Gangreen_Hippy This run of Pineapple Chunk has had a dramatic start — a good example of how seedling resilience and quick corrections can completely change the outcome of a shaky beginning. Below is a full breakdown of the grow so far, written as one continuous professional log.
DAY 0 — Germination Begins
Started with an overnight seed soak to fully hydrate the Pineapple Chunk seed and trigger early metabolic activity. No heat was used beyond room temperature; just a gentle warm start to initiate germination.
DAY 1 — Into Rockwool & Humidity Dome
After soaking, the seed was transferred into a pre-soaked rockwool cube. Excess water was squeezed out to avoid saturation, and the cube was placed into a heated propagator.
To avoid overheating, a tea towel was placed beneath the paper towel layer, preventing the rockwool from sitting directly on the heated base.
The propagator lid stayed fully closed to maintain high humidity for early development.
DAY 2–3 — Stable Early Moisture & Heat
The rockwool remained damp, not drenched. Humidity stayed high. No signs of stress or stretch yet. The seed was still enclosed in the darkness of the propagator—ideal for early germination.
Everything was stable at this point.
DAY 4 — The First Major Setback (Rockwool Dried Out)
A sudden drop in rockwool moisture caused the seedling to collapse completely, lying limp across the cube. This is a classic dehydration event that often kills seedlings outright, especially in rockwool.
Symptoms included:
Darker cotyledons
Curled leaf structure
Weak, floppy stem
Near-death presentation
Immediate Recovery Measures:
Rehydrated rockwool with 10 ml directly into the cube
Added 10 ml into the crevice surrounding the stem
Propped the stem upright using a cotton bud
Restored humidity dome coverage
Continued gentle heat for root recovery
These steps prevented damping-off and gave the seedling a second chance.
DAY 5 — Signs of Life & Stabilisation
The seedling began to lift itself again, maintaining posture even after the cotton-bud support was removed. Cotyledons stayed dark and curled, but the plant stabilised and regained turgor pressure.
The dome remained on to maintain moisture and reduce transpiration stress.
DAY 6 — Temperature Fluctuation & Dome Management
You tested removing the dome, but temperatures dropped and condensation fluctuated. Dome was placed back on with vents adjusted.
The environment returned to:
23–25°C
High, stable humidity
No further wilting
DAY 6–7 — Light Introduced (Phlizon LED)
Once the seedling stabilised, light was introduced using the Phlizon LED at around:
380–390 PPFD initially
Later increased to 450 PPFD as you tried to correct stretching on your second seedling
This early PPFD bump strengthened stems and helped avoid further stretching.
DAY 7 — Second Seedling Observed Stretching
Stems became firm and upright.
DAY 8–9 — Current Status (Today)
The seedlings are now entering early seedling development with:
Upright stems
Recovering cotyledons
Emerging true leaves
Stable moisture
Stable temperature
Controlled PPFD
Condensation appears on the dome each morning — a positive sign of humidity and warmth retention.
No nutrients have been given yet, and correctly so.
Plants are now beyond the dangerous “fragile” stage and are transitioning toward early vegetative growth.
