Are you just giving plain water ph 6.0? Your soil looks wet in every picture so the spong is probably saturated. Next time go from a 4” pot to the 5 gallon, it will give you a better idea of the moisture content. I know you’ll hear to never transplant autos but doing that is better than not being able to water properly for the first three weeks.
If the watering is not the issue than hot soil or incorrect light distance is it. Not much you can do about the soil now hopefully they’ll grow into it.
I’m using plain water at 6.4-6.5. I let the Rapid Rooter dry out completely and saw no change. So I began watering again. About a shot glass worth poured around the outside of the RR.
The QB style LED lights are 24” away at 100w.
I really thought the HF soil mixed with OF soil would keep it cool. But I’m guessing that I’m watering the soil around the RR and those nutes are leeching into the RR and causing the issue.
Thanks for the input @4plant. Much welcomed and appreciated. We will see
Don't dig it up. And FF isnt too hot. I'm seeing your watering right on the base.of the seeding. Don't. Water away from it and make the roots seek out water. Let it dry out before watering again. Then with a spray bottle in a ring about 3 inches out and around the seedling. And every 2-3 days max. They don't need much water right now.
Well, I didn’t water for two days. No improvement. Growing but slowly and sickly. Lol
Lowered light wattage to 45w each and 24"
I’m germinating another auto Honey Peach seed now without the Rapid Rooter, just paper towel direct to soil in 3 gallon fabric pot. I’m thinking that my indoor environment just doesn’t have the elements to dry the RR out properly, that, and I have no idea how to use lights lol.
I have half a mind to just scrap this whole auto thing and try growing some Wedding Cake, since I’m familiar with growing that strain outdoors at least.
I want to give up, but I also know it’s about finding a method that works for me and the environment I created. So I’ll press on. But damn, this indoor thing is tough!!!
It’s all about finding out what works for each plant. You could try raising the pH to 6.8 and try giving it good deep watering and waiting until the soil dries out enough to water again. When I grew in soil, I kept my pH at 6.8 and rarely have issues. I also made sure they got deep watering a when I did water. I was also good about knowing when to water or feed next. Just got to try different things until you find what works.
My only experience is growing outdoors. I thought, "Oh, I'll just do what I did outdoor––but in a tent." I'm finding it to be very very different. There are many more factors that need to be considered, monitored, and controlled. Way more involved, for sure. I'm feeling discouraged. Haha. But starting this new seed got me fired up again to try something different and learn more.
When the lights come on tonight, I'm thinking about giving it a good watering and just seeing what happens. They look dehydrated to me. The wilting and discoloration. I over-watered my outdoor plants a few times last season and they looked heavy, green, and droopy. These just look sick and shriveled.
But then I start to think, "Maybe it's root-rot from being saturated in that dank Rapid Rooter for the past week.... hahahah.
I dunno...I'll suss it out when the lights come on and decide then. I appreciate all the input everyone
Well...... I decided to transplant. And to straight OF with perlite. I did this just because of the myth about HF being very acidic, like 4.5-ish and because I'm doing all this to learn. I really wanted to peep the roots and see what was going on, too.
First, I stitched up a few small fabric pots that I cut from a 15 gal fabric pot
I should have taken pics of the transplant, but I just wanted to get it done....
The Dinamed had just one main long root with a few tiny, thin roots coming off of it. This main root was hanging about 1.5 inches below the bottom of the RR. There was one bigger root that had developed off the tap root and was shooting out of the side of the RR. I carefully removed as much of the Rapid Rooter as possible and gently placed it in the OF.
The Honey Peach had a full on rootball coming out of the RR, so I left it on and put it in the OF.
All roots looked white and healthy.
After the transplant, I watered to runoff with straight water at 6.8ph. Despite how sick they look in these photos, they actually look better than pre-transplant. The leaves aren't hanging in the soil anymore. Fingers crossed, we will see.
I also popped a seed in a paper towel and planted straight into the OF as an experiment––albeit a poor experiment since I changed too many things to ever know exactly what happened (no RR, all OF soil, and 6.8 water). lol. Still, excited to see if that has any difference.
Oh yeah, I also ditched one of the lights and switched up the arrangement inside the tent. Currently running one light at @45w 20" from plants.
After transplanting to smaller pots 10 days ago, I did two major flushes over the past 10 days. The two problem seedlings seem to be turning the corner, but still look sick af, especially the Dinamed Kush. Stunted growth, small internode spacing, brown tips, clawing,
Both at 20 days. Way behind, long way to go. I’d say that autos are not a good choice for beginners like me. If these were photo, I wouldn’t sweat it: get them healthy and then flower. But because they’re autos I’ve irreparably botched the entire grow.
On the bright side, the seed I popped in the paper towel and planted straight into FF OF looks great. No worries yet. I definitely think the rapid rooters are a no-go for me going forward.
7 days
100w QB style light at 20”
Going to transplant to 3 gal pots tomorrow.
Here’s the plant I germinated in a paper towel and put right in soil. Sweet Seeds Honey Peach CBD
It’s sturdy and healthy. No problems.
But then there are these two...
This one I’m keen to keep around, another Honey Peach CBD. There’s something up, for sure. Those blotchy leaves, stunted growth, I think it’s mostly shot, but seems to be getting better every day.
What’s up with those blotchy leaves?
And then, there’s this sad one. Dinafem Dinamed Kush. It’s all my fault. Pretty bummed, only had the one seed.
Probably going to yank this one, unfortunately. I think it’s toast. Have not seen any improvement.