ganjababe419
New Member
Hey everyone! This is my first grow so I had predicted I would run into some problems but I was a little surprised when it was my strongest of the two plants. It has been two weeks since they were first planted in Fox Farm ocean mix soil under a 150 watt HPS light. The one that is now wilting and dropping was the fastest grower of the two. This past weekend it had a few sets of fan leaves growing perfectly, while my other only had one going on two sets of leaves. I had done a ton of research before I started my grow so I have been extra careful about my conditions and watering. So I am just wondering what went wrong? I will tell you exactly what I did to see if anyone has some ideas. From the beginning so I can get some tips for future grows!
I germinated the seeds in room temp distilled bottled water for 24 hours, seeds began to break open for the white root so I then placed them in soaked paper towels in darkness for another 24 hours until a nice root sprouted from both.
Planted 1/2 inch down in fox farm ocean soil using solo cups with small slits in bottom for drainage. Watered with same distilled water. Placed in humidity dome under hps light on a 18/6 cycle with fan circulation when light is on. The fast grower was in there for two days, the other for 3-4. I took out once the first leaves began to sprout. I found that my soiled dried out each day so I watered every day around the same time.
Moved plants out side of humidity dome under same 150 watt hps light 18/6 hour cycle inside a closet that is cracked open for a fan blowing air into the closet when light is on. Might I add that this closet is in a small bathroom that has a air vent which I leave on during the light hours for extra air circulation. The grow room stays at constant 82 degrees when during day time and drops to 77 during night time. Humidity reading is at a constant 45-55 percent. The light is placed about 15 inches from the tops of the plant and doesnt feel like its burning my hand if I place it under the light right above my plants, so I don't really think its the light. I have heard its okay to use HPS in all grow phases and I wanted to keep it as simple as I could.
Continued to water everyday because soil was dry up to my knuckle if I tested it with my finger and cups felt light weight too. I turned the cups every few days to make sure all sides received equal light even though this light seems strong enough to illuminate more than enough of the grow area. The pH reading of the soil is 7.5 but I havent tested my water since I don't have a water testing kit yet and I used distilled bottled water.
I read that I could start giving my plants very little nutrients after a week of good growth. So this past weekend I used a 1/3 of the directed nutrients from the Jungle Juice line for seedlings, once on Friday then I waited until Monday to use the nutrients again, using normal water in between. I think I started this way too early because by wednesday by bigger plant looked almost dead, the leaves were all dropping to the soil and wilted with the bottom two turned yellow. I looked up pictures of over watering vs under watering and this one looked under watered for sure and maybe a nutrient imbalance. The other plant seems just fine though, growing a little faster now actually. I read that I should flush out the nutrients and make sure I have enough drainage. This is when I realized I never really noticed drainage/ run off from my plants when I watered. So I cut the slits in the bottom of the cup to be bigger and allow more drainage, flushed the plant with some extra water, waited a little while before watering both plants until there was a little pool of water in the tray and the cup felt like it had some weight. I also trimmed off the yellow leaves and added some fresh soil medium to help support the leaning stem.
I know that most people say wait every 2-3 days to water again but I find that my plants were drying out every day in need of water. I don't think I was watering them enough because I was so scared to over water after reading how that is the biggest mistake of first time growers. I realized my plants did not show run off water or have any weight in the cups afterwards. I am using a spray bottle to water so maybe I need alot more than I think. Now I am afraid I will over water them! I am starting to get OCD about it now ahhhhh! Anyways today the wilted plant is looking much better, the bottom leaves are picking up and its slowly reviving. I am afraid I over watered the other plant now since its leaves are sort of curling down after I watered it extra last night. Maybe this plant is fine with less water and the other needs a lot? How do I know how much water is enough? Is there a certain amount of runoff I should see? I think I will hold off on nutrients for a while but when should I start using them again and how often?
