Test Grow - Day 7!

Well, it's officially been one full week since this grow has started...and wow, what a week it has been. From thinking I killed her, to thinking she was doing great, and now I'm back to worried. I think this Miracle Grow is just some nasty stuff, or I'm overwatering, or it's getting too hot. Or...who knows. Sorry for venting, here are some photos.

Not sure if you can see (or if it's even there) the yellowing on the interior part of the leaves, where they sprout from the stem. I'm hoping it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but who knows. The good news is that every morning, they seem so much healthier. I'm running them on a 20/4hr light schedule, and they click on about 30 mins before I get home and start taking pics.

So hopefully, she'll perk back up a little tonight, and be nice and healthy in the morning. No pics tomorrow night (unless something awesome happens), but look for another quick update, with more pics on Friday. Stay green!

Test Grow - Day Six

Last night, I changed my watering method from spraying the soil, to just dumping water in until some ran out of the drain holes. This morning, they had perked right up. By the time I got home, things were still looking good with the fan leaves getting bigger. The soil feels a bit dry, yet slightly damp. It's got me really confused, because I'm not sure if I should be watering tonight or not.

Common rhetoric says if its dry 1" deep into the soil (about knuckle deep), then it's time to water. Well, its not wet, but not dry. What also has me concerned was reading a thread on ICMag about a grower whose seedlings were stretching. It was determined (through descriptions and pics) that his lights were a little too far away. And when I looked at his pics, I realized my CFL's were about the same distance away.

Of course, his situation had complications that I haven't had. For example, when he began, he was using a 600w MH bulb hung vertically with no horizontal reflection. Judging from how far away he probably had to keep the bulb for heat concerns (based on the heat output of my 400w HPS bulb), I'm guessing it was a great deal further than I currently have my lights.

I put them back on a box I was using to get her closer to the bulbs. She's now about 4-5" away from the bulbs, which is in line with most recommendations I can find. I think before bed tonight I'll check again, and I might just mist her a little to get her through the night. Then again, I may lower her back down to about 8" away, given that she hasn't stretched very much. Ugh...decisions decisions.

Test Grow - Day Five

Well, another day, and that means more progress! The fan leaves are continuing to grow. I think a bit later in the week (possibly this weekend) I will be moving her to her new home in some new soil! Her stem is super flimsy right now, and I'm not sure my butterfingers are stable enough to handle transferring such a delicate thing right now. Anyway, here's some update pics!

As you can see from the second pic, that one leaf is looking a bit droopy. I had just sprayed the soil using a new water bottle, and I got a bit of water on the leaves, which I feel may be contributing slightly to the droopiness. At any rate, progress is still being made, and when I look how far she's come in the last four or five days, I'm pretty impressed.

Unless there's some significant changes, look for another photo update on Wednesday, and a quick status report tomorrow night.

Test Grow - Day Four

The fan leaves are getting so much bigger. It's crazy to see how much this little thing grew in the past 24 hours! After I post some progress shots tomorrow night, be sure to compare them to last night's pictures. I think you'll see a pretty big difference!

I also picked up some nutrients and fresh soil today, to get her out of this nasty miracle grow dirt. I'm going to wait another day or so before I transfer her to her new home. I've also spoken with a friend of a friend, who has some high quality clones that he is considering donating to a newbie grower! So hopefully, this means the DWC buckets will be starting soon!

I've also considered growing two plants in soil at the same time, to see which medium I prefer. Yes, I'm creating a little bit of extra work for myself, but work that I think will be worth it. That way, I can compare the growing mediums directly, and hopefully set a nice, even standard by which I can compare all future grows.

Anyway, pics tomorrow! Stay green.

Test Grow - Day Three

Holy shit, it was crazy cold outside today! Actually had to bring my heater in my grow area! Brrr...anyway, how about an update with some pictures?

You can definitely tell she's getting taller! And just seeing those fan leaves gettin bigger makes me a happy guy! I think she's recovered fully from drying out a bit the Thursday morning, although I'm not sure if it affected her that much in the first place. At any rate, the system is working well, the timer is operating correctly, and it's easy enough for me to make adjustments to lights and ventilation and placement.

Even if I lose her completely, or it turns out to be a boy (or goes hermie), I've gotten used to checking on her on regular intervals, (partially) learned to resist my urge to fiddle or take more photos, and have begun to see where I might need to make adjustments in the future. So all-in-all, no matter what happens, I'll benefit from this experience. Now enough talking, more pics!

Test Grow - Day Two

Wow, it's amazing how pure excitement can change to terror in only 8 hours. Last night, right before I went to bed, I used my spray bottle to water my seedling a little, and at the recommendation of a forum post, I moved the plant a little closer to my veg'ing CFL's. Well, it got a bit hot apparently as when I woke up this morning, the soil was really, really dry, and the tiny leaves had wilted a bit.

My heart sank a little, but I was able to water her and lowered her half the distance away (in total, I raised her about 6 inches at first, then halved the distance, and she is now 3 inches closer to the bulbs than she was before). When I got home, it appeared she had rebounded well, as she was a bit taller and the first two fan leaves got a bit bigger.

No photos this time, since there hasn't been much progress. I'll be posting some photos tomorrow night of her two day (from day one to day three) progress, and will probably keep that schedule (photos every odd day) until the end.

Test Grow - Day One!

After three days of germination (and waiting), she finally sprouted! I say "she" but really, I have no idea, since this was bagseed. Hoping for a female obviously, but this grow is more about the experience and testing my setup.

I'm really excited that she popped, as this is the first time I've ever grown anything at all. But enough of my talking, here's some pics!

Test Grow - Into the Soil Part 2

Well, it's the first full day (almost) of the seed being in the soil, and nothing yet. I know it takes time, and patience is a virtue, so I'm still having high hopes she will sprout. Other than that, I've been trying to keep the soil moist at the recommendation of a friend. I guess only time will tell.

Test Grow - Into the Soil!

So, I decided to plant my little seed and get the growing process started. I'm using Miracle Grow Potting Soil since all the grow stores were closed, and it was like $4. It will work (I hope) for getting the seed to sprout, but I plan to move it into some FoxFarms soil when it outgrows the Solo cup.

One thing I didn't do, which I wish I would have, was actually wet the soil. I don't know what I was thinking...too much Tangerine Haze or something, but I didn't wet the soil before planting the seed. I just put the dry soil in a cup, made a little hole for the seed, planted the seed, and covered it back up. Then, I sprayed it with some water, and that's when my wife asked why I didn't wet the soil first.

D'oh. I hope she will sprout, given the colossal screw up I've made. I tried to get the soil as wet as possible via wetting the areas around where I planted the seed, hoping it will drain down a bit. Oh well, here's to hoping!

Test Grow - Germination Part 2

Happy New Years everyone! Also, WE HAVE A TAP ROOT! YAY!  I'm thrilled! After I thought I killed this poor seed, it goes and does the exact opposite and pops out a little tap root! I'm going to let the root get a bit longer before moving to soil, but hopefully this is a good sign that this is a resilient little plant and I won't kill it being stupid/inexperienced.

No photos as you can barely see anything.