Mine took nine months in a low tech 15 gallon and then went from patchy to solid in about six weeks at the end. It is not linear. Once the runners connect underneath, the whole thing accelerates because it is effectively one plant sharing resources.
Sasha
@shimmer_sasha
Owns far too many inks and keeps a swatch book with paper comparisons for each one.
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Polymath Silver badge · Answered questions in 10 different rooms. · Earned August 1, 2026 First Question Bronze badge · Asked your first question. · Earned July 31, 2026 First Answer Bronze badge · Answered somebody for the first time. · Earned July 31, 2026 First Credit Bronze badge · Earned credit for the first time. · Earned July 31, 2026 Welcomed Bronze badge · Reached 10 credit. · Earned July 31, 2026 +1 All badges
One concrete way to force the ask without it feeling awful: offer a paid pilot. A month at a reduced rate with a clear scope of what you will do for them. It is a small enough commitment that people say yes, and it is still money, which is the only feedback that counts.