Starting with Aerogarden (my first grow, advice appreciated)

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Okay, I've read deeply into the Aerogarden posts that have been made over the past year or so, and I decided to give it a shot. I got the AG, and I will be growing from seedlings. Should I germinate or is the dome set-up good enough to just drop a dry seed into the sponge bulb? Also, is it wise to germinate seeds in all 7 slots in the AG (since it only holds about 2 adult flowering plants)? BTW i'm using some bagseeds from a really good strain of high mids (nothing special). Plus, I've already got two, 2 week old plants left (from 4 i started previously, using a diff lamp set-up) in soil. I have a feeling my AG plants will surpass the growth of the ones in soil, based on what i've seen in other ppl's experiments.

To start, i figure i'll just use the AG nute tablets (is this a problem?), then after 2 weeks i will start using 1/4 of another hydro nute like fox farms...work my way up to 1/2, etc... Or should i just simply toss the AG nutes and start with FF or nothing at all?

Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and i hope to get good results.

P.S. I've read TONS of the AG posts on this site. If i ask questions that have been asked in the past, it's because i've read so many ppl's Q's and A's that some of the info tends to overlap. I know a lot of the advice in this area is simply a matter of opinion and perspective, so feel free to post any thoughts on the subject.

 

[AdorablyN00bie]

I suffered many germination setbacks,myself. I recommend germinating the seeds in a paper towel. You can start enough for each hole, but you won't be able to grow them very long. I find my space is maxed out with two plants. And that was true long before they flowered.

Of course, if you start more, you can choose to keep the two strongest.

Also, toss the AG nutes immediately. They are yucky.

Just my two cents.

The N00b

 

[Attilio]

High! I am brand new here and it was my recent purchase of an AG and hearing that it is a viable means for growing ganj and a search on google that brought me to this group. So, I am very interested in this topic as well.

Thanks,
Attilio

 

[charlesiii]

No need to tell anybody you're new here, it's assumed if you try and start a thread about the aerogarden. You're about a year too late, everyone who used them either don't frequent the board, or just don't use the aerogarden anymore.
Hopefully that didn't sound harsh and if it did I appologize, I just think it's important not to bullshit people in life.
You need to buy some more things if you plan on growing in the aerogarden.



List of Materials You Need......
-toss or supplement the stock lighting, an hps would be ideal, yet some suffice with four high output 2700k (6500k for veg) lightbulbs.
-please get some mylar, efficiency is the name of the game
-Air pump with air stone, cannabis plants get too large and clog up the stock system pretty fast, the air pump and stone will keep res algae free and properly oxygenated.
-ppm meter and ph meter, don't ask just get them it's impossible to do it without them.
-Nutrients, there are many options check which is right for you.
-Supplements like cal/mag if using distilled water.
----- all these things will cost about as much as the ag (ag= aerogarden)
Seriously it's possible, one member got a meager like 10 grams from his first ag, that's with stock light and no ppm meter etc.
Other members have gotten ounces, three with some cfl lighting (the guys is like r3312 or something), another member got 4 with an hps.

It's all up to you, it's your job to educate yourself to actually succeed. Just read up on the subject and enjoy. Ask questions frequently and people will gladly help, just be polite and give them good information (sometimes put up with some trash talk). Well welcome aboard, Cheers

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

-Air pump with air stone, cannabis plants get too large and clog up the stock system pretty fast, the air pump and stone will keep res algae free and properly oxygenated.

So are you saying to add a pump to the bottom of the AG resevoir?

I planned on supplementing more light as the plants get bigger (probably CFL or HPS). Like I said I've ready many of the threads on the AG over the past year, and I recall one person saying that fox farm didn't do so well while many others have recommended it. Anyways, the main reason I started this thread was so ppl would comment and give extra advise (i know AG is old news), and I'll probably post some pics as I grow along. Hope to get some good feedback as i progress, although this is a somewhat dead topic.

 

[darth maul]

high all this will be my 1st grow and i was thinking of vegging in a bubbleponic set up and flowering in a flood and drain.in the vegging state iwas going to go with four florescents cool & warm of course and flowering with one 400watt hps. will this be sufficent for about 6 to 8 plants? thanks guys

 

[stickyicky77]

check out www.stealthhydro.com.

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Ok, well I've been germinating for a few days now, and I'm about to start with the aerogarden. I've had the room set-up for a few days now, and the temp seems good but the humidity is low (28-32% relative to the temp). I don't know if this will be an issue, because i'm sure there will be more humidity after i start running the AG. But, I placed some large bowls of water in the room which had no effect.

 

[Attilio]

So are you saying to add a pump to the bottom of the AG resevoir?

After reading ALL the threads/posts (well, pretty damn most here on the AG subject), I'd say... Yeah, you aerate the res water/nutes to increase the Oxygen (O2) to the roots.

See my separate thread with pump questions on Ozone vs. Oxygen (Air) pumps.

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Well, the AG plants are doing pretty good. It has been almost 4 weeks, and they are about 8 inches tall now. I think i'm going to start flowering tonight. I think i'm going to put them straight on 12/12, but i've read that some ppl keep them in complete darkness for a day or two before starting 12/12. Any suggestions?

 

[daveg1i]

just 12/12 man ive read that anything other then 12 hours dark in a 24 hour period is useless because thats all they can take. i might be wrong but thats what ive read...

hey you gonna have any pics?

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Yea i been taking pics every monday, but i prolly won't post em until i get some signs of sex. They are about 10" tall now. I been on 12/12 for 2 days now and they are shooting up fast and looking real good. Just getting kinda crowded, i got 4 plants now and they are pushing eachother and covering eachother up.

 

[email468]

Yea i been taking pics every monday, but i prolly won't post em until i get some signs of sex. They are about 10" tall now. I been on 12/12 for 2 days now and they are shooting up fast and looking real good. Just getting kinda crowded, i got 4 plants now and they are pushing eachother and covering eachother up.

make sure they aren't shooting up too high - width is much better than height. fast height growth is usually an indicator of elongation (not good).

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Yea they are definately wider than tall (short internodes). But since i started 12/12, they grew like 2-3" in the past 2 days if not more. They definately aren't leggy tho. Mostly indica it looks like.

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Ok here's last week (week 3), tomorrow will be 1 week from this and i'll take more.

 

[Heruk]

now thats a salad
haha

 

[daveg1i]

wait a minute that aint basil.. j playin man looks sweet

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

Here's week 4 pics for the AG! Also, I have one in soil that is 6 weeks old. They've all been flowering for the past 3 days, and so far there's no signs of sex. All are from seedling, so i'm crossing my fingers for females.

 

[WoldofWeedcraft]

The one in soil has much longer internodes than the AG. It's amazing how much faster the AG plants grow. This is why I started the one in soil early, basically just to compare.

 

[daveg1i]

nice man thhere lookin good