Some noobie questions

[Algecrumpler]

Ok well first off i would like to say i really enjoy reading these forums especially this sub-forum. I've farmed other stuff before but nothing really interests me as much as growing a marijuana plant so i got some seeds and germinated them and put them in a solo cup and let it sit in my closet for a couple days and i went and checked back up on it seeing if it had popped out of the soil yet and i was surprised to see a ~2-3 inch plant growing which is why i wanted to ask a couple questions.

1) How tall/long should i wait before taking the plant out of my solo cup and putting it outdoors (I don't have any grow lights in my closet so its just dark, wasn't sure if i should immediately plant outdoors now and start giving it sun?)

2) I read a a lot about how miracle grow isn't he best stuff to use, so my question is Can i still use miracle grow but mix it in with the outdoor soil and some other nutes? (i've looked everywhere for fox-farms but i can't find it and the only other stuff i've been able to find is local companies and a load of miracle grow in every store)

3) I plan on using a pot to grow outside since i think that would be easier to control the conditions of the soil/nutes but i'm a little worried about just leaving a pot outside. Would i be able to dig a hole in the ground and then bury the pot so its ground-level and it looks like the plant is just growing out of the ground? Or do i absolutely have to keep the pot above the ground?

Also i pretty much know i won't get any bud out of this year since im starting so late so i really just plan on practicing this year so i'm not a complete noob next year when i'm really trying to succesfully grow.

Uhm those were my 3 main questions, thanks in advance guys.

 

[scroglodyte]

1) anytime, as long as you do it gently. partial sun at first, in the cup, and then into its sunny home.
2)MG burns young plants sometimes. mix it with the native soil, but don't add anything else until flowering
3)you could bury the pot, sure. but you might as well just dig a hole and amend it with the MG soil

 

[Nice Ol Bud]

I like to keep them in pots.
Move them around if they start getting bit up or security reasons.

 

[Vindicated]

MG Organic won't burn, however their regular stuff with time release nutrients can give you problems if you also plan on feeding them any cannabis specific or hydroponic nutrient. Remember that stuff is designs with the idea that you won't be feeding for at least 4 to 6 months. You can make it work, but just keep the existing fertilizers in mind if you decide to do supplemental feedings.

Since you plan on mixing it with your native soil, I would personally go with a potting mix that says Soil Amendment or Soil Conditioner on the bag instead of a bag of regular potting soil. An amendment will have more humus and organic matter. I like Kellogg Amend, it's good stuff and cheaper then anything MG makes, but it might not be available in your area. If your a fan of soils sold in hydroponic stores, look for Fox Farm Happy Frog Soil Conditioner. Its pricey, compared to Kellogg, but it's good stuff.

Lastly, before you mix anything, you want to figure out what your soil is missing. A simple $3 soil test kit will tell you the pH, N, P, and K levels. After that, figure out if your soil is clay or sandy. You can even dig a hole and fill it with water to get a rough idea of how fast it drains. If a gallon grains in a few seconds you got very sandy soil and you'll want to add coir or water holding crystals.

 

[Vindicated]

I stopped using containers because they are actually easier to steal and they give me smaller plants. But I agree that its nice when you can have full control over the soil. So what I do now is create raised beds out of untreated lumber. All you need is a 3x3 box that's at least 6inches tall. Costs about $15-$20 to fill. Medium sized hard plastic kiddy pools also work great. They cost about $12 during the summer and usually hold 100 gallons. Just drill lots of 1/2" holes in the bottom for drainage.

 

[Nice Ol Bud]

I stopped using containers because they are actually easier to steal and they give me smaller plants. But I agree that its nice when you can have full control over the soil. So what I do now is create raised beds out of untreated lumber. All you need is a 3x3 box that's at least 6inches tall. Costs about $15-$20 to fill. Medium sized hard plastic kiddy pools also work great. They cost about $12 during the summer and usually hold 100 gallons. Just drill lots of 1/2" holes in the bottom for drainage.

This guys talking about gorilla growing.

 

[Algecrumpler]

MG Organic won't burn, however their regular stuff with time release nutrients can give you problems if you also plan on feeding them any cannabis specific or hydroponic nutrient. Remember that stuff is designs with the idea that you won't be feeding for at least 4 to 6 months. You can make it work, but just keep the existing fertilizers in mind if you decide to do supplemental feedings.

Since you plan on mixing it with your native soil, I would personally go with a potting mix that says Soil Amendment or Soil Conditioner on the bag instead of a bag of regular potting soil. An amendment will have more humus and organic matter. I like Kellogg Amend, it's good stuff and cheaper then anything MG makes, but it might not be available in your area. If your a fan of soils sold in hydroponic stores, look for Fox Farm Happy Frog Soil Conditioner. Its pricey, compared to Kellogg, but it's good stuff.

Lastly, before you mix anything, you want to figure out what your soil is missing. A simple $3 soil test kit will tell you the pH, N, P, and K levels. After that, figure out if your soil is clay or sandy. You can even dig a hole and fill it with water to get a rough idea of how fast it drains. If a gallon grains in a few seconds you got very sandy soil and you'll want to add coir or water holding crystals.

Hey man thanks for all that info. I'll write down some of the stuff you said especially the sampling test kit. Do you think wal-mart farming section would have that or would i have to go to a farm store?

I stopped using containers because they are actually easier to steal and they give me smaller plants. But I agree that its nice when you can have full control over the soil. So what I do now is create raised beds out of untreated lumber. All you need is a 3x3 box that's at least 6inches tall. Costs about $15-$20 to fill. Medium sized hard plastic kiddy pools also work great. They cost about $12 during the summer and usually hold 100 gallons. Just drill lots of 1/2" holes in the bottom for drainage.

And thanks again but i'm not worried about stealing at all as i own 30 acres of land in a small Pennsylvanian town and everybody minds their own business. Nobody ever goes on my land and my house is deep in the woods (can't even see my house from the road i have a long twisty driveway with loads of trees all around it) so im planting in the field right by my house that gets constant sunlight.

 

[Kaendar]

Why dont you just buy some cheap organic soil? It should cost like 5 or 6 bucks a bag... and yes you should put it outside asap.