Trying to get started questions

[islander21]

I am going to try growing for personal use, so on a pretty small scale. I would like to keep equipment basic for my first try. I have read a lot of good stuff on here, but I never realized how many options involved.

Main dilemma for me is setup/method for growing. This is my situation I have a spare room, attic, or garage as spaces available. I even considered plotting a small garden in the yard with other plants to hide them. I really don't want the house to smell, I don't even smoke inside.

I also had already thought about the Aerogarden before getting on here because my mom loves the one I got her and brags about how quick her stuff grows (not weed). Is it worth the money?

I am basically looking for the cheapest, smallest, low-maintenace route to growing.

I guess my first question is seed selection, can I just use some out of the weed I buy. If not, what do ya'll suggest?

Thanks in advance

 

[oregon bob]

Never been in one of those, but would venture to guess it isn't going to be as easy as advertised when running mmj. You could also take that money & stake yourself in solid base equipment that can be scaled up as needed, if needed.

Just about the simplest method is to top feed, drain to waste, in pots. The biggest issue you will have is feeding, which the complexity will depend upon soil/medium choice. This is just my opinion, as there will be a 100 others, but if it were my buddy & he wanted a simpler style grow for the first time, I would put him into coco coir cut with perlite under the system stated above. You will need to pH & tds your starting solution; this will be the most complicated thing, but no other real hydro nor soil concerns. Best of both, imho, & easy though there are other routes you can go.

Hope this helps as with the best of intentions. GL!

 

[islander21]

Never been in one of those, but would venture to guess it isn't going to be as easy as advertised when running mmj. You could also take that money & stake yourself in solid base equipment that can be scaled up as needed, if needed.

Just about the simplest method is to top feed, drain to waste, in pots. The biggest issue you will have is feeding, which the complexity will depend upon soil/medium choice. This is just my opinion, as there will be a 100 others, but if it were my buddy & he wanted a simpler style grow for the first time, I would put him into coco coir cut with perlite under the system stated above. You will need to pH & tds your starting solution; this will be the most complicated thing, but no other real hydro nor soil concerns. Best of both, imho, & easy though there are other routes you can go.

Hope this helps as with the best of intentions. GL!

Excuse my ignorance but half of that was like trying to read a trig textbook in Latin. Coco coir cut w perlite under the system?? TDS????

 

[jcdws602]

There should be some threads on aerogarden grows,just type it in the search box,to me the simplest method is Flood and Drain or ebb and flow,everything is set on timers the only thing I do is check ph every other day and change my reservoir every 2 weeks,most soil growers water by hand,which is a pain in the ass to me I'm lazy and bugs are attracted to soil like crazy.And if you are concerned about smell you have to use a carbon filter or an ozone generator.

 

[jcdws602]

Excuse my ignorance but half of that was like trying to read a trig textbook in Latin. Coco coir cut w perlite under the system?? TDS????

Then you might want to read a book or go through the forum thoroughly before you start growing,or go to YouTube and look up Mr. Greens I grow Chronic and/or Jorge Cervantes Ultimate Grow.

 

[islander21]

Then you might want to read a book or go through the forum thoroughly before you start growing,or go to YouTube and look up Mr. Greens I grow Chronic and/or Jorge Cervantes Ultimate Grow.

I have read on here for a few hours prior to posting but it seems there is unlimited terminology and abbreviations. I will check out the vids.

Also some very varying opinions on the aerogarden

 

[islander21]

Well I'm gonna get started and go off that one hella long post in this forum mostly. I started the germination with some seeds out of the stash, not the best stuff but it gets me high. Sat out about 5 gallons of tap water to get rid of the chlorine. Headed to the store tomorrow to get the early stuff. Plastic cups with scott's soil, fan, and some kind of fluorescent light (probably the cheapest). Can you go the whole way with fluorescent lighting or is it not worth it? Can you supplement in some sunlight?

