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Slow Growth?

SmOt PoKiNg

New member
I can't explain it, everyone seems to have larger plants. The soil being used is Earthgro Potting Soil mixed with perlite and nothing else. They got the first dose (1/4 strength) of Miracle gro tomato plant food about 3 days ago and distilled water is being used for watering. Anyone think this is slow growth or is it because this is the first grow?

the First seven pics are from Plant A.

Pic 1: 9 days old
Pic 2 & 3: 12 days old
Pic 4 & 5: 14 days old
Pic 6 & 7: 20 days old

It's about 2.25 inches tall, grows under the natural sun and on rainy nights is brought in and are under 80 watts of flourescents (I know..not much but it was supposed to be all outside grow) the bulbs are Philips Alto Cool White Plus. Also, they're just getting the natural amount of sunlight about 12 hours of it or so and are placed under the lamp to replace any time lost due to rain
 
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Hold Up a Little on the Water.

Hold Up a Little on the Water.

Hey dude your plant looks like it’s been chronically over watered. The last pic looks like the roots have actually started to rot. You've got to let the soil dry out in the future before you water. Good luck bro.

Stay green!
 

anonamauz

Member
I don't see a lot of perlite in the top pics. Did you transplant? Soil might be too dense for the seedling.

Also those pots look big, and will stay wet for a loong time with such small seedlings. Drill a bunch of holes in the bottom of the pot, and let them dry out until the soil pulls away from the container. Then start watering again, but sparingly. They don't need nutes this early either.

It takes plants a while to adjust to a transplant (it's growing roots, and growth above the ground slows down...). keep them under the light, and resist the temptation to try to 'fix' them.
 
G

Guest

Most likely overwater... what was you watering regiment?
it should be once a week or less. it looks constantly wet that's no good.
Also you should NEVER fert so early.... wait till the little round leaves fall off.
 
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SmOt PoKiNg

New member
They were over-watered about 7 days ago. We had a lot of scattered showers within a 12 hour period and I wasn't close by so they sucked up about 3 or 4 hours of rain water. The next day I added hydrogen peroxide to a bit of water so it could oxygenate the soil because I had initially started out with Hydropex Top soil and nothing else and it was retaining too much water (the pH was way off too). So about 5 days ago they were transplanted to a pot with earthgro potting soil and perlite. For some odd reason the stem for Plant B has always had that sort of discoloration/disfiguration. I usually stick my pinky in the soil about an inch deep or so and if the soil feels dry and flakey in there I water (usually every 5 days). I thought it might do them good to get a little bit of nutes considering the fact I never added anything to the soil and strangely the stem on Plant A was a dark purple, two days after they were given nutes it lightened up a bit.


Edit: They do look a bit small for their age, right?
 
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Desiderata

Bodhisattva of the Earth
Veteran
Yeah, they look alittle stunted for their age. My first thought was they looked undernourished, needing food. With these high tech strains these days, I keep finding out they will take off like a rocket by letting them dry out to medium-low moist and already having some organic stuff in the mix. I tried it this time and they haven't yellowed a bit, just growing like the dickens at 2-3 weeks old. This is in the dixie cups I'm speaking of.
 

anonamauz

Member
I wouldn't worry about the color of the stem. Sounds like they have had way too much water. Let them get good and dry, then start rewatering. and don't use much water when you do- they're so small, and in such big containers, that anything more than a cup or two of water will start to drown them again. Once the roots get established, you can water more aggressively.
 
G

Guest

Overwatering. It took me a long time to figure out the difference between flushing and watering. When I first started I would always water till water came out the bottom just a bit. Now I know that I was drowning the roots all the time. They never had time to get air. Or time to grow through dry un-packed soil. Just a thought if your a nooby.
 

SmOt PoKiNg

New member
Thanks for all the replies. I guess everyone agrees on overwatering so I'll work on that. I live in Florida BTW. We're getting about 12 hours of sun and 12 of night.
 

Nomad

Member
your soil looks really thick, almost sandy or clay, marijuana plants do better in a more airy soil.

i dont think this is a watering problem, i think its a soil problem.
 
G

Guest

Nomad said:
your soil looks really thick, almost sandy or clay, marijuana plants do better in a more airy soil.

i dont think this is a watering problem, i think its a soil problem.

I think it's a mix of both....throw in more perlite and let it dry in between waterings
 

SmOt PoKiNg

New member
Nomad said:
your soil looks really thick, almost sandy or clay, marijuana plants do better in a more airy soil.

i dont think this is a watering problem, i think its a soil problem.


Are you speaking of the first few pics? The last two pics in Plant A and Plant B are with a better soil with added perlite. (I had to transplant because the soil was really becoming a problem.)
 

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