Things you wished you'd known before first grow

MistrBurrberry

Well-Known Member
Hmm, mine:
  • The difference between photoperiod and autoflowering
  • That autoflowering plants should only be transferred once
  • How big a difference proper nutrients made for cannabis can make
  • How big a difference proper temperature and humidity can make
  • That my grow space was only really big enough for 3 plants, not 4
What are yours?
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
No matter how much you know and have experience in growing outdoor, DO NOT ASSume that growing indoor is anything like growing outdoor. I'd grown outdoor for many years but all I ever did indoor was keep mothers & clones late winter/early spring for outdoor runs. Shit incandescent bulbs can keep either going. Flowering indoor you better get your flowering equipment and environment in order, even with experience, think of it as starting from scratch. My first couple of crops were worse than some of the newb crops I've seen in here - lol
 

TopDogTHC

Well-Known Member
1. Same as yours, difference in types of seeds. I hadn't researched autos but ended up with them as a replacement.

2. Effect of temps at canopy level by height of light setup. See a lot of guides saying a light should go at certain height but there's more to it than what type of light it is and what watt.

3. How to control temps and humidity better, still struggling now after trying many tips.

4. Importance of drainage in soil.
 

Igotthe6

Well-Known Member
I really couldn't tell you,started growing indoors in 1984. I can tell you just recently,moving to were I had to use city water.I had no idea that R.O. would make that big of a difference.I wish someone would have told me I would need a calcium supplement before pulling my hair half out.
 

budlover13

King Tut
On your first grow, don't get all stressed out and start trying to do too much for your plants. Obviously, care for them, but don't start trying to influence this or enhance that or use multiple nute lines, etc. Let them grow to maturity and keep a close eye on what the plant does and needs naturally. THEN, on the 2nd or 3rd grow, you have a sort of control group to compare future experiments with.

Oh yeah, utilize a calendar and record what you do every day in the grow room. Invaluable information when you encounter problems.
 

Jalepandro

Active Member
1. Do not over-veg outdoor. Having a plant start strong but finish weak can be a bit disappointing.

1.1. Plants in direct sunlight will grow much better. Try limiting veg so you have enough light in a day to last through flower.

1.2. Spread out plants growing with less hours of direct light will grow better than clumped plants with more light.

1.3. Best condition would be spread out with lots of light. Start growth in March and flower in June. A few large plants in a greenhouse.

2. Foliar applications of neem oil can help a lot throughout the grow for preventing harmful pests and diseases.

2.1. Inspect thoroughly every day for insects and mold. It starts small, a matter of cutting and spraying. Quickly evolves into chopping off branches and wasting flower.

I read a lot about it before I went into it. I guess these are random tokens of advice I picked up through experience.
 

weatwardhole

Well-Known Member
Currently finishing my first grow, valuable lessons learned so far;
1) Importance of PH, even when using organic nutes in soil
2) buying cheap equipment is expensive, after four crappy timers and 2 bent Chinese built reflectors ect ect
3) overwatering is far worse than plants drooping from underwatering
4) start a detailed journal on RIU, the input you receive is invaluable
 

Humanrob

Well-Known Member
Things you wished you'd known before first grow
When you have a question and look to RIU for an answer, don't stop at the first answer, or the second, or the third. Keep reading. Eventually you'll have so many conflicting answers that you'll realize that you just have to find out for yourself.

And when several growers with pictures of their amazing grows have opposing advice, you'll realize that there are no simple answers, and in their own circumstances they are all correct. You have to know your circumstances.

In order to do that, (as others have said) start as simple as possible. Stick to the basics. Keep It Simple Stoner.
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
The posts above just reminded me of something which I think of as a given but is even more important when starting out.

You must record and maintain logs for everything you do, but even more important, when changing anything, keep variables to a minimum so you can be confident of your results. Then repeat that change without making any others to validate your findings.

For example if you think you were under feeding and decide to test higher feed rates. Don't change other variables like temps and RH at the same time or your findings would be skewed and non-repeatable.
 

Labs Dexter

Well-Known Member
I didn't need to upgrade my 400 to a 600 hundred lol,

I should have joined here after first grow,

I don't need all these nutes

I should have never used council pop/tap water

And how hard it is to clone these frikkin things lol for me anyway

Definitely less is more too, small is big aswel lol
 
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