New Grower First grow, many problems!

[BAMWW]

It's been 11 days since my seeds germinated and I've ran into several problems. I put my seeds into a glass of water the day I bought my grow kit (mistake no. 1) so I could get started immediately. I soon realised that my HPS would not light and I would have to wait like 5 days to get a new one. In the mean time I had 3 Auto White Widow and 3 Blue Automazar in kitchen towel germinating. The AWW had a few mm of a tail so I put those in jiffy cubes in a propigator and left them on a window. The BAM still hadn't sprouted the following day so I put them in the jiffy pellets anyway, figuring they might prefer that enviroment.

The AWW were up the following morning and stretching for the light, the BAM never really sprouted and I threw them out after a week. They were definitely not going to live after my second problem anyway. The room I had picked for the tent was totally unsuitable. It was too small and even though the window was open and I had the exhaust duct pointing out, I came home from work to find the temp was 36c inside and my jiffy pellets were completely dry (I now realise I should have kept the vents on the propigator closed). Even after buying a cooltube the temps were too high so I had to move the whole setup. Temps are mid to high 20's now so I should be ok. I've also had my timer get stuck twice this week, leaving my plants in the dark for about 14 hours at a time.

Amazingly, the AWW has survived all this and is still growing but it is a bit stunted. I tried germinating the rest of the BAM but so far only one has sprouted and it looks like the leaves aren't going to open. I took the shell off it's head with a tweezers earlier so hopefully that will help. I've also put the 4 AWW i had left in water and I'll probably use 3 of those in my 3 empty pots instead.

Hopefully I've ironed out most of my problems in the early stages and the new seeds will have a better start in life!!

 

[BAMWW]

A few pics. They don't look too healthy but hopefully they will bounce back!

 

[namvet25]

Your girls are looking just fine,hope your bad luck is over.:karma Cloud:

 

[blue]

Ahh, sounds like you're having a bit of a nightmare!

A wise man once said

“Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph: a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.”
... that was Gandhi

Seems like you're on the right track so sending you some green fingered karma ^_^
:karma Cloud:

 

[Balarama]

Actually, they look really well, so if you can manage the room I think you're up to a very nice grow.

Good luck:karma Cloud:

 

[BAMWW]

I wonder what's up with the BAM? I used the same technique as I did for the AWW but none sprouted. Of the last 3 I tried, 1 has a tail and I put it in a jiffy pellet earlier. I only had one seed left so I put that straight into the wet towell to see if it would sprout. Its been there 2 days or so and no sign of it cracking yet.

 

[Mr ganjamoto]

Hello Mr Sean

In the mean time I had 3 Auto White Widow and 3 Blue Automazar in kitchen towel germinating. The AWW had a few mm of a tail so I put those in jiffy cubes in a propigator and left them on a window. The BAM still hadn't sprouted the following day so I put them in the jiffy pellets anyway, figuring they might prefer that enviroment.

When using the kitchen towel technique where are you putting the saucer to wait out germination.... Is it somewhere too cold? / too warm?

Also give a bit more time for germination to occur and allow the tap root to develop a little further I usually allow 6-8mm or so before potting on... patience is a virtue...

Temps are mid to high 20's now so I should be ok. I've also had my timer get stuck twice this week, leaving my plants in the dark for about 14 hours at a time.

Buy a plug and grow timer (£12-£16) from your local grow shop it will easily cope with switching a 600w HPS.

I took the shell off it's head with a tweezers earlier so hopefully that will help. I've also put the 4 AWW i had left in water and I'll probably use 3 of those in my 3 empty pots instead.

Be careful... nimble fingers are usually better than tweezers....

Hopefully I've ironed out most of my problems in the early stages and the new seeds will have a better start in life!!

On a positive note the plants that have survived are looking good....

Happy growing

Mr Jorilla ganjamoto.

 

[BAMWW]

I've been keeping the seeds in a bag, placed in a box and left in a warm cupboard at about 24c. I didn't have a ph meter the first time so maybe that was my problem.

As for the timer, it is a plug and grow. I've figured out that if I turn off the timer during a lights out period, when I plug it back in the clock stops moving. It still makes a little noise like the timer is working but it gets stuck. I might return it over the weekend.

I dont have nimble fingers. I cant even pick up a seed without dropping it 5 times lol! I'm glad to hear the surviving plants look ok. I thought they looked a bit droopy or wilted but at least they're ok. Hopefully the last BAM will come good for me. It would be nice to have two strains for xmas. Anyone here tried the AWW yet? I've never smoked an auto before.

 

[BAMWW]

I moved the light closer to the plants today and they are loving it:

 

[aridbud]

You'll get the hang of it,sean61. Note what you did so you don't repeat. If most of your BAMs did not germ...could be old seed or seed stored in heated area and light. Are you using tap water? As a precaution, you might want to buy spring water or bottled drinking water to germinate future seeds. Heat drying out peat cups (jiffy pellets) stresses the plant. I've found jiffy's a bit too hot w/ humic acid in the pellet mixture. A lot of folks swear buy them. I use disposable cups w/ perlite, top soil and a bit of sand. Cups with holes poked in bottom. Both strains from Dutch Passion? Your most recent pics show the seedlings adapting. Good job!