Are my plants growing REALLY slow or is it me?

[sm0keyrich510]

My plants (a mystery seed & a fem purple wreck) were planted from seed on feburary 9th...

today is the 14th of march and they aren't growing very fast.

i have 230watts of 23watt cfls (mixed 7 6500k bulbs and 3 2700k bulbs)

the purple wreck is 4 1/2 inches tall and the mystery seed is 3 1/2 inches tall (the wreck came above dirt 4 days or so before the other one).

no germination prior to planting the seeds.

they went from the jar to the dirt with no stops in between.

are they growing small or is the expected with cfls? i have a fan blowing and ventilation (air from outside blowing right into the room).

they just started nutes (first feeding a week ago). and mylar panels directly in front of and behind the grow.

they seem healthy...some days growing a 1/2 inch in a day...but others they seem to just be lacking.

any ideas? or advice to speed it up (i know. get a hps...im working on it)

but any tips beyond that? maybe something im over looking?

thanks.

 

[GreatwhiteNorth]

Actually a Metal Halide would more suit their needs at this stage.
I use CFL's only for the seedling stage (first week or two) then under the first 600 they go.

 

[oakgrowth1]

Probably do not need nutrients yet. Next watering flush the soil out with distilled water, then wait 7 days before watering again.

 

[sm0keyrich510]

Probably do not need nutrients yet. Next watering flush the soil out with distilled water, then wait 7 days before watering again.

actually i gave them some because they were suffering from a N deficiency. i only gave them nutes once...

a teaspoon of fox farm grow big mixed in a gallon of water and that gallon of water was distributed equally among both plants...

they are in 1.5 gallon pots at the moment.

watered since (without nutes).

 

[GreatwhiteNorth]

What type of soil are you using?
You really shouldn't need to fert that early if using even moderately good soil.
Hows your soil/water PH (respectively)?
Sounds like your fert ratio is within reason, but this early may be a bit hot - I would probably opt for about 1/2 tbsp per gal while they are this small.
Got any pic's you can post?
I'll be around.
GWN

 

[sm0keyrich510]

What type of soil are you using?
You really shouldn't need to fert that early if using even moderately good soil.
Hows your soil/water PH (respectively)?
Sounds like your fert ratio is within reason, but this early may be a bit hot - I would probably opt for about 1/2 tbsp per gal while they are this small.
Got any pic's you can post?
I'll be around.
GWN

im using fox farm ocean forest soil. i didnt think i needed to feed either to be honest and i wasnt going to until i had my first plant problem (N deficiency) since they got that baby dose of of grow big they have been recovering. (gave it to them on thursday).

now just about no yellowing is visible.

these pics are from friday taken on my cell fone. So im sorry for the poor quality.

edit: the first pic is of the grow. thats 10 23watt cfls. 7 are 6500K and 3 are 2700K. that reflective material infront of the pic and in the back of the pic are mylar on those science fair tri-fold cardboard sheets. the light is as close as i can get it given my resources currently. the room is light proof (3 layers of curtains block light from the window and yes i checked to make sure).

they are given water every 2-3 days. (or when needed)

the second picture is of the mystery seed/strain.

the third picture is of the purple wreck feminized seed.

 

[sm0keyrich510]

i would also like to note that they have made some progress. they were measured on thursday and the purple wreck was 3 1/2 inches tall and the mystery seed was 2 1/2 inches tall. they were measured again sunday morning and the purple wreck measured 4 1/2 inches and the mystery seed 3 1/2 inches.

are they closer to a normal speed of growth? (first time grower i have read up alot...since oct of last year...but nothing prepares you for when you grow for the first time completely).

 

[djlifeline]

Plants always grow slower to the grower as you probably a keen grower like many of us and check the plants maybe once or twice a day (in the light period obviously) so you don't notice the little growth. Maybe leave them for 24hrs then take a peek

 

[sm0keyrich510]

Plants always grow slower to the grower as you probably a keen grower like many of us and check the plants maybe once or twice a day (in the light period obviously) so you don't notice the little growth. Maybe leave them for 24hrs then take a peek

yea ur right i guess.

considering they were started on feb 9th from seed it worried me since i was planning to start flowering after 4 weeks but im over that time now and they are still too small (for what im looking to yeild).

im trying to hold out until they reach a ft tall at least. a ft and a half would be ideal but it seems that would take 3 months in vegging alone haha.

 

[JN811]

nah dude, those plants are growing slow.. but ur using cfls so its to be expected. I actually started mine right when u did.. If you want better results..add more light.. plus they look a bit overwatered..

 

[JN811]

this is less than 1 month with 6 27 watt cfls and a 400 watt hps..

 

[jawbrodt]

I'm sorry to say, that the purple wreck looks terrible. It looks like nute burn, or possible PH burn. You might also be having an over/underwatering problem, and if not, it's likely a problem with your growing medium, whether it be too rich, PH off, etc....I didn't catch the temps, so that could have something to do with it too, so you should make sure that is within range, too(approx. 78* veg, and 74* bloom)

 

[djlifeline]

how many plants you trying to grow with just the 400w hps and the cfls? Because if its all I can see its not enough!

 

[JN811]

how many plants you trying to grow with just the 400w hps and the cfls? Because if its all I can see its not enough!

lol thanks bro, i know that... lol this isnt my thread but half will be males

 

[djlifeline]

lol thanks bro, i know that... lol this isnt my thread but half will be males

True true. Good luck my friend! looks like you will have a nice pay off

I have always used fem seeds so I work on that assumption when I look at pics for some reason ha. I think next time though going to get some regs. Seeds cost too much.

 

[JN811]

True true. Good luck my friend! looks like you will have a nice pay off

I have always used fem seeds so I work on that assumption when I look at pics for some reason ha. I think next time though going to get some regs. Seeds cost too much.

ya dude, i agree.. These are actually attitudes x-mas special seeds.. They were all FREE!!!!

 

[djlifeline]

ya dude, i agree.. These are actually attitudes x-mas special seeds.. They were all FREE!!!!

Now thats a price I wouldn't mind paying

 

[sm0keyrich510]

updated pics!

i made some changes to my grow area today...put up curtains of mylar (diy style). fan still blowing.

i was concerned about the purple wreck at first too. others on here said not too worry and its been given the exact same treatment as the other. its progressively getting bigger (at the same rate as the mystery strain).

i have no way to check ph rite now so all water is tap and sits out for at least 24hrs prior to watering.

the temps i'd say are mid 70's fairly except during dark period it dips a bit...nothing too extreme.

today was a nice day in the low 70's and they are near a window with a fan suckin air from outside n blowing all in the grow area.


edit. first two pics are of the grrow area (not done w/ the mylar btw...everywhere u see purple will be w/ mylar)
3rd is the mystery seed (hence the "?" on the pot) 4th is the purp wreck

 

[JN811]

nice pics.. contain that light and ull have MUCH better results!! Create some type of cab..

 

[sm0keyrich510]

nice pics.. contain that light and ull have MUCH better results!! Create some type of cab..

I been trying to contain it and so far its been a challenge.

I used the same light setup in a dresser when they were seedlings in a party cup. that only lasted two weeks and then they outgrew their space so i moved em on the floor surrounded (when its all the way done) with mylar.

im trying to build a cab/box of some kind to finish this grow (and a few other practice grows maybe) but when i feel comfortable doing my county's legal maximum (12 plants) they will be on the floor in this space im using now with the mylar.

i will keep you guys posted on the area as it gets improved.


ALSO

i forgot almost...the plants were measured again last night and the purple wreck is 5 inches tall and the mystery is 4 inches tall.

they shot up a half inch in a day!

improvement?