Hi folks,
Complete beginner here, getting frustrated with trying to grow something that should grow like a weed!
My seeds (Royal Queen Seeds automatics) all germinate well (damp tissue method), and when their taproots are 1-2 cm long I plant them out in small pots, approx 0.5-1 cm deep. Compost is mgc24 “bio-hanf” peat-free brand. They grow, possibly a bit stringy, but maintain a nice green colour, on the windowsill. When they have another couple of pairs of leaves, after their cotyledons, I move them outside, to a SW facing patio with a wall behind them. It’s been warm, but rarely >30 C, and I’d say it’s been sunny enough - the rest of the garden is fine….
Then the plants stall - they get a few more leaves, never show any interest in e.g. the stalk branching, and turn a uniform paler green. They do not grow taller than approx. 10 cm, with my oldest plant from late May having started to grow a single tiny bud (is bonsai cannabis valuable :-) ).
The water here (Berlin) is quite hard, but still tests as having a pH of ~7. I’ve also tried watering with rain water and acidified (citric acid - it’s what’s in the Biobizz pH down) water.
I’ve tried Root Juice, Fish Mix and Alg-a-mic fertilisers from Biobizz, nothing seems to make any difference, and with such small plants it’s difficult to not overwater. I’d also expect the compost itself to still be providing enough nutrition for such young plants?
All help/suggestions gratefully received - thanks! Sorry for lack of a picture - for some reason it’s not letting me upload anything.
It would be helpful to get a picture of the roots, but a total WAG is you might be fawning over them too much and perhaps they are getting over watered. Just a guess though...
Roots should be white and bright.
Hard to give other input without pictures, but seedlings/early growth should be fine in normal soil, you really shouldn't need to supplement so early unless there is some other mitigating factor.
Thank you! I’ve hopefully added a picture. I suspect that you’re right - every time I mention the plants my wife rolls her eyes….
I’m leaving the flower pot until it feels light, then watering well, and the water drains freely. The top layer of soil currently feels “sticky” after being watered a day ago - I also check that the top 1-2 cm is dry before watering. I’ll resist any further fertilisation unless the photo makes people think there’s a nutrient problem.
My thought was over watering or not enough light. Small plants can be really tricky to get right.
Thank you - yes, I’ve really struggled here - despite the pot feeling light and the top layer being dry, it turned out the lower levels were soaking. I’ve been (annoyingly, according to my wife :-) ) very careful to move the plants out of shade though, so hopefully that part isn’t a problem.
If you have extra seeds,.I'd go ahead and pop them. Trying to save a messed up seedling can be more trouble than it's worth.