[Dave Coulier]

Originally Posted by Dropped Cat

Thanks DC. This information has proved timely and useful.

My short test was four seedlings. Three with a light feed and
one without, just water.

The one without feed is now being fed, although now is behind
in its growth compared to the other three.

Took four days to see the marked difference.

Yup, feed the seedlings. facepalm.

Im glad its been of use to you DC. Too many of us have been conditioned not to feed our seedlings from day 1 on these forums, or that the cotyledons will provide the plant with what it needs for growth. Well thats all hogwash as you now know. Feed those little ones as soon as day 1 or 2 and our plants will thank us for it.

I also feel for certain feeding early and constantly does lead to plants sexing faster. Since Ive began feeding on Day 1, Im getting plants showing sex by the 5th node under 12/12. By the 8th node they're already budding. Ill have to share some pics of my Shits, and an Ace Mix plant that both showed sex by day 16-19 from seedling. They're over a month at this point now. Of course it backfires if you are trying to grow for yield, but for a breeding or selection run, it does allow for smaller plants and faster selection.

[Dave Coulier]

Ive updated my Shit album with pics of my latest run with this variety. I managed to snap a few decent shots with my poopoo camera. I got 4/4 females with two who began flowering with a nice little bud within a month. Who needs autos when they flower this fast?

Although the growth rates are slower than Id like. Winter has finally set her icy fingers in and light time temps were often in the low to mid 60's. Not a recipe for fast vigorous growth. Root temperatures were usually in mid 60's at lights on. Ive been using a heater to keep temps closer to mid 70's for the last week, and I think the plants are responding and coming out of their slow growth during the cold spell. They're certainly healthy at least. There are plenty more pics in the album for anyone curious.

[OttawaGreen]

Thanks for doing this! I have just fed my two day old babies 8-)

[Dave Coulier]

Originally Posted by OttawaGreen

Thanks for doing this! I have just fed my two day old babies 8-)

Did you hesitate at all when you did? It feels kinda odd the first few times feeding such young seedlings, but It quickly becomes natural when you see how fast they respond.

Are you planning on fertigation or periodic feeding from here on out?

[Buddler]

Myth buster thread ,Should be a sticky ,Thanks Dave always been a gray area for me when to feed seedlings not to much yada yada Now I can go ahead and start feeding with no worries.Respect B

[stihgnobevoli]

it's too late now but if you do it again can you see how long it takes before they start needing food and make on group like the control but you only start feeding them after you notice there's a difference in growth and vigor compared to the ones you started with food?

one group control
one group fed only after noticing weakness
one group fed mild solution
one group fed heavy

[Dave Coulier]

Originally Posted by stihgnobevoli

it's too late now but if you do it again can you see how long it takes before they start needing food and make on group like the control but you only start feeding them after you notice there's a difference in growth and vigor compared to the ones you started with food?

one group control
one group fed only after noticing weakness
one group fed mild solution
one group fed heavy

If I can accomodate it, Ill try to make it happen. It would be interesting to see how quickly they recover from being under-fed and seeing growth difference between them and the others. Consider it so if there is space.

[Dave Coulier]

My new toys have arrived, and Im anxious and excited to use them. 4, 15cm or 6" suction lysimeters from Hanna. Ive just now installed them into the pots of 3 Mr. Nice Shit ladies, and 1 Ace Mix lady that was flowering by node 8. It truly is a Bonzai plant. Ill throw up a pic of it tomorrow.

The suction lysimeters on my test run inside a container of water didn't produce a large yield of water pulled into the tube. Only 10ml per tube. Thats enough to test pH easily, but for my EC meter I need 20ml, which my 30cm Lysimeters have no problem producing.

Ill see how well they preform overnight and see if I can gain some useful soil solution samples before the next watering which will be within 24 hours.

[Dave Coulier]

I wonder if Mr. Miyagi would be proud of my little Ace Mix Bonzai plant. She tops out around 6" tall, and began flowering by the 8th node. Yield will be small but I hope she packs a mean punch.

[TheRealHash]

I just started some seeds, I'm feeding them at 240ppm and they just poked up out of the soil..


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