I received ILGM auto sour diesel seeds nearly two years ago. I successfully grew my first indoor plant shortly thereafter. The plant had some nutrient issue throughout its lifecycle, but it grew consistently and big and tall and had a surprisingly good yield.
Recently, I’ve tried using those same seeds but have encountered stunted growth. In two attempts, the seedling gets a couple inches tall, the leaves a 1-2 centimeters long and then it just stops growing. (I’m planting directly into the pot).
A few things have changed from my first go around: the seeds are obviously older, I’m using a different but still light mix soil (switched to Black Gold from Biobizz, still added 20-30 percent perlite), downsized to a 2-gallon pot from a 5-gallon pot, and I’m using RO water instead of tap water.
I’m assuming one of the changes has affected the growth, since everything else (watering only when dry, lighting, temperature, etc.) have remained the same. I kept the seeds in the fridge with no light exposure but not in an airtight container. They had no issue germinating, and the plant broke soil after a couple days. I’m PHing the water to around 6-6.5, but the runoff is coming out around 7 Ph.
Any thoughts? Maybe the seeds are just no longer good?
If they sprout then they should grow normally.
I like to layer the soil for autos so as not to disturb the growing but let the plant get into stronger soil as it gets bigger. Like this…
I second this one. I’ve only done 1 grow successfully so far ( my only one I tried) but I have a second and third going now and all have been successful past seedling phase by focusing on those parameters.
Thanks for the responses. The temperature is in range with humidity around 50 percent. I had initially used about 1 liter of water and put the seed in hours later (2-gallon smart pot). It broke soil after two days. I did the second watering six days after the first one.
Today is day nine of the plant breaking soil. The leaves now look like they are drooping a bit and turning lime green. In my first grow, I think I watered til there was runoff every time and did not have any growth issues. But I only watered when the soil was nearly or completely dry. I understand though that a lot of folks suggest giving seedlings only a little bit of water.
Yep overwatering leads to dampening off basically drowning the tiny tap root. I start watering to run off after They hit the 4th node and I know I have a good root structure. The first 12-14 days above ground is critical for a healthy start. I cover the seedlings with a clear dome misting the inside and remove the dome daily for some fresh air and I water about a shot glass every 3 days after I remove the dome I’ll water a ring about 6” around the base of the stem to promote root stretch and growth
When using autos it’s important to note your on an advanced schedule. So getting to a fast start begins with promoting strong root growth.
Beneficial microbes will help when your overwatering by not allowing bad microbes from hijacking your root zone and preventing proper nutrient uptake.
The last auto I grew was a Jack Herer about 2 years ago. It was the slowest starting seedling of any auto I had grown to that point. Give it / them some time. Hopefully they will come around.
@Argh you said you changed soil? You said your watering 6 to 6.5 but it’s coming out 7. Sounds like a pH issue with your soil. Grab some of the soil from your plant a couple inches down and make a soil slurry. Let that soil slurry sit for a while and then pH it. If the pH is cannabis friendly6-6.8 then you’re good to go and you know it’s something else. But if it’s 7. or above you’re in the no-fly zone and your plants not going to get what it needs. I hope you get it figured out. Good luck and happy growing
