White Rhino 1st Grow Journal - Help & Advice very welcome

[dannydj]

hi to all - this is my first grow and any help would be greatly appreciated. Started with 5 fem seeds ( white rhino ) from greenhouse, all germinated within 1-2 days using the napkin method. Once sprouted, seeds where placed in jiffy pots and placed in a propagator. As soon as activity above ground was evident the pots were placed under a 16w 3400k kitchen light on 24/0. Will be moved under a 400w hps when the time comes.

Today is day 5 since its been under the light. Initially the seedlings were 25cm/8" (pic 1) from the light but after looking at a few other threads my seedlings seemed to be growing rather tall. Today I moved the seedlings a lot closer to the light -
9cm/3 1/4" (pic 2)

Have only light misted/watered every 2/3 days with rain water. How are these babys looking ?? looking at others grow journal my 16w light seems underpowered, is this so ?? as i have another light of the same power.

cheers

 

[Jobo]

more light, and move it within a few inches of your plants.

 

[dannydj]

more light, and move it within a few inches of your plants.

would 16w 3400k x 2 be sufficient ?? or would i need to get something else??

 

[dannydj]

have now placed the seedlings 2" away under 2 x 16w 3400k

 

[dannydj]

day 6

growth has improved but still seems slow. worried that 2 x 16w 3400k isn't powerful enough.
can these babies be moved under the 400w hps ( 4 feet away ) yet ?? or are they still to sensitive ???

 

[DoeEyed]

day 6

growth has improved but still seems slow. worried that 2 x 16w 3400k isn't powerful enough.
can these babies be moved under the 400w hps ( 4 feet away ) yet ?? or are they still to sensitive ???

The slow growth probably is because of the lack of light. You want 3000 to 5000 lumens per square foot to grow. I wouldn't put them under the HPS just yet - at the least, they would stretch further, because of the distance the light has to be kept. Keep your current lights on them within a couple inches, wait another week maybe. Put an oscillating fan in with them, not blowing directly on them but so it kind of shivers them - it will help strengthen the stems. When you plant them you can bury the stem to about an inch below the first set of leaves - that will help, as well. For future reference - you want lights more in the 5000K-6500K for vegging.

 

[JanesGreenFinger]

and why is it black in there?
should be reflecting light, your wasting it all
get so white paint or mylar

 

[dannydj]

thanks doeEyed - i think im gonna buy a higher powered light for this early stage - what wattage 6500k do you recommend for now and the stages before the hps is required ??

 

[dannydj]

and why is it black in there?
should be reflecting light, your wasting it all
get so white paint or mylar

its garbage/bin bags stuck to the wall over kitchen tiles. why ?? because the seedlings were being pulled in the direction of the tiles when the light was on.

 

[DoeEyed]

thanks doeEyed - i think im gonna buy a higher powered light for this early stage - what wattage 6500k do you recommend for now and the stages before the hps is required ??

If you're just gonna use 'em for the first couple of weeks before the HPS, I would say grab a four pack of 26 or 27w CFL's - should be plenty for baby seedlings, and you can grab a four pack for around $12 at Lowes. Alternativly, you could get a shoplight that takes two T12 fluorescent tubes for about $9, (doesn't come with the tubes), this is what I use - also works well for the first couple weeks - with the added advantage that you can put it right on top of the babies - even if they touch it won't burn them. (Some CFL's wll so be careful).

 

[dannydj]

If you're just gonna use 'em for the first couple of weeks before the HPS, I would say grab a four pack of 26 or 27w CFL's - should be plenty for baby seedlings, and you can grab a four pack for around $12 at Lowes. Alternativly, you could get a shoplight that takes two T12 fluorescent tubes for about $9, (doesn't come with the tubes), this is what I use - also works well for the first couple weeks - with the added advantage that you can put it right on top of the babies - even if they touch it won't burn them. (Some CFL's wll so be careful).

cool beans - will give it a few more days under the current conditions. but if growth is still slow then i will go for the t12x2.
alternatively i might just move them to the grow tent as i called my local grow shop and a 100w cfl to plug straight into the reflector costs £26 and a 200w costs £48 ( blue spectrum ).

another separate question - my friend is adamant that at this seedling stage the propagator lid should still be on but i read in the 'bible' that it should be taken off as soon as growth above show ?? any views??

 

[DoeEyed]

cool beans - will give it a few more days under the current conditions. but if growth is still slow then i will go for the t12x2.
alternatively i might just move them to the grow tent as i called my local grow shop and a 100w cfl to plug straight into the reflector costs £26 and a 200w costs £48 ( blue spectrum ).

another separate question - my friend is adamant that at this seedling stage the propagator lid should still be on but i read in the 'bible' that it should be taken off as soon as growth above show ?? any views??

