Second try...

Hello all! This is my second attempt at growing in my closet. I had 1 of 3 plants growing in my closet for about 5 weeks. I used the paper towel germination method and planted my seed in 3 seperate 5 gallon containers. Only one plant seemed to respond well....the others just refused to grow. I had it growing under 4 23 WATT CFL'S clipped around the 5 gallon container using a hood reflector bought at HD. ALSO HAD 2 42 WATT CFL'S hanging overhead, about 12" away. This was in a closet with walls painted flat white in a 4x2x7 sq.ft closet.It grew about 3" in about 2 weeks then stopped and devoloped a slight brownish spot on one leaf? I placed it outside (around 80 degrees) for I think 12 hours. But heres the main problem I believe....I kept it outside in the dark for like 3 hours before I remembered to get it back in the DARK closet!!! DUH...So here i am trying again. HERE IS MY SET UP
I HAVE 8 23W CFL (6500K)
I HAVE 3 42W CFL (2700k)
GROWING IN A 4X2X7 SQ.FT. CLOSET WITH FLAT WHITE PAINTED WALSS
OSCILLATING FAN ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY FROM CLOSET DOOR
GROWING IN FOX FARM SOIL=OCEAN FOREST
11 CLIP ON LIGHT REFLECTORS BOUGHT AT HOME DEPOT

I plan on using the paper towel method to germinate. Place seeds in 5 gallon container under 24 hours of light from all 11 CFL's. I live in Texas and its July so can I place them outside after say 2 weeks of being planted for 6 hours and then place them back under the closet lights when it gets dark. Im afraid of the HIGH humidity level (80%+). ANY SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS SO I AM SUCCESSFULL?

starting in 5 gallon pots is a HUGE mistake

it's all about developing the root ball so the plant has vigor

start in small pot/cup and transplant up as needed

Hmmm I was wondering about using such a big container. But I was afraind of transplanting and really f*cking it up LOL. So I will heed your advice and place my germinated seeds in a smaller pot say a 2 gallon. thanks man!! Any thoughts on placing my gilrs outside so they can soak up this crazy HOT sun....or is it TOO damn hot?

no 2 gallon still to big, I start in 6 inch pots, most start in party cups ( I used party cups for last grow) I use the 6 inch pots because then I can go straight to 5 gallons and only have one upcan (transplant)

the major issue with starting in big pots is overwatering and damping off deseases, the plant is simply not big enough to deal with the excess water

6" pots are what I'll get then. Thanks again.

So I ended up getting 8" pots accidentaly. 4 of my 4 seeds germinated and I planted two under 223W and one 42W CFL lights. I planted them about 5 days ago about half and inch under the soil. I sprayed the soil a bit ( maybe a third of an inch) and left them alone in my spare bedrooms closet. I havent seen ANYTHING even resembeling a sprouting plant! Last time the plant at least sprouted within 3 days being in the same location. Is the room to cold? AC is usually around 79-80,not enough water when I put them in? I got nervous and read somewhere I should have given them a .25" of water when first planting so Ive added .25 to each plant 2 days ago. Im afraid Ive drowned them. HELP Its a damn weed.....what am I doing wrong?

I always start my seedlings in jiffy pucks. I germ using the paper towel method as well. Then I wet down as many jiffy 7 grow pucks as I'm going to need, push down a bit on the indent that is already there to give room for the tap root, then put the seed in, tap root down, seed up. When I'm done, the seed is visible to me still. I never put anything over a seedling as I've read (I'm still new too) that the seedlings sometimes have a problem pushing their little selves out of the dirt. If you put too much dirt over them or pack down the dirt over them they can't push through it to find the light. Because the jiffy pucks soak up so much water (they triple in size or more) I don't have to water the seedling directly for a few days. If I think things are getting dry I just put some water in the bottom of the little tupperware container I put the jiffy pucks in and they soak it right up to the seedling. Once they have rooted well in the jiffy puck I move to solo cups. I don't transplant from the solocups either, I just cut away the bottom and put the whole thing into my new bucket. Tip: when you use the jiffy pucks cut the black plastic away and keep the jiffy pucks in it until you move it to a solo cup (or whatever you chose is best for you) because the jiffy pucks aren't very stable and will fall apart once wet.

I should have said that last part better... the tip I gave you. What I meant was: The jiffy pucks come in a sheet of plastic. I think.. I'm going from memory so don't hold me to this part, but mine came in a sheet of 16 each. Once I know how many jiffy pucks I will need, for instance, 8 like my last set of seedlings, I cut the plastic sheet so I now have a sheet of only 8. I wet the pucks outside the black sheet, then remove the wrapping, and pop them right back into the little black sheet to keep them from falling apart when I water them. Don't water directly onto them or they fall apart, as well. That is why I just put some water in the bottom of the little container I use to hold them until I move them to solo cups. Sorry if this is an over-post but I felt like I didn't explain well enough

here is a tip for the grower worried to transplant. Germinate however you usualy do then go out and get u some keg cups.. you know the red ones u made ppl pay 5$ for in highschool. After they germinate pop them in a puck and in there for idk atleast a week or two. Like previously stated you want the root structer firm. But this also helps with watering and feeding. If you start out with 5gal of dirt it spreads to thin, and u risk drownding or burning them with to much nutes. So once u got your lil sproutlings rocking in the lil cup for a bit, just cut the cup in 1/2 and plant that into your new pot. Makesure that u poke holes into the cup thought for drainage. But I mean I have transplanted my main plant a total of 5 times now, keg cup, 5' pot, 10' pot, 2 gallon bucket, and she is now in a 5 gallon bucket, and she is just over 4 months old.

Julez are u telling him to take the cover off the pucks? Because they don't fall apart like your saying. The baglike wrap they are packed in is supose to stay on not be taken off. I have baught many a pucks and none of mine have had plastic on it nore anything to remove. When the plant gets strong enuff and with regular watering the cover becomes the main rootclusters structer, and will eventualy break threw it.

allateup said:

Julez are u telling him to take the cover off the pucks? Because they don't fall apart like your saying. The baglike wrap they are packed in is supose to stay on not be taken off. I have baught many a pucks and none of mine have had plastic on it nore anything to remove. When the plant gets strong enuff and with regular watering the cover becomes the main rootclusters structer, and will eventualy break threw it.

Click to expand...

I didn't know that. I was shown by a friend to remove it. That might explain why I mention how flimsy they are in my experience - the cover would certainly stop that. I've had good success so far with my method though. Were you saying that the cover helps the roots develop?

It holds the roots untill there strong enuff to bust threw it. Just like how they have jiffy pots and u plant your shit in it and after its been watered and grows it busts threw that and u just plant the pot in a bigger one and eventualy it will ingulf that too.