Growing Medium for a Newbie

Hey guys,

I have 7 seeds growing in some Espoma Organic Potting Mix without any nutes added yet. These seeds came out of buds I bought and I wanted to use them as a test to get my shit right before purchasing and growing feminized seeds. I have a bag of Green Leaf MegaCrop on the way, Cal+Mag, FloraGro and FloraBloom all in the mail. I would like to transplant from the Espoma to something else and use the items I purchased. Can someone steer me in the right direction so I can start with a good base for my little buds? I dont think I want to build my own soil, and I am looking to potentially grow 2-3 plants and keep then very short due to limited space and height. So my bulk needs are very small. I have read online about 1000 different options and opinions but I was hoping you guys leaned towards one more than the rest.

Thanks!

I'd like to help but I'm an organic soil guy.
Hang out for a bit & hopefully somebody will show up to help with your question.
BTW, welcome to RIU.

I don't know, but I've read it so many times the past 3 months I think I can try to repeat it from memory. 50% Fox Farms Ocean forest mixed with 50% Fox Farms Happy Frog. And I think they say it's hot so go easy on the nutes for quite some time.

If you just starting out I would go soil. It's far more forgiving if you make a mistake. Also, if you have Mega Crop you will not need those Flore lines. Mega Crop has everything in it. If you decide to go hydro/soilless then you have time to read up while these plants are growing. If you want to do a little reading here is a list of books for you. just right click and 'save as'.
http://catnews.org/FREE Pot Books/

So what I'm gathering is Fox Farm 50/50 mix of Happy Frog and Ocean Forest and then use the Mega Crop as needed? I will keep the other supplements in stock in case deficiencies occur but I really appreciate the input guys!! I should have most of my equipment in by tomorrow!

If you using Fox Farm you probably won't need any nutes for at leas the first month. Good luck with your grow and keep us posted.

Soiless mix is what i started with and still use. I love it. Had ph blancing shit in it. I use ohio better gro. But im sure thats just a brand in ohio. There are plenty of soiless potting mixes.

I got some FF Ocean Forest and Happy Frog on the way. What would be the best way to transplant my little dudes into it once I have it? Straight in or ease them in somehow?

Just up can them into your new soil.
Cannabis is very resilient.

I'd add some perlite to your mix.

upnsmoke13 said:

I'd add some perlite to your mix.

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Yep, I agree completely (and forgot to mention, thank you sir) - something like 20% perlite per volume will help your drainage and prevent root rot, mold and various other nasty things from happening.

Awesome thank you!!

I'd get a ph meter & learn to use it. Soil is forgiving but its still a good idea to get use to phing.
Once you decide to start feeding, go slow & start with 1/8 to 1/4 strength of what your bottle says. It's easier to add nutes, if your plants need it. Once over fed, your looking at hard times!
Don't worry about pushing or maximizing your first plants, focus on the plants health and she'll reward you!
Good luck!

I've used ffof, a few harvest, & would start feeding around week 4-6?
What containers are you using?
Transplanting is easy, with a solo cup. Put enough soil in your new pot so that your plant is at the height you want it. Put your cup in the pot & fill in around it. Your cup should be buried except for the rim. SLOWLY work the cup out of its hole. Try not to disturb the sides of your hole. Now take a sharp blade & cut opposite sides of the cup from the bottom through the rim. On the bottom cut from one cut to the other allowing you to remove that half, now you have it half out. Place your hand over the root ball and remove that half & the bottom. Just drop it into the hole you made in the new pot.
Your plant should double or triple in size once you start flowering! Watch how tall you let them veg to, they will surprise you when they stretch!

I got some new 4x4x4 pots for my plants, I'm hoping that keeping the pots small the plants will stay small as well for my height restriction. I want to completely replace the soil I am using now. Safe to just carefully work the plants out of the current soil and put into new or should I keep the current soil that is around the roots undisturbed and burry it in the new?

stickyfly said:

I got some new 4x4x4 pots for my plants, I'm hoping that keeping the pots small the plants will stay small as well for my height restriction. I want to completely replace the soil I am using now. Safe to just carefully work the plants out of the current soil and put into new or should I keep the current soil that is around the roots undisturbed and burry it in the new?

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I think you should disturb the roots as little as possible and try to do it quickly and get them watered quick. Unless they're root bound but they probably aren't. If there is soil at the bottom with no roots you can let it fall off.

Is that 4x4x4 in inches? That will keep them small. But maybe too small for a final pot. Look up 'solo cup contest' and you'll see.

stickyfly said:

I got some new 4x4x4 pots

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Pretty small IMO. You could grow one or two in regular 3ga pots and Scrog it to control height and fill space for max yield #IMO

Good luck and happy growing.

changed my pots to 5.5x5.5x5.5" not much more but should be slightly more than a Solo cup. I have found some amazing results from experts in such small containers. I posted my cabinet in the grow design section so you can see why I am keeping things so damn small.

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10461&page=11&highlight=16oz+cup

I'm a total n00b but I think I can learn through trial by fire...no pun.

stickyfly said:

changed my pots to 5.5x5.5x5.5" not much more but should be slightly more than a Solo cup. I have found some amazing results from experts in such small containers. I posted my cabinet in the grow design section so you can see why I am keeping things so damn small.

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10461&page=11&highlight=16oz+cup

I'm a total n00b but I think I can learn through trial by fire...no pun.

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A fuxin solo cup grow.. surprised to say the least. Good luck and happy smoking. That guy got a couple ozs from a solo cup..

stickyfly said:

changed my pots to 5.5x5.5x5.5" not much more but should be slightly more than a Solo cup. I have found some amazing results from experts in such small containers. I posted my cabinet in the grow design section so you can see why I am keeping things so damn small.

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10461&page=11&highlight=16oz+cup

I'm a total n00b but I think I can learn through trial by fire...no pun.

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Ya man, 4x4x4=64, 5.5x5.5x5.5=166. So that's not so insignificant as it sounds. I just hope they're heavy enough so they don't fall over. May as well have fun with it.