Seedlings that wont grow and don't die??

[MrGermaine23]

G! All of my plants seem to go hideously wrong in soil these days and I've been doing pretty much the same thing for nearly 10years. Quite a long time that, innit? [emoji51]

Yep, I'm giving coco a go, and yep.. it seems to be working really well (so far).. you might need a different set of nutes, but other than that... [emoji848] you should have an EC/ppm meter.. (I haven't yet)... ermmm[emoji848][emoji848]

That's it! Maybe time for a change? [emoji1365]

I was just checking it out @Vlad The Inhaler . Is this the type of coco I would need to buy? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-11-lb-Coconut-Coir-Block-of-Soilless-Media-VCCB5/205854519 And what type of nutes would I need? Not expensive ones I hope.

 

[Vlad The Inhaler]

I was just checking it out @Vlad The Inhaler . Is this the type of coco I would need to buy? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-11-lb-Coconut-Coir-Block-of-Soilless-Media-VCCB5/205854519 And what type of nutes would I need? Not expensive ones I hope.

Yeah, that's the stuff. If it's in a block like that, you'll need to do stuff to it to get it ready. I think you soak it in water for a while and drain it.. not 100% sure tbh, this is new to me! I bought a bag of Canna coco, ready to go.

The nutes.. you'll need the hydro/coco base nutes. They're slightly different, as in they have the bits and bobs that would be in the soil already, cos there's no nutrients in the coco. The root stim and bloom boosters shouldn't need to be changed tho.

You have to feed from day 1 tho.. many people to learn from on here..

I think that's right! [emoji2][emoji848]

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

@MrGermaine23, sorry for all the questions, but this sounds like an odd issue
What kind of meter are you using, and how do you calibrate/store it?
And did all your beans come from the same shop, same shipment?
Good call trying a test with different soil, but even with a total crap medium I would expect more growth before a lockout, and when I mixed an overly hot soil it was painfully obvious
It seems likely that either your pH is insanely out of wack, or perhaps the seeds went through some ordeal that hurt their viability (age, extreme temperature swings, etc).
A careful look at your soil and stem base - especially after watering - would also be a good idea, although I think something like root aphids would cause noticeable damage that I don't see in your pics.

Dude now you're freaking me out now lol. My first grow with 2 humidifiers in there to keep it up to 50's and 60's! Using distilled water but still...is there some anti-bacteria stuff you know I should pick up, like an additive?

I've never had an issue with my humidifier. I use well water (fairly hard). Every 2 weeks it gets a good scrubbing with water and apple cider vinegar, and I run a tank through it with one part acv, two parts water.

 

[BII]

Are you using some antibacteria/fungal mix stuff in your humidifier? I didn't think it would be necessary. I'm hesitant to introduce humidifier, with or without it, atm. When I do, I will definitely spend the extra few bucks for the anti fungus stuff.

If you need a humidifier, why not just use a cheap steam/warm mist vaporizer-type humidifier? The mist is boiled-off water, essentially distilled and pure, and heat-sterilized. In comparison, mechanical water misters, including the common ultrasonic ones, all just throw off the water in the reservoir as particles/droplets into the air, with this mist including salts and everything else in the water that leave dust over time, including aerosolizing the bacteria, fungi, etc. (not a concern for the plants, more for humans).

But realistically, even a bad-acting droplet-spewing humidifier isn't going to affect plants. How could a humidifier so consistently affect seedling plants (presuming the humidity isn't totally off, but even then, seedlings naturally handle and like high humidity)? The machine is simply spewing out drinking water as mist -- nothing toxic involved. And any bacteria, fungi, etc, that are aerosolized are already there, already in the environment.

More logically, it's all about your medium/soil. As a coco grower, I view the kinds of problems you are encountering as just normal -- part of using these crazy mixed-up organic soils, whether they are purchased or mixed yourself. I'd rather mix nutes, allowing great variability and adaptability vs. using fixed complex mixtures of decaying organic products and being very limited in dealing with problems (much as you are experiencing).

