Need some help with a transplant

OK so I'm doing a transplant today because my plants are getting to big and starting to look unhealthy i have them in mg soil for the last two months under a 250 Watt hps light they are both a little over a foot tall I'm thinking about getting a 400 watt bulb is this a good idea and what size pots should I put them in for there pots and should I get new soil should I put anything in the soil and what is the best way to do this transplant any and all info or tips would be very helpful.

OKay I'll help you out here because I'm feeling generous lol..

First how many plants and how big is the space? That will help answer your light question..

If you can afford it get some Foxfarms oceanforest soil from your local hydro store, "you wont be dissapointed!!" Also if you want get some extra perlite to mix in the soil, if you get the FF you don't have to do this but it would help. If you stay with cheaper soil then I would definitely recommend getting some perlite and how strong you mix it is up to you.. I usually do 10%-40% perlite then the rest soil..

The size of the pots also have to do with how much height you have to work with and how tall you want your plants. A general rule of thumb is 1ft per gallon. So if you want 3 foot plants get 3 gallon pots..

As for transplanting, do it when the soil is dry and just tap on the sides and the bottom to loosen it up. Then tip it sideways and it should pop right out with a little work.. "I like to sake the top layer off into the bottom of the new pot before I pull the rootball out..

Hope this helps, good luck!

I would upgrade to 400 watt hps. If your plants are 8wks old and only a foot tall you can get away with 3 gallon pots, 5 gallon would be over kill and a waste of soil. You'll have to get more soil to fill the pot, try to upgrade to at the very least Scott's. Fill the new pots with soil leaving a hole big enough to fit the root ball you're about to remove from the old pot. Dampen the soil slightly before the swith and don't compact it too hard. Throw in a view drops of Superthrive with the water used to dampen and in the initial watering after the switch. Run a thin blade around the perimeter of the soil in the old pot so the root ball comes out easily. Hold the plant by it base, pick up the plant and gently tap down on the pot. OR pick it up at the base, flip it upside downand gently pull the pot upward. Loosen the root ball so it's not tight and compacted. Use you hand or run a blade vertically down the root ball about 1/2 inch deep. When the root ball is moved fill the pot absolutely all the way up to the brim. As you water the soil will naturally compress and sink down into the pot. Some say the surface of the soil in the old pot should be the surface in the new pot. I don't see what possible benefit that could have. I bury the stem up to 4 or 5 inches from the bottom leaves. Reduce you lighting for 2 or 3 days afterward, maybe a screen between the lights and plants or something. Lastly, transplant just before the lights go out for the night cycle, never 1st thing in the "morning"

OK sounds good I have been using shultz 10-15-10 is this OK and should I feed after the transplant. I also didn't know you were supposed to remove the old dirty but now I do this is great info anything else I should know

Kind of...Your nutes are flower nutes. Hold off on those for now and get something for veg. Resume those nutes when she flowers. You could also continue those nutes and supplement with something with organic N, GOOGLE fish emulsion. Hold off on nutes for a few days after the transplant, maybe 2 or 3. And yes, you want all of the dirt so roots don't get exposed to the light, keep them covered.

...and I co-sign the Fox Farm Ocean Forest mentioned earlier with 1/3 pelite. Try to keep the top 3 inches or so of your soil free of Perlite because when it's in the top layer it just ends up floating on top when you water and it's of no use on top of the soil.

OK so what kind of nutes can andf should I get for them

if u r in flower u need what your using if in veg u need someting like 30-15-30
and when u say u r wanting to gey 400 watt bulb im assuming u mean the whole setup ballast and bulb
i hope u didnt mean u were going to run a 400 watt bulb in a 250 ballast
if thats what u meant dont do it

o shit I think your rite I have a 250 hps s50 type lamp its 120v 2.5 amp I can't get a 400 watt bulb can I shit I didn't even think of that

so what's a good way to hit the bottom leaves a cfl or something

Islander5000 said:

Kind of...Your nutes are flower nutes. Hold off on those for now and get something for veg. Resume those nutes when she flowers. You could also continue those nutes and supplement with something with organic N, GOOGLE fish emulsion. Hold off on nutes for a few days after the transplant, maybe 2 or 3. And yes, you want all of the dirt so roots don't get exposed to the light, keep them covered.

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I used fish emulsion, good stuff for veg!! The only thing is it stinks like nothing else I've ever smelt..

Islander5000 said:

...and I co-sign the Fox Farm Ocean Forest mentioned earlier with 1/3 pelite. Try to keep the top 3 inches or so of your soil free of Perlite because when it's in the top layer it just ends up floating on top when you water and it's of no use on top of the soil.

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If you do get the ffof like we've both suggested now Its got enough nutes to get you into flowering so you wont have to worry about the veg nutes. "I'm assuming your not going to veg 3' monsters.. lol.."

new*at*this said:

so what's a good way to hit the bottom leaves a cfl or something

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Yea he saved your ass on that one lol.. You never answered my questions, what are the dimensions of the grow area and how many plants are you growing? How tall are they going to be before you switch to flowering..?? All this will help us answer your questions more accuratley..

Yes cfl's are good for side lighting, shit all I grow with is cfl's and look at my girls

cfls or tubes like t-8s or t-5 HO tubes i like tubes for side light low profile and slim dont have bulbs sticking out all over

smellytreez at least he didnt try to do the oposite a 250 in a 400 w ballast well at least i save him gas money from going to store to buy bulb and then to return
and we wont have a post next week saying WTF my new bulb is dimm

heck that right there i think deserves a shot of rep just kidding

fabfun said:

smellytreez at least he didnt try to do the oposite a 250 in a 400 w ballast well at least i save him gas money from going to store to buy bulb and then to return
and we wont have a post next week saying WTF my new bulb is dimm

heck that right there i think deserves a shot of rep just kidding

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yea no doubt! I threw some rep at ya!!

i meant original poster but thanks man lol

fabfun said:

i meant original poster but thanks man lol

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I know what you ment but he probably didn't lol..

probably not well then thanks

new*at*this said:

OK so I'm doing a transplant today because my plants are getting to big and starting to look unhealthy i have them in mg soil for the last two months under a 250 Watt hps light they are both a little over a foot tall I'm thinking about getting a 400 watt bulb is this a good idea and what size pots should I put them in for there pots and should I get new soil should I put anything in the soil and what is the best way to do this transplant any and all info or tips would be very helpful.

Click to expand...

Transplanting is very simple, just be careful when taking the plant from its container, as you can tear roots when you pull out the plant, its probally better to tilt your pot at an angle to get the plant to slide out easier. If these plants are in cups, I'd do 2 gallon pots, if their in 1 gallon pot - then 5 gallon pot. Probally better to keep your soil, than replace it everytime you transplant. I found this techinque to work for transplanting: first dig a hole where your gonna put your transplant, then either fill that hole with water that sits and place the plant in sitting water as the water continues to go down or water the hole then put your plant in the watered hole and carefully add your soil to and around the newly transplanted plant - then water the dry soil your raked over the top of the transplant site where the plant resides now. Add some superthrive to your water regiment, and some ph down, if your ph lvl is to high - this will reduce the shock of shifting from one container to another.

i never had ill effects from tranplant i just take nursery pot press sides then put hand on top of soil with stalk betwen fingers and turn plant upside down and it slides clean out of pot
throw in bigger pot that has soil in bottom will keep plant at same height as other pot unless it has a stretched stem then i bury some of stem