I am attempting to grow autofem indoors. Of six planted, four sprouted. They are in a potting soil at 73 degrees. The HR was bad so I put them under domes where the humidity seems fine. They are two weeks old today. They have not grown as I expected. Number 1 is about two and a half inches in height and is generally healthy except for a slight brown along one sugar leaf edge. It’s leaves reach upward. Number Two is about the same with the same brown edge along one leaf. Number Three appears fine. The final plant Number Four is the tallest at about four inches with the least amount of growth and one dead leaf while the other leaves appear okay.
I am concerned about the brown. Should I trim the one dead leaf? As they are now two weeks old should I remove the domes? When I have read about possible solutions I get conflicting opinions.
I would appreciate any advice from you other growers.
Yeah, pics would allow us to give you more specific help. Lots of things with growing come down to preference, not necessarily right or wrong. I only keep domes on them while they’re sprouting. Once they’re above ground I remove the domes and just keep the humidity fairly high for the rest of the seedling stage. A basic Walmart or Amazon room humidifier for about 25 bucks works fine, and you can add something like an Inkbird humidity controller if you want to be able to dial it in exactly where you want.
These are three GDP photos that are 18 days. They were transplanted 5 days ago. Are in 1 gallon transplanters filled with coco and being fed Jack’s, fish sh!t and some different AN supplements. Off to somewhat of a slow start but it is winter, my temps are also upper 60’s low 70’s. I think I will move them into the tent where it will be a little warmer and get more light. This should push up their metabolism a bit.
OK. Your plants seem to be doing alright. Try to remember there are a few things about growing auto’s that (unfortunately) I have learned the hard way.
Don’t “overthink” your problems - yet. My one major rule is NEVER, never, never transplant auto’s. They have only about 3 - 4 weeks to “veg” and anything I do in those 3 - 4 weeks has a major impact on their growth.
Good lighting is critical. After a number of grows I switched to HLG lighting - WOWZA! My yields skyrocketed.
Keep temps. & humidity under control (mid 70’s & RH 40% range).
ALWAYS check ph of water (keep mine at 6.2 - 6.8ph).
Everything else I have learned. Remember: growing is learning.
@SurferDude, just curious about your stance against transplanting autos. Are you speaking from personal experience, or just following along with what you’ve read in many places? I used to believe the “don’t transplant autos” rule, but I always felt as if they never got off to a good start being a tiny seedling in a big pot. I took a shot and started transplanting them well over a year ago now, and there is absolutely no doubt that they do far better. I’m incredibly careful and gentle with them, and it has to be timed correctly.
This is my current run of autos a month ago as seedlings on the day I transplanted them.
Here’s pics of a few of them last night. Most of them are in that explosive stretch stage right now. I’m raising my lights a few inches every other night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against people starting their autos in final pots if that’s what they’re comfortable with, but I wish folks would stop telling others not to transplant autos. I know of many other very experienced growers here and elsewhere who feel the same, and have great success transplanting autos.
Hi. Thanks for the positive words. I have kept the four sprouts in virtually exactly the environment you have stated. I have kept them under “domes” which I removed today. However all four sprouts have developed some degree of brown along the edges of one or more of the leaves and I am very worried about this. I have tried everything reasonable to fix this but nothing seems to stop it. I would send pics but I can’t figure out how to do that.
My challenge is always being too “ham handed” I guess. I think a while back I was transplanting 5 times.
Then changed to twice, now after a week from germination I plant in 3 gallon smart pots. Nevertheless, my yields/plant (depending on genetics) have exploded.
I transplant every girl now. Gentle switch has no affect on the plants at all. Same dirt. Bigger pot. No touchie the roots. Never notices. Only notices more room to grow. Just me. I was leery at first also. Now it is just habit.
I hear you! I only transplant the autos once, and I peel the cups really slowly and carefully so I don’t disturb the roots at all. I prep the new soil with microbes and fungi, and I wear a new pair gloves for each one before I touch them. A transplant Ninja can get in and out without the plants even knowing they were transplanted, lmao!
I use Mother Earth Coco Peat, but the stuff in the solo cups is used, and was thoroughly flushed in the last grow, so I start feeding seedlings when the first real leaves open, but very lightly of course. I use microbe and fungi products from day 1.
Hi. I started then in good quality potting soil. When I mist them which is not often, I use distilled water. As they are 16 day old now I have removed the clear plastic cups I had over them. Based on several comments from other growers I have ordered a ph gauge. I plan to minimally water and lightly feed tomorrow.
When I started I was told this was easy. That guy is getting a piece of coal from me next Christmas.
