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seedling help

Platinum88

New member
Hello all, so im new to his hobby and have a few questions. My seedlings are now two weeks old and the tap root is now hanging out the bottom of the pods about an inch or so and starting to come out the side. Is this a sign that I need to transfer them over to the bigger pots on my Ebb&Gro system. Because I was under the impression that they were to stay under the t5 fluorescent light until they grew a little bigger then what they are currently. So I guess im asking how long should I generally keep them under the T5 system? And I do plan on cloning so how long should the clones stay under it as well? And is the tap root hanging out of the sides and bottom of the pods a problem or will they be okay as they are right now? And I hope to have more pictures and info as the grow continues.
 
2

2Lazy

Damaging those tap roots now can really stunt your plants. The sooner you get them transplanted the better in my opinion. They are also very stretchy, you should probably try putting that light a little closer, just inch it.

What will damage those roots is light and air. If you fill the tray beneath the planters with a cm or two of perlite kept moist then those tap roots can survive a while longer without being transplanted. I'm talking about three or four days though, not like 2 weeks.
 

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training
Veteran
You're about to witness what's know as air pruning. Roots hit the air and they die! Many build their grow around it (using perforated pots) as the root portion inside the pot will now explode in all directions when it's tip dies off. But, It's got to be in a container that can hold said roots for this to work.

On another note, your plants are light starved. This is why they're so stretched out. Plants don't know much but, they know where the good light is and will do anything, including harm themselves, to get to it. You can stake them up or, if you're patient, plant low in the pot. Plant will stall for a couple of weeks as it sprouts new roots at the surface. Personally, I just roll the stem around my rockwool cube before transplant.

 

Platinum88

New member
Thanks for all the info guys what would you recomend I do just start over? Or transfer them to the other lighting sytem which is a 600watt hps light? I do have a adjustable ballast And if so how long on and off and at what percent would you recommed? Thanks again for all the help?
 

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training
Veteran
Start over? Heaven's no. Just transplant, give a few days to recover and get them under the big lamp.

Because plants bond with the first lamp they see and build themselves accordingly, the 600 will be as though the sun went nova, frying them to a crisp. Place plants under the big lamp at "noon" so they only have half a day under the 600 on day one. Hang lamp extra high and lower a few inches everyday.
 

tube dude

Member
Those plants will be fine with a transplant. next time lower your t-5 down to 2-3 inches from the tops of the plants and they wont strech .
 

Happiness

New member
You can stake them up or, if you're patient, plant low in the pot. Plant will stall for a couple of weeks as it sprouts new roots at the surface. Personally, I just roll the stem around my rockwool cube before transplant.


Most of the stems are about three inches long, how low would you plant them? From your pic it looks as far down as it will go.

Got them all transplanted, one night past and they all look good. I sank the stem an inch.
 

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training
Veteran
How low? As low as you want. I find it easier to roll the stem around the cube and bury it 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
 

TexasToker

Member
Most of the stems are about three inches long, how low would you plant them? From your pic it looks as far down as it will go.

Got them all transplanted, one night past and they all look good. I sank the stem an inch.

Generally with seedlings you want to plant it all the way up to the leaves...literally, like FB's pic shows.
 

K.J

Kief Junkie's inhaling the knowledge!
Veteran
On another note, your plants are light starved. This is why they're so stretched out. Plants don't know much but, they know where the good light is and will do anything, including harm themselves, to get to it. You can stake them up or, if you're patient, plant low in the pot. Plant will stall for a couple of weeks as it sprouts new roots at the surface. Personally, I just roll the stem around my rockwool cube before transplant.


That's awesome FB...not sure why it never occurred to me before. lol. I think I'll have to try this with those seedlings that get too leggy before transplant.
 
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