Alright, here's a 'little' recap of what was happening the last days. The journal is written in 'how to style' as note to myself. Please do not consider it a tutorial coz there might still be errors in. I simply rectified some details for my next grow so I won't do certain errors again. After this post, I'll be switching to real live data, pure observation again. Pictures will be added too!
JOURNAL START
1. SEEDS (4 days)
Day 1
Prepare the water: Fill a big 9L bucket with tap water, add 0,1 - 0,2ml/L Root-Juice & leave it in a warm place at room temperature. 20C water temperature is best. Do not ph the water.
Stir the water from time to time if you can. Wait 24 hours before using it.
Day 2
Pour some of that water into a small glass.
Soak the seeds in that water for 12 hours.
Store it away in a dark spot at room temperature.
Day 3
Place the seeds in between some Cleanex.
Make sure all seeds are placed the same way.
Place them with the pointy end pointing downwards.
Now spray some water on the Cleanex.
It has to be moist, not wet.
Again, use the previously cleaned water with Root-Juice.
Place the moist Cleanex into a an empty plastic CD-box and store it away in a dark place at room temperature.
Prepare the soil: Add 2- 3 cups of Seramis per pot.-> better drainage. I think Light Mix alone tends to get sticky over time. At least that's what I was experiencing when flushing too much.
Fill the 9l pots with the mix.
Place the pots inside the growbox at room temperature.
You may add a heat-mat if you have one.
Day 4
Seeds should have popped open just a bit.
Water the pots thoroughly but slowly with the prepared solution and let the water drip of well. Stir some oxygene into the water before watering.
!!! Always clean & heat the water the day before using it!!!
Let it sit for 24 hours.
Do not ph the water AT ALL when using organic fertilizers like
BioBizz.
Do not ph the water!!!
2. SEEDLINGS
Day 1
Roots should now be about 2-3cm long. If not, let them go just one more day.
Plant the seeds into the pots about 1cm deep and cover them gently with soil.
Do not push or force anything. Make it easy for them to pop out of the soil.
!!!DO NOT repot and transplant autoflowers!!!
Cover the pots with cellophane to keep the moisture in.
Keep the soil moist, not dry, not wet.
It's better if the soil is a bit too dry than too wet.
!!! Autoflowers can be easily overwatered!!!
Put the neon tubes about 5cm above the soil.
Temperature near plants should be constantly 22C with lights on.
Temperature near plants should be constantly 19C with lights off.
Light shedule: 20/4
Keep this shedule throughout your ENTIRE grow. This is best for auto flowers.
Switching from 24/0 to 20/4 stresses the plant.
Day 2
Nothing happening usually.
Day 3
They should be about to break through the soil.
As soon as they do, remove the cellophane.
Day 4
Plants should have popped out of the soil.
As the plants grow, keep putting the lights higher.
Keep them at 3-5 cm from the top of the plants.
Turn the plants from time to time to get some light to each side.
Day 5
The plants should have grown and dropped the outer shell.
If they didn't drop the shell, just leave it or gently take it off, at your own risk.
Taking it of manually can damage the leaves.
Place a ventilator near the flowers and blow a VERY gentle breeze over the plants.
Drop the RH to 60%.
Day 6
The leaves should now be opening.
NEVER SPRAY the seedlings with water. -> chlorine residues on leaves
Day 7
The plants should now be about 4cm tall. -> less is better
Switch on the 250w CFL bulb and place it 40cm or closer from top of the plants.
You can now switch off the fluorescent 25w tubes or leave them. Up to you.
Check the temperature! Keep it at 22C.
If it's too hot, move the lights further away, or use an exhaust fan.
Day 8
The plants should now be about 6cm tall. -> less is better
Day 9
The plants should now be about 8cm tall. -> much less is way better
The first set of leaves should now be about 2cm long.
Place a small wooden stick right next to the stem in case you need to prevent the plant from bending (Often happens when there's not enough airflow around the plants)
Keep on moving the light closer.
Watch for radiant heat. Keep it under 28C.
The ventilator can now be placed a little bit closer to the plants.
Check if the soil needs watering.
Do not feed ANY nutes!
Let the soil dry out a bit, water just as much as needed.
Do not flush the pots entirely in this phase!
Do not water too much close the stem. Let the roots search for water.
!!! Autoflowers are VERY sensitive to nutrients because they do not produce such big root systems. Always use 1/2 or 1/3 of the nutes indicated!!!
Day 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Let them grow, use no nutes, USE WATER ONLY! 0,24ml/l Root-juice is fine though.
Growing slowly. That's normal. Do not panic.
Keep on moving the CFL bulb just a little closer to the tops day by day.
Check temperature and RH constantly!
If temperatures start exceeding 22C, stop putting the lights closer.
Do not bother about soil ph for now.
Day 17
Plants should now be forming their 3rd set of leaves.
Drop the RH to 55%.
Day 18
Plants should be starting to grow a little bit faster now.
Raise the temperature to 23C. Keep the RH at 55%.
Place the fan a bit closer to the plants. They will like that little shaking.
Well, at least that's why I thought to be best for my autos...
Open to any suggestions of course :)