Can I get a suggestion on a fertilizer to start that with you can find at Wal-Mart?

 

[islander21]

bump, going shopping tomorrow

 

[rollanotherblunt]

I am going to try growing for personal use, so on a pretty small scale. I would like to keep equipment basic for my first try. I have read a lot of good stuff on here, but I never realized how many options involved.

Main dilemma for me is setup/method for growing. This is my situation I have a spare room, attic, or garage as spaces available. I even considered plotting a small garden in the yard with other plants to hide them. I really don't want the house to smell, I don't even smoke inside.

I also had already thought about the Aerogarden before getting on here because my mom loves the one I got her and brags about how quick her stuff grows (not weed). Is it worth the money?

I am basically looking for the cheapest, smallest, low-maintenace route to growing.

I guess my first question is seed selection, can I just use some out of the weed I buy. If not, what do ya'll suggest?

Thanks in advance

well you can use bagseeds which are seeds from what you buy but sometimes there not as good as the ones you buy and not all seeds grow from bagseeds dont use the white ones that crush easily those NEVER work try and find green ones that look plump and dont crack easily good luck!

 

[jcdws602]

Well I'm gonna get started and go off that one hella long post in this forum mostly. I started the germination with some seeds out of the stash, not the best stuff but it gets me high. Sat out about 5 gallons of tap water to get rid of the chlorine. Headed to the store tomorrow to get the early stuff. Plastic cups with scott's soil, fan, and some kind of fluorescent light (probably the cheapest). Can you go the whole way with fluorescent lighting or is it not worth it? Can you supplement in some sunlight?

Can I get a suggestion on a fertilizer to start that with you can find at Wal-Mart?

They have fluorescent fixtures at wal-mart for like 10 buck and the lights are 8 bucks.You can go fluorescent all the way but you might not be happy with the results.I recommend HID for flowering.Fluorescent lights are good for the veg cycle.Thats what I use.I always recommend soil without any time release nutrients,it says it on the label.So 50% soil 25% perlite (aerates soil well) and 25% vermiculite(retains water) is a good soil mixture.Just buy water soluble nutrients and add as directed.

 

[thatdjsnow]

bump, going shopping tomorrow

If you're looking to do you're whole grow from wal-mart - go with CFLs instead of regular Fluorescent... after germination I've been using an 18in fluoro for a couple days - but then it's under the CFLs...

You're talking about growing easy and cheap - so I'd just go with what you stated so far. Some Dixie Cups, Scotts soil, $10 clip on oscillating fan.... as for going with CFLS - get a cheap power strip - at least 8 sockets - then look in the lighting area of wal-mart for the adapters that allow you to plug a light bulb into a wall socket. Then get 3 of the 2-pack 26 watt 5100K CFLS - you will probably only be able to get 4-5 lights to plug into the strip - unless you have access to a hardware store that sells light bulb y-splitters (im sure you have seen them in some pics on the forum)....

Electrical tape the adapters to the stip so they don't fall out and crush the plants!

So yeh... hoist the strip with lights above your plants - only have 2-3 bulb going for the first few days - then go full blast with 5-6 bulbs ona 24/0 or 18/6 light cycle - get your fan on those plants - water straight water for about 2 weeks as the soil starts to dry on top - start a 30-15-15 nutrient regiment at 1/3 what the directions say every other watering....

 

[That 5hit]

this was my first grow: get some bagseeds (there the best i dont care what anyone says thats all i grow multiple reasons and this is your frist grow there great for starters) gets some dirt (MG works great but any dirt you buy will work) get some pots the cheap plastic ones will do 3gal +.) now get some lights ( now this may start an argument i used cfls 42w and i still do but i have a lot of grows under my belt so i have profected my style you will have your own after a while )
now find a place i used my room closet for a while but now i have a detecated room i call in my man cave you should yous some where close to you at first so you can moniter the start but when the plants get bigger that attic sounds best in my oppion remimber heat and smells travall upwards so this will help keep the house from smelling or from some one stumbleing on to your grow and a on/off light timer

