difficult but worth the effort. how to grow to full potential.

While browsing seed banks, I've realized that certain strains are considered beginner grows and others are said to be tougher to grow. Most strains that are appealing to me seem to be of the "difficult" category. Now I understand that "beginner" strains are considered that because they are hardy plants that will thrive even in sub par conditions. However I'm curious about the difficult strains. How hard can they really be? If you followed all the standard rules of marijuana growing wouldn't they grow fine? Proper watering, balanced nutrition, temperature, humidity, adequate light, etc...

As I said before I'm new so maybe I'm being naive. For example if I bought jack herer from sensi seeds would I be wasting my money?

If anyone has any insight please share. Also any tips, tricks, or good grow guides and reference sources for specific or advanced strains that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance to the RIU community. You guys rock and have taught me tons in a really Short time

I'll help, but first I have to ask a question.
Have you grown a plant any plant,( tomatoes, cucumbers, ext..), to harvest yet or is this you first try?
I ask this because I want to know if you have a green thumb.
In my opinion a good home gardener, can at least grow a strain at a difficulty level of a novice.
Some of the strains listed as expert or even difficult ones like super silver haze; I even steer clear of. This is mostly because I don't like the way they grow and the time it takes to grow them.
If you have a green thumb, the money for the seeds and can pay attention to detail; I believe you can grow the strains you want to.
More information, such as: type of grow, (hydroponics or soil), room dimensions, lighting, nutrients and the type a strain you plan to grow; will be needed in order to give you more complete information.

I have personally whittled my grow down to Headband Kush and AK-47.
I find both of these strains to be hardy, easy to grow and extremely potent.
My own experience is limited to about six different strains besides bags seed.

AZPsyclops said:

I'll help, but first I have to ask a question.
Have you grown a plant any plant,( tomatoes, cucumbers, ext..), to harvest yet or is this you first try?
I ask this because I want to know if you have a green thumb.
In my opinion a good home gardener, can at least grow a strain at a difficulty level of a novice.
Some of the strains listed as expert or even difficult ones like super silver haze; I even steer clear of. This is mostly because I don't like the way they grow and the time it takes to grow them.
If you have a green thumb, the money for the seeds and can pay attention to detail; I believe you can grow the strains you want to.
More information, such as: type of grow, (hydroponics or soil), room dimensions, lighting, nutrients and the type a strain you plan to grow; will be needed in order to give you more complete information.

Click to expand...

It's my very first grow. Other than flowering time, what else keeps you away from super silver haze?

AZPsyclops said:

I'll help, but first I have to ask a question.
Have you grown a plant any plant,( tomatoes, cucumbers, ext..), to harvest yet or is this you first try?
I ask this because I want to know if you have a green thumb.
In my opinion a good home gardener, can at least grow a strain at a difficulty level of a novice.
Some of the strains listed as expert or even difficult ones like super silver haze; I even steer clear of. This is mostly because I don't like the way they grow and the time it takes to grow them.
If you have a green thumb, the money for the seeds and can pay attention to detail; I believe you can grow the strains you want to.
More information, such as: type of grow, (hydroponics or soil), room dimensions, lighting, nutrients and the type a strain you plan to grow; will be needed in order to give you more complete information.

Click to expand...

It's my very first grow. Other than flowering time, what else keeps you away from super silver haze? By the way I have a 400 watt ballast and am growing in soil to keep it simple. Soil is fox farm happy frog. The seeds are from a friend who got them from a Colorado dispensary but he forgot the specific strain :/

What seed bank has the real headband?

Sorry, I lost track of the post.
You guessed it right on the money buddy flowering times keeps me away from anything that's heavy in Sativa; like Super Silver Haze.
I too grow in Happy Frog that's a very good choice for soil because it's there's not a lot in it, but worm castings and bat guano and stuff like that.
A 400 W Metal Halide or High-Pressure Sodium should be plenty to grow at least two plants; depending on what your grow style is.
As far as seeds go I'm not real sure. People on this site seem to recommend Attitude Seed Bank allot, but I cannot vouch for them from personal experience.
I am growing from clones and was lucky enough to them from a reputable breeder.

Dboi87 said:

What seed bank has the real headband?

Click to expand...

I believe headband is a clone only strain still.....I could be wrong

Oops wrong thread,but ya.

Really I didn't know that if you are right.
I guess I got lucky with the Head Band.

Better plants usually have longer flowering times. So the more time you spend growing the plant the greater chance you might make a mistake.

as VV stated, most good strains carry a decent amount of flowering before fully ripening and a lot can happen in that time that can cause a decent grow into a disaster. indica dominate is something you should shoot for, they normally can take more abuse than a finicky sativa dom plant.

its all a matter of your gardening skills and the time you are going to take to grow it. certain "difficult" strains just require different conditions than regular. once you find the conditions they thrive in, you will grow top shelf bud. to be honest with you, i have grown really good bud from difficult strains, with little more than water and dirt. its a matter of seeing how they react in their environment, and making the necessary adjustments to make sure they stay healthy.