Ok just starting growing weed indoors this year, and by mistake i may have done an experiment in what effect soil and PH have on seedlings...
We got seeds from a relative who grew a few different strains, and we chose a low THC high CBD strain of Indica.
The first 4 seeds produced 2 males and 2 females, and when i researched more online i realized it is not as easy as buying potting soil , adding some chem or fish fertilizer and adding water. These first 4 seedlings produced 3 and 5 point leaves and were very slow growing compared to pics i looked at online at the same time interval.
Once they showed their sex i chopped down the males , and the females continued in veg for about 2 months before the first real buds appeared, so i cut back lighting to 12/12 to promote flowering. The one female was a few weeks ahead of the 2nd one which took more time to develop for some reason, i thought perhaps a poor seed.
Finally i decided i should buy a PH and nutrient testing kit.
Was a very good move apparently , as my soil was high PH and the nutrients were high in nitrogen , but P and K were almost non existent.
I had started fertilizing with smelly fish fertilizer , which was recommended at the store by a clerk who grew pot in her backyard.
I wouldnt use it again.
I fixed the PH levels, and added a better fertilizer and started to go more organic, making coffee ground tea, and banana peels tea, ( also a powder of dried chopped up banana peels.)
From that same batch of seeds i decided to try again , thinking this plant will be ready for flowering by the time the other 2 were done.
Two seedlings came up , i dont know as yet the sex as it has only been 3 weeks... but i transplanted after 2 weeks into a 5 gallon air bag.....and low and behold with the proper PH and no fertilizer other than the banana chips i laid in the bed just under the rootball of the transplant, these plants grew first the 2 round leaves, then two single leaves, and then went straight to 5 point leafs before the transplant (They skipped the 3point fan leaf).... Oh forgot to mention mixing mychorrizae into the potting soil about half and half.
NOW each has one set of 5 point , two sets of 7 point leaves and the next is a 9 point. This after 3 weeks !!
On the two females that are now in flower , i saw a handful of 7 point leaves and never a 9 point. The first 3 weeks of growth was considerably slower in the first females after the transplant ( which i did wrong , after reading more online) it took a few more weeks for a set of 7 point leaves to come .
So in retrospect i have come to believe that soil nutrition and PH value have a big impact on how the plants grow and how many points the leaves have.
Perhaps some of the naysyers on here should try the same experiment.
. You'll notice that it has been topped. Accidentally had a fan to close and knocked one leaf of so now there's goingto be 3 main colas .
