CaneDog 2020

CaneDog · Jan 28, 2020

Not sure how interesting this is, but I figured I'd at least record it. I transplanted the reaper-x to it's own pot and rearranged the remaining 4 sprouts sharing the container into the 4 corners for spacing. When I pulled out the two close-together sprouts to separate them I got a decent look at the root development into the myco I added. This sprout germinated in scottex and was transplanted into soil with myco stirred into the hole on 1/22, so it's been in soil with the myco for 6 days. It re-sprouted in the soil on 1/25.

I can't tell if the myco is doing much of anything yet, but I can see good root hairs on at least a portion of the roots and it's definitely growing right into a mass of the myco medium, which hopefully contains plenty of spores.

Bookers · Jan 28, 2020

Great shots and very informative observations... That blue looks cool. I have one seedling looks to have developed one of the second set of leaves is yellow. Let's see what it looks like in a couple days...

Have a great night...

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Essegi · Jan 29, 2020

Loving those photos!
Big props for detailed descritptions!

CaneDog · Jan 29, 2020

Essegi said:
Loving those photos!
Big props for detailed descritptions!

Thanks, Essegi! I can say the same about your recent pizza posts!

CaneDog · Jan 29, 2020

I've had a great season as far as helmet heads go with none until today, when one of my Eximium CAP 1491 x CGN Cardenasii F1 came up clamped. I have two of these that are sprouting in Grodan cubes, but no other seeds if these fail. This one was a pain to cross, too (neutering/pollinating such a small flower), so I'd really like to get it growing.

It looked pretty rough at first, but when I flexed the seeds with the hemostats it was quite soggy. I decided to just squeeze/flex it a few times to loosen it and then stick it back into the humidity of the germinator to hopefully sort itself out, but it seemed cooperative so I pulled a bit and it came out pretty easily. The seed is so pale from being in the dark of the germinator and within the seed husk, that at first I thought I might have broken it off, but on closer inspection I can clearly see the seam between the cotyledons, so I know the growth tip is unaffected. They make me a bit nervous when they come out this pale, though. Hopefully it will enjoy the light from the T5HO's and do just fine. If not, well, there's still one last chance

Looked like it was clamped down pretty well

But the seed coat was saturated and came off surprisingly easily. Split of the coty's plainly visible, though the sprout is surprisingly pale.

All this white junk remaining in the seed contributed to me thinking for a moment that I'd broken something off. Really made it easy though that the seed coat was so soaked that it quickly started to fall apart under pressure.

Bookers · Jan 29, 2020

Had to Google cotyledon, but enjoy the education. I had a helmet yesterday clamped so tight that... yes I broke the cotyledon removing it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

HeatMiser · Jan 29, 2020

Way to go in recovering that sprout CD... This is also my preferred way of dealing with helmet head syndrome. Cover them and let moisture do the work!

Although, I must admit I get antsy and can never seem to let the seedlings sort it out on their own and for better or worse, end up trying to pull it loose.

Hope you get to see the fruit of that cross...

CaneDog · Jan 29, 2020

Bookers said:
Had to Google cotyledon, but enjoy the education. I had a helmet yesterday clamped so tight that... yes I broke the cotyledon removing it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

That was an "I've been there" like. Not happy it went poorly. Is the growth tip ok? Breaking the cotyledons is fine as long as you leave enough of the seam between the coty's so the growth tip lives.

HeatMiser said:
Way to go in recovering that sprout CD... This is also my preferred way of dealing with helmet head syndrome. Cover them and let moisture do the work!

Although, I must admit I get antsy and can never seem to let the seedlings sort it out on their own and for better or worse, end up trying to pull it loose.

Hope you get to see the fruit of that cross...

Thanks HM. I prefer a non-invasive method too, but also get antsy. In this case time was about up. I'm hoping the cross is a good one. I just need a few good pods and I should be set with plenty for the F2 grow-out. Hopefully this guy produces for me.

Bookers · Jan 30, 2020

Gotcha. Im really not sure. I believe the leaf got torn off but didn't notice any damage. I think it was one I put in the Kratky. I'll have to check on it.
Thank you.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Tybo · Jan 30, 2020

Good job with removing the helmet!

I have had 3 so far this year and all of them were from the potting mix starts. I was able to remove them successfully though using tweezers and super sharp scissors if needed. If I have to, I use the scissors to trim the tiniest little bit from the helmets edges so it will flex open easier and then pull a little with the tweezers. So far they have come off with no damage to the cotys. Zero helmet heads in the rockwool so far.
Of course, now that I said that I'll probably get a few. :shh:

PtMD989 · Jan 30, 2020

Had 1 HH on my Aji Limo seedling. It didn’t make it, I was too rough on the surgery part. Gotta remind myself that “ they ain’t pistachios I’m dealing with “. Luckily another Aji Limo sprouted a few days later with no HH. [emoji16]
Do you guys firmly pack down your seed starting mix when you plant your seeds?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bookers · Jan 30, 2020

PtMD989 said:
Had 1 HH on my Aji Limo seedling. It didn’t make it, I was too rough on the surgery part. Gotta remind myself that “ they ain’t pistachios I’m dealing with “. Luckily another Aji Limo sprouted a few days later with no HH. [emoji16]
Do you guys firmly pack down your seed starting mix when you plant your seeds?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't firmly pack them... Those fragile roots need to travel. I too, was not gentle enough on one today! I was putting it in a net cup collar and while checking for free movement, I snapped the stem...i put it in anyway hoping it didn't noticed... uhhg i heard a nice crisp snap... luckily i too had back ups...Cheers

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

CaneDog · Jan 31, 2020

Ugh. Definitely nice to have backups. I don't pack down the soil much. Basically, I fill the cup with soil, tap it lightly on the table to settle it just a touch (Bookers' School about the roots), then level the surface with my finger. Then I'll ether make a hole for the seed (digging not pressing) that I'll fill in from the sides or I'll drop multiple seeds on the surface and sprinkle more dirt over them. When the seed's covered I'll lightly tap everything smooth with my finger, but quite lightly to not compress it too much.

