New Grower HELP! I think I made a soil uh-oh?

[wheredaweedat]

soooo....how do you know if your soil mix is too light?

I have 2 plants, one AutoMaria2 @ 2 weeks and a day above soil, and an auto acid thats 4 days above.

The AA seems to be stretching like crazy for no reason (under the same 250w cfl as the AM2, and probably a solid half an inch taller.)

What worries me about BOTH babies, is they both seem to be...loose, for lack of a better word. Wobbly perhaps? Who cares. I brushed them lightly cause I got some water mist on the leaves and I didnt want them to burn under the lights, and it felt like if i had brushed it any harder, I'd've ripped it right out of the soil. =/

Hypothetically speaking, lets say my soil IS too light - what does that mean for my plants? Ive read that if the soil is too light, it means the roots wont hold. What I DIDNT find, is how to remedy the issue, without re-potting. Idrk what to do -Especially since, with regards to Autos, transplanting them is not exactly advised.

As they get bigger, tie them to a stake for stability and cross my fingers?

Add a heavier (than what it currently is(nt) mix to remedy all of the stretching and grow new roots?

soil is 12 cups OF, 17 cups Black Gold Seedling mix, 5 cups Harvest SuperPowered Compost with Bio Char, and 12 cups perlite - all mixed together in a 5 gallon bucket.

These pics are from yesterday -

Auto Acid

AutoMaria2

 

[dr_rob_auto]

Do you have any circulating air? This is what will build the strength on your stem and im sure as the roots extend down they take a decent hold of your soil. You can pick up a cheap oscilattin 6" fan for next to nothing but it is a vital bit of kit. Sorry if your already using one tho hopefully somebody will nip in with more advice

 

[AndyBotwin]

Based on the pics your soil looks fine - light is good for cannabis. If she starts to lean you can stake her up, but my guess is that you'll be fine as she grows and the roots really spread out. If you go messing about with them, there's a very good chance of stunting them or worse, so just be patient and the plants will take care of rooting themselves. What size pots are you using?

 

[wheredaweedat]

Based on the pics your soil looks fine - light is good for cannabis. If she starts to lean you can stake her up, but my guess is that you'll be fine as she grows and the roots really spread out. If you go messing about with them, there's a very good chance of stunting them or worse, so just be patient and the plants will take care of rooting themselves. What size pots are you using?

Well, Im definitely going to be A LOT more careful when I mist the soil, thats for sure haha
The AM2 is in a 3 gallon hard sided pot and the AA is in a 2 gallon smart pot - cause from what I understand, 3 gallons is plenty for an auto (not trying to grow MOSTERS..) and with smart pots from what i understand about THEM is - oxygen @ the roots = more roots = bigger plants, no?

 

[wheredaweedat]

Do you have any circulating air? This is what will build the strength on your stem and im sure as the roots extend down they take a decent hold of your soil. You can pick up a cheap oscilattin 6" fan for next to nothing but it is a vital bit of kit. Sorry if your already using one tho hopefully somebody will nip in with more advice

There is air circulating, but not by way of an oscillating fan. Theres an ionized air filter/purifier thing pushing fresh filtered air into the closet, and theres a standard window box fan maybe 2 feet away set on medium blowing in the general vicinity of the plants. Is it ...horrendously important to use oscillating fans?

 

[AndyBotwin]

Well, Im definitely going to be A LOT more careful when I mist the soil, thats for sure haha
The AM2 is in a 3 gallon hard sided pot and the AA is in a 2 gallon smart pot - cause from what I understand, 3 gallons is plenty for an auto (not trying to grow MOSTERS..) and with smart pots from what i understand about THEM is - oxygen @ the roots = more roots = bigger plants, no?

I think you'll be fine with those pots. The roots will grow down to the bottom and spread & then the plant will gain some stability. If you had tiny little pots and mostly perlite I could see the roots maybe not taking hold, but not with 2-3 gallons. Plus your soil mix will also settle over time as you water it more.

I grow with 1-3 gallon pots myself since I don't have room for really big plants, and you can easily pull an ounce or more once you've got things dialed in. Especially with airpots. :smoke:

 

[wheredaweedat]

I think you'll be fine with those pots. The roots will grow down to the bottom and spread & then the plant will gain some stability. If you had tiny little pots and mostly perlite I could see the roots maybe not taking hold, but not with 2-3 gallons. Plus your soil mix will also settle over time as you water it more.

I grow with 1-3 gallon pots myself since I don't have room for really big plants, and you can easily pull an ounce or more once you've got things dialed in. Especially with airpots. :smoke:

Thank you for easing my paranoia

We use the same size pot cause we both be East Coast Reppin'...yo Snowin where you are?

 

[AndyBotwin]

Thank you for easing my paranoia

We use the same size pot cause we both be East Coast Reppin'...yo Snowin where you are?

Thankfully not much this go round but it's been a hell of a winter. I grow in an unfinished basement with no climate control so I'm counting the days til spring when I can pop some beans and get going again. :smoke:

 

[wheredaweedat]

Im pretty sure mother nature is looking for a bloody nose. 60 one day, 9 the next. smh.

ugg, no climate control? wont it get too warm down there in the spring?
Thats my biggest concern now with the weather potentially warming up soon. I grow in a decently sized walk in closet, and though there IS central AC, Im 98% that theres no vent inside of it. Also 98% that the hot air exhaust needs to be...worked on/improved which would prolly help with the heat.

 

[AndyBotwin]

I do have some heat issues but I manage OK. The basement is partially underground so the ambient temps never get much above 80 even in the hottest days of summer. I run 18/6 with the lights out period from 12-6 when the heat is highest. I also have negative pressure in my tent and pull a lot of air through to keep the heat down. But it still gets up in the mid 80s sometimes though the plants can handle that. I'm just growing for personal use so I don't need 100% perfect conditions.

For your closet you may want to try and get a fan mounted up high to get some of the hot, humid air back out of the space. As long as you're pulling it in from the bottom and exhausting it from the top, you'll be fine as long as your ambient temps aren't too high. That's where a tent is very useful. I can run the exhaust ducting out and away from my intake ducts to be sure I'm getting fresh air circulating.