Seedlings

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

When a seed sprouts, the white taproot emerges. Soon afterward, the cotyledon, also known as seed or seedling leaf, appears. The seed leaves spread out as the stem elongates. Within a few days, the first true leaves appear, and the little pant is now officially a seeding. This growth stage lasts for three to six weeks. During seedling growth, a root system grows rapidly while green above ground growth is slow. Water and heat are critical at this point of development.

The new, fragile root system is very small and requires a small but constant supply of water and warmth. Too much water will drown roots, often leading to rt rot and damping-off. Lack of water will cause the infant root system to dry up. As the seedlings mature, some will grow faster, stronger, and appear healthy in general. A little heat now will hep nurture small seedlings to a strong start. Other seeds will sprout slowly and be weak and leggy. Cull sickly, weak plants, and focus attention on the remaining strong survivors. Seedlings should be big enough to thin out by the third t fifth week of growth. Thinning out seedlings is very difficult for growers who pay $300 dollars for a few seeds!

Seedlings need at least 16 hours of light daily. They require less intense light now and grow well under fluorescent tubes for the first two to three weeks. Compact fluorescent and HID light can also be used. The compact fluorescent should be 12-18 inches and the HID 3-4 feet above seedlings for best growth.

The seedling stage is over when rapid foliage growth starts. Rapid growth above ground is the beginning of the vegetative growth stage. Plants need more room to grow; transplanting into larger container hastens development.