Source
r/microgrowery•
DrydenTech

Sprouts constantly dying within two weeks of germination.

Question

I am struggling right now to get any plants to take off and I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Last year I grew some autoflowers under my light and everything went great except they went into flower about 3 weeks too early.

I figured there was too much light for the small tent I was using so I bumped up to an 8'x'8'.

This year I have been through about 30 seeds over 6 grows, every single time they germinate with no issues, grow up to the first set of leaves then just stall out, turn yellow and die.

The symptoms seem to be consistent with a mildew or fungus in the soil so I started swapping it around.

For the first two sets of seeds I was Fox Farms happy frog soil, germinate directly in the soil under 24 hour lights switching to 18-6 once sprouted.

The next set I used an organic potting soil from the local green house and same story.

The last set I just used dirt from my tomato garden and still the same story, germinate.

I have adjusted the light distance a couple times to make sure the plants aren't getting cooked and even tried swapping in my wife's LED tomato sprout light over a couple but no change.

Seeds were:

Skunk #1 x 5 Bubba Kush OG x 5

Pink Kush x 5 Tuna Kush x 5

Bag Seeds

Light: Vivosun 600w MH/HPS(https://www.amazon.ca/VIVOSUN-Hydroponic-Light-Cooled-Reflector/dp/B08LHB85TQ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2L3OO2V4GYR1X&keywords=vivosun+600w&qid=1655305174&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=vivosun+%2Clawngarden%2C69&sr=1-10)

Here is the last plant from the last run that has any life left in it. I just threw it outside yesterday and it got rained on but it doesn't look any better or worse.

https://imgur.com/a/0iaFhPR

I haven't had this issue the last 4 years so no clue what is going on.

I have been testing PH. Have not been over or under watering, have a moisture detector for soil monitoring and only water once it is dry. Our spring has been very damp and cool but my house has a solid hvac system and I even put an extra dehumidifier in the room to help maintain consistent levels.

Thanks!!

Posted Jun 15, 2022, 3:06 PM UTC

25
BusterMcBarman•

I’m no expert but have had 100% success with last 40 or 50 seedlings. Are you sure you aren’t overwatering? When your meter says dry do you fully saturate the soil? You want it moist, not wet. Watering with a spray bottle or maybe a shot glass works well at this stage. Just some moisture around the plant (leaving some soil dry) works well. Since you’ve changed your soil and light methods I’m not sure what else it could be.

3
ESBounty_Hunter114•

This looks like a mixture of intense light and overwatering

3
Massive_Treat4014•

It looks like the little one was fried by the light. If you are running 600w on a seedling, it's just getting burnt up. Maybe back off the wattage and get some fans blowing on the babies.

2
Bad_Pirate829•

What’s your humidity in the tent? Should be 60% or higher until they get their first set of real leaves. You said you had dehumidifiers running, that might be part of the problem.

2
TheBoomerDude•

A couple of considerations for you.

Seedlings will have roots about the size of the plant, so 2 inch plants may only have 2 inches of roots. Starting small plants in big pots is hard, unless your very experienced. Oxygen is a key part of root development. Easiest suggestion is to start your babes in smaller containers, its easier to guage moisture. Dont transplant until you have 2 sets of upper leaves develop. Water till it drips, leave it till its dry. Weigh your cups to be sure, cant go wrong! Look at adding oxygen availability to your medium (perlite, vermiculite ). Look up DO dissolved oxygen.

Also, that HPS will work OK on your developed sprout (loose node structure), but it is an orange light, for bud. Blue lights (tighter nodes) are better for veg, but HPS will work, just slower by comparison. Introduce HPS at about 55 inches away, lower to about 30 inches over a week.

If you have an LED starter light, I would use that bad boy until you have a good root mass in your cups. Then go to town.

1