now take a small amount of dirt in a cup add about 6 to 8 seeds in it add water ad leave on dresser check it every day it should take about a week to 10 day or what feels like forever the seed to sprout once they all or as many as you want to plant sprout remove them from the cup by taking all sprouted seedling + as much dirt as you can grab with them and law the mass on a table then seperate each seedling take your time try to keep as much root and dirt intact as you can then plant in pots that you have already filled to the top withdry dirt the seedling should be able to stand up on it own with out help firm but luse and a little water not so much that all the soil is wet but so that the area about 1/2in around the seedling is moist

you will need about 1 42w cfl per seedling to start keep it directly above the plant no further then or closer then 2in. do this for 2 to 3 weeks or untill plants are 1ft tall have lights on for 18 hr then off for 6hr,( my first grow i left lights on 24/7 for 2wks) when lights are off the plants should be in complete darkness(i cant stress this point any more it is improtant)

then after 1 ft of growth set your timer for 12hr on and 12 hr of DARKNESS this will sex you plants ( you only want females the ones with the hairs anything else kill) and also for the next 10wk (if you can stand to wait that long) will bud your plants

this is the ez-est way to do it but allso this way will not yield you the most but you will have a grow under your belt you will learn a lot along the way this is just for learning purpuses thinck of it like a motorcycle you dont start with the big chopper you get a scooter learn the basics when you got the fundamentals down then go buy big rolls of mylar duct works vents fans mh for veg hps for flowers intake rockwool activated charcoil clonex alltypeofponics etc. a lot of these guy on here make it sound so hard but there also makeing hard money off it and regardless of the fact that a lot of them wont tell you the truth that there first grow was just like the plan i laid out for you if not worst

this is a great cherry popping method
DIRT IN POT, SEED IN DIRT, + WATER, + LIGHTS ON/OFF 24/0 1WKS 18/6 2WKS 12/12 10WKS CUT DRY SMOKE
you have plenty of time to go hard
each grow after will get more high tec.


now haters do what you do best

 

[islander21]

Thank you , just the kind of info I was hoping for.

 

[thatdjsnow]

this was my first grow: get some bagseeds (there the best i dont care what anyone says thats all i grow multiple reasons and this is your frist grow there great for starters) gets some dirt (MG works great but any dirt you buy will work) get some pots the cheap plastic ones will do 3gal +.) now get some lights ( now this may start an argument i used cfls 42w and i still do but i have a lot of grows under my belt so i have profected my style you will have your own after a while )
now find a place i used my room closet for a while but now i have a detecated room i call in my man cave you should yous some where close to you at first so you can moniter the start but when the plants get bigger that attic sounds best in my oppion remimber heat and smells travall upwards so this will help keep the house from smelling or from some one stumbleing on to your grow and a on/off light timer

now take a small amount of dirt in a cup add about 6 to 8 seeds in it add water ad leave on dresser check it every day it should take about a week to 10 day or what feels like forever the seed to sprout once they all or as many as you want to plant sprout remove them from the cup by taking all sprouted seedling + as much dirt as you can grab with them and law the mass on a table then seperate each seedling take your time try to keep as much root and dirt intact as you can then plant in pots that you have already filled to the top withdry dirt the seedling should be able to stand up on it own with out help firm but luse and a little water not so much that all the soil is wet but so that the area about 1/2in around the seedling is moist

you will need about 1 42w cfl per seedling to start keep it directly above the plant no further then or closer then 2in. do this for 2 to 3 weeks or untill plants are 1ft tall have lights on for 18 hr then off for 6hr,( my first grow i left lights on 24/7 for 2wks) when lights are off the plants should be in complete darkness(i cant stress this point any more it is improtant)

