One problem after another

[Dan42nepa]

Well, I have been fixated on growing weed again after a 25 year hiatus. When I was in my 20's i seemed to have no problems growing indoors. Lately its been one problem after another.
I bought 2 oz's of great weed about 2 years ago and it is still killer. My thinking is that because it has seeds it could be even better if i could grow the seeds sensi. My problem is that even though the potency is still there, only one seed out of about 30 sprouted and i killed that sprout with over watering.
I have tried various methods such as soaking in distilled water (no results) paper towel method (1 sprout) paper towel sealed in ziplock bags (3 days nothing yet) I just ordered some seeds Joey Weed Northern lights F2 and hope I dont kill those seeds also when they come.
I have a cedar lined closet which i have covered with mylar for vegging if i ever reach that stage. My basement will be for flowering even though i dont have my HPS light yet.
Soil is a concern as i am using miracle grow potting soil mixed with 30 percent perlite. these are in small peat cups just for seedlings and i will use a better mixture should i ever reach that point. I have inhaled almost every post on most of the sites on here on everything from hydroponics to bubble hash but there seems to be conflicting info for every topic. I tend to follow the sites such as pot tv which have videos and follow their methods.
I am looking for quality and not quantity and hopefully i can get past the paranoia of having seeds sent to my house. When my wife was alive, she would never allow me to do anything like this but since she passed away in april I figured this would be my new hobby. Its good therapy and i am sure i can find a medicinal excuse for my product.. LOL

Thank god there are places like this still around on the net.

Dan from PA

 

[CaptJamesTKirk]

Find a local grow store and get some Ocean Forest Soil then get some pearlite - sounds like you have the pearlite.

Mix somewhwere between 50-50 to 60/40 soil to pearlite - and it's good to go.

While your there at the grow store, - get some Grow Big, Big Bloom and Tiger Bloom.

Now - about watering,,,,, overwatering is lethal - so is underwatering, but not as bad. Ideally, you want to add water a couple hours befor the plant starts to droop from lack of water. Cannibis likes to get dry between waterings.

Lift the plant up and if it pot feels light - it might need water - if it's heavy, don't water.

None of this little drinks either.

And I seldom get much run off out the bottom - get it too wet and it will cause trouble.

And you might need a PH pen - you will need a PH pen before you start using that Tiger Bloom - and some PH up.

My water here is PH 7 and really clean - pot likes a little more acidic - about PH 6 Most flowering ferts wil alter the PH - some - like TB, enough to fry your garden if your not carefull and informed. I can use a 1/4 tsb of PH down or 1/2 strength TB and the garden really shows it's stuff. - your requirements will probably be different, but simular

 

[Maj.PotHead]

[ i am using miracle grow potting soil mixed with 30 percent perlite. these are in small peat cups just for seedlings.]

miracle grow potting soil can be a very hot soil for seedling and freshly planted clones

if you can obtain the MG soil you can probably get this soil

bought this bag from homedepot to veg my last run in heres the soils NPK

i had no problems using it last runs veg. now on your peate cups did you rinse them good before use thier very acidic. heres what i like to use for seeds and clones 1st pot

a 18 count flat the flowers used to be in each square is 3in x 3in x 3in i like 20-25% perlite in the soil mix for this stage. to water i use a spray bottle on mist i soak the soil untill it starts to drain, i allow to fully stop draining then i lift the container. this is my plants approx weight when watered to determine when time to water again is i lift the container when it feels light i use finger method in soil if dry i water again like before untill it starts draining. after few days of lifting the container you'll be able to feel the moisture level in the soil . the soil i currently use and will use is Fox Farm soils ocean forrest and light worrior mixed together i buy them at my local hydro shop not cheap 20$ each bag.
i also use FF nutes
grow big for veg 1 time each wk alopng with diamond necture
big bloom and tiger bloom during flower every other watering
now because of the ferts i use i flush with plain PH'd water for last 10-14 days untill a fan leaf taste like water itself and isnt sour/bitter tasten

srry to hear about your wife ive been married to same wife 18yr togther 19yr 1st and only time ive been married. best thing to do is read ppl's grow logs see what works for them and try or use a combo of many ppls methods for your own method of growing.
do your self a favor get a PH meter even the basic hanna non water proof 1 will save you hella headachs.
i have the basic hanna 1 it works if my plants are to get a plain watering i fill the jug from my water filter clorine kills plants over time ifn your glass of water smells like clorine and ya have no filter for the water. let the water sit in a un opened jug for at least 24hr for clorine to evaporate then its safe for use. now back on subject when i water a plain water i check my waters PH from the jug in a shot glass for booze lol works perfect. i use a PH down from hydro shop to lower my waters PH, my waters ph from fitlered tap is lately 8.2-8.4 i like my plants to get water PH'd to 6.5 during veg and 1st half of flower then drop ph 6.3 for last half of flower. when i water plants and its fert time i add ferts 1st then adjust PH for me i'm allways adjusting down, if i go to low i empty some water out add fresh filtered water.

when i add ferts i start off 1/4 strength dossage and never exceed 1/2 strength. because i grow in containers i dont fert every time i water only every other time so 1 water is plain 1 water is ferts in and flush last 10-14 days plain water

 

[Guest]

Great info Maj Pothead, I agree, Fox Forest is a good investment, mixed with Light Warrior - Perfect. Ditch the Mir-ass-cle grow for sure...it's too strong for seeds. Great info here.

