"Thoughts on best way to start plants for outdoors"

[Cosmochronic]

Hello everyone I'm in no way a newbie grower but I'm far from a pro lol, what's your guys preferred method to start plants- I will start under A metal halide 1000 wt light for outdoor planting, but my question is what's your choice way to start seed plants should I use peat pots, greenhouse trays, solo cups or what. I plan to plant 8 plants per site I live in a very rural area and will have to travel with these to garden locations, that's why the question what's the best way to get these plants up 8"-12" and move them securly. I was thinking of using 4.5" round peat pots or using greenhouse tray inserts ( but I'm not sure how well they grow- might stun them???) anyway I'd love to here ideas and even a pic or two wound be so great. In the past I've used 6" square pots filled with pro mix and it did great but I was limited to the number I could carry and if you have a 12" bushy plant in a 9" tall pot it gets bulky, I managed to carry 4 in a milk crate but it along with everything else was a load.......I know you guys got some good ideas please share
Thanks in advance

 

[brown_thumb]

I'm a newb so take what I write with a grain of salt. I can't directly answer your question but I will state that I thought coco fiber pots would facilitate transplantation and minimize shock due to being able to be buried with the plants without having to remove them. I was wrong. The plants I grew became root bound in the coco pots and the pots don't deteriorate quickly enough to make the plants happy. Peat pots might be better but I don't know.

 

[Bluto]

Peat pots blow. 1 gallon grow bags might be a good target size. Get the cheap plastic ones. I enjoy sunshine #4, as a medium for fresh clones and seedlings. It has no real nutrient charge so it is easy to control the feeding.

 

[Bluto]

Contractor bags or plastic totes work well for moving the plants. MH are an excellent choice.

 

[Ktaadn]

Solo cups are a nice happy medium between the nursery flats and the 6" square pots. The cells in nursery flats are too small to keep seedlings in for more than a week or so without getting rootbound. Stay away from peat or coco pots, they're terrible.

 

[idiit]

no authority but I've been transplanting guerilla grows for years so I have some experience.


transplanting is the way to go.


promix; yes.
mh white light for starting; yes.


I like the above posts state would stay away from peat and coco pots. gently squeeze the larger containers around the sides, upend and the established root ball comes out super easy from plastic containers. tear the plastic gallon bags to remove. you want to open up the bottom of the root ball to facilitate rooting when transplanting.

the plants need to be tall enough so that you can bury an established root ball down into the ground. 12" imo is the shortest you should go. 18" is ideal imo. you can defoliate the fan leaves some as it makes the plants adjustment easier without the fan leaf weight weighing down frail young branches.1/2 gallon milk type containers would be the smallest I would use. as posted above the gallon bags and plastic containers are ideal. you can put 6 gallon containers sideways in a normal gym bag ( three at each end facing the middle).

critters will dig up the newly planted transplants looking for an easy meal if you don't tamp down the ground around the stems. I use my feet.

 

['Boogieman']

I agree stay away from peat or coco pots, I tried peat pots years ago thinking I could start them indoors and just plant the peat pot in ground to help avoid transplant shock. It just stunted growth because the peat pots didn't break down fast enough. I use half gallon plastic pots started about mid April and put them outdoors late may.

 

[Easy7]

Transplanting was a pain for me. They do have protective clone carriers.

I like seed house or seed house jr. Glue some new York wire to the bottom. It is mesh to keep bugs out and drain water and breath. A little pop up green house that is small and great for travel. Just needs small pots with soil and you are up and running.

 

[idiit]

the first big lesson outdoors is learning that a few big plants yield a lot more than lots of smaller plants.

the second big lesson is that it's better to plant a few that actually survive by doing it right than planting a ton that die. they need to be strong going in the ground outdoors.


my third big lesson was learning to train big plants horizontally to escape detection.

 

[brown_thumb]

After my bad experience with coco fiber pots, I've switched to trays of tiny starter pots that are each only 1x1x2 inches (25x25x50mm). Then the seedlings will be transplanted to 5" (1.3cm) plastic pots until they're finally transplanted to 5 gallon (19 liter) buckets.

 

[Ktaadn]

the first big lesson outdoors is learning that a few big plants yield a lot more than lots of smaller plants.

the second big lesson is that it's better to plant a few that actually survive by doing it right than planting a ton that die. they need to be strong going in the ground outdoors.


my third big lesson was learning to train big plants horizontally to escape detection.

Excellent points there idiit. I learned the same over the years, the hard way.

 

[gorilla ganja]

Some good points being brought up here. I agree no peat pots or jiffy pellets to start.