then after 1 ft of growth set your timer for 12hr on and 12 hr of DARKNESS this will sex you plants ( you only want females the ones with the hairs anything else kill) and also for the next 10wk (if you can stand to wait that long) will bud your plants

this is the ez-est way to do it but allso this way will not yield you the most but you will have a grow under your belt you will learn a lot along the way this is just for learning purpuses thinck of it like a motorcycle you dont start with the big chopper you get a scooter learn the basics when you got the fundamentals down then go buy big rolls of mylar duct works vents fans mh for veg hps for flowers intake rockwool activated charcoil clonex alltypeofponics etc. a lot of these guy on here make it sound so hard but there also makeing hard money off it and regardless of the fact that a lot of them wont tell you the truth that there first grow was just like the plan i laid out for you if not worst

this is a great cherry popping method
DIRT IN POT, SEED IN DIRT, + WATER, + LIGHTS ON/OFF 24/0 1WKS 18/6 2WKS 12/12 10WKS CUT DRY SMOKE
you have plenty of time to go hard
each grow after will get more high tec.


now haters do what you do best

Perfectly said. No hating here!

I've done some outdoor grows before... but indoor is a whole different ball game.. sport even. lol


islander21, im doing the same thing as you... least amount of money and effort... just trying to get my first indoor grow over n done with.

Here's the journal I just started - maybe you can take a lesson from what I've written... I think I've spent $35 USD so far... going to spend another $50 in 5 days to go not so "ghetto".. but still reasonable.

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/210185-first-indoor-asstd-bagseed-cfl.html

 

[jcdws602]

Perfectly said. No hating here!

I've done some outdoor grows before... but indoor is a whole different ball game.. sport even. lol


islander21, im doing the same thing as you... least amount of money and effort... just trying to get my first indoor grow over n done with.

Here's the journal I just started - maybe you can take a lesson from what I've written... I think I've spent $35 USD so far... going to spend another $50 in 5 days to go not so "ghetto".. but still reasonable.

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/210185-first-indoor-asstd-bagseed-cfl.html

Yeah ok????Buy what you need to grow some dank,you can take all the shortcuts you want but in the end if you are serious about growing then you will dish out the money no matter what, it will pay for it self.

 

[islander21]

For me it's not so much the money, but trying to conceal all this or moving if needed will be a pain. How far long does it get pretty smelly?

 

[thatdjsnow]

For me it's not so much the money, but trying to conceal all this or moving if needed will be a pain. How far long does it get pretty smelly?

the largest of my 4 smells already if i smell it about 2 inches away.... and its only 4 inches tall and 2 weeks old... But you really wont be able to smell then from a distance until budding.

Don't worry man, just use some bagseend - get some MG Organic Choice from wal-mart ($5) some clay pots ($1.50) the adapters and Y splitters ($1 and $1.50) Duct tape ($5 for a couple cheap rolls) two 80mm computer fan ($4 each) some small 10-20 gallon fish tank filters with carbon in them ($10) and a cheap oscillating fan ($10) and two knock-off rubbermaids ($7 each.) Then build a cheap little setup for under $60-70... Look at this guys setup, its pretty much what I'm recommending, and it's doing great for him. https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/198929-sugar-blossom-rubbermaid-cfl-second.html

 

[islander21]

Thanks DJ, very helpful link.

 

[thatdjsnow]

Thanks DJ, very helpful link.

no prob man! +rep me ;D hahaha

 

[jcdws602]

For me it's not so much the money, but trying to conceal all this or moving if needed will be a pain. How far long does it get pretty smelly?

About a month or so in veg you will start noticing smell,then once they start flowering they will smell up your whole house if you don't filter the smell or use an ozone generator.For stealthy grows fluorescent lights and or led lighting are the way to go.Also building some type of grow box that is discreet is a good idea.They also sell loose carbon at walmart to build a cheap filter yourself.Regular Fluorescent tubes or cfl work great for veg.These were under those shoplights (Reg. Fluorescent tubes) from Wal-Mart.