I put together this beautiful 2 X 4 DIY grow tent that I found on YouTube, constructing it with PVC pipe, heavy duty cardboard and Reflectix material. I have 2 clip on fans, thermostat measuring both temperature and humidity, small fan heater and a carbon filter with ducting/fan. Germinated 3 indicas seeds that popped beautifully, but I somehow murdered them, despite my best efforts to the contrary. I had the light, a Mars-Hydro TS600 on a 24 hour light cycle, with the light about 4-5 inches above the planters. I found the soil was consistently dry, even though I checked it twice daily and moistened the soil (not soaked it) with a few sprays of room temperature bottled water I keep to the side for it. The tent is consistently between 88-93 degrees F. I read somewhere that I should create DIY āhumidity domesā by cutting off the top half of a bottled water 16oz container, but then later saw other articles that said the domes should be removed for periods during the day, bc having them consistently over the plants and suffocates them. In any case, my seeds never rose from the dirt in 8 days. I ended up digging up the seeds to see what happened, and it appears theyāve all been murdered!! However, I refuse to give up and immediately began the process of germinating the remaining 3 seeds I had left.i checked them today and theyāve cracked and Iāve got the beginnings of a root on all 3, but now Iām scared. Iāve got 3 Solo cups full of Happy Frog Soil that I moistened tonight with some bottled water, but Iām trying to wait until the small root poking out (I forgot what itās called) reaches the suggested 1.5-2.5 cm before planting, Iām a newbie, so Iām thinking the 24/7 light cycle might not be a good idea for, but instead a 18/6 hr light schedule. Do you think a small humidifier is needed also? What about the humidity domesā¦should I bother with them? How often to water? Being I moistened the soil and didnāt put it under the light, do I need to water it again after I plant the germinated seed? Any pointers and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
The domes are a good idea as brand new seedlings get all their water from the air until they establish roots. The light should be more like 18 inches above the pots and 18/6 is good. Instead of watering the seedlings, just mist the domes or plastic covers daily. I would make sure the soil is moist but not soaked. You want the roots to grow out and search for water but you dont want the soil to be bone dry.
Wait ts600 5 inches from the plants is WAY to much light even with domes they only need about 200-300 par for the 1st week and 300 -700 par for veg ( more as they get older) I ditch humidity domes as soon as they pop out the ground free of a helmet head
Really beyond grateful for the reply, friend. I just checked my seeds and although they popped yesterday, I kept them in the wet paper towel for another day to let the root get a bit longer. When I checked it, they really looked great and had lengthened quite a bit (they were all a solid half to 3/4 inch long), so I planted them. I dampened the soil yesterday before planting and again slightly before. I also raised the light up to about 18 inches above the top of the solo cups (I made holes in the bottom of the cup too) and put it on an 18/6 timer. So now the question is water. How much and how often? Iāve been using bottled filtered water that is room temperature, but I have no idea how much or how often, particularly under 18 hours of light. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had the first attempt seeds (this is round 2) and murdered them - Iām not sure if it was the water, light or seeds that resulted in my failure, but I have spent too much money at this point to quit now, smh, and besides that, Iām freaking determined to succeed at this!! Any and all help is soooooo appreciated!!! Perhaps with all you knowledgeable folks out there, I can do this!!! Again, thanks!!!
Am I supposed to keep the domes on continously or recklessness move them periodically throughout the day? If so, how long do I leave them and how long do I remove the from the top of the cup? Since I just planted them this am, should they be placed until I get a leaf or two that breaks through? Do they need to be removed periodically or do they remain 24/7? You said to spray the inside of the domes (pure genius, btw), but can you advise if the domes need to be removed at some point for a period of time during the day, and if so, how often and how long? When should they be abandoned? Should I just add a humidifier to the tent? Again, thanks for all your help.
I moved the light up considerably (see photo attached to other post) and planted today. The light is somewhat confusing, as there appears to be a lot of differing grow methods. Some have said to have the light as close as possible without burning the leaves is great, while others say far away at first and then closer as the plant grows. Either way, itās hard to know bc each strain apparently needs certain conditions. This strain is called RI Sour Applez, an indica thatās supposed to be really good (guess weāll see if weāre successful here, lol). Any tips, advice, warnings, thoughts, experiences, etc. yāall might consider useful is greatly appreciated. Truly.
