Help please

[Johnhenry]

Quick rundown. Just started 2nd indoor grow. 2 seedlings one approx 19 days old, one 10 days. Potting mix Botanicare Slackers Aeration formula http://www.botanicare.com/Slackertrade-P195.aspx. Pots are these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. The older seedling on 2nd set of real leaves is slow growing and turning light green. I have read that the plants are starving?? I thought the slackers would have enough nutrients to get them started, I am assuming this is wrong and last night I fed the anemic plant some water with a light application of guano. I am also thinking that I can't treat the slackers like regular potting soil where you can easily overwater and I should be watering like crazy since the grow medium is coco based. Should I continue down this path or give in and go back to good old reliable peat based potting soil. I only have one successful indoor grow under my belt and maybe bit off more than I can chew with an exotic( to me) potting mix. Any input is really appreciated.

 

[namvet25]

I think it would be better to stay with the coco.If you transplant now you could damage the taproot.

 

[Johnhenry]

Am I correct about the coco, it needs to be watered more often?

 

[namvet25]

Yes.Iam using coco for the first and you have to water a lot.I am going back to promix on my next grow because I think I get better results and a lot less watering.

 

[Muddy]

Auto seedlings don't like a "hot" mix and looking at that product I see it contains worm castings, guano, and other amendments. It's quite possible all that is a bit too much for seedlings. I would also suggest checking your pH. Many bagged soils are a neutral pH out of the bag, around 7. If that's the case, it could also be a factor. Given that it's coco based, you would want your soil pH to be in the high 5s, to low 6s.

 

[Johnhenry]

Thanks for the advice guys. Fed a little the other day, don't see any nutrient burn, but will be very conservative. Seem to be ok, but very slow growth still. Started an new seedling with different soil mix. OF and Happy frog 50/50. Will compare from there.
Peace

 

[Johnhenry]

Update: After another frustrating week of slow stunted growth I decided to check the ph of the coco medium. It is through the roof, well over 7. After doing some frustrating research, I decided to give them some GH PH down. I was very conservative in volume with little confidence in what I am doing. Should I flush? Should I toss these girls in the trash and stick with soil?

 

[Root]

Hi Johnhenry...:styles rasta: to AFN!

Growing is frustrating some times...

Namvet and Muddy are getting you back on your feet here in the hospital.H Reading..?:

I invite you to Introduce your self... https://www.autoflower.org/f35/

You can get to know some of us in Live Time Help...https://www.autoflower.org/f3...ead-30723.html

And Then...You can make a grow log...https://www.autoflower.org/f44/

If you need anything...just ask!

Root

 

[Waira]

JohnH- 50/50 HF/OF should be fine,.... *** Soil that's too hot can stunt, even if there's no sign of burn; Also, what type guano did you use? High N or high P? Pics are essential bro', without them, it's all guesswork,... If your oldest one is now about a month, and is still trying to get a 3rd set of true leaves out, it's a waste of time at this point,... it'll sex soon, if not already, and will be a total sickly runt,...How's the other one? If it's hammered as well, maybe better to start fresh! I too am trying a coco based mix, and indeed it dries far faster that reg. soil, and working with it nutrient-wise is a learned skill....tough to start out on!... with coco, results can be excellent when your have nute's wired, but otherwise it's somewhat unforgiving... *** Now, that pH of 7+ is a bit alarming! ...that high, in an inherently acidic medium, I gotta wonder about your water source... Is it very hard and alkaline? Filtered in any way, and chlorine/chloramine free? And what did you use to get your pH reading? Some devices/test kits can be tragically inaccurate! Get us that info, and pics, unless you want to trash'm and just start over,... sucky, I know, costly as seeds are! **** Oh shit! -forgot to check out your pot type! LOL.... okay, I'm dubious about self watering pots,...my experience with them on other house plants was not impressive; I think they can be rather uneven in the moisture distribution, soggy at the bottom, dry-ish at the top,... for MJ, this will play havok with your nutes, roots, and soil microbes- (and therefore pH)- so I'd use regular pots, air pots, or fabric-types,....

 

[Johnhenry]

Thanks for the info guys, great help. I will post picks if I decide not to start over. I flushed one yesterday with low PH and a light guano N solution, looking a little better today. Will flush the other one tonight, see what happens. I am using a basic soil ph tester with the little capsules of test powder. My water PH is ok-6-6.5-tested with the ph tester provided with the Gen Hydro ph kit. I added ph down to a gallon of the guano water until is was below 6 then flushed. If nothing else I am learning. Got the self watering pots for those times when I wasn't around for a week.
Peace.
BTW how safe to post pics on here. Just a little paranoid- big brother lurkes nearby