Friday, November 23, 2012

Second Generation Growth

Two more seedlings sported brand new second gen needles. Also, the combination of a grow light and a fan moving air around the grow area are probably contributing to the noticeable growth of the two leaders over last few days.

Both #4 and #15 took very similar shape with the needles slightly curving outwards. Color of the stem and the needles also started to look very similar, that is #4 became slightly darker and #15 adding some thickness and appearing more succulent than it was a few days ago. Second gen needles in both #4 and #15 are also growing at least a millimeter per day. It's not easy to say who is in the lead at this time.

Three days ago I checked the temperature at the ground level and observed 84F (almost 29C). After that I moved the grow light higher to 4 inches and added a fan that moved the air immediately around the grow area, but not blowing at the seedlings. I placed the fan so that I can feel the air passing over the plants with my hand but I do not  see any movement of the needles.



#30 was showing some damage to the very tips of the needles over last 3-4 days, which were turning dry and brown. It remained otherwise straight, thick and bright colored. I noticed yesterday a hint of second gen needles and today it's clearly confirmed:

#30 November 23, 2012. DOB Nov 16, 1 week old

The presence of second gen needles in a one week old seedling is by far a record. #30 germinated at the same time as #15, but it took it two more weeks to get above ground level. Once it got above ground it stared growing vertically very quickly, but the needles remained almost folded (see picture from November 17, 2012). I attributed very slow emergence of seedlings #17-30 from the ground to the shortage of water in the seed mix. Most of them survived but the growth slowed down drastically.

Finally, #21 showed a swelling in the center as well as of this morning, promising second gen growth in the next few hours. It remains the shortest one of all living seedlings:

#21 November 23, 2012. DOB Nov 15, 1 week and 1 day

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