First time grower needs advice

Alright so a friend and I have decided to attempt our first grow and see where it goes from there. I have a couple general questions that I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice or links to an answer.

First off at this point we just plan on a closet grow for either 1 to 4 plants. The closet is a bout 5 feet wide 8 feet tall and 2 feet deep. We plan on using a Apollo horticulture 600w lamp. I've seen a link to a 4'x2'x5' grow tent. Would that be a better plan than just the closet or should we be ok?

The next thing that we're having a bit of trouble understanding is the whole soil and nutrients discussion. We have a friend who has grown outdoors successfully but he simply planted in the ground and waited. What soil is good to start out with? I've read we want something with a ph between 6&8 to begin? Next is the nutrients or fertilizers... Any suggestions on what we could use there? Mostly going to try to get supplies from lowes or wallyworld, but might go to a local farm supply if it would yield better results.

Thanks for any advice ahead of time and we'll defiantly have a grow journal up as soon as we're running! Happy growing!

This IS the best advice you will get for where you are right now!

Hmm, my first advise would be to read these books!

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Horticulture-Outdoor-Medical-Growers/dp/187882323X

This goes into room or area set up quite well. Does a good job on growing, but I prefer the following for more in depth on the subject (the hows and WHY'S).

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Growers-Handbook-Complete-Cultivation/dp/0932551467

This covers about all your questions, except on exactly what nutrients to try first (more on that later).

PLEASE find the time to read this one to understand the soil and whats in it, and what it does. EXCELLENT introduction to Organics!

http://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Microbes-Organic-Gardeners-Revised/dp/1604691131

Now then, From what you'll learn from above. Most of your questions will be answered! It is important to go into this with all the knowledge you can gain BEFORE you start (then you won't be coming here and asking the questions that most will scoff at)! You will decide things like what method may work the best for you - soil, hydro or Coco. How much you'll need to spend in the long run on room set-up. What soils need and what to look for in a soil to use.

Nutrients,,,How to use them for each style of grow. What problems you may encounter along the way with their use.

A few points on nutrients. There are LOTS of brands out there. Many people will argue that the one they use is best! That lends to a lot of bullshit opinions for the wrong reasons..
Many of these nutrient manufacturers have media specific lines (Hydro, Soil, Coco). I would say that by rule of thumb, that these would be your best starting options and translate to your success in a way that maybe the easy and simple way to use the nutrients properly.
Now I'm not saying that Hydro nutes won't work in soil (many,many people use them that way), you just have to know how to do that correctly. Some water with the nutrients solution on 1 day and then with plain water the next to make the hydro nutes work well in soil. That works!

In Fact, for ease of use and the results you can get in your first attempts at growing. I might suggest you try the DynaGro product line with that alternating feed/water method if your going to run in any of the dry media's, and as directed for hydro-visit their site for more info on that. (add a cal/mag to hydro and coco). Don't be tempted by the claims of this or that supplement to get "bigger, harder, buds or more trichomes". Focus on getting through a successful grow or two before you begin to play around with that stuff.

If you run the Dyna to start. After reading those books. I think you may be very happy at the end of your FIRST grow!

Go forth and learn, then DO!

Good luck!

Thanks I'll look into those books!

The world of nutrient manufacturers and all the products they make is dizzying at best. Something that has great results for me so far is Jack's Classic & Bloom Booster nutes. They are cheap and easy to not screw up. I'd also invest in a cheap pH meter from ebay. pH imbalance will likely be your first problem.

As far as nutes go jacks is definitely what I'm leaning towards after reading a ton of threads about it. Thanks for the tip. Along with ph should I measure ppms? Or for a first time and in soil is that a little much and something I could play with later once I've got the fundamentals down?

definitely get a cheap TDS meter too, that way you will know the level of dissolved minerals and if you need to filter the water. Im not sure if a Brita filter will help remove dissolved solids but I know the pros use a RO filter for this.

I actually have a Brita so maybe I'll include that to my grow journal and filter one plants water while leaving the other as is to see if any benefits can be had. Hopefully I'll be able to start within the next week to week and a half depending on when my light arrives.

Instead of getting involved with nutes, and ph with your first grow...
... grab a bag of Fox Farms Ocean Forest soil, and mix it with some peat based soiless mix, like B'cuzz.
1:1 ratio for seedlings, and clones.. then heavier like 2:1 or 3:1 for your transplants.
This should produce very healthy, hassle free soil for your plants from start to finish.

I will suggest a good ventilation system in that little closet, with that HID light, to keep temps under control.
Fresh Air is something often overlooked by first time grows, but as important as growing medium.

And out come the schlep's, er, ah, make that "experts" giving earth shattering guidance.

Son, do your self a favor and READ the books.

I'm beginning to understand why some simply sit on the fence and watch the "show".......sigh,,,,,I tried.

Definitely getting the books! I think my plan right now may be to switch from the hid to a cfl setup because of the temps that I'm going to run into. Has anyone ever looked at cflgrowlight.com? Seems like you can get a complete system for about what you could piece one together for, maybe even less. Not sure if their quality though.