The Bare Necessities....

[NorthofEngland]

Hello Fellow Dope Fiends and Deviants,
Recently I was given advise about what equipment and merchandise I would need to successfully grow 'plants'.
The list included:
Cannazyme, Canna Rhizotonic, Canna A & B, Canna PK13/14, pH up, pH down....
plus EC/pH meters and two different fluids (I assume they're fluids) to calibrate the meters.

A friend of mine commented that he was amazed these plants ever survived in the wild - but, of course, these super strains NEVER DID survive outside of highly controlled manmade environments.

I was then advised that a modest harvest could be produced with just the Canna A&B.
I assume the pH down and liquid silicon pH up) are also necessary, as are the meters and meter calibration fluids?

I already have my 1.2 x 1.2 tent (that's 4 x 4 for you Yanks) a 600w HPS and 6'' RVK fan/filter.

Today I go to reduce my fragile savings from black to red by purchasing a:
Wilma Big 9,
Canna Pro+,
Hygrometer,
Timer,
EC/pH meter,
Calibration fluid,
Canna A&B,
pH up,
pH down.

Any advice on what is ABSOLUTELY INDISPENSABLE or what has inexpensive alternatives
Or just general info would be much appreciated (even from Yanks)

Many thanks
P

 

[perspextoe]

Noob here but I have a soil grow going and just switched to flower today, thing is by the sounds of it you will be going to a hydro shop to gather your bits and bobs,

They tend to have the higher quality products such as a ph meter which can be found on flea bay for £8, lesser quality but then the hydro shop will have ones or two options in the £50 - £80 range.
In my limited exp. buy two ph meters online if you have the time… if one drowns like i did to mine you still have back-up…. I had to go and pay the £50 last week due to drowning my only ph meter and couldn't afford to wait……(necessary)

Hygrometer, I just purchased 3 on flea bay for measuring rh while curing this morning for £3 each… again any shop will sell these for about £10-£15…. (necessary)

Regarding ph, assuming your tap water is high ph down would be initially req'd, you might only need ph up for when you give your girls nutrients… again there is natural alternatives to ph up or down, i have bud link silicate liquid which ups mine… so you may only need ph down now. Or as I did i used distilled 5 ltr water from the shop that was marked at ph7, but verify this with a ph meter…. then you could use this water through your grow. (necessary)

Timer, obviously this will be needed, try and get a digital one would be my advice, those 24hr circular dials where you pull the little decking thing to regulate can be easily brushed against and eff up you cycles…. (necessary)

ec meter, I haven't used one yet but as you will have a res for your drip feed system i think you will def need one, but don't quote me on that

Fans, make sure you have the air circulating to replicate what the girls might expect outside,

carbon filter, if you have worries of peeps catching a sniff of your girls….

All in all, dont rush to get the girls growing, get your bits and bobs first, think of backups to anything that might fail or get lost.. as that will cost you when its something you need asap.

really growing a plant shouldn't be too much expense but then you can go into all sorts of expenses if you listen to everyone advice….

good luck with it chief, I'm on my 1st grow so check my thread and if there is anything i can help with(and learn myself) feel free…..

Nice….

 

[big bud 56]

You really don't need to buy all that extra crap.
most of it's hype.
if you have an ro system you don't even need a ph meter,if not then at least you should get that.
As long as you have the right nutes,I would suggest ff open sesame,beastie bloomz and chaching line of super concentrated granules.As long as you measure measure them by what the feed schedule tells you and adjust them accordingly you should have a very good grow.
Remember to keep it simple and don't confuse the issue.
Growing is alot easier then people make it out to be.
Only you know what's best for you and your grow so wasting your money on crap you really don't need is just foolish.
You are much better off growing in soil then doing hydro since it's alot less messy and alot simpler to control your grow and alot less time consuming as well.
I hope that I've given you a good bit of advice here and have been some help to you in saving time and money.

 

[pSi007]

Canna = hype.. I use organic teas in hydro.

 

[big bud 56]

Good for you.
I keep things simple and hydro is too much work.
Making and boiling teas,what a pain in the ass,not to mention all the stuff you have to buy to run hydro and make teas.

Canna = hype.. I use organic teas in hydro.

 

[spek9]

All I use is:

- base nutes (equivalent of your A&B)
- pH tester and calibration liquid (yes, liquid is important, calibrate at least once per month)
- PPM meter only if you're not in soil
- pH up == water and baking soda mixture, pH down == RealLemon
- digital hygrometer/thermometer

Handy to have, not critical:

- 40x loupe or scope
- various sizes of comfortable shears/scissors
- small medical measuring cups
- calmag
- rubbing alcohol (to clean tools)

Lots more of nice to have (which I already have, and even more which I don't, yet), but really not much is needed to get growing.

-spek

 

[mr2shim]

Good for you.
I keep things simple and hydro is too much work.
Making and boiling teas,what a pain in the ass,not to mention all the stuff you have to buy to run hydro and make teas.

Hydro is crazy simple. All I do is add nutrient water. That's it...

As far as the necessities. Since you already have tent, light fan ect... all you really need is nutrients. You don't really NEED a pH meter, ppm meter EC meter if you know what you're doing. I haven't used a pH meter in years, never used EC and I check ppm once every great while.

As far as nutrients I say keep it simple and stick with Lucas formula Gen Hydro Nova Bloom. In my honest opinion, once you actually realize less is more with nutrients, hydro is by far easier than soil.

 

[spek9]

You are much better off growing in soil then doing hydro since it's alot less messy and alot simpler to control your grow and alot less time consuming as well.

