New Grower Needs Advice on Humidity

[bigmike420]

i reciently started up a cabinet grow, its 2 1/2 ft x 2 1/2 ft x 3ft, using a 400watt hps, with 2 120mm computer fans attached to a carbon filter blowin air out the back

my temperature ranges between 70 in the off cycle and 78 near the end of the on cycle, the humidity ranges from 40% - 53% but i cant seem to get it any higher, ive tried the bucket of water technique, ive tried 2 buckets of water, ive tried the wet towel technique. i cant afford a humidifier and im out of ideas, i know i can mist the plants but thats only temporary and i dont have time to mist it every 2 hours...my little El Nino seedlings are yellowing and close to death, any ideas?

 

[subrob]

hi big mike. IME i dont think your rh is the problem. i wouldnt think those levels would harm the plants. right now ive consistently been in the 30% range and it may slow the metabolism down a bit, but thats it. could be wrong...maybe post a pic and info in the infirmary(?) and get some help from some experts. good luck....sub
edit: just saw the word "seedlings" it may make a diff. purchase a dome and a heating mat, should take care of prob.

 

[bigmike420]

thanks for the quick reply sub, i have made a make shift hum dome, we'll see what happens i guess, money is my biggest issue really, i cant afford for these plants to die... i wont be able to get anymore seeds if they do, wish me luck ill get some pics up as soon as they get better, if they do...

 

[Mist]

Your humidity levels sound pretty good for growing. I don't know why everyone thinks that cannabis needs a high RH to grow properly. Some of the best marijuana in the world grows in low humidity enviroments such as Afganistan and the high desert in Southern Cali.
It sounds more like you are lacking water and nutrients.

 

[bigmike420]

i water everyday when it feels dry enough to take more water, they are new seedlings so i didnt think they would need full vegetative nutrients, do u think that i should start on vegetative nute levels?

 

[subrob]

depending on what nutes you are using, once youve got the lateral branches starting to come up and out, you can certainly start feeding. start with a watered down batch, maybe 25% of recomended, see how they do. also, when watering, wait till they are almost completely dried out. may be over watering...

 

[bigmike420]

i wait till the top layer of soil is completely dry but when i dig my finger down a bit its still a bit moist, is that a good time to be watering?

 

[subrob]

i could be wrong, but if they are in soil i would wait till it feels almost like the whole container is dry. try it like that for a few days and keep an eye on things. are you ph balancing the water before you wet the soil? or do you have soil that already contains buffers? how old are the seedlings?

 

[I N Hail]

High Mike

Your setup ,temps,RH sounds great

How old are your plants?

What soil/soilless medium are you using?

Could you put up a pic?(This would really help)
Peace INH

 

[bigmike420]

im using a sunshine soilless mix with extra perlite,
my plants are a little over a week old
they have both started to develop true leaves and are still very fragile
i germinated 5 seeds only 3 popped and only 2 sprouted so here they are, i know its a little pathetic but im workin with what i got here ahah, praying for a female to clone

Sorry for the Low Quality Photo, Iphone Cameras are horrible, i had to take the plant out of the cabinet for the pic because of the HPS light, so heres the bigger of the two

the true leaves seem to be greening up a tad from last night but the seed leaves have gone completely yellow...

 

[subrob]

okay, i jumped the gun i think on the nutes! i was thinking they were further along. to tell ya the truth, from that pic i cant really see anything that would make me think its an emergency. but i tell ya, at that stage i dont think they should be watered everyday. depends on how much moisture the medium is holding.

 

[I N Hail]

I think they should be ready for a REAL light feed, like Rob said 25%
Normally two weeks before they should be feed, but if the seed leaves are yellow
(dead) their ready for some food.

Make sure you have GOOd drainage hole's.

How long before that pic were they watered? It looks WET


oops sorry ROB ill jump out.

PeaceINH

 

[bigmike420]

i agree on the everyday waterings but they tend to dry out pretty quick under the 400w hps, i dont do full waterings, i just try to keep it from completely drying out and dieing, my last plant had that happen like a week before going into 12/12, i guess im a little paranoid

it was watered say an hour ago, im using 2 modified water bottles, the main bottle has 3 drainage holes, and theres a bottom of another bottle underneath to catch with say an inch of space to hold any run off until i clear it out, and also when it was first started as a humidity dome i used the tops of the bottles that were cut to create the catcher piece or whatever u call it.

i fear i may have watered it a tad to much being paranoid that they are drying out, but im sure the excess moisture will evap soon under that light, it always does

ill keep u guys updated, and any other tips will be greatly apprietiated

 

[Sleepy]

i think your RH is good...when you flip to 12/12, your yemps should even get lower (the light will be off half the time).

best of luck!

 

[bigmike420]

heres a step by step pic of the "pots" im using

edit: Yeah i know my desk is cluttered

 

[subrob]

no need to jump out! i always get nervous giving people advice. i tend to shy away from responsibility! haha. besides, i only get mad when people disagree with me!!!!!

 

[I N Hail]

Me tooo rob,,Can't disagree when your info is right on the mark.

 

[*mistress*]

this may be helpful:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112589&highlight=rh+importance
RH importance

enjoy your garden!

 

[bigmike420]

well, i checked on my plants this afternoon and theyre completely dead, im convinced my thermometer doesnt work properly and while i thought they were in optimal conditions, they roasted to death, im out of the growing scene for a while seeing as how i have no money left to replace the therm, or to buy more seeds.
thanks for your help, hope to see you all in the future

 

[Sleepy]

awww...that sucks.

the temps seemed low for a 400 watter in a cab...

sorry to hear, mike.