First Ever Grow. Phantom Cookies x Lemon Diesel and Critical Mass - Need Help

Hey folks, I'm on my 5th day of the seedling stage, and 7 days since germination started on my two different plants. The Phantom Cookies x Lemon Diesel cross is from a friend, and the Critical Mass is from CBD Crew.

Run down:
~150 watt CFL for seedling stage (first two to three weeks from sprout).
~Temperature ranges from 70-82 throughout the 24-hour day. I'm working on regulating that though.
~Transplanted the plants on Monday from overly large containers into these Dixie cups.
~Watered heavily on Monday, let probably 50% of what I put into the soil drain out. Haven't watered since, will wait until Friday so I know the soil is not going to be overly watered. Make sense?
~Humidity level normally sits between 40% and 60%.

My concern primarily is why the Critical Mass is a bit droopy, and the non-serrated leaves are curled a bit, versus how the Phantom plant is nearly perfect in form. Any comments or assistance on why that might be?

A friend of mine, who is experienced, said not to worry about the slight droop and curl, and that the plant is healthy looking, but I don't like the small signs of a plant. See "pot5.jpg" for reference on curl.

Thank you all.

They look pretty much normal. BUT.. I think youe definatly giving them too much water for such a young age.. I would wait till the cups dry out the first inch or 2. I never hand water (pour) my seedlings. Instead yoy should use a spray bottle and spray the top of the soil sever times, and get it moist to wer, thats it. Seedlings need very little water. When i spray my little ones (when i was in soil and solo cups) i would usually wait another 5 daya or so till next watering. You'll know when its time to water again when the top soil gets dry.
Hope this helps. Good luck on youe grow! Great strains by the way.

Water just enough for a couple days worth...watering once a week is drowning the roots for days till it gets right and in the meantime causing stress. The look good so far

cannabis culture said:

They look pretty much normal. BUT.. I think youe definatly giving them too much water for such a young age.. I would wait till the cups dry out the first inch or 2. I never hand water (pour) my seedlings. Instead yoy should use a spray bottle and spray the top of the soil sever times, and get it moist to wer, thats it. Seedlings need very little water. When i spray my little ones (when i was in soil and solo cups) i would usually wait another 5 daya or so till next watering. You'll know when its time to water again when the top soil gets dry.
Hope this helps. Good luck on youe grow! Great strains by the way.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the comment, and I do agree. The more I think about it, the more I realize I've watered the plants too much. I gave them a bath practically because I used a spray and then I ran water in the soil itself. Water regulation is an area I need work on, at least determining how much is in the pot/cup still. I'll try the first knuckle finger solution and also try to get used to the weight of the cup, if possible.

If I watered both plants on Monday (showered really), should I give it about five days to let things dry out?

Also, if I began germinating a Sensi Star bean right now, do you think I'd have enough time to catch it up with the Critical and Phantom?

Diabolical666 said:

Water just enough for a couple days worth...watering once a week is drowning the roots for days till it gets right and in the meantime causing stress. The look good so far

Click to expand...

Good point on the causing stress causing part. I'd think you would have to calculate in an extra day or two of stress caused by over-watering? I'm on day 5 since the sprout broke soil. I've got the fingered leaves coming out of the top now on both, but it's hard to tell in those pictures. I'll post more as things grow.

What would you recommend for nutrients?

AnarchoCannabis said:

If I watered both plants on Monday (showered really), should I give it about five days to let things dry out?

Also, if I began germinating a Sensi Star bean right now, do you think I'd have enough time to catch it up with the Critical and Phantom?

Click to expand...

As far as next watering i would water again friday-sunday.the first knuckle method you mentioned is a good way to tell. Also the weight of the cup. But while their young and not giving much water itll be kinda hard to tell with the lift test.

Also the sensi star should catch up to the other strains.later If it has a hard time getting to the height of the other plants i would consider putting the sensi star directly under your light, and the taller ones around it. This is what i do.

cannabis culture said:

As far as next watering i would water again friday-sunday.the first knuckle method you mentioned is a good way to tell. Also the weight of the cup. But while their young and not giving much water itll be kinda hard to tell with the lift test.

Also the sensi star should catch up to the other strains.later If it has a hard time getting to the height of the other plants i would consider putting the sensi star directly under your light, and the taller ones around it. This is what i do.

Click to expand...

I'll be germinating the Sensi Star tonight then. Perfect.

Thanks for all your suggestion and comment.

I'm reading that white buckets (not black ones, or Home Depot ones as many use) are the best choice for transplanting once in a bigger stage (early vegetation). True?

I would go with darker buckets, so the roots can retain/absord heat.
Also i would recommend transplanting to 1-3 gallon pot before the 5 gallon. This way theirs not a shit load of medium and limited roots. You'll basically have water sitting around in the medium with no roots to reach it, for now. You'll find yourself have heavy pots for longer. And can lead easily to over and under watering issues if your not careful.
But with that being said you could defiantly transplant from solo cup to 5 gal, ive did it in the past many times with no problems. Just keep what i pointes out in mind.

Also just thought i mention the phantom cookies strain you working with is super ultra killer bro. I got it a few times at a dispensery here in Maine last year. Off the hook.

cannabis culture said:

Also just thought i mention the phantom cookies strain you working with is super ultra killer bro. I got it a few times at a dispensery here in Maine last year. Off the hook.

Click to expand...

I'll just use this comment to respond entirely. Good thinking on the black buckets, and I'll just transplant them to that once they're running into the vegetation stage.

And yeah, I'm super pumped about this strain man. My buddy out west crossed the Lemon Diesel and Phantom Cookies, one-of-a-kind. I've got like 8 beans, but luckily one cracked. 100% germ rate so far!

I am realizing one issue though: heat. Given the fact I have nowhere to expose of the MH/HPS heat besides the room I'm in makes it impossible to really move heat and cool air at the same time. That being said, I've decided I'll just use T5's to veg. and probably flower because I'm down south and it gets HOT.

Do you have any good recommendations for a T5 setup that is relatively inexpensive, but still able to give you good flower formation?

Diabolical666 said:

Water just enough for a couple days worth...watering once a week is drowning the roots for days till it gets right and in the meantime causing stress. The look good so far

Click to expand...

If you have proper drainage ho

AnarchoCannabis said:

Thanks for the comment, and I do agree. The more I think about it, the more I realize I've watered the plants too much. I gave them a bath practically because I used a spray and then I ran water in the soil itself. Water regulation is an area I need work on, at least determining how much is in the pot/cup still. I'll try the first knuckle finger solution and also try to get used to the weight of the cup, if possible.

If I watered both plants on Monday (showered really), should I give it about five days to let things dry out?

Also, if I began germinating a Sensi Star bean right now, do you think I'd have enough time to catch it up with the Critical and Phantom?

Click to expand...

how did you get your sprout to break soil, did you use like a germination hood? Or did you just water it and put it under a light?