Struggling Seedlings

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One drop

One drop

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Air temp doesn't equal soil temp. What are your soil temps? I find 77° best for seedlings. If they are on a concrete floor and/or your soil temps are below 70, that may your problem.
That’s right getting the pot or bags up off floor creat a air cap under them that will keep them warmer .
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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Thanks for the help all. So to update. Yesterday I stopped the 18/6 and have a constant 24 hour light schedule. The temperature and humidity swings have been way too wild. Lights out temps were getting into the low 60s getting as low as 61. The little heater I attempted to use couldn’t keep up.

The tent temperature has now been a constant 75-77 and the humidity has been 70-75

The cups are not on the ground anymore slightly elevated. The ground beneath is not concrete. I do not know soil temperature.

The first seeding has responded well and is actually now slowly growing.

The other 3 seedlings remain the same. No noticeable signs worsening or progression, so I’ll take it as a positive.

I did water them yesterday as I’ve actually been UNDERWATERING. They should be good for about 3 days hopefully.
 
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mancorn

mancorn

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How big do you expect them to be after 3 days? They're making roots at this point, so not doing a ton above ground. And when it's chilly they going to do even less. They look normal to me. I would relax and let nature do her thing.
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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How big do you expect them to be after 3 days? They're making roots at this point, so not doing a ton above ground. And when it's chilly they going to do even less. They look normal to me. I would relax and let nature do her thing.

The first leaves after the cotyledon have been stagnant for 4 days. The recovering seedling is at 3 days I believe. The other 3 have done nothing except shed the seed casing which is what had me concerned.

This photo is one of the 4 day old seedlings. I know they’re just a few days old but that is for sure behind. Since they don’t seem to be getting worse I can only assume good things are happening in the root zone. If they don’t show improvement in 3 days I’ll probably just toss them and try again, as these are about 70 day autoflowers.
 
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Mospeada

Mospeada

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Thanks for the help all. So to update. Yesterday I stopped the 18/6 and have a constant 24 hour light schedule. The temperature and humidity swings have been way too wild. Lights out temps were getting into the low 60s getting as low as 61. The little heater I attempted to use couldn’t keep up.

The tent temperature has now been a constant 75-77 and the humidity has been 70-75

The cups are not on the ground anymore slightly elevated. The ground beneath is not concrete. I do not know soil temperature.

The first seeding has responded well and is actually now slowly growing.

The other 3 seedlings remain the same. No noticeable signs worsening or progression, so I’ll take it as a positive.

I did water them yesterday as I’ve actually been UNDERWATERING. They should be good for about 3 days hopefully.
Nice one! Saving one is better than saving none but I honestly think those other three are fine....They're just like a week and a half behind. This experience will be really useful for you too...I doubt you'll run into this problem again on a regular basis.
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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Nice one! Saving one is better than saving none but I honestly think those other three are fine....They're just like a week and a half behind. This experience will be really useful for you too...I doubt you'll run into this problem again on a regular basis.

Thanks for the positive reinforcement. This for sure is a huge learning experience and that’s how I intended it. I just didn’t think I was going to experience such troubles so quickly. This seems to be the most critical stage as they aren’t quite established enough. Also the reason I started autos in cups. I didn’t want to be suck with a bunch of opened soil to be wasted. I think being stuck at home for so long I’m just constantly looking for something to do. Today was the first day I haven’t done anything and it took a lot to not touch anything 😂
 
Madbud

Madbud

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Everybody loses seedlings the first time, especially with paper towels. Its really easy to start them in soil. Fill a solo cup halfway, add a splash (50ml) of water, poke the seed in about half an inch, cover with saran wrap and put it in a warm spot for a couple days. If it sprouts too tall just add more soil to support it. You should never disturb a seedling, its hard enough transplanting in a couple weeks.
 
kellogs7064

kellogs7064

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yeah like madbud said its probably just best to start straight in your medium. They are super fragile when you first germinate them and i can tell you from experience i have broken a few tap roots in my time trying to plant seeds.
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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Everybody loses seedlings the first time, especially with paper towels. Its really easy to start them in soil. Fill a solo cup halfway, add a splash (50ml) of water, poke the seed in about half an inch, cover with saran wrap and put it in a warm spot for a couple days. If it sprouts too tall just add more soil to support it. You should never disturb a seedling, its hard enough transplanting in a couple weeks.

