Original Skunk #1 - first grow for 2018

27.11.2017 23:45 - Day 1 - Germination I usualy germinate directly in paper towels between two plates. But as this is a special occasion, I'll presoak the seeds in water overnight. If I use this method, I rarely leave the seeds in water longer than 12 hours, even if the seeds don't sink. Seeds come in all colors and sizes - these are on the pale side. Not a good sign, at least not most of the time. I grow in a 100x100x180cm grow tent with AirPots. I mainline and bend the plants, so I usualy have place for 3 plants, the extra space is used for an oscilating fan on the floor and I guide some colas over the top of the fan. More in the pics later. That's why I only germinate 3 seeds (it's not just that they came in a pack of 3) :) If one of the seeds fails to germinate or underperforms when still young, I just pop another similar or faster growing strain and make sure the height is the same. Thats it for now. It begins :) 28.11.2017 - Day 2 All the seeds have sunk. It's a little over 12 hours and they've gone onto a plate, a paper towel, covered with another paper towel and soaked, then drained off. I've covered them with another plate and put them in a warm dark place. Fingers crossed :) 29.11.2017 - Day 3 Two of the three seeds popped. I moved them to a warmer place and I hope the third one is just taking its time :) I have a few plants in my grow tent, just waiting for them to finish (3x Seedsman Early Skunk), week 7 of flowering and I also decided to start the new batch in a new location. Therefore I decided to make a new and "stealthy" seedling box from an old PC case for the new apartment :) It can keep temps between 23-26°C with good air movement, so all is good, but the humidity is killing me. It's in the 30%-35% range and I even tried to raise it with a wet sponge in front of the fan, but to no avail. It raised to 39% in 2 hours, but that's still too low. I'll just use a couple of cut-off plastic bottles as humidity domes. The seeds will go to plastic cups filled with reused coco/perlite mix. I'll boil the recycled medium and flush it, because I grew a couple of autos outdoors (my own seeds, breeding, feminizing and all :) ) with mineral nutrients, and I don't want any salt remaining in there. These new babies will be organically grown, albeit with organics-from-the-bottle. I haven't decided yet, but I'll probably go with Biobizz LightMix for soil (+some more perlite) and then fertilize with Biobizz line of nutrients + molasses. I've hade some amazing results with these... UPDATE: Seed #3 also popped! 1.12.2017 - Day 5 All 3 seeds have germinated. I planted them in a reused and thoroughly washed coco/perlite mix (cca 40% perlite) about 1,5cm deep. I covered the plastic cups with cut-off plastic bottles, because the humidity is real low. Temp is OK, in the 23-26°C range. The soil is also quite nice and warm. A 23W warm white CFL is keeping things under control. All good for now. I hope :)