New Grower Autoflowering rootball experts: Urgent help required please

[MaxTrichomes]

I have just harvested a Sweetseeds Fast Bud very impresive strain considering outdoor early grow in Northern Euro coldest spring for a long time.

I noticed the rootball was very under developed. I had a 30cm deep pot with around 7-8 Litre capacity filled with decent quality compost.

However when I pulled the stem post harvest it came up relatively easily, I was expecting the entire pot contents compost and all to uplift with a big root system.

So it seemed the main root ball was around 12cm x 12cms ???

Weird and I wondered what I did wrong.

I planted the germinated seeds (germed in a glass of water) into the compost 1cm down once the shell had cracked. I did not wait for any tap root in the water just the shell to crack. The seedlings grew nicely despite low temps and relatively low light levels for Cannabis.

Planting the seed into final pots creates a bit of a dilemma because watering becomes slightly tricky for a tiny seedling and small plant. I tend to water mainly in the centre where the stem is and then as time goes on water further out into the pot. Eventually you can water the whole pot as the plant widens. Is this a wrong approach ? Should I be watering the entire pot ?

If I water the entire pot I am concerned there will be excessive moisture and it will take very long to dry out because of relatively low temps in Northern Europe and not much of a plant root system to drink the water and perspire the water. Afterall it is a small seedling.

Anyway the root ball using existing methods was very small.

Though a small yield was made I was still quite happy but wondered if the plants root system was stunted by bad watering/planting technique.

I am quite sure the tap root did not even get close to the bottom of the pot.

The reason I ask is I have a new set of seedlings that have just sprang up and want to give them the best chance in life and improve their root systems.


thx for your thoughts and advice.

 

[SCARHOLE]

How long after it was chopped did you pull the roots?
After a week or so they all pull out like you described.

To test /compare root root development, cut an use water to remove soil.
then weigh the roots when dry.

 

[namvet25]

You should water the entire pot from the begining.If you don't the roots will stay in the moist area and not develope fully.Also adding mychorrizae root stimulant will help greatly to develope a massive rootball

 

[MaxTrichomes]

About 5mins after the chop I looked at the root system.

 

[MaxTrichomes]

Thanks Namvet, ok that might have been the error of my ways.

 

[MaxTrichomes]

This is the first time I have grown autoflowering strains and so I guess mistakes are easy to make. Such a tiny seedling in a massive pot does cause a decisions to be made when watering, either keep it little and often and near the seedling or douse the entire pot and I went for the former.

Ok well my new seedlings are only 2-3 days old so I will now water all of the pot evenly.

 

[MaxTrichomes]

What I do not understand is that why the plants root system did not expand into the entire pot later on. I was watering the entire pot for a good 4-5 weeks during the grow but most root mass stayed in the centre of the pot.

Is this likely related to that extremely important first few weeks when autoflowers work out where their roots are and then they back off when they think they have found the optimal size to be and put all energy into starting flowering ? So you end up with a dwarf/stunted plant ?

 

[namvet25]

You are right.When it starts the flower stage the root development slows down.Also if your growing a smaller dwarf strain that starts flowering very early this will also limit the root growth,where as a larger strain that stays in the veg stage longer will develope a larger root ball.The next grow you do try using mychorrizae root stimulater and you will have better success.

 

[Chester]

MJ loves light well drained soil ...

I think MJ is happier a little dry than a little wet ...

Roots seek moisture but won't grow where the soil is too wet ...

How I water .... First ... I germinate in the pot the plant will grow in ... I wet the soil where the seed will go w/ enough water to soak a 2" circle and run nearly to the bottom of the pot ... once the seed is planted I spray lightly to maintain moisture on the seed .... I continue to spray the base of the seed after germination until it is obvious that the plant has taken hold ... about 4-5 days old ... all this time the tap root is growing down seeking moist but not wet soil ... once the seedling is about 5 days old I begin to lead the roots towards the outside edge of the pot by watering in a circle each time moving further and further from the stem ... first few times I'm careful not to drown the plant and increase usage as plant grows ... as the plant/roots grow larger then you can start to water the whole pot but I generally wouldn't do that w/ a three gallon pot until the plant is at least 3-4 weeks old (if ever) ... it's easy to add more water in a day or two and it's a pain waiting for too wet soil to dry ...

 

[MaxTrichomes]

MJ loves light well drained soil ...

I think MJ is happier a little dry than a little wet ...

Roots seek moisture but won't grow where the soil is too wet ...

How I water .... First ... I germinate in the pot the plant will grow in ... I wet the soil where the seed will go w/ enough water to soak a 2" circle and run nearly to the bottom of the pot ... once the seed is planted I spay lightly to maintain moisture on the seed .... I continue to spray the base of the seed after germination until it is obvious that the plant has taken hold ... about 4-5 days old ... all this time the tap toot is growing down seeking moist but not wet soil ... once the seedling is about 5 days old I begin to lead the roots towards the outside edge of the pot by watering in a circle each time moving further and further from the stem ... first few times I'm careful not to drown the plant and increase usage as plant grows ... as the plant/roots grow larger then you can start to water the whole pot but I generally wouldn't do that w/ a three gallon pot until the plant is at least 3-4 weeks old (if ever) ... it's easy to add more water in a day or two and it's a pain waiting for too wet soil to dry ...

That is what I did as explained.

"I tend to water mainly in the centre where the stem is and then as time goes on water further out into the pot."

And I ended up with a very small root ball filling 25pct of the pot. Maybe it was the strain, will be interested to see a couple of other strains that will be chopped within 2 weeks or so. Oh well so much for putting them in bigs pots. I put the smallest strain in the biggest pot, doh !

I think there is a fine line in the wet/dry cycle, leaving it too late is far more damaging than being on the damp side I think. Especially when a plant has grown well, is large and fully developed and drinking a lot.

I also think soil is typically moist and not wet unless you have a proper drainage problem.

For future reference how can you "lighten" up a compost ?

thx for the input all.