Jump to content
  • Sign Up

How To Start A Cannabis Seedling


Recommended Posts

Hey guys,

 

Just thought I would share some info on how to germinate a seedling, and the first 3 weeks of growth. I'm still a new grower, but when I was starting out I was finding it hard to compare my seedling growth to others at various stages in the first few weeks and I have seen others asking the same type of questions since joining up. This is by no means a definitive guide, but it's what I've tried and what has worked well for me. I have had issues in the past and after seeking advice from members here and combining some of that advice with other information I've read this is what I've come up with. I've now germinated a few seeds this way and all are doing well, but I am still a noob at the end of the day. Feel free to share your own methods or modifications to this method as well.

 

I am growing in a coco/perlite mix, but this should work the same for rockwool users, jiffy pot users, starter-plug users and other similar media types. I perfer starting in a small pot with coco as I think it's easier to keep it moist, the smaller the media the quicker it will dry out.

 

I am using a 2x55w fluro light (6400k I think) hung about 20cm above the top of the pots. You can generally put fluro's as close as you want as long as it's not too hot, use the back of your hand and if it feels warm raise the light up a bit. The closer the better as it will stop the seedling stretching too high in search of light.

 

Day 0

 

To start off with I grabbed a seed out of my stash of seeds, got a lot of strains to choose from but I went with M.O.B this time which is an Indica strain from TH Seeds.

 

post-60242-0-58463900-1493049141_thumb.jpg

 

I dropped the seed in a 10:1 mix of RO water:seasol and let it soak for 24 hours, plain water also works fine but I think seasol does help a little bit.

After 24 hours the seed should have cracked open and should be showing a little bit of root, it will usually sink to the bottom of the cup.

 

post-60242-0-92217100-1493049380_thumb.jpg

 

Day 1

 

I am using a Nutrifield coco/perlite mix available online and from most hydro stores, you can also use Nutrifield coco bricks, Canna coco or other quality coco products. If adding perlite I recommend around 70/30 coco/perlite mix. I don't recommend the cheaper coco/peat bricks from Bunnings as I think they need too much flushing and stuffing around prior to use, although some people use them without issues.

 

To start off with I placed a small later of hydroton clay balls at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage. I then soaked a small amount of my coco with a weak nutrient solution around 25% strength grow nutes, silica and seasol. I then squeezed most of the moisture out of it before filling my pot about 3/4 full with coco, do not pack it down too much, I just loosely filled it and packed it gently. Make a small hole in the coco about 1.5-2cm deep and place the seed in the coco with the root facing down then gently cover it over. The pot size is approx 60x60x140mm and was about $0.4 at the local hydro shop.

 

post-60242-0-81965300-1493049384_thumb.jpg

 

Day 2

 

After about 24 hours the seedling begins to emerge from the coco.

 

post-60242-0-08244900-1493049390_thumb.jpg

 

Day 3

 

The seedling has now officially sprouted, if the seed shell is stuck to the leaves you can help it off but be very very gentle so you do not damage the fragile seedling.

 

post-60242-0-67984600-1493049393_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-58425200-1493049397_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-88768200-1493049400_thumb.jpg

 

Day 4

Provided small amount of 25% nutrient solution, approx 50mL.

Setup a small fan blowing over the area (oscilating) to start creating a breeze, circulating the air and stengthening the stem.

 

post-60242-0-18896700-1493049404_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-79832600-1493049407_thumb.jpg

 

Day 5

 

post-60242-0-83346900-1493049410_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-82371200-1493049413_thumb.jpg

 

Day 6

 

post-60242-0-96145800-1493050553_thumb.jpg

 

Day 8

 

Topped up the pot with coco to help support the stem.

Provided a small amount of 25% nute mix, just enough to keep the coco moist but not wet. Approx 50mL.

 

post-60242-0-58946800-1493050557_thumb.jpg

 

Day 10

 

post-60242-0-41976300-1493050561_thumb.jpg

 

Day 12

 

post-60242-0-43213900-1493050564_thumb.jpg

 

Day 14

 

I started to notice what I believe was a slight magnesium deficiency, slightly lighter green/yellowish patches between the veins on the leaves. I attribute this to not adding any cal-mag to my weak nute mix and using RO water.

Created new nute mix of cal-mag, just under 50% str veg nutes, silica and seasol. Total around 560ppm. Watered with the new mix.

 

post-60242-0-59051600-1493050567_thumb.jpg

 

 Veg Nutes Recipe
 
 1L RO Water        15-25ppm
 + 0.5mL CaLMag     150-160ppm
 + 2mL GT Silica    
 + 1.5mL GT Coco A    
 + 1.5mL GT Coco B  550ppm
 + 0.5mL Seasol     560ppm
 + pH Down          565ppm

 

This is just under 50% strength, to increase the strength of this mix I would just add more Silica, Coco A and Coco B to reach the desired strength, maybe another 0.5mL of Seasol too.

 

 Day 16

 

Watering pretty much every other day now with a small amount of nutes, or whenever the top 1cm of coco starts to try out.

 

post-60242-0-78977500-1493050571_thumb.jpg

 

Day 18

 

No further issues noted in new growth after changing nutrient mix.

