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Going to be honest here I started this grow off on the wrong foot. Not really sure what I was thinking (maybe just high from the Nana Glue I grew) but instead of using Fox Farm Happy Frog to start my seedlings, I used recycled soil from my previous Auto-flower run in the starter pots. This soil had not been amended yet and was pretty much washed of all its nutrients. Seed was planted directly in the soil and watered in which successfully sprouted however there the trouble began. After sprouting and opening the seedling pretty much slowed down to a creep. I’ve never seen a seedling grow so slow during the first 10 days. Pretty much all I could think of was this thing is just going to die and I should just yank it and start over. Well I decided to see if I could salvage it, but as a back-up started another seedling in the Happy Frog soil like I’ve successfully done in the past.
Seedling 2 is 2 days post sprout and is growing at a rate I’m more used to seeing and much happier with.
For germinating Seeds directly in substrate I will moisten the entire solo cup of soil (Moisten not soak, there is a difference). Once moistened I put an indentation into the soil about a finger nail deep and place my pre soaked seed (I pre soak my seeds in spring water for 6-12 hours) directly in the hole and lightly cover the seed. I then will take the same spring water and spray the soil and my plastic humidity dome down with 5-6 sprays. I leave the humidity dome over the solo cup until the seedling breaks ground and then will remove it and begin my watering. I’ve had the same germination rate as directly in soil as I have in the paper towel method and I feel you save yourself a couple of days over the paper towel method. Also at this stage I turn my light down to about 50% as I don’t want to burn the seedlings and as they get bigger/older I will slowly increase the light intensity. (this is where a dimmable grow light comes in handy)
***I do plan on entering this diary into a bunch of contests come harvest Nov.-Dec. so I will be as detailed as possible and will include lot of photos of the setup, plants and my process.***
So what began as one is now two. #1 has rebounded nicely and is growing on track. She has been watered to a ph of 6.5 when dry with a slight run off during watering.
Plant #2 is growing as expected for 2 days in and I am currently watering with a mist bottle just keeping the soil moist.
There really isn’t much more to add here at this point. There is no feedings, nothing special just watering. I try to let the seedlings do what there going to do as I feel I have given them the best possible conditions to grow into the veg. stage and I just let nature take its course.
Plant one is finally growing at the correct rate and was ready for transplant. I used recycled soil that was refreshed with perlite, Down-to-Earth 4-4-4 (1 tbsp. per gallon of soil) Down-to-Earth 7-3-1 Bat Guano (1 tbsp. Per gallon of soil), Epsom Salts (for plants), and 1 cup of Earthworm castings per gallon of soil. These were transplanted into 2 gallon plastic pots. (I prefer plastic pots when I’m still transplanting as they pop out of the plastic easier but their final home will be fabric pots). Once transplanted I watered her down with my mixture of Fish Shit and Re-Charge (per label recommendations) to a slight run-off.
Plant two through 8 days is exactly where she should be. I find that these seedlings do great with Fox Farm Happy Frog soil. For watering I’m still only lightly moistening the soil around the seedling and spraying it down with a light mist of water as well when needed.
Transplant shock? What’s that? In all honesty I’ve never seen a plant respond to transplant as well as this one has. Typically after transplant the plants are droopy, don’t grow for 2-3 days and generally just look unhappy. This one is healthy, growing and looks happy in its new home which is great to see. For a plant that had such a rough start to its life this girl has really turned around.
GolfandWeed