If your light has a dimmer turn it to about 50% and let you plants tell you if theyāre happy if theyāre praying or stretching it means itās not enough as for the domes I keep em on until they sprout out with no helmet head as for the 1st week i do 3 sprays twice a day then i get them on the wet dry cycle and I personally always reccomend a humidifier for veg typically you want 55-70% humidity for veg depending on temp
OK, so I need a small humidifier also. Do I need to remove them for any period of time during the day or do they stay on continously without break? Do I keep them when they sprout? When to stop using them??
I would leave the domes on all day for their first week. And mist the domes, not the plants periodically as they dry out. You shouldnt need a humidifier if your plants have domes. Just be careful about actually watering the soil right now. And whenever you do water, do it around the outer edge to encourage the plant to shoot out more feeder roots.
OK. So when do I remove them? When thereās a sprout? RN all I have is dirt a staring up at me that I scan like a fiend, looking for any sign that life is about to shoot out of the dirt. Someone said on their post he felt like an expectant father during this process, and I understand that feeling, lol, bc Iām an anxious momma-hen. So, I returned the domes and before I saw your response to my last reply, I misted them all with room temperature bottled water from a spray bottle, bc I could see the soil was dry, and when I pushed down on the domes to see if I could tell the consistency of the soil and heard the soil crunch, so I knew it was dry underneath. I messaged if until the soil was moist, not wet or see Oakes; I have holes in the bottom of the cups, but it was not enough water to drain out the bottom of the cup. I know the soil is going to get dry under 18 hours of constant light. What do you recommend I do? The soil seems to get dry daily - excessively dry - bc of the light is under for so many hours, and I know thatās no good. Maybe Iām not watering enough when I do water (I spritzed the soil before planting the germinated seeded) and checked the soil. When it appeared dry, I spritzed the inside of the domes and replaced them to the top of the f up. I donāt want to underwater and Iāve taken care to not pour the water in. Can you tell me what the soil should feel like & how often I should water? Today is officially day 3 in the dirt. Any pointers you can provide would be AMAZING!
I wouldnt let it get bone dry for sure. I would pour a few cups worth around the outside of the pot and let the soil wick it up. I wouldnt pound anything directly where you planted them. Throughout the entire grow I would never let the soil get bone dry.
As far as the domes. I would leave them over the new seedlings for their first week or so u til they have a couple sets of leaves
The thing is, no sprout yet. Nothing emerging from the dirt at all, smh. Patiently waiting. Have the domes on, and have been periodically checking the cups during the day and giving the soil a few spritzes of water just to moisten the soil, bc it seems to be drying out in the light. I have been careful not to pour the water, Iāll either spritz the domes (I feel like I have no choice but to give them a few spritzes directly on the top soil, bc the soil is too dry to just spritz the domes alone. I have been trying to avoid the soil getting dry. The thing is, am I watering it insufficiently? Maybe if I watered more (enough so it drains through the bottom) I could water less frequently bc the soil would be moistened throughout. Thoughts?
Do you mean absorb it through the bottom holes or should I just water around the edge of the cup? Iāve heard it isnāt good to let the water stagnate - that it brings mold, bacteria, etc. Please explain which I should do to keep the soil hydrated. I started the germinated seed in a 16oz solo cup(where it remains) with plans to transplant to a bigger pot once I have an actual plant growing.
Hey Wendi, welcome to the forumš If you have a set of digital scales, you can measure a solo cup of dry dirt. Mine weighed dry at 168 grams. I have them on saucers and spray them on the saucers with the bottoms of the solo cups drilled out for drainage and the water wicks up into the soil, but ya have to drill some 1/4 inch holes into the bottoms of solo cups and put them under easy lights at first to make this long story short, I spray bottled water with a few drops of Super thrive and that seems to help um get a good root system early on.
So far with a spray bottle of bottled water, well watered seedling cup is 200 grams, soon as they leave the dirt, just pay attention to their watered weight
I meant to pour water around the edges of the cup so that it will soak up into the middle. Next time you plant a seed you should have the cups of soil moist all the way through.
Iām just experimenting with this method of weighing the cups of dirt. I will keep ya posted as to how it goes, good luck with your growš¤