So your seed finally broke the ground, and you have a young plant, which is as healthy as it gets. This is the beginning of vegetative stage, when cannabis grows foliage and expands its root system
Young cannabis seedlings are very sensitive to three things: low RH (relative humidity), high temperature, and UVB radiation (280 - 315 nm), which we try to curb as much as possible.
.jpg)
If we grow exclusively indoor, then we don't really have to worry much about the last one as most of the growing lights, including standard MH, HPS and CFL fixtures, aren't capable of producing UVB spectrum.
However, we need to make sure that we don't bombard young plant with a light, that creates too much heat, which is why CFLs and LEDs are preferred over MH and HPS lamps.
.jpg)
In the same time we need to keep RH over 70% for most of the hybrids and over 80% for certain sativa varieties to keep the evaporation pressure low. The higher the pressure, the higher the risk of dehydration, especially in high temperatures, which is a REAL risk for a young plant.
If you live in a dry/arid climate, where low RH is a constant, then I advise you to get a humidifier, that should be on for most of the time. But if your conditions are naturally humid, then you're fine as it is.
Cannabis can be also vegged outside from day one, which quickly hardens the plant. In equatorial climates with high UV index you can grow your plant outdoor all year round. But even further north – think Spain, Italy, Arizona or California – you can start it outdoor as early as February.
However, in this case precaution should be taken against sun burn. Plant should be shaded for the first 5-7 days, and misted with water 2-3 times a day. Optimally, it ought to also be brought indoor during the hottest hours. But if you want to transplant it outdoor eventually, that's the way to go!
.jpg)
As far as watering in soil is concerned, indoor plants growing in stable environment should be watered ligtly once a week and sprayed with it at least once a day, in the morning or in the evening. The rule of a thumb is, that if the soil is moist (even a little), we put the watering off.
Too much water is counterproductive in this stage as cannabis grows root much faster if it has to look for it at the bottom of the pot!
.jpg)
We start watering more often after the plant hits the 3rd or 4th node, which usually takes 2 weeks, when root is large enough to utilise more water.
In this stage I also recommend using no fertilisers at all!
Stay tuned for the next bit, and support @canna-curate by upvoting and resteeming this post 🌿
Written by: @conradino23
Photos by: @jonyoudyer (Steem Og)
If you'd like to join our curation trail or delegate steem power you can see how and the benefits here. Or if you'd just like to have a chat about cannabis you can join us on our discord server Steem Powered Cannabis
Trail Makers: @olafurthor, @elamental, @emsteemians, @silverlining1, @aresheir, @mdkaufman21, @debo4200, @aaron.matthew, @doctorspence, @cannaqueen, @hiatus, @tilestar, @naturalfox, @canna-collective, @deary, @nikema, @knarly327, @tafgongthe1st, @loryluvszombies, @spicedlife, @gjones15, @mrunderstood, @benzeta, @stoned2thebone, @cannafarms, @thegreenhouse, @cultivar, @liquid-mike, @zainenn
Dolphin Bonus Support: @rebeccaryan
SBD Donators: @ceattlestretch & @movingman
I resteemed then got distracted! Haha :P
Thanks for your support buddy!!! Im upvoting this with canna cause your the man!!!
My comment rewards are set to auto power up so that's great! Steem Swings And Roundabouts :)
Lets go hunt some high class canna-content to resteem like we do :)
Yes please do!!
this is awesome! I veg outside because I dont have a choice - but I move my plants at night into a box with light to keep the 18/6 schedule. Is this unnecessary if they've started from seed outside in natural light?
If you wanna grow them outdoor eventually, it's unnecessary. But if you cut the photoperiod down now, you can provoke early flowering.
Great post @conradino23!!! We are very lucky to have you on steemit!!!!
My pleasure, man :)
@canna-curate Your post was selected and voted by the curator @pataty69 project that can be followed on my trail at Steemauto.
Thanks for your continued support @pataty69
I would say NEVER use HPS for early veg.
It's dangerous for seedlings and wasteful.
A nice Blue LED Fluorescent mix is good.
Yeah go with something that has blue/white spectrum.
Indeed. If you look at a light bulb package at the store go with a daytime color, not soft yellow or anything yellow. They will all have the temperature they burn at displayed in kelvin. 5000K-6500k is a typical daylight spectrum which is what you want to promote tight nodes and and great cellular growth.
Exactly! I didn't even mention it's the wrong spectrum.
Yellow will make your stems stretch and do little to nothing for the leaves.