I had some stubborn seeds. Soaked in water then paper towel 48hrs no roots. Thought it was temperature. Planted in soil with wrap on top. Only squirted top of soil with like 3 squirts. Sprouted 2 days later. 4th seed took 2 more days for total of 7 day germ. Instantly removed wrap and that’s where the troubles started. Next day they looked bad. Room humidity 35-45. Lights off temps low 60s. From there it just went down hill only watered 10 ml water on day 2 and day 3. Thought I over watered because they worsened. Transplanted them on day 3 because I thought I over watered. Placing and removing dome not being patient. Got a second humidifier room is now 66-75 RH and lights now 24hrs to maintain temp. Honestly so many mistakes but this is my first grow. After finally not messing with them for 2 solid days they are actually recovering I can’t believe it. I was not gentle with these roots either, looking at them, touching them, smelling. So after realizing underwatering,low humidity, and low night temperatures were the culprits, I’ve been able to get things under control. They are now all recovering. Now in a few days I’ll have to determine if my lights are too low because none have stretched, but again most likely because they’ve been through hell.
 
mancorn

mancorn

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I had some stubborn seeds. Soaked in water then paper towel 48hrs no roots. Thought it was temperature. Planted in soil with wrap on top. Only squirted top of soil with like 3 squirts. Sprouted 2 days later. 4th seed took 2 more days for total of 7 day germ. Instantly removed wrap and that’s where the troubles started. Next day they looked bad. Room humidity 35-45. Lights off temps low 60s. From there it just went down hill only watered 10 ml water on day 2 and day 3. Thought I over watered because they worsened. Transplanted them on day 3 because I thought I over watered. Placing and removing dome not being patient. Got a second humidifier room is now 66-75 RH and lights now 24hrs to maintain temp. Honestly so many mistakes but this is my first grow. After finally not messing with them for 2 solid days they are actually recovering I can’t believe it. I was not gentle with these roots either, looking at them, touching them, smelling. So after realizing underwatering,low humidity, and low night temperatures were the culprits, I’ve been able to get things under control. They are now all recovering. Now in a few days I’ll have to determine if my lights are too low because none have stretched, but again most likely because they’ve been through hell.
Personally I don't cover seedlings. The domes are for clones (which have no root so has to talk up moisture from it's leaves). But your seeds have a root, which is going to be larger then your plant. As long as the soil is moist they'll be fine and shouldn't need any spraying or covers.

By the time they're getting their first leaves start water only around the edge of your cup as the dirt dries and just starts to shrink back from the cup. (If you're in a larger pot you'll want to estimate how far out your roots are. Obviously if you have a big pot, there's no way the roots are out to the edge of the pot. But you want your roots searching for water, not sitting in a saturated soil.)

I'm growing outdoors, so temps are going to be in the high 50’s-low 70’s (and rH can be anywhere from 30-70). Most of the time my seeds take about 4 days before they're visible (and another day or two to get up off the dirt and open up). This was at 6 days (2 days after popping up). Don't think they look too much further along then yours. I understand you're a tad behind, but still in the ball park of what you should expect. (Don't compare your dirt grow to the aqua growers, who have a big plant in two weeks. 😀)
Image
 
Beachwalker

Beachwalker

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How big do you expect them to be after 3 days? They're making roots at this point, so not doing a ton above ground. And when it's chilly they going to do even less. They look normal to me. I would relax and let nature do her thing.
+1
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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Looks like the seedlings are on their way to recovery. 1 might not make it but I’m ok with that. I’ve removed all of the domes today. Lights are still 24 hours, night time temps still get kind of low. The bigger plant hasn’t had a dome in 3 days. Room has been a constant 77-80 F with 70-80 RH. Lights are MarsHydro TSW 2000 40” above
 
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Mospeada

Mospeada

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Indecisive I was actually inspired by your experience. Like I was saying...Ive always covered my clones but I figured humidifying the whole tent would be awesome for me. So I'm giving it a go. Anyways good to hear about your plants and thanks for this idea...if it works out :p
 
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RickkiTX

RickkiTX

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Indecisive I was actually inspired by your experience. Like I was saying...Ive always covered my clones but I figured humidifying the whole tent would be awesome for me. So I'm giving it a go. Anyways good to hear about your plants and thanks for this idea...if it works out :p
Is that a makeshift dwc?
 
Indecisive

Indecisive

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3
Round 2. Anyone have idea what may be going on now? Noticed about 5 days ago. Feed Nectar for the Gods 1/2 strength at 6.4. Transplant was yesterday with NFTG at 6.4 again, but leaves were already twisted. Lights were 36”. They are now 34”. Environment has averaged about 79 F / 60 RH with highs of 82/Lows of 50 RH. The other 2 are ok. And the 5th is well doing it’s own thing and will probably be culled in a week if it doesn’t heal and catch up
 
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One drop

One drop

Bush Doctor
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Round 2. Anyone have idea what may be going on now? Noticed about 5 days ago. Feed Nectar for the Gods 1/2 strength at 6.4. Transplant was yesterday with NFTG at 6.4 again, but leaves were already twisted. Lights were 36”. They are now 34”. Environment has averaged about 79 F / 60 RH with highs of 82/Lows of 50 RH. The other 2 are ok. And the 5th is well doing it’s own thing and will probably be culled in a week if it doesn’t heal and catch up
What midsummer are you growing in ? If it’s coco perlite you want your ph at 5.8 to 6.2.
 
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