 

post-60242-0-66236700-1493050577_thumb.jpg

 

Day 20

 

Transplanted to bigger pot as has developed enough roots. Using an 8L rocket pot.

Also topped at the 4th note and removed all growth at the 1st node using a scalpel.

 

post-60242-0-97116300-1493050581_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-15333100-1493050586_thumb.jpg

 

Day 21

 

This makes 3 weeks of growth from planting the seed. Looking healthy and fully into the vegetative stage of growing.

I will continue vegging for several weeks, while topping some more and taking a few clones, then will put it into flower once it's big enough.

 

post-60242-0-45464500-1493051234_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-92129800-1493051237_thumb.jpg

 

 

That's all for now, hope you have enjoyed this little journey along the life of a seedling. Some may disagree with this method in one way or another, but I've since germinated a few other seedlings following the exact same method and I have had 100% success so far. Feel free to comment or share how you like to start your seedlings, preferably with some pictures.

 

Cheers

Edited by hydrochronic
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can anyone help with some advice, please? I have germinated lots of seeds (cos they're regular not feminized) in Rapid Rooters. They are poking their little heads up to varying degrees and I've popped them into the tent under LED's. BUT I don't know when the Rapid Rooters need to go into the Solo plastic cups that are filled with Coco/Perlite? I've noticed that the tap roots are growing an inch or so out of the bottom of the Rooters - mostly before the first leaves have grown. So does that mean they need to be planted ASAP? And how often should I water once in the cups? And finally, a few of the stems are about 4-5 cm tall with only those first round leaf things...is that too lanky? How close should the LED's be? Suddenly I've forgotten everything I've read up about it in preparation, sorry!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not ideal to have the roots exposed to air or light, so yeah it's worth potting them.  Bury the lanky stems a bit in the pots.

 

Hydrate the coco before potting up, and squeeze out a bit of excess fluid.  Feel the weight of the pots and then don't water until they are lighter, but be careful to avoid them drying right out with very small plants.

 

Dunno about LED light distances, but if your seedlings are stretching out badly you probably need to lower the light, just don't know to what distance.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for kind words and feedback all.

 

Can anyone help with some advice, please? I have germinated lots of seeds (cos they're regular not feminized) in Rapid Rooters. They are poking their little heads up to varying degrees and I've popped them into the tent under LED's. BUT I don't know when the Rapid Rooters need to go into the Solo plastic cups that are filled with Coco/Perlite? I've noticed that the tap roots are growing an inch or so out of the bottom of the Rooters - mostly before the first leaves have grown. So does that mean they need to be planted ASAP? And how often should I water once in the cups? And finally, a few of the stems are about 4-5 cm tall with only those first round leaf things...is that too lanky? How close should the LED's be? Suddenly I've forgotten everything I've read up about it in preparation, sorry!!

 

As Hashy said bury the stems when you repot so that they are not too lanky. LED distance all depends on the light it's not as easy to say as with HPS, my Mars Hydro recommended 24" for seedlings, 18" for veg and 12-18" for flower. I went as close as 6-8" in flower due to stretch and laziness of raising the light and didn't notice any adverse effects. As suggested, feel the weight of the pots when wet and once it looks dryish on top, pick it up and the weight difference will be very obvious, you will begin to know when to water. If you're unsure and it still feels a bit wet it's usually safe to wait another day. Hashy is full of good advice, I've learnt a lot from reading his posts.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quick update on my seedlings. Here is another one just 14 days old from sprouting, it's just been transplanted into an 8L rocket pot. This strain is 'Double Black' from G13 which is Black Domina x Black Domina, nearly pure Indica, looking forward to seeing how this one develops too.

 

post-60242-0-76461600-1494003738_thumb.jpg post-60242-0-49078200-1494003744_thumb.jpg

 

Here is the one from my first post 2 weeks later. I just chopped the 2 branches from the second node for clones as they grew to around 12-15cm. I will chop the branches from the third node soon once they get a little bigger to make a few more clones, and I will top the remaining stems again once they too get to about 3 nodes in an attempt to main line this plant and let the other one catch up a bit.

 

post-60242-0-20927100-1494003804_thumb.jpg

 

Here is both side by side and you can also just see the 2 clones at the front.

 

post-60242-0-64998300-1494003809_thumb.jpg

 

I will probably start a diary for this grow soon. For now they are still veging under my 100w fluro, then will be going under a 600w MH soon for as long as I need before flowering.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sorry to have inundated this forum with tiresome, panicky questions r.e. my ill looking seedlings, but I've just read online that the ppm reading in my water cans in the last coupla days has been WAY too high...609ppm. When it should've been 150 ppm MAX. So already my poor little babies have been a. Too far from LED's. b. Overwatered in Solo Cups with too few drainage holes. c. Too high ppm' s in their first feedings.

So...live & learn. And fortunately, before I've planted my new seeds (Big Bud) which are my 1st 'feminized' seeds. I'm hoping I'm now at least experienced enough to treat THEM better post-germination. The 'regular' ones have been sacrificial guinea-pigs but if they survive- and some female- they'll be tough chicks! And worth keeping a mother one. (Chinook-Haze, Nice Chunks, GG Allin)

Edited by Annabanana
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using the community in any way you agree to our Terms of Use and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.