My sourdough starter finally doubled in size after 5 failed attempts across 2 weeks

I kept seeing everyone online get that big rise on day three, but mine just sat there like a puddle. Then I stopped following the exact times and started watching the temperature in my kitchen. Once I moved it near the radiator and fed it every 12 hours instead of 24, it took off. Took me 14 days total, not the 3 everyone promises. Has anyone else had better luck ignoring the recipe and reading the dough instead? I feel like the online guides are too rigid for real homes.

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lily_schmidt5310h ago

exact same thing happened to me. my starter sat flat for almost two weeks while i followed every timer in the book. then i realized my kitchen runs cold at night and warm in the afternoon. moved it to the top of the fridge where it stays around 75 degrees and started feeding when it looked hungry, not when the clock said so. that made all the difference. it took me 16 days total to get a good rise. the online guides are written for perfect conditions most people dont have. youre doing it right by watching the dough.