While I agreed with the rest of your post, I'd disagree with the above. First, I'd only recommend only using soil for the first grow or two to become comfortable, not recommend avoiding it entirely. Second, trust me, when you're growing 30 plants perpetually, soil most certainly is not less messy and less time consuming. In fact, for each plant in soil, the amount of work is exponentially higher over time

-spek

 

[pSi007]

Making and boiling teas,what a pain in the ass,not to mention all the stuff you have to buy to run hydro and make teas.

That is my point.. I pay $20 for organic based N-P-K for what some people spend on $500 worth of bottled shit. I also have a piece of mind which tells me that none of the food I give my plants is some poisoned and mass produced garbage which is over-priced and hyped to some guy who is a novice at growing cannabis.

The boiling takes a 5-gallon bucket, powdered fertilizer meals, and an air pump.

I think the best growers don't simply follow the directions on the back of a corporate label, the best will love their plants and not to death.

 

[Indoor Sun King]

I have to agree with big bud 56....too often rookies get caught up in the hype and go overboard with buying everything under the sun

my advise for anyone new at this game is to keep it simple, and even then you will likely have issues on your first grow.

NorthofEngland...I suggest you use very basic nutes, as something like PK13/14 is very powerful and can do damage if not use correctly

I use the basic Lucas formula....General Hydroponics MaxiGrow and MaxiBloom with a bit of Cal-Mag and pH+ (i check my pH with drops)

Hempy (drain to waste) is a very forgiving method of hydro and produces excellent results....something to consider

cheers

 

[big bud 56]

You are misleading this guy in saying hydro is simpler.
I've done hydro and will never go back to it.
Soil is way simpler.
Since he's pretty much new at growing he won't have much experience at growing so hydro would not be a good choice for him right now.
You may know what you're doing without using meters and such since you've been doing it for so long but please take into consideration that he's fairly new at growing.
Besides,soill gives you a bigger yield.
don't believe these guys that will tell you hydro will give you a bigger yield.
It's just not true.
Peace

Hydro is crazy simple. All I do is add nutrient water. That's it...

As far as the necessities. Since you already have tent, light fan ect... all you really need is nutrients. You don't really NEED a pH meter, ppm meter EC meter if you know what you're doing. I haven't used a pH meter in years, never used EC and I check ppm once every great while.

As far as nutrients I say keep it simple and stick with Lucas formula Gen Hydro Nova Bloom. In my honest opinion, once you actually realize less is more with nutrients, hydro is by far easier than soil.

 

[hydrogreen65]

Man, why do people think hydro is so complicated? It's way less work than soil. Fill res with water, add nutes, ph and you're friggin done. lol
No mixing and filling a bunch of pots with soil, not to mention watering.

 

[Indoor Sun King]

well now I disagree with you big bud....I think hempy is way simpler than soil....as for yield, either or can produce great results

 

[mr2shim]

I've done hydro and will never go back to it.
Soil is way simpler.

Just because you struggled with it doesn't make it more difficult. Hydro, like I said is easier once you realize less IS more. Meaning you don't over nute your plants which is extremely easy to do in a hydroponic grow. Aside from that what is the complication really? Water cleans up easy, wet soil makes a mess.

Besides,soill gives you a bigger yield.
don't believe these guys that will tell you hydro will give you a bigger yield.
It's just not true.

Unless you can prove that it's just an opinion.

 

[spek9]

I would recommend Hempy bucket hydro method to ANY first time grower, especially buckets where no mixing of medium is required (I love my 100% hydroton hempys). They are IMPOSSIBLE to over water, and it's brain-dead simple to know when more water is needed.

Very similar to a soil grow, yet provides experience in hydro at the same time if they want to move to a larger/different hydro system.

-spek

 

[hydrogreen65]

With same amount of veg time, hydro will blow soil away. If for no other reason than plants grow faster in veg in hydro. More plant mass = more production.
And I'm sorry, but if someone cant read a ppm and ph meter. Then they might wanna find a new hobby.

 

[Indoor Sun King]

It is so easy for a rookie to over water and/or over nute soil, and to recover is painfull.

With hempy you can't really over water and if you do over nute you can flush it out and recover quickly.

The cost to setup a hempy is dirt cheap...no pun intended....well actually it's cheaper than soil and you can reuse your perlite if you really want to save $

 

[pSi007]

Man, why do people think hydro is so complicated?

because they cannot keep their water temps less than 20-24 Celsius(68f-75f).

 

[big bud 56]

lol,you people are funny.
I didn't realize that you guys were so sensitive.
I didn't know I would get a bunch of you all stirred up over personal grow preference.

Does it really matter how we grow as long as we succeed.
I just personally don't care much for hydro,that's all.
I would rather grow in soil,what's the big deal.
I'm just trying to suggest to this guy the best and cheapest way to grow from my personal preference and experience.
This is supposed to be an educational and helpful thread but everyone turns it into a personal thing.
Hydro does cost more money since you have to buy way more equipment to do so.
All you need for soil is a few pots,a grow light,some dirt and nutes.
For hydro you need resevoirs,grow light,meters,nutes,you have to empty and refill resevoirs,always check ppm's and ph,adjust your nutes accordingly,just alot more work is all I'm saying.
Take it easy everybody.
If that's what you like to do then that's cool.
I just like to spend my time doing other things that's all.
peace

 

[spek9]

I do agree big bud, that soil is low maintenance for a first grow or if you're only growing a few plants.

Hempy though, all you need is 2L Coke bottles, a grow light, some perlite (or I prefer hydroton) and nutes, so the same as soil. However, as I said above, it is impossible to overwater for a newb. That said, the learning experience of the first grow in soil is invaluable in how to identify watering issues.

-spek