2nd attempt growing, still confused and looking for advice before I start

[Markyb]

Seed germinated pretty fast again, in under 24 hours the taproot was already around ½" (12m). Planted the germinated seed yesterday. Dug a ½" hole and misted the surrounding area lightly (The top layer of the soil is drying up really really fast but little under 1" it still feels pretty "perfectly" moist)
Dropped the seed in and lightly covered it with soil. And also placed transparent single-cup over the plant area.

Today I misted the top layer again very gently because it was almost bone dry already.

I have been able to hold the temp and humidity inside the tent pretty much stabile 70% and 78F (25.5C).

 

[Olderfart]

I would suggest an alternative. Nothing wrong with the road you are about to travel it will work just fine. However, I would recommend not starting in the final pot. It adds a lot of complications. Start off in a solo cup. I know the idea of transplanting might seem scary at first, but honestly it's far easier than messing with watering a tiny seedling in a 3g pot.

Here is a super simple transplant method. Take 2 solo cups. Cut the bottom off of one and cut a slit down the center. The 2nd cup just poke some holes in the bottom for drainage. Put them together and add your dirt and seedling. When it comes time to transplant simply separate the 2 solo cups. Drop the inside solo cup with the bottom cut out and place inside your pot. Once your plant is in it's new home, simply slide the the solo cup off. I'll include a pic incase my description was hard to follow.

View attachment 1721817

One suggestion, cut the bottom off above the constriction, that way the inside pot will lift off the seedling cleaner. I also completely split the lower pot into two pieces, and use small pieces of tape to hold it together. When time to "transplant", remove tape, and the two sides are super easy to slide up leaving the babe in its fitted hole. Speaking of which, use a solo cup to prepare a precisely fitted hole in the medium before putting the babe into it and then removing the split sides.

This is now my go to for all starts for larger pots. I have yet to see it result in apparent stress on the plant involved. Using solos allows starting extras to make sure that I get all my full sized pots started at the same time. I just toss the extras once the best are in their final pots.

Happy insta transplanting peeps.

 

[MesaBoogie]

One suggestion, cut the bottom off above the constriction, that way the inside pot will lift off the seedling cleaner. I also completely split the lower pot into two pieces, and use small pieces of tape to hold it together. When time to "transplant", remove tape, and the two sides are super easy to slide up leaving the babe in its fitted hole.

Happy insta transplanting peeps.

That's a good idea. It does sometimes get a little restricted sliding off at that section. Splitting the cup entirely as you suggested will alleviate that problem as well.

 

[Markyb]

Thanks MesaBoogie & Olderfart, I will definitely try the transplant method when I put in my next auto!

The seed sprouted today. Is it a good or bad idea to keep the top layer moist (and I mean barely moist, I have just been using a misting bottle but have not added water into the pot)

 

[Olderfart]

Since you using soil, you need to be a bit careful. I would stick with misting for now, but check elsewhere in the pot with the finger meter - when the soil is starting to dry out down a couple centimeters, you will want to add more than mist. Absent better information from soil growers, I would just water the periphery of the pot while continuing to mist in the middle. Moisture should soak toward the center sufficiently. What you do not want to do at this early stage is saturate the wholepot because that could starve the babe of oxygen for the roots. As the seedling grows, keep watering outside the leaf footprint for a week or more.

Early watering issues are one of the reasons I now use coco. It is far more forgiving at this stage of the game, at least it has been for me. Coco/perlite is very difficult to overwater at any stage of the grow, but especially early on before the plant is able to remove much moisture from the medium.

 

[MesaBoogie]

Early watering issues are one of the reasons I now use coco. It is far more forgiving at this stage of the game, at least it has been for me. Coco/perlite is very difficult to overwater at any stage of the grow, but especially early on before the plant is able to remove much moisture from the medium.

I'm surprised this isn't the commonly recommended grow medium for all new growers to be honest. Learn a few coco rules and it's really hard to mess up. And when you do mess up it's easily fixed with just adding properly adjusted water.

 

[Olderfart]

I'm surprised this isn't the commonly recommended grow medium for all new growers to be honest. Learn a few coco rules and it's really hard to mess up. And when you do mess up it's easily fixed with just adding properly adjusted water.

I tried most approaches, but coco works best for me. Having said that, it will not be for everyone. When I set my sister in law up with a small grow, I deliberately had her use soil because I knew that there was no possibility that she would be disciplined enough to manage pH and EC. She got a couple crops, not big, but satisfying for her.

I don't mind the work with nutes, it doesn't take long. I make maybe fifteen or so gallons at a time, and am used to my water, so getting pH in line only takes a couple minutes. After that, timers and pumps do the work.

 

[Markyb]

Thanks! @Olderfart and @MesaBoogie! I will definitely try coco some day!

 

[Markyb]

Day 2

Even thinking about watering, (wether not to water it a little, or just mist.. not water or mist it.. ) is stressing me out.
The growth/changes from yesterday has been surprisingly fast.

I see some similarity in the seedling compared to my first try. (same strain from same supplier). The first seedling only had a single cotyledon leaf sticking up on the stem and this has one of the cotyledons really small. The first one never produced more leaves.
Genetics I guess?

 

[MesaBoogie]

Day 2

The first seedling only had a single cotyledon leaf sticking up on the stem and this has one of the cotyledons really small. The first one never produced more leaves.
Genetics I guess?

Everything looks fine to me on this one. Looks like a happy seedling. I can't really advise you on the watering. I'm not a soil guy. As a matter of fact I hate it. It stressed me out with over/under watering. Honestly learning in a big pot with a seedling is going to be difficult at first.