Help me save my babies!

[whybro]

Hi guys, Have lurked around a bit learning, but now i need some help!

So i was given some random seeds by a friend, got too excited and planted them before having any of the right equipment (doh!)

-They Germed on the 27th April and i planted them that day.
- Went away for a long weekend, came back and they had sprouted, slightly stretched due to not having any lights (just sunlight that stage)

- Now this is where i went very wrong...I started watering my babies with spring water from a 10L bottle...WITHOUT CHECKING PH FIRST. (idiot)
I did this from 2nd May - until 16th May when i noticed my plants were looking very sick and not growing.

-Finally got some PH test drops and found my water to be like a PH 8.5/9!

- Next day 17th May i tested my tap water and found it was a ph of around 7.5 so i flushed them thoroughly them with that and Quarter strength nutes..

- Next day May 18th, Did some more research and realised this is still too high, found some PH down and made the water around 6.5 and flushed again - testing the run off which came at around 6.

So today is the 19th and now im wondering what to do from here.
I do think a couple of my plants looks a 'little' bit greener - but they are still looking sad

Any advice from you weed wizards would be greatly appreciated. I know a made a bunch of mistakes but am hoping i can be set straight.

- light: 200w CFL 6500k
- grow medium: soil + perlite
- Temp range : 23-30 degrees celcius, 40-60% humidity

My setup

My sick babies

 

[whybro]

 

[whybro]

How do i add photos? Mine are not showing up? grrr

 

[whybro]

 

[jamvan]

Id say wait and let the soil dry out some. Things should improve with a couple days.

 

[dutchcrunch]

Yeah looks like definitely over watering...if u use a good soil mix u don't have to pH.. if your tap water is 7.5 I would test the runoff after watering I'll bet its in the 6-6.5 range..let them dry out before watering next time. When the top is visibly dry then water

 

[Budley Doright]

Im not going to give much advice...

I am going to give you some info which will be useful...

Seed plants come with a 'feed me' indicator.....

When the cotyledon leaves begin to turn .....its time to feed....

or you havent fed enough

 

[whybro]

Id say wait and let the soil dry out some. Things should improve with a couple days.

Thanks Jamvan, They are currently drying out - some are looking a little better, some are worse.

Yeah looks like definitely over watering...if u use a good soil mix u don't have to pH.. if your tap water is 7.5 I would test the runoff after watering I'll bet its in the 6-6.5 range..let them dry out before watering next time. When the top is visibly dry then water

Thanks Dutchcrunch - The problem was not the tap water, the problem was i was watering them since the first water with bottles spring water that unknowingly had a ph of around 9! which is what screwed everything up (my fault) I am letting them dry out now.

Im not going to give much advice...

I am going to give you some info which will be useful...

Seed plants come with a 'feed me' indicator.....

When the cotyledon leaves begin to turn .....its time to feed....

or you havent fed enoug

Info is still advice, much appreciated Do you think i should water with half strength nutes on the next water?
I feel they have been in nute lockout since i was watering them with ph 9 water for the first 2 weeks , up until the flush with ph corrected water.

 

[HighStakes]

I had a very similar problem, over watering was the issue. My soil medium was too dense for my low heat LED setup and was not drying out and providing oxygen to the roots. I transplanted them into Light Warrior into 1 gallon smart pots and let them dry out. Since then they have been much happier and healthy girls that can handle normal watering and nuts.

 

[Huckster79]

Perforate your beer cups like an airpot w small drill. Try heavy 16 Prime with your tap water and no need to ph...

I would add some kelp extract for a bit- great bandaid to stresses we cause our girls...

 

[whybro]

Perforate your beer cups like an airpot w small drill.

Had already done this before they were planted, Do you think that is enough drainage?

After i let them dry out for a little, i added some half strength nutes to some correct ph water and watered them yesterday. Looking a lot better today with some green coming through. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[whybro]

 

[corky1968]

Stop playing with them. They have been stressed a lot already.

What you can do though is add a bit more soil along
the stems though to within 1 inch of the 1st leaves.

Is this your 1st grow?

 

[HighStakes]

Perforate all the way up not just the bottom. Maybe after they get a break.

 

[corky1968]

Perforate all the way up not just the bottom. Maybe after they get a break.

In cups like that I just make holes in the bottom.
No need to go along the sides. I've used those
16 oz cups 100's of time.

 

[MumblyJumJum]

let it dry out (marijuana doesn't like to have its roots saturated all the time, you should allow the medium to dry out between waterings) and you probably don't need to be adding nutes this early unless you're growing in a nutrient free medium like promix. One of the biggest mistakes people make starting out is caring for their plants to death; overwatering, overfeeding, etc; usually less is more. I would also switch to bigger pots if possible -- they will out grow the cups very soon if they haven't already.

 

[maimunji]

Only issues hire is light too close. Need to be 50 centimeters from them. You just cook them. 200 w cfl is strong like 1000 w mh at this distance

 

[Shmavis]

Hello whybro,

It’s been almost a week since your last post. Are your babies looking any better? If you followed the advice here, no more water or nutes, then they should be bouncing back by now.

(Your light is not too close.)

Here’s what I’d suggest for future seed pops:

1. Get a humidity dome.
2. Use seed starter peat pots, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Seed-Starter-...527924&sr=8-1&keywords=seed+starter+peat+pots

Once your babies are established in the peat pots (roots busting through the bottom and/or sides) then put them into 18oz SOLO cups. Bury the whole peat pot at a depth that allows for you to back fill your soil mixture so that it ends up just below the cotyledons. Thoroughly water the cup. You generally won’t need to water again for at least a week. When to water again is best determined by the weight of the cup though. So the first time you water the peat pot into the SOLO cup, lift it up to get a sense of its weight. Lift the cups daily. You’ll get a good feel for when you need to water again.

And in the future only drill drainage holes in the bottom of your cups.

Hope your babies are bouncing back for you!

 

[Huckster79]

I agree with high stakes.

Corky- I don't disagree a perforated bottom cuts it, but mimicking an air/smart from start works for me even better- as w the air trimming they never end up root bound even if you get busy n leave em in beer cups a bit to long. It also eases overwatering concerns... It allows you to keep plants a bit more damp than the complete dry out with no harm of overwatering symptoms but benefit of not harming micro roots as they develop and bone dry soil isn't good for them. If roots get enough oxygen a complete dry out is totally unnecessary... So certainly his cup would work, just benefits to air/smart pot it all way from start to finish...

 

[whybro]

Stop playing with them. They have been stressed a lot already.

What you can do though is add a bit more soil along
the stems though to within 1 inch of the 1st leaves.

Is this your 1st grow?

Thanks Corky. I took your advice and added more soil. They seem to like it better
Yes it is my first grow, i have done a fair amount of research but i just jumped in before i had the right stuff and screwed it from the get go - they are doing better now!

Mumblyjumjum - you are right buddy less is more. i have been letting them dry out a little longer as i could still feel it was moist when i was watering.

Only issues hire is light too close

I dont think so man... 50cm is way too far for a CFL.

Are your babies looking any better?

Hi Shmavis yes thhey have bounced back! however they were severely stunted from the nute lockout from day 1. i will post some more pics soon for you guys.

What is happening though is the first fan leaves have started dying and most have gone, have new growth starting at those points..like it is starting again.

Also - I am running 24/7hr light cycle. Do you think it would be more beneficial for damaged plants to run on a 18/6 cycle? I feel they may gain some rest that way?