Well I've already started my first grow but figured I'd start a journal to add to this site instead of just taking information. So here's what we've got.
I started with a uhaul shorty wardrobe box. I lined it with an emergency blanket I got at walmart. I've got two fans at the top with two DIY carbon filters on them. They're rated at 78 cfm but with the filters it doesn't push as much air out of the box. I cut passive intake vents on the front. Originally temps were around the low 90's but I've been able to drop them into the low 80's to high 70's.
I've got 4 cfl's running. They are 26w each if I remember right. They are 50000k and have around 1700 lumes. I also have a south facing window and I'm able to keep the plant in it's box while I move it with the sun and keep the cfl's on it. Having never grown before I can't really say if it's helped any but I figure it's the sun so how bad for the plant could it be.
I've been using organic soil with bat guano mixed in. Then I also got an organic (supposidly) generic plant food that's 5-5-5. The bat guano is 10-3-1. I mixed both of those into the soil on one plant and none in the other just to see which would grow faster. The one with neither in it was not able to sprout even though it germinated properly. (paper towel method). The plant that survived seems to be a champ though. It's put up with all my n00b mistakes. So far no nute burns or any burns for that matter.
Troubels, originally it was the temp but I've got that sorted out. Next issue I had was the plant didn't want to stay upright. I'm not sure if this is because I was placing it in the sun while it was still under cfl's or because it grew so fast it got top heavy, but I had to strap it to a stick I found outside to keep it upright. I removed the stick last night before I went to bed and added more soil almost up to it's fake leaf thingies. It seems to be standing upright on it's own. while I have it in the sun I have a fan on it but in the box there's only the computer fans for exhaust.
The next issue I've been having is watering. I live in a desert so it's a little dry here. We've also been having high temps for this time of year too so I don't think that has been helping any. The soil seems to dry out on top but is moist much further down. I can water and by the next morning I can stick fingers in up to the last knuckle and it's fairly dry. I try to let it dry out so the roots will stretch some and fill the pot. I placed it in a fairly big pot since the second plant died and I have plenty of space to grow something big. Last night the leafies were all drooping and sagging. After doing some research I decided that I haven't over watered and added some water. With in a few hours it seems to be perking up again. I checked the plant before heading off to work and it seems to be doing fine. Just about every leaf is starting to point upward. Not sure if that's good or bad.
I've been running it on a 19/5 light cycle as I only work part time so I turn everything but the fans off while I'm at work and then when I get home I turn the lights on and move the box to the window. We're on day 14 today since I put it in the ground and it's working on it's 4th and 5th nodes. I'm toying around with the idea of germing 3 more seeds since I have two small planters 1 big planter and I was thinking about buying some party cups and doing a micro grow with this bigger one. I'm also hoping to get at least one male so I can make some seeds.
I'll post all the pics I have once I get home but work is slow so I decided to kill some time and make this first post. I'm hoping to be able to have my own bud by christmas time. Figured it'd be a good gift to myself.
I started with a uhaul shorty wardrobe box. I lined it with an emergency blanket I got at walmart. I've got two fans at the top with two DIY carbon filters on them. They're rated at 78 cfm but with the filters it doesn't push as much air out of the box. I cut passive intake vents on the front. Originally temps were around the low 90's but I've been able to drop them into the low 80's to high 70's.
I've got 4 cfl's running. They are 26w each if I remember right. They are 50000k and have around 1700 lumes. I also have a south facing window and I'm able to keep the plant in it's box while I move it with the sun and keep the cfl's on it. Having never grown before I can't really say if it's helped any but I figure it's the sun so how bad for the plant could it be.
I've been using organic soil with bat guano mixed in. Then I also got an organic (supposidly) generic plant food that's 5-5-5. The bat guano is 10-3-1. I mixed both of those into the soil on one plant and none in the other just to see which would grow faster. The one with neither in it was not able to sprout even though it germinated properly. (paper towel method). The plant that survived seems to be a champ though. It's put up with all my n00b mistakes. So far no nute burns or any burns for that matter.
Troubels, originally it was the temp but I've got that sorted out. Next issue I had was the plant didn't want to stay upright. I'm not sure if this is because I was placing it in the sun while it was still under cfl's or because it grew so fast it got top heavy, but I had to strap it to a stick I found outside to keep it upright. I removed the stick last night before I went to bed and added more soil almost up to it's fake leaf thingies. It seems to be standing upright on it's own. while I have it in the sun I have a fan on it but in the box there's only the computer fans for exhaust.
The next issue I've been having is watering. I live in a desert so it's a little dry here. We've also been having high temps for this time of year too so I don't think that has been helping any. The soil seems to dry out on top but is moist much further down. I can water and by the next morning I can stick fingers in up to the last knuckle and it's fairly dry. I try to let it dry out so the roots will stretch some and fill the pot. I placed it in a fairly big pot since the second plant died and I have plenty of space to grow something big. Last night the leafies were all drooping and sagging. After doing some research I decided that I haven't over watered and added some water. With in a few hours it seems to be perking up again. I checked the plant before heading off to work and it seems to be doing fine. Just about every leaf is starting to point upward. Not sure if that's good or bad.
I've been running it on a 19/5 light cycle as I only work part time so I turn everything but the fans off while I'm at work and then when I get home I turn the lights on and move the box to the window. We're on day 14 today since I put it in the ground and it's working on it's 4th and 5th nodes. I'm toying around with the idea of germing 3 more seeds since I have two small planters 1 big planter and I was thinking about buying some party cups and doing a micro grow with this bigger one. I'm also hoping to get at least one male so I can make some seeds.
I'll post all the pics I have once I get home but work is slow so I decided to kill some time and make this first post. I'm hoping to be able to have my own bud by christmas time. Figured it'd be a good gift to myself.
I heard AK48 was a great strain for n00bs because it can endure through the mistakes. Once you get your journal up throw me a link. My original plan was to start with two plants since this is my first grow. Then I figured if I got a male I'd just make some seeds and then turn it into butter. I have a friend that's an amazing cook. Her cookies could probably create world peace if she'd try. Being a first time grower I don't want to start too big. I want to learn all I can off of a small grow or two so I don't mess anything up too badly. 
It's amazing how you can read everything and it's still not enough. Experience is always the best teacher.