Also, is it safe to store my distilled water and nutrient mix in garden spray bottles? Will this effect the pH or nutrients? I don't have a pH water testing kit but I plan on getting one soon. I want to make sure my plants are nice and strong before transplanting into my 4 gallon planters. I heard that I should do this after two weeks in the seedling stage but should I wait until they are a little bigger? Sorry for so many questions, I just want to get this right!
I germinated the seeds in room temp distilled bottled water for 24 hours, seeds began to break open for the white root so I then placed them in soaked paper towels in darkness for another 24 hours until a nice root sprouted from both.
Planted 1/2 inch down in fox farm ocean soil using solo cups with small slits in bottom for drainage. Watered with same distilled water. Placed in humidity dome under hps light on a 18/6 cycle with fan circulation when light is on. The fast grower was in there for two days, the other for 3-4. I took out once the first leaves began to sprout. I found that my soiled dried out each day so I watered every day around the same time.
Moved plants out side of humidity dome under same 150 watt hps light 18/6 hour cycle inside a closet that is cracked open for a fan blowing air into the closet when light is on. Might I add that this closet is in a small bathroom that has a air vent which I leave on during the light hours for extra air circulation. The grow room stays at constant 82 degrees when during day time and drops to 77 during night time. Humidity reading is at a constant 45-55 percent. The light is placed about 15 inches from the tops of the plant and doesnt feel like its burning my hand if I place it under the light right above my plants, so I don't really think its the light. I have heard its okay to use HPS in all grow phases and I wanted to keep it as simple as I could.
Continued to water everyday because soil was dry up to my knuckle if I tested it with my finger and cups felt light weight too. I turned the cups every few days to make sure all sides received equal light even though this light seems strong enough to illuminate more than enough of the grow area. The pH reading of the soil is 7.5 but I havent tested my water since I don't have a water testing kit yet and I used distilled bottled water.
I read that I could start giving my plants very little nutrients after a week of good growth. So this past weekend I used a 1/3 of the directed nutrients from the Jungle Juice line for seedlings, once on Friday then I waited until Monday to use the nutrients again, using normal water in between. I think I started this way too early because by wednesday by bigger plant looked almost dead, the leaves were all dropping to the soil and wilted with the bottom two turned yellow. I looked up pictures of over watering vs under watering and this one looked under watered for sure and maybe a nutrient imbalance. The other plant seems just fine though, growing a little faster now actually. I read that I should flush out the nutrients and make sure I have enough drainage. This is when I realized I never really noticed drainage/ run off from my plants when I watered. So I cut the slits in the bottom of the cup to be bigger and allow more drainage, flushed the plant with some extra water, waited a little while before watering both plants until there was a little pool of water in the tray and the cup felt like it had some weight. I also trimmed off the yellow leaves and added some fresh soil medium to help support the leaning stem.
I know that most people say wait every 2-3 days to water again but I find that my plants were drying out every day in need of water. I don't think I was watering them enough because I was so scared to over water after reading how that is the biggest mistake of first time growers. I realized my plants did not show run off water or have any weight in the cups afterwards. I am using a spray bottle to water so maybe I need alot more than I think. Now I am afraid I will over water them! I am starting to get OCD about it now ahhhhh! Anyways today the wilted plant is looking much better, the bottom leaves are picking up and its slowly reviving. I am afraid I over watered the other plant now since its leaves are sort of curling down after I watered it extra last night. Maybe this plant is fine with less water and the other needs a lot? How do I know how much water is enough? Is there a certain amount of runoff I should see? I think I will hold off on nutrients for a while but when should I start using them again and how often?
Also, is it safe to store my distilled water and nutrient mix in garden spray bottles? Will this effect the pH or nutrients? I don't have a pH water testing kit but I plan on getting one soon. I want to make sure my plants are nice and strong before transplanting into my 4 gallon planters. I heard that I should do this after two weeks in the seedling stage but should I wait until they are a little bigger? Sorry for so many questions, I just want to get this right!
