3 day old sprout acting weird
- Thread starter Botanii
- Start date
Some, yes. Unfortunately, at the moment all the supplies I have are peat moss, so im not too sure its a good idea to cover it
weedenhanced
Well-Known Member
Give it time it looks ok its normal to bend
That I will. Just freaked me out when it was facing one way when I last checked, then it was facing a completely way.
Also, off this exact topic a little bit, but ive got what look like gnats showing up randomly in my tanks, considering this is the first time ive done hydroponics, maybe im missing something? I dont want the flying lil shits to have their way with my girls.
weedenhanced
Well-Known Member
Gnat how wet is your soil? R u overwatering
With a seedling that big feed it about 1 cup of water every 3 days
Initially I did over water. Ive corrected for it now, and havnt watered since. Been 4 days since germination so far. If I can get one to hold still long enough ill grab a pic of the bug.
I fixed the bug issue. I built a double carbon filtee in my intake, the first set is an experimental carbon filter, and the second is a normal, standard run of the mill filter. With all intake air now being purified, the bug flew around for a few minutes, but are majorly gone for tge most part. She grew about an inch over night for me, by the way.
Nullis
Moderator
It looks like you didn't plant it deep enough. If you see root exposed still like it looks like in that picture, take some mix from the rim of the container and rake it in with your hand gently to form a little mound around the base of the stem.
You mentioned hydro but what is your medium exactly? A soil-less mix? Sphagnum with perlite?
It really doesn't look like over wet to me; surface looks quite dry except for where water was sprinkled on. Fungus gnats are little black flies that hover above the media surface and they primarily eat dead vegetative matter or microbes in the mix. A few is not really a concern; get some yellow sticky traps (hanging or sticky stakes).
I don't really understand watering x volume of water every x days, because for one thing grows vary in container size, media moisture retention, lighting, temperature, air flow, humidity, et al. and watering needs can vary with plant size and changing environmental conditions.
It is okay for a media to retain moisture, plants need moisture. A good media also holds air when wet. The thing is that the primary materials used in potting mix and one that you mentioned: sphagnum peat moss, as well as coco coir, will actually become hydrophobic when they dry out. They repel water initially. If you've ever tried to hydrate plain dry sphagnum peat (as typically sold in bales) you will witness this first hand.
Easiest way to tell if you need to water is to lift your container, and if it is light it is dry (heavy means wet). Combine that with sticking your finger in the mix nearer the rim. If it is dry, water thoroughly. This is easier if you don't start in a container too large. But, remember what I said before: if it is really dry it wont even want to absorb water. You'll need to start by watering slowly, preferably sprinkling the soil surface with rain-like consistency. The other thing is, and especially if you started with raw peat (which should also be limed) use a wetting agent such as yucca extract, or perhaps fragrance free castile soap. Using a wetting agent will make make the media (sphagnum or coir) easier to water, and help distribute the moisture throughout.
You don't want dry spots as that will affect root growth. Your media should behave more like a sponge, with moisture evenly distributed; and there should always be a little bit of moisture. Over watering occurs due to lack of oxygen in the rhizosphere, because water itself doesn't dissolve oxygen very well (and less in warmer water). A good media will hold air when wet, however, and OW wont happen so long as the media is allowed to dry out more or less between each watering. Also don't let pots sit in stagnant water. It should go something like wet --> slightly moist --> wet -->slightly moist. After you water if there is run-off dump it after 20 minutes. You can also water from the bottom, but again if anything is left after long you need to dump it (and use a wetting agent still).
You mentioned hydro but what is your medium exactly? A soil-less mix? Sphagnum with perlite?
It really doesn't look like over wet to me; surface looks quite dry except for where water was sprinkled on. Fungus gnats are little black flies that hover above the media surface and they primarily eat dead vegetative matter or microbes in the mix. A few is not really a concern; get some yellow sticky traps (hanging or sticky stakes).
I don't really understand watering x volume of water every x days, because for one thing grows vary in container size, media moisture retention, lighting, temperature, air flow, humidity, et al. and watering needs can vary with plant size and changing environmental conditions.
It is okay for a media to retain moisture, plants need moisture. A good media also holds air when wet. The thing is that the primary materials used in potting mix and one that you mentioned: sphagnum peat moss, as well as coco coir, will actually become hydrophobic when they dry out. They repel water initially. If you've ever tried to hydrate plain dry sphagnum peat (as typically sold in bales) you will witness this first hand.
Easiest way to tell if you need to water is to lift your container, and if it is light it is dry (heavy means wet). Combine that with sticking your finger in the mix nearer the rim. If it is dry, water thoroughly. This is easier if you don't start in a container too large. But, remember what I said before: if it is really dry it wont even want to absorb water. You'll need to start by watering slowly, preferably sprinkling the soil surface with rain-like consistency. The other thing is, and especially if you started with raw peat (which should also be limed) use a wetting agent such as yucca extract, or perhaps fragrance free castile soap. Using a wetting agent will make make the media (sphagnum or coir) easier to water, and help distribute the moisture throughout.
You don't want dry spots as that will affect root growth. Your media should behave more like a sponge, with moisture evenly distributed; and there should always be a little bit of moisture. Over watering occurs due to lack of oxygen in the rhizosphere, because water itself doesn't dissolve oxygen very well (and less in warmer water). A good media will hold air when wet, however, and OW wont happen so long as the media is allowed to dry out more or less between each watering. Also don't let pots sit in stagnant water. It should go something like wet --> slightly moist --> wet -->slightly moist. After you water if there is run-off dump it after 20 minutes. You can also water from the bottom, but again if anything is left after long you need to dump it (and use a wetting agent still).
Sphagnum with perlite.
Thanks for the tips, you have no idea how much ypur post has helped me calm some nerves
Ill post some picks of my entire setup right once my phone charges back up so I can use the camera.
I need to get a timer, and a pump. Right now its 2 parts perlite, 1 part spagnum.
Should I keep a dry layer of spagnum on the top? When I grow tomatoes in hydro I keep a thin dry layer of spagnum spread across the top of my medium. However im not sure if doing that with MJ will retain too much moisture. Tomatoes will drink it all when they flower, will MJ?
Thanks for the tips, you have no idea how much ypur post has helped me calm some nerves
Ill post some picks of my entire setup right once my phone charges back up so I can use the camera.
I need to get a timer, and a pump. Right now its 2 parts perlite, 1 part spagnum.
Should I keep a dry layer of spagnum on the top? When I grow tomatoes in hydro I keep a thin dry layer of spagnum spread across the top of my medium. However im not sure if doing that with MJ will retain too much moisture. Tomatoes will drink it all when they flower, will MJ?
Nullis
Moderator
Yes, and in general as the roots and plant grows it will need water more frequently. If you transplant in the future same thing; you want need to water as frequently at first, but gradually you will notice that you do.
In bloom, they generally don't need to be watered as frequently in the final couple weeks Water just before lights on and keep it minimal if you have large, dense buds to prevent bud rot.
In bloom, they generally don't need to be watered as frequently in the final couple weeks Water just before lights on and keep it minimal if you have large, dense buds to prevent bud rot.