I used to believe that the soil grabbing and dragging the seed coat off played a bigger role than I now think it does. Now I think it's far more related to humidity and the seed's growth pushing it out - most seeds will clear themselves just sitting on a coffee filter if it's sufficiently humid. So for soil, planting a little deeper so it grows its way loose while it's still underneath the surface where it's humid might help.

On that subject of backups, I'm happy to see my second and last Eximium 1491 x USDA Cardenasii is coming up and looks safely past any potential HH issues. Other notable additions over the last few days have been 7Pot Yellow, Big Apple Rocoto, Rocoto Montufar, and a Purple Chacoense sprouting in scottex. Also, this morning a Pimenta de Neyde and a Chocolate "Gurny" Habanero have resprouted in soil after transplant from scottex.

A few snapshots:

PaulG's BJh-Mystery

CAP 1491 x USDA Card recovering from surgery and showing some color

CAP 1491 x USDA Card "backup" safely past HH risk

I was surprised by these c. 2011 7 Pot Chaguanas seeds. I planted 10 because they're 9 years old, and previously 5 of the 10 had sprouted. This morning is day 14 and with these final 5 sprouting, it went 10/10 overall.

Uncle Eckley · Jan 31, 2020

Wow, nine years old. Not too shabby!

CaneDog · Jan 31, 2020

Uncle_Eccoli said:
Wow, nine years old. Not too shabby!

I was happily surprised! The 7 Pot Yellow is also from that year and thankfully I've had a few of those pop now, too. Hopefully I'll be able to recover these guys with fresh new ISO seeds. I used to have a really nice 7 Pot Barrackpore too, but that's lost to the ages. I'll replace it in the 7 Pot lineup with Paul G's 7 Pot Burgundy Pecan, which he generously shared

Throw in the OG Red Brain Strain and I'm pretty happy with the state of the 7 Pots.

With February 1 breathing down our necks already, this weekend means another round of seeds. I have 10 on the list, but I'm going to have to trim that back some - I say that as I'm about to hit up the HeatMiser for a couple seeds of his really cool wild Texas tepin :rolleyes:

If I can limit it to a half-dozen, I'll probably be in better shape, because come March 1, Annuums...

PaulG · Jan 31, 2020

The Dog house is on fire! Great to see all
those stubborn seeds poppin' for ya, buddy!

Can't wait to see how the Pecan does this
season. I'm not growing it this year, so will
be watching with interest!

CaneDog · Feb 2, 2020

So... I'm not getting the bark mix to work the way I'd like and, since I put so many of my starts into it, I'm going to bulk transplant the majority into a proven media. I just don't want to have so many young plants tied up in it while I dig deeper into what's not going right. My initial suspicion is that the bark isn't composted enough and the bacteria are locking up the nitrogen, but there's indication of a broader deficiency than just N. I'll continue trying to figure out what the issue is, just with fewer plants at stake.

My starts are now in the process of getting transplanted into mini nursery bags filled with a soil mix based on of Edna's Best potting soil, but with a few tweaks. I looked at the bag dimensions carefully before selecting these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BGF89WD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 in the 5" x 6" size. Here's a picture showing a volume comparison to a standard solo cup. I think they're closer in volume than the picture shows and I'm very happy with the dimensions on these.

What I'd seen early on was slow growth in the chinense and rocotos, but it's the more recently planted fast-growing annuums that are telling the story. Here's a few examples of them mobilizing nutrients to support new growth. These annuums were started earlier than normal because they're slated for indoor grow-out.

Tekne Dolmasi x Jalapeno Zapotec

Orange Spice Jalapeno

Piri Piri A.D.

CaneDog · Feb 2, 2020

I may do more work on this tonight, or finish tomorrow, but I ran out of mixed soil after 23 bags. I figure I'll be able to fit 30 into the tub and I have a second tub somewhere, so 60 total.

In other news...

Really digging the BJh-Mystery

Tri-Cotyledon Pimente de Neyde looking good too

The roots are really taking off on the Jalapeno Zapotec x Purple Jalapeno in Kratky.

with the top just starting too.

Tybo · Feb 2, 2020

Looking good.
Why did you go to the bags?

CaneDog · Feb 2, 2020

Tybo said:
Looking good.
Why did you go to the bags?

Thanks, a few things are, at least!

I think with the bags I'll be able to get better root development through air-pruning, it'll be easier to bottom water, and I'll be able to keep them in smaller containers longer without setting them back. Plus I figure I can get more plants into less space. I'll just need to figure out how to separate the bags enough that the roots air-prune instead of growing into the neighboring bags, as they would packed as closely together as they are. I'll probably separate them periodically with the fan turned up for good circulation so they air-prune, but keep them close together most of the time.