 

[MrGermaine23]

@MrGermaine23, sorry for all the questions, but this sounds like an odd issue
What kind of meter are you using, and how do you calibrate/store it?
And did all your beans come from the same shop, same shipment?
Good call trying a test with different soil, but even with a total crap medium I would expect more growth before a lockout, and when I mixed an overly hot soil it was painfully obvious
It seems likely that either your pH is insanely out of wack, or perhaps the seeds went through some ordeal that hurt their viability (age, extreme temperature swings, etc).
A careful look at your soil and stem base - especially after watering - would also be a good idea, although I think something like root aphids would cause noticeable damage that I don't see in your pics.


I've never had an issue with my humidifier. I use well water (fairly hard). Every 2 weeks it gets a good scrubbing with water and apple cider vinegar, and I run a tank through it with one part acv, two parts water.

I have a soil ph tester and a ph pen @Renaissance Redneck . Pen is a HM Digital pen I ordered for $50. The lid has a little sponge in it that you put solution on after using it to store it. The beans all came from Mephisto. Some shipped in the US and the others from Spain. They arrived about a month ago when I had my 1st set of 3 turn to shit. I've flushed these seedlings good as someone suggested so If I don't see any change in a few more days I'll pull one out and post pics of the roots for everyone to see. It should be white and normal looking like that last ones I pulled I'm sure. Hopefully the new one I put in dirt yesterday sprouts and grows correctly so I'll atleast be able to know its not the soil, but rather something foul going on in my grow room. Thanks for the response.

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

I'll keep an eye peeled


"I have a soil ph tester and a ph pen @Renaissance Redneck . Pen is a HM Digital pen I ordered for $50. The lid has a little sponge in it that you put solution on after using it to store it."
Storage is very important, just make sure you calibrate. I use two different value fluids, 4.01 and 7.0.
I learned the hard way to never trust an uncalibrated meter.

 

[MrGermaine23]

The new A x T broke ground in the little pot in my bedroom. It's now under a few cfl's. Wish me luck !

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

The new A x T broke ground in the little pot in my bedroom. It's now under a few cfl's. Wish me luck !

Karma for your crop!

And a for keeping after it!

 

[Yeatster]

Karma for your crop!

And a for keeping after it!

I 2nd that

 

[NugNoob]

If you need a humidifier, why not just use a cheap steam/warm mist vaporizer-type humidifier? The mist is boiled-off water, essentially distilled and pure, and heat-sterilized. In comparison, mechanical water misters, including the common ultrasonic ones, all just throw off the water in the reservoir as particles/droplets into the air, with this mist including salts and everything else in the water that leave dust over time, including aerosolizing the bacteria, fungi, etc. (not a concern for the plants, more for humans).

But realistically, even a bad-acting droplet-spewing humidifier isn't going to affect plants. How could a humidifier so consistently affect seedling plants (presuming the humidity isn't totally off, but even then, seedlings naturally handle and like high humidity)? The machine is simply spewing out drinking water as mist -- nothing toxic involved. And any bacteria, fungi, etc, that are aerosolized are already there, already in the environment.

More logically, it's all about your medium/soil. As a coco grower, I view the kinds of problems you are encountering as just normal -- part of using these crazy mixed-up organic soils, whether they are purchased or mixed yourself. I'd rather mix nutes, allowing great variability and adaptability vs. using fixed complex mixtures of decaying organic products and being very limited in dealing with problems (much as you are experiencing).

Trying to breakdown the science and big words...JK. For real though thank you for the detailed breakdown! Def puts my mind at ease a bit, I mean assuming there are no harmful microbes/bacteria/fungi already lurking inside my grow tent!

I've never had an issue with my humidifier. I use well water (fairly hard). Every 2 weeks it gets a good scrubbing with water and apple cider vinegar, and I run a tank through it with one part acv, two parts water.

You changed your profile pic! Loving it. Also, yeah I guess I just tend to worry about everything. Thank you for sharing your experiences with your humidifer. But I feel bad for @MrGermaine23 ...what is the real cause? We need answers!

The new A x T broke ground in the little pot in my bedroom. It's now under a few cfl's. Wish me luck !

3rd! Hope this one goes smooth as silk my man!


...for never giving up in the face of trial.