brainstorming
Active Member
Ok, so this post is gonna be a long one but its a long start to this grow so its warranted. Im not normally so long-winded so dont fear that every time you check this thread its going to be a new chapter in the grow novel.
I put seeds in the dirt in July, I was using a an organic approach that my wife had success with in her greenhouse and garden so I figured why not? The mix was 1 part organic compost 1 part topsoil and 1 part perlite. I started 9 plants directly into 5 gallon buckets in a 5x5 tent. Everything looked good, 100% germ rate and the plants made it to 2 sets of leaves in a hurry... then stopped! I tried everything I could think of to get them better and nothing worked. BTW I started them until week 2 on cfl lamps then switch to 1000w Metal Halide in a Saturn 6 cooltube hood. So I moved the 4 healthiest of the 9 plants into my wifes greenhouse and started 6 new plants in the same soil mix again thinking maybe I had a couple days during the first week where it was too hot (95) outside and the plants got heat stress. So first week of August had 6 seeds. 5 Germinated 1 didnt... Looked great again right up to the 2nd set of leaves then they just stopped!!!! Damn! Only common denominator here was this soil mix.... So I stopped by my local hydroponics shop and talked with the guy there for about an hour. Went home with ProMix HP and a big bag of coco medium with a wealth of knowledge about how to use these 2 mixes specifically as they are the hydro store owners choice and he uses them himself. Said you have to be specifically cautious using the coco as it drains quick and dries fast and said the ph is really low on it.
So I went home and pulled my best 6 of the plants (2 from the greenhouse that were already 6 weeks old and only 3 inches tall with 3 spindly sets of leaves) and 4 of my newest batch which were at 2 sets and very small despite being 3 weeks old. I rinsed the roots completely of dirt, they all had fairly small root systems considering their age, and planted them in the new medium (3 in the coco and 3 in the ProMix HP).
After only 2 weeks in the new mediums they are some of the healthiest plants I have ever grown. I pinched them at 5 sets 4 days ago and the branching sets now are putting out 9 points IN ONLY 2 WEEKS!!!. Turns out the organic compost had severe fungus that was attacking the root system, went to the nursery where I bought it and the woman there said that it is meant to sit for a year and break down before using it... whatever.
So I am now starting a grow journal here so people can comment and give their ideas and advice, or just ask questions. I have an amazing camera (Sony Alpha 77 24.3 megapixel) for taking pictures of the grow so there will be many good pictures hopefully... I have many pictures of my plant in their sickly state from before too if people want them for reference. Looking forward to becoming a more positive contributor to the rollitup growing community. So here they are 2 weeks after making the switch but theyve been in dirt for5 weeks ( the 2 on the far right that are smaller have been in dirt for 8 weeks)
*nevermind on the awesome 24.3 mp pics.,.. the uploader resized them.... oh well
I put seeds in the dirt in July, I was using a an organic approach that my wife had success with in her greenhouse and garden so I figured why not? The mix was 1 part organic compost 1 part topsoil and 1 part perlite. I started 9 plants directly into 5 gallon buckets in a 5x5 tent. Everything looked good, 100% germ rate and the plants made it to 2 sets of leaves in a hurry... then stopped! I tried everything I could think of to get them better and nothing worked. BTW I started them until week 2 on cfl lamps then switch to 1000w Metal Halide in a Saturn 6 cooltube hood. So I moved the 4 healthiest of the 9 plants into my wifes greenhouse and started 6 new plants in the same soil mix again thinking maybe I had a couple days during the first week where it was too hot (95) outside and the plants got heat stress. So first week of August had 6 seeds. 5 Germinated 1 didnt... Looked great again right up to the 2nd set of leaves then they just stopped!!!! Damn! Only common denominator here was this soil mix.... So I stopped by my local hydroponics shop and talked with the guy there for about an hour. Went home with ProMix HP and a big bag of coco medium with a wealth of knowledge about how to use these 2 mixes specifically as they are the hydro store owners choice and he uses them himself. Said you have to be specifically cautious using the coco as it drains quick and dries fast and said the ph is really low on it.
So I went home and pulled my best 6 of the plants (2 from the greenhouse that were already 6 weeks old and only 3 inches tall with 3 spindly sets of leaves) and 4 of my newest batch which were at 2 sets and very small despite being 3 weeks old. I rinsed the roots completely of dirt, they all had fairly small root systems considering their age, and planted them in the new medium (3 in the coco and 3 in the ProMix HP).
After only 2 weeks in the new mediums they are some of the healthiest plants I have ever grown. I pinched them at 5 sets 4 days ago and the branching sets now are putting out 9 points IN ONLY 2 WEEKS!!!. Turns out the organic compost had severe fungus that was attacking the root system, went to the nursery where I bought it and the woman there said that it is meant to sit for a year and break down before using it... whatever.
So I am now starting a grow journal here so people can comment and give their ideas and advice, or just ask questions. I have an amazing camera (Sony Alpha 77 24.3 megapixel) for taking pictures of the grow so there will be many good pictures hopefully... I have many pictures of my plant in their sickly state from before too if people want them for reference. Looking forward to becoming a more positive contributor to the rollitup growing community. So here they are 2 weeks after making the switch but theyve been in dirt for5 weeks ( the 2 on the far right that are smaller have been in dirt for 8 weeks)
*nevermind on the awesome 24.3 mp pics.,.. the uploader resized them.... oh well
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