some heat to help the germination process along use a cfl or a incandesent or a heating pad but 400hps is overkill
 
whileilaydying

whileilaydying

Active Member
what i do is get a clean shot glass, fill it half full with water, put my seeds inside and wait 12 to 24 hours until the taproot pokes out, or if i notice the shell of the seed to crack, when i see either one of those things i place in dirt or whatever medium and place under a 25 watt flourescent until its about a week or 2 (sometimes 3) then they go to the big boy room for heavy veg.
 
IslandDelight

IslandDelight

Active Member
seedlings don't need heavy light friend. 27 watt cfl or 2 for the first week or two. then try and get a mh bulb for veg, your girls will love it!
 
Nusky

Nusky

New Member
I always soak my seeds in a cup of water first like whileilaydying. 24 hour soak, the ones that sink are good to go the ones that float are most likely empty shells or not mature. Give em a poke if they're at the top, if they sink or take a while to come back up they're good.

Then after 24 hour soak into damp paper towel till they sprout. Germinating them first will let you know exactly how many plants you got to work with. They should pop within 48 hours this way.
 
D

defeatedtea

Well-Known Member
GeeTee said:
when germinating seeds you do not need a light until it has sprouted. 400hps that is the reason your cubes are drying out really fast man. if you want to get some heat to help the germination process along use a cfl or a incandesent or a heating pad but 400hps is overkill
Click to expand...
Yeah I can't imagine what I was thinking! I had the temps in there really low so I thought it would be okay.. thanks man! I will definitely go out and get some cfls!
 
D

defeatedtea

Well-Known Member
whileilaydying said:
what i do is get a clean shot glass, fill it half full with water, put my seeds inside and wait 12 to 24 hours until the taproot pokes out, or if i notice the shell of the seed to crack, when i see either one of those things i place in dirt or whatever medium and place under a 25 watt flourescent until its about a week or 2 (sometimes 3) then they go to the big boy room for heavy veg.
Click to expand...
hey whileilaydying I am prepping my shotglass as i write this.. Should the water be Ph'd that i use for this step?

IslandDelight said:
seedlings don't need heavy light friend. 27 watt cfl or 2 for the first week or two. then try and get a mh bulb for veg, your girls will love it!
Click to expand...
1-3 weeks? and then i turn on the veg light? and the two 27 watt cfls should be placed how far away from the cubes ?

Should I have the canna cubes under a humiditydome while i am using the cfls? and when I turn the big light on is this going on at the same time that i turn on my pump and place the sprouts in to the hydroton?
 
whileilaydying

whileilaydying

Active Member
ahh phd water doesnt really matter, i honestly just use water out of a water bottle i have lying around.. it all works the same..
 
Maine Buds

Maine Buds

Well-Known Member
Humidity dome will keep them from drying out as fast. This is a good idea for the first few day till they are established.
 
whileilaydying

whileilaydying

Active Member
i dont use a mh at all though, i have two 150 watt hps and its done a good enough job for me. do mh's make that big of a difference in veg though? i just put my three seedlings ( dinafem fruit auto-bulldog sour deisel-greenhouse' amrmageddon.) im pretty pumed because i made up a nice little guano soil mix to give em a nice boost, im hopin to see some good results.
 
DrFever

DrFever

New Member
dude how stupid can one be you mentoned every time you try so its not the first time Duh i think most gorwers would agree that after the first time of drying out maybe i am running to much power lol but hey i think you should try it again REALLY
 
D

defeatedtea

Well-Known Member
DrFever said:
dude how stupid can one be you mentoned every time you try so its not the first time Duh i think most gorwers would agree that after the first time of drying out maybe i am running to much power lol but hey i think you should try it again REALLY
Click to expand...
haha yeah thats why i posted in the newbie section.. i thought it was something dumb i was doing
 
IslandDelight

IslandDelight

Active Member
1-3 weeks? and then i turn on the veg light? and the two 27 watt cfls should be placed how far away from the cubes ? Should I have the canna cubes under a humiditydome while i am using the cfls? and when I turn the big light on is this going on at the same time that i turn on my pump and place the sprouts in to the hydroton?[/QUOTE said:
cfl's can be within an inch or 2, I keep mine 3-4 just because. As for the dome, there is a lot of controversy out there on if to use it or not. I think it really comes to preference (personally I use it) Yes, you're "big" light would go on with you pumps and when your seedling was moved to its medium. Just keep a close eye on things and remember that you can always give them less to be safe, but too much of something will kill them!
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top