back to the basics starting over

[Aabama Phill]

I belive it's not ment for me to grow. All my plants are dead the last one pruned up today. So I'm starting over with these materils : paper cups, dirt, seeds and water. I now you put dirt in the cup put seed in water and let grow. Where I need help is how deep to put the seed, start seed in dirt or wet paper towels, how often to water, when to transfer to bigger pot, and to add nuets. It's an outdooor grow I'll start inside so how long till I move outside. I going back to the BASICS and need the help of my 420 family.

[wwilde]

Try this

OverGrow FAQ's - 420 Magazine

[richgannon_2001]

personally phil i would start in wet papertowels till the seeds crack then put your finger into the soil until just past your fingernail and cover it up and pour some water on it, put it in the light and it will sprout in a day or 2.....if your growing in dirt dont add nutes it only makes things complicated for a new grower, im not so new to growing and i still dont add nutes because i like all organic and not having to flush my weed before i can smoke it.....once the plant is 4 inches tall transfer to a bigger pot.....put outside whenever you see fit... hope this helps

[Aabama Phill]

Thanks for the insight I'll try that. Starting my plants in the window sill till there about 4 inches will work?

[Harry Red]

Hi Bama Phil,

I'm not an experienced indoor grower but I've grown quite a few times outdoors. As far as germinating seeds and getting them up, I'll tell what always works for me. I take a small cup and fill it 1 inch or so from the top with some good potting soil. I water that soil very well, almost to the point of being a little muddy looking. Then drop 4 or 5 seeds on the top, cover them with a thin layer (3/8" to 1/2") of soil and spray until damp.

Check the next day to ensure the top is still damp and respray if needed. You should get some sprouts in a couple of days. This always works for me, assuming I have nice fresh seeds. If I have plenty of seeds and I usually do, I fill multiple cups.

After I get a few plants sprout in the cups and the 1st real set of leaves form, I choose the seedlings that I like and break all the plants out of the cup and replant one to a cup. I plant the seedling deep, up to the 1st set of round leaves. This helps with any long initial stretch you might have get, especially in a lowlight window sill.

If you have plenty of seeds to work with, you can use larger cups and let a couple of sets of leaves (nodes) form on each plant. Then, you can pick the ones with the traits you want (like short inter-nodal lengths) and move those to single cups.

I guess if I'd payed lots of $$$ for seeds (never did that but may in the future), I'd have to start with just one to a cup.

Good luck man!

Harry

[Aabama Phill]

Thanks for the insight Harry I've got plenty of seed Local guy had a real seedy crop last year I'll try that along w/ a few other ideas I'm getting.

[richgannon_2001]

yea starting them in the window will cause them to stretch but like Harry said just re plant them up to the first set of leaves and youll be good to go, good luck dont forget to let us know how it goes!

[PdxPotSmoka]

try using miracle grow potting soil. that way you don't really need to worry about nutes, all you have to do is water. some people say not to because it make the bud chemicaly but i've had weed that was grown in it and it tasted fine and i'm from portland oregon if that means anything.

[Racefan]

Hey Phil..first off..don't use "dirt". Use a high quality potting soil. I use fox farms ocean forest. Some use flower power and some even use a soiless mix called promix. Don't skimp out on soil. The plants live and feed in this soil. It's very important. It's the base for life with container growing. Don't use preferted potting mixes either. One reason not to ...you cannot control the nutrient strength at any time and if you have problems with burning or any other reason you might need to flush for, you'll nver get the nutes or salts out of the soil. I've seen more grows screwed up due to pre nuted soil. Especially early in the grow period where the babies are young and tender. When you have babies you don't need to add nutrients until the babies have at least 4 internodes (branch sites) and then you only use 1/4 to half strength. Preferted soil gives them full strength nutes right from the start. Not the best idea IMO. You want as much light as possible at all times for babies and I would invest $20.00 on a 4foot shop fixture and 2 tubes. Cool whites work best and run about $2 to $3 dollars each. The fixture should be about $10 to $15 maximum. Prop it up on a couple of books so that it's about 3 above your babies. Add a small fan to blow at the babies and strengthen their stems too. This will hep them prosper outside. This should keeep you going for a while.

[Aabama Phill]

All right I'm back in the game right before I left for vaction I planted 2 seed waterd got home 5 day later had 2 new plants about 1 inch high just transplanted today into single cups all the way up to the first round leafs now I'll set back water and see what happends. New ? last time I tried growing had a prob. w/ grass hoppers any HELP!!

[DaMagoMan]

had a prob. w/ grass hoppers any HELP!!

Pick 'em off and kill 'em.
They make good catfish bait