Gorilla Cookies Autoflower - Sonoma Seeds - First Grow - MICROGROW

[XanHalen]

Germination:
After 17 hours in the pH balanced spring water, transfered to a wet paper towel for 48 hours, keeping the paper towel wet and temp at 75-85F. 2 of the 3 sprouted within the 48 hours with just over 1/4 in taproot, the 3rd took 24 hours more. Seeds transfered to 3gal pots with 65% Promix BX and 35% Perlite. I seem to have to water the media around the seed every 8 hours or so, drying very quick but I am also trying not to drown the seeds. This is my first grow, please let me know if you guys have any suggestions, any and all help is appreciated and encouraged! Will be using the FloraTrio and CalMag along with LST and Maybe topping, I heard topping autos is controvertial, what do you guys think? BTW 3 wet tea towels in the grow box took 40% humidity to 85% when changed 1-2 times per day and a small space heater set at 24C.

Is it normal to have the media dry out in just a few hours (65% Promix BX and 35% Perlite)?
Keep in mind im not soaking the whole pots, just in the 5-6 in circumference around the seeds.

Watering using pH balanced spring water.

 

[cpurola]

What's your temp?

 

[XanHalen]

What's your temp?

Soil temp is 72F, ambient temp is 75F, give or take 5 degrees.

Edit: I do have the ability to adjust humidity and temperature if need be.

 

[cpurola]

Sounds good to me. Lets hope an indoor grower will stop by and offer advice.

 

[XanHalen]

Sounds good to me. Lets hope an indoor grower will stop by and offer advice.

The seedling hasn’t popped through the soil yet, it’s been 24hrs. Should I let the soil surrounding the seed dry before I wet it or should I keep it wet/damp at all times?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[MrBing22]

I didn’t put the seedlings directly into soil, I used starter cubes, but I let them dry out a bit before adding more water. I don’t know if I was lucky, but my seeds sprouted within 72 hours

 

[XanHalen]

I didn’t put the seedlings directly into soil, I used starter cubes, but I let them dry out a bit before adding more water. I don’t know if I was lucky, but my seeds sprouted within 72 hours

I decided to go right from the paper towel into the final pot just because I was worried about stress causing it to flower early. From what I’ve read that’s the best way for autos. Oh and yeah, that does seem lucky, my third seed didn’t even pop in till 72 hours after in the paper towel. It’s been a total of 96 hours since start of germination, with 24 of those hours being in the 3 gallon pots with no above media growth yet! Will keep updated. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[BB22]

This image is from ILGM . Seed never soaked more than 24 hrs. Then into the soil . This has been very effective for me.

 

[XanHalen]

This image is from ILGM . Seed never soaked more than 24 hrs. Then into the soil . This has been very effective for me.

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Thanks for the reply. I will definitely try this next run. I think I will also start the seedlings in Rockwelll cubes in the humidity dome with a heat mat. I’m starting to understand why it’s easier to start seedlings in a smaller environment. It’s a bit difficult to maintain a proper environment for a seedling in 3 gallon pots in a grow box!

 

[R4V3N]

Thanks for the reply. I will definitely try this next run. I think I will also start the seedlings in Rockwelll cubes in the humidity dome with a heat mat. I’m starting to understand why it’s easier to start seedlings in a smaller environment. It’s a bit difficult to maintain a proper environment for a seedling in 3 gallon pots in a grow box!

I just recently bought some 3" peat pots. You just bury the seedling plus the pot into the soil and it breaks down like wet cardboard. Transplanting auto seedlings is a risky procedure, especially if they haven't enough roots to hold its shape, and just crumbles in your hands. I used the worst solo cups once that had crinkled sides, squeezing them just fragmented the soil structure, one went right through my fingers along with the seedling, and the tap root cracked in half and never recovered. I figured I would eliminate the risk in the future as I've had my fair share of stunted autos, and some were most likely due to transplant shock. $10 on amazon for 30x, no messing next time for me.