One thing I'd also recommend making sure of is ventilation. The room needs to be bearable to you, if it feels muggy or hot (over 80 degrees) the plants feel it too, and you will have problems...

 

[Dan42nepa]

Thanks... I cant read the bag.. does it say supersoil? I do have a PH meter which i bought already. I didnt rinse the peat pots.. they are the very small little round ones. I have been spraying them using a spray bottle several times a day. I tried using a funnel but its hard to control the amount. other methods cause too much turbulance on the soil surface and since they are planted so close to the surface. I know there is no fox farms around here and no hydro stores within 50 miles. I have been on the fox website looking for dealers. I'll keep looking.. Thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

Hey Major that's a bag of supersoil not miracle grow soil.

GCG

 

[Dr Dog]

I am pretty much a noob around these parts as well. Unfortunately I did not find this place until after I was already into my first real grow. I had messed around with household fl's trying to get something growing when i did not have a clue what I was doin. Still don't have a clue but I have gotten lots of advice, and it is starting to show.

The one thing I could chime in on here, would be getting the seeds poppin, I do this. I take 2 paper towels and overlap them so they are one, kinda like two ply.(quality thick paper towels). I get the towel wet and then ring out the water, so it is wet but no dripping. I fold the seeds up inside the paper towel, almost like I am folding a flag. Then place the package in between two saucers with the top turned upside down.

I live in a cottage in Canada, so temps are a bit of an issue anytime b4 June and after Sept , so i place it on top of the fridge. Forget about them for 3 days, and I have always got 100% germination

 

[Maj.PotHead]

Hey Major that's a bag of supersoil not miracle grow soil.

GCG

yes read my replay again i suggested he dump the MG and buy the supersoil he should be abel to buy it if he can get MG soil.

dan them round peat plugs should be rinsed if not soaked for 24hr in PH adjusted water thier still quite acidic. i tryied the 2inch peate cups once and found they dry out way to fast this is why i bought flowers this spring and used the flat the flowers came in for seed/seedlings/clones heres clones establishing in the 3x3x3's now


perfect size.

i do have 1 question now though dan whats your current lighting

and yes the soils says supersoil potting soil when ever you buy bagged soil make sure its potting soil some bags are just soil not for potted plants

 

[Dan42nepa]

major My I am using 40 watt floruo, one warm and one cool. For sprouts i am using a grow light in a incubation fixture suspended about 3 feet over the pots. Maybe thats why they arent sprouting? I didnt think the light would matter much until they broke the surface.

 

[Guest]

Sorry Major my bad. I guess I need to strt reading instead of just looking at the pics.

GCG

 

[Tunefull]

Hello dan/all

Looks like some good advice...

JJS I use cheapo soil aswell...Costs about £10 for a bag that nearly breaks my back when i buy it*smileS*

I use very cheap ferts aswell(Well for tomatoe plants)
The idea was to use the cheap stuff for my first few grows,Then buy some good stuff to compare it with....One day i will invest in some good ferts tho


I wll also add
Germing/cloneing can be tricky unless your lucky enough to live in a naturally warm climate....Where i live(In the Wales(had some frost last two nights(mild frost tho))
There are only 2-3 months of the year where it is warm enough to Germ seeds without finding some way to warm up the seeds as there germing....(same with cuttings,Need to have a warm temp)

Thankfully tho it is easy enough to put them in a Ziplock bag and place them somewhere warm for a few days(but need it to be somewhere that is warm(not hot)All the time(well till they pop))

Good luck m8
Have u thought about running a grow dairy?
There really handy..For you and for other new growers(we all kinda have the same questions)*smielS*

 

[Dan42nepa]

My home depot doesnt carry supersoil. I went to a local garden center and bought master nursery gardeners gold organic potting soil. It says on the bag it has a PH of 6.5. We seem pretty limited around here as far as things widely used. I dont want to buy things like potting soil over the net because it would cost a fortune to ship. I will order some of that tiger bloom and big bloom. Waiting for my order of NL F2 seeds and I will try and find some more seeds from my current stash and see if i can sprout them also. It only takes 3 bong hits to get a nice buzz and since its seeded I like the idea of growing some seedless female plants and see how good it would be then. If its still so potent after 2 years must be a good strain. Now if i can only get these seeds to sprout. Hate breaking up the buds...

 

[Guest]

You'll get it man, you just had some old seeds. It looks like you know what you're doing - just old seeds didn't wanna take and the one that took got too much love.

Just remember the basics and start slow.

I use the paper towel method on saucers. I stick them in a upper cabinet in the kitchen and always get 100% germination.

Don't sweat the advanced sh!t - start slow and get the hang of things. Germinate half the seeds you ordered and take your time. - you'll get it and welcome to the grow club.

 

[Dan42nepa]

Thanks.... I would rather ruin my old seeds rather then ruin my new ones.. Thats why i was hoping to sprout some soon before the new ones come.