Grow Mediums Help me get through the first week from seed.

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Jack Herer
I love hydro, and have been running with my roots in the water almost 100% since 2009.
One big gap in my experience is in starting from seed in a waterfarm. I always ran photos, and cloned before going into a hydro system.
Now I have a problem, I can't do that with an auto!
The plan is to start the seed as always, using the paper towel in a warm place method. Transfer sprouted bean to Rapid Rooter, in a domed seedling tray, with a heat mat set to about 75f. When roots are visible, transfer to waterfarm, without damaging roots. RO water, 70F, ph'd to 6, with a tiny amount, maybe 50ppm of GH Flora bloom. (Unsure on this one. It makes barely rooted clones explode, but does it work the same from seed?)
I plan to add a splash guard to protect the baby until it is above the drip ring.
Once it can take normal starting doses of food, I should be golden, but getting those crucial first few days out of the way has me sweating bullets.
Any and all advice appreciated. If you can think of anything I missed, please advise. The life you help save will be a Mephisto Double Grape.
Thanks in advance.
Kyle
 
I do basically what you have said. Go easy on the water early on, I even hand feed with constant feed backed right off for a week or so

I won't be using grow nutes next time, just straight to base bloom then add in my toppers when sex shows

Tag me in when you get started! Love hydro

f6
 
I do basically what you have said. Go easy on the water early on, I even hand feed with constant feed backed right off for a week or so

I won't be using grow nutes next time, just straight to base bloom then add in my toppers when sex shows

Tag me in when you get started! Love hydro

f6

Thanks for the fast reply. So you have had good success adding a little bloom fert (no N) to encourage root growth? It worked amazingly well in my cloner. Id see 1/2" of roots pop, add a few PPM of bloom to the water, and BAM, root explosion. Wasn't clear on whether that worked for seeds as well.
I'll be sure to count you in on the party, when I get things rolling.
Regards, Kyle
 
My bloom nutes have N, GH FloraNova. I also use fish water early in low amounts.l and Optic Foliar spray.

Mind you I have been battling stretch, might need to back off a little or train harder!

I also use Great White myco bacteria


Edit..

I probably should say autos don't need anything for a few weeks, I however use a weak mix the moment they hit the hydro rig.

f6
 
Last edited:
I love hydro, and have been running with my roots in the water almost 100% since 2009.
One big gap in my experience is in starting from seed in a waterfarm. I always ran photos, and cloned before going into a hydro system.
Now I have a problem, I can't do that with an auto!
The plan is to start the seed as always, using the paper towel in a warm place method. Transfer sprouted bean to Rapid Rooter, in a domed seedling tray, with a heat mat set to about 75f. When roots are visible, transfer to waterfarm, without damaging roots. RO water, 70F, ph'd to 6, with a tiny amount, maybe 50ppm of GH Flora bloom. (Unsure on this one. It makes barely rooted clones explode, but does it work the same from seed?)
I plan to add a splash guard to protect the baby until it is above the drip ring.
Once it can take normal starting doses of food, I should be golden, but getting those crucial first few days out of the way has me sweating bullets.
Any and all advice appreciated. If you can think of anything I missed, please advise. The life you help save will be a Mephisto Double Grape.
Thanks in advance.
Kyle
It's easier to plant the seeds right into the rapid rooters, and skip the paper towel step.
The rapid rooters contain a bit of nutes and/or hormones.
Bloom nutes contain too much phosphorous for seedlings.
I just had 10 out of 10 sprout within 2 days. doing this.
 
My bloom nutes have N, GH FloraNova. I also use fish water early in low amounts.l and Optic Foliar spray.

Mind you I have been battling stretch, might need to back off a little or train harder!

I also use Great White myco bacteria


Edit..

I probably should say autos don't need anything for a few weeks, I however use a weak mix the moment they hit the hydro rig.

f6
Thanks for the info. With clones, I always fed from day one. I imagine from seed will be touchier, so I will start really slowly.


It's easier to plant the seeds right into the rapid rooters, and skip the paper towel step.
The rapid rooters contain a bit of nutes and/or hormones.
Bloom nutes contain too much phosphorous for seedlings.
I just had 10 out of 10 sprout within 2 days. doing this.

I was already in a paper towel when I started this thread, but I may try that next time. I'll have to be extremely careful not to hurt the taproot now, moving to a rooter.
I have a cheapo seedling tray that fits rapid rooters loosely. I figure I'll put the seed in one cell, with another rooter in the cell next to it, with the temp probe from my heat mat in it. Should give me an accurate temp level for the seeded rooter.
Regards, Kyle
 
Well, the transplant from paper towel to rapid rooter went well. I sliced it down the middled, and made a few knife cuts from the center hole out, to give root growth an easier time, right out if the gate. I don't know if it made a difference, but it made me feel better.
8 hours after going in to the rooter, she's got her head up, and the seed husk is shed!
When should I pull the humidity dome? It's a 50 cell tray, with one sprout. I misted it 3x today, and the temp in the tent is 74f, with 29% rh. Rooter temp is held at 75f, by heat mat thermostat.
Thanks for the input. So far, so good.
Regards, Kyle
 
I took the advice from folks on here and split my rapid rooters aswell. I rigged up a jar with a tester to see what it would do and left some water in the jar to keep moisture up. That fuzzy tap root will run straight down to the bottom of a quart mason jar! Coolest thing I have seen.

My rapid rooters go straight in the bucket and run a clear liner for a painters cup for a dome for the first week. Ph 5.5 water until it rises and then 1/4 teaspoon of trio with calmag and myco powder.

Also to start I put a dab of myco powder inside the rapid rooter. That little trick made for a pretty green seedling let me tell you.
 
I took the advice from folks on here and split my rapid rooters aswell. I rigged up a jar with a tester to see what it would do and left some water in the jar to keep moisture up. That fuzzy tap root will run straight down to the bottom of a quart mason jar! Coolest thing I have seen.

My rapid rooters go straight in the bucket and run a clear liner for a painters cup for a dome for the first week. Ph 5.5 water until it rises and then 1/4 teaspoon of trio with calmag and myco powder.

Also to start I put a dab of myco powder inside the rapid rooter. That little trick made for a pretty green seedling let me tell you.

Thanks for the input. I'm at the 1/4 tsp level right now, and she seems to be doing well. I started a thread for this grow, but I don't know how to link to it, since I'm using a phone. If you go to my profile, you are welcome to follow along. All advice appreciated!
Regards, Kyle
 
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