Problem with WW Auto

[Bumbastiklas]

Hello guys.

So, let's start. Have 2 White Widow Auto seedlings in soil now for 16 days (germinated straight in soil). When seedling appeared I put them under my 250w Dual Spectrum HPS, didn't keep them very close and they seemed to love it and grow was good for, let's say, week. And then they just almost started to stop. They grow, but only a liitle bit, day after day and nothing significant really happens. Except one bad thing. First true leaves begun to yellow and dry and now are almost died. Also they're curled. Other true leaves and new leaves are quite droopy and I just don't know why.

I'm using organic soil with no ferts in it (just only a tiny amount of natural ones) and water them every 4-5 days when few inches of soil are dry (it seems bottom never dries up, it's almost always wet). Didn't use any ferts yet. Just a plain water. Temperature is between 24-28. When I leave the window open in other room the temperature usually stays 24 at day and at night it raises to 28 max., but more often stays somewhere between 26.5-27. I have two oscilating fans, also two pc coolers blowing air in growroom and I keep the door a bit opened (this way some of the hot air blown by oscilating fans leave the room). Air circulation I think it's not the worst and temperatures are quite good too.

Here are some pictures. As you see, seedlings are quite small and droopy, also you can see those two first leaves dying. And one picture of my room. Sorry for bad quality.

Now they look even worse, because second set of true leaves are dead (all started with yellow/brown spots on the edge of the leaves). New leaves are green, bet very slowth growing and I guess they'll start dying and dry up as the older ones did. And I'm confused. She looks poor and very small... And has two weeks and a bit more yet.

 

[socialist]

I personally wouldn't put such small plants under HPS. I like to use T5's till they get established. The yellowing leaves might be an indicator that they are ready for some nutrients. I don't do soil so hopefully someone that does will chime in.

 

[Midnight Tokar]

Those plants look way too small to be in such big pots. I think that is contributing to your dry on top and soaking wet on bottom problem. I keep my seedlings in the 16 ounce beer cups until about two weeks old, they'll let you know when to transplant.

With such a big pot it makes it very hard to maintain the proper moisture level in the pots as the roots are quite small and don't reach the bottom to feed, thus the soggy soil. It will lead to all kinds of nute lockout problems due to no oxygen in the soil, very slow growth and even dying leaves like yours..

I use a 400 watt and until they are about a week old I keep it about 3 feet above and gradually lower it to about one foot at the closest, you'll be able to tell how hot by the back of your hand.

 

[Bumbastiklas]

Thank you for responses. Yeah, I think my guesses are right. I've done a mistake by planting them in a such a large pots. I guess the only thing I can do now is to wait, uh? And try to water even less (every 7 or 8 days I guess). Maybe they'll recover... I don't have much experience, the last time all was OK, but the plants were in smaller pots with transplantation (those weren't autos).