Your friend is wrong - remove the lid as soon as there is growth above ground. Too much humidity past that point can actually cause your baby to rot.

 

[dannydj]

Your friend is wrong - remove the lid as soon as there is growth above ground. Too much humidity past that point can actually cause your baby to rot.

thats what i thought - any growth above ground ( at the stage mine are ). he believes that it should be removed when the plant is slightly more developed as growth will be slowed by an inconsistent temp and humidity.

 

[DoeEyed]

thats what i thought - any growth above ground ( at the stage mine are ). he believes that it should be removed when the plant is slightly more developed as growth will be slowed by an inconsistent temp and humidity.

Growth will be slowed by a temp and humidity that are too low (or too high)- however - unless somthing really strange is goin on at your house, there shouldn't be much fluxuation of the temps aside from lights out, and humidity should stay roughly within say a 10% range (for example - it's 40% humidity, so goes up to 50% but not more).

 

[dannydj]

Growth will be slowed by a temp and humidity that are too low (or too high)- however - unless somthing really strange is goin on at your house, there shouldn't be much fluxuation of the temps aside from lights out, and humidity should stay roughly within say a 10% range (for example - it's 40% humidity, so goes up to 50% but not more).

thanks el duderino !! i try and keep the temp between 72/74f, dropping to 67f when i not around to control it.

i really appreciate the tips from you today - will be back in a few days with an update.

 

[DoeEyed]

thanks el duderino !! i try and keep the temp between 72/74f, dropping to 67f when i not around to control it.

i really appreciate the tips from you today - will be back in a few days with an update.

Glad I could help, make sure to come back with pics to share!

 

[dannydj]

purchased the 200watt cfl enviro light which they have been under now for 9 days.

Although growth has been more rapid problems have started to arise

as you can see in the picture that the cfl bulb is extremely heavy and does not lie straight ( unless reflector is adjusted as i have done ) - is this normal ?? as i will not be able to reflect all the available light with the reflector at an angle

TODAY - DAY 19

the 200w cfl was initially 2.5" above the seedlings but as of today i moved it 5". leaves still seem to be curling down away from the light so have moved the light 10" away to risk any further damage. I also had a small 6" fan blowing over the seedlings but have switch it off as it was not an oscillating fan.

today i have also started to use the rhizotonic in a very small dosage.

so what do you guys think this leaf damage is down to ??
- 200watt to powerful for seedlings ( was told otherwise in the grow shop and other forums )

- only checked my rain water ph once - silly i know, but i assumed it would be the same ( can only learn from my mistakes ). checked it today and it was 7.3

or anything else ?? help and input much appreciated as i feel as sad as some of those leaves look at the state of lil'uns

cheers in advance - peace

 

[DoeEyed]

purchased the 200watt cfl enviro light which they have been under now for 9 days.

Although growth has been more rapid problems have started to arise

as you can see in the picture that the cfl bulb is extremely heavy and does not lie straight ( unless reflector is adjusted as i have done ) - is this normal ?? as i will not be able to reflect all the available light with the reflector at an angle

TODAY - DAY 19

the 200w cfl was initially 2.5" above the seedlings but as of today i moved it 5". leaves still seem to be curling down away from the light so have moved the light 10" away to risk any further damage. I also had a small 6" fan blowing over the seedlings but have switch it off as it was not an oscillating fan.

today i have also started to use the rhizotonic in a very small dosage.

so what do you guys think this leaf damage is down to ??
- 200watt to powerful for seedlings ( was told otherwise in the grow shop and other forums )

- only checked my rain water ph once - silly i know, but i assumed it would be the same ( can only learn from my mistakes ). checked it today and it was 7.3

or anything else ?? help and input much appreciated as i feel as sad as some of those leaves look at the state of lil'uns

cheers in advance - peace

Yep 2.5" is way too close with that powerful of a CFL - think you got it right, moving to 10". Looks like a combination of stress/burning from the light, along with your PH being too high.

 

[dannydj]

Yep 2.5" is way too close with that powerful of a CFL - think you got it right, moving to 10". Looks like a combination of stress/burning from the light, along with your PH being too high.

moved them to 15" as they still seemed to be drooping.
thinking of taking back the 200watt and exchanging it for a 100/150watt, as i thought the idea was to get the light as close to the leaves as possible?? what do you think

also should the shriveled leaves be left alone or pulled off ??

doeeyed - everytime i see your name i think of homers eye in the 'psycho' take when maggie hits him with a mallet!!

 

[dannydj]

anyone have a view on exchanging the 200w for a lesser powered cfl ?? as i would really like to do it tomorrow. is it too early to put them under the 400watt hps ??