Hows my setup for a first timer?

[topknot]

So my setup is as follows, ive got one two foot flourescent light about 2 feet above 6 3 week olds and ive been watering them every 4 days, and added miracle grow plant food pellets. They look pretty healthy, and are about 5 inches tall, but 2 or 3 of them started to wilt a bit, and just before id watered them i believe too much, and i think the humidity was too high as well as the temp dropping to 50 during the night, so ive put 2 heating lamps in 4 feet above the plants, and from what iv read, it wont fuck them up. Now it stays at a constant 70 degrees. Does all this sound right?

Also, just as an experiment, i originally had 8, but i induced flowering at 4 inches for 2 of them, because i read somewhere you can still get killer stuff from 4 inch veg plants, and i also dont plan on keeping them all. I just started the flowering today. anyone had past experiences?

 

[juststartin]

move that flourescent light down man, 2 feet away is way too far. by the 'wilting' u mentioned i would guess ur plants r stretched reaching out for that light. What wattage is the flouro? have u got any pics of your setup? that would help a lot.

move the light as close to the plants as possible, literally a couple of inches (put ur hand on the top of the plant and if it is not too hot for your hand then its not too hot for the plant)

 

[Cr8z13]

Yeah, lower the light. Wait until your plants are at least 8" before flowering. Will you be adding some better lighting at that point? You might be disappointed using the fluoros all the way through.

 

[topknot]

heres some pics, i hope i got it to the right level, or at least an acceptable level

heres the setup before

And here is the wilting i mentioned before

Here's the setup after the advice

 

[lilmafia513]

much better, but you can put that fouro. like up to 2" from the tops.

 

[topknot]

what does the wilt look like a symptom of? I would really like to know.

 

[topknot]

like how the leaf is folding inward like that, anyone know whats causing it?

 

[Cr8z13]

Check your temp. Might be a watering issue as well, either too much or too little.

 

[topknot]

man, all my plants grew at least an inch today, thanks much guys!

 

[lilmafia513]

def. look too wet, which is a common mistake for newbs, hell i even did it up to about three weeks ago. I thought i had to water every time the top of the dirt got dry, but it will end soon onece you see the nice growth from letting them go for a day or two with doing nothing to them! Good luck to ya' bro, and looks good so far!

 

[topknot]

thought it mightve been too wet, but its nice n righteous, they look to be about halfway there. 6 inches tall in 3 weeks, not that great, but they're growing alot faster with the light lower

 

[AToDaK]

U should really invest in some CFL. Bluelight for veg and red light for flowering but you plants go some serious stretch cause they are not getting enough light.

Ohh, and to strengthen the plants so they can support themselves your gonna need an oscillating fan blowing on them on them.

 

[SuthernKumfert]

keep it up, they should do well...i am also a newbie and i have found that alot of these guys on here know what they are talking about and i know i listen to them but the set up looks good!

 

[Cr8z13]

thought it mightve been too wet, but its nice n righteous, they look to be about halfway there. 6 inches tall in 3 weeks, not that great, but they're growing alot faster with the light lower

Make sure you let the top half-inch or so of soil dry between waterings. Poke your finger around to confirm.

 

[lilmafia513]

that works good, alsothe weight method works good.
Next time you water the pots, lift it after it's watered.
Feel how heavy it is?
Now if you have another one that is completly dry, lift it, feel the difference?
That's how you tell when you need to water or not, by the weight of the pot.
Hope that helps!

 

[TrynaGroSumShyt]

wilting= stretching.. from your lights being too far.

flouro's can get pretty close mine are almost touching my seedlings.

if you can touch it and it dont burn its ok for your plants

 

[topknot]

the wilting is now going away, and they are beginning to grow wider instead of taller, which, i think, is a good sign

 

[AToDaK]

yes that is a good sign. but you should really consider and space heater with a automatic feature so you can set you minimum temperature. And also you should really look into getting a fan. Otherwise your stems will be weak as shit. Its needs the wind simulation to get strong.

 

[topknot]

yea, ive been looking at some small oscillating fans. i have a regular fan that doesnt spin, but it didnt do much to simulate a windy environment. as for heat, i use the heating lamp until its 70 and flick em off, it stays that temp for a good 10 hours

 

[AToDaK]

Alright but incase your gonna go away or cant watch them daily. I would definatly get a heater.