As you know already the plants get exponentially harder to move the bigger they are.
I just start them in solo cups. 2-4 weeks old then out into the bush. I take another solo cup and put it over the plant then tape the rim. You can also double up the one around the roots to protect them better. You can fit 20-30 in a backpack. They can get beat up a bit depending on how many you got in there and the distance you have to go.
I used to dry them out before transporting them to keep weight lower but watering before taking them out helps the root ball slide out with less damage and gives them a nice start.
If you start them like this you don't need a 1000w, cfl's work great.

Bury them as deep as possible to the first leaves or take the first leaves off and go deeper and bury the first node.

If you plant them out as early as possible you will still get a large plant.

Best of luck and may all your Buds be Huge

Peace GG

 

[hamstring]

If you are starting from seeds vs clones then the best way is to germinate in the bush. I have over 90% germ rates doing this and its super stealth to carry a bag of seeds vs seedlings.

 

[Cosmochronic]

Thank you all very much!

Thank you all very much!

I'm shocked with all the response I appreciate all points, I've grown for along time but never really used the peat cups and was curious about them. You guys make some very good points and I look forward to applying your suggestions this season.



QUOTE=idiit;7832838]no authority but I've been transplanting guerilla grows for years so I have some experience.


transplanting is the way to go.


promix; yes.
mh white light for starting; yes.


I like the above posts state would stay away from peat and coco pots. gently squeeze the larger containers around the sides, upend and the established root ball comes out super easy from plastic containers. tear the plastic gallon bags to remove. you want to open up the bottom of the root ball to facilitate rooting when transplanting.

the plants need to be tall enough so that you can bury an established root ball down into the ground. 12" imo is the shortest you should go. 18" is ideal imo. you can defoliate the fan leaves some as it makes the plants adjustment easier without the fan leaf weight weighing down frail young branches.1/2 gallon milk type containers would be the smallest I would use. as posted above the gallon bags and plastic containers are ideal. you can put 6 gallon containers sideways in a normal gym bag ( three at each end facing the middle).

critters will dig up the newly planted transplants looking for an easy meal if you don't tamp down the ground around the stems. I use my feet.[/QUOTE]

 

[Chunkypigs]

...anyway I'd love to here ideas and even a pic or two wound be so great.
Thanks in advance

here's some pics of the solo cup capped with a solo cup and way too much plant stuffed inside.
moved my genetic library cross country a month ago and it worked.

you don't want to torture your starts or let them get too rootbound so up pot from solos.

the first big lesson outdoors is learning that a few big plants yield a lot more than lots of smaller plants.
the second big lesson is that it's better to plant a few that actually survive by doing it right than planting a ton that die. they need to be strong going in the ground outdoors.
my third big lesson was learning to train big plants horizontally to escape detection.

Word! I'll be smoking on this big ECSD well into this summer and I have at least two joints of her every morning.

these little stinkers were OK tho...and they were the same height as the surrounding vegetation 4-5' in the fall.

my best advice for starts is to scuff your beans well so they germ nice.

 

[livinit]

If you are starting from seeds vs clones then the best way is to germinate in the bush. I have over 90% germ rates doing this and its super stealth to carry a bag of seeds vs seedlings.

That's actually very true and a good point. Just make sure you soak the area good before leaving. At least give them enough moisture to get a taproot out.

 

[brown_thumb]

^^^ I guess that might be true but I think I'd pop the seeds first because they'll take no more room in transit than unpopped seeds.

 

[Bluto]

Animals are usually one of the biggest factors. I've seen mice, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, birds, deer and even bears destroy huge amounts of plants in a very short amount of time.

 

['Boogieman']

Animals are usually one of the biggest factors. I've seen mice, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, birds, deer and even bears destroy huge amounts of plants in a very short amount of time.

Same where I live, I don't have bears but the deer will destroy a patch fast.

 

[Cosmochronic]

Thanks for sharing I appreciate the pics, looks good




QUOTE=Chunkypigs;7833687]here's some pics of the solo cup capped with a solo cup and way too much plant stuffed inside.
moved my genetic library cross country a month ago and it worked.
View Image

you don't want to torture your starts or let them get too rootbound so up pot from solos.
View Image



Word! I'll be smoking on this big ECSD well into this summer and I have at least two joints of her every morning.
View Image

these little stinkers were OK tho...and they were the same height as the surrounding vegetation 4-5' in the fall.
View Image

my best advice for starts is to scuff your beans well so they germ nice.
View Image[/QUOTE]