Jomal206 - First grow! Cross your fingers!!

Well let me just say this first before I go into anything else....

I've been here for like 2 days and I'm already inspired to do great things. There is so much knowledge running around, in my short stay I feel like I've learned enough from all of you nice folks to start my own little grow

Everyone has been very helpful and nice which is encouraging and builds a nice community. So may all of you be blessed with healthy crops in the future for being so supportive!

OK, now that I've got that out of the way As mentioned, I was inspired to start my own little grow. I'm going to use part of my closet for the grow area. It's going to be a very simple setup until I learn some things; the first run is strictly experimental in my opinion. I need to get my feet wet and do it once because there's only so much reading I can do I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on something and have it not turn out the way I wanted, so I'm starting kinda small in my opinion....

Grow Area: Closet. My space is about 5 feet tall, 2 feet wide, 1 ft deep

Grow containers: Germination is currently in progress, about 36 hours in using a paper towel method. From there I'll be planting them in plastic cups until the roots make their way to the bottom. I'll then repot the plants into what look like 2 or 3 gallon pots (Got them from Home Depot, they're about 13" or 14" in diameter). Upgrade pots later if needed

Medium: Soil. Scots Organic Soil - comes premixed with perlite and peat moss

Ferts: I got an 'All purpose indoor & outdoor fertilizer' (Home Depot also, no hydro shop where I live ) It's called Dynamite....they're pellets....are these OK to use??? Main ingredients are nitrogen (Nitrate nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen), phosphate, and soluble potash
**If you know of a good fertilizer to get from local stores I would love some recommendations

Lights: I bought (4) 27w 1300 lumens, 5500k cfls, these are they 'day light' kinds I'll use for vegging (Right?). I'll buy more if I need too. I'll purchase the 'soft white' kinds for flowering (Right?). Numbers of bulbs will depend on how things go



I'm going to build a small base to set everything on in the corner. From there, I'll have a hanging light fixture that I'll be able to move up and down as needed. The light fixture will be a piece of MDF or plywood. I'll have two electrical mounts I'll mount on the wood, then I'll use Y splitters for the 4 bulbs. Upgrading is always possible if needed

I'll start with 24 hour light from the beginning (Right?) until it gets near flowering, I'll back it down to 18/6, then 12/12 and I'll switch the bulbs. Water every other day for a little while, ferts twice a week when they're old enough

Am I missing anything?? I'll post pictures soon once I get some sprouts and my setup going.

I would love it if those of you who have experience could help me with my questions I'd love you forever

pics?

good luck with your grow!

Once again the only thing I could show you now is a bag with a paper towel in it germinating my seeds. I'll post pics once I have sprouts

Got bored and got some pics together of what I'm working with

*Thought my soil was organic, I don't think it is....should I try and find something different?

*What do you think about the fertilizer? It's 18-6-8, you can't tell from the pic

OK so I got some pics up, hopefully I'll have some sprouts by the end of the day.

When I'm out of classes today I'm going back to the store to get everything I forgot yesterday. I'm also going to make my light fixture and hang it up. I'll post new pics when I'm done tonight.

I'm getting really excited!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing this grow, I have pretty much the same setup. Good luck!

Yeah I think I'm going to implement LST...it seems simple enough and suitable for what I'm looking for

I can't wait until later today when I have time to put this stuff together

I checked my seeds, two have popped tap roots, one looks like it's very close. So as soon as I get my stuff assembled, it's into cups with soil and lights!!! Hopefully by the end of the night I'll be into my first day of vegging!

I'm getting excited with ya, looks like you're well off to a good start, however there's a few things you ought to think about,
If you are only going to use part of your closet lst may not be such a good idea as they my bush out, if I where you I would try topping or fimming, I tried both and both are growing 4 colas and are growing up not out, therefore leaves me with more horizontal space.


The soil you are using is good for seedlings but I wouldn't recommend using it when transplanting to larger pots, I use black gold and natures, both organic and are working fine.. nature is the cheaper of the two and is fine, however if you can afford it and can find black gold I recommend it, try to find something with worm castings, seems to work good.



I don't know about the ferts you have there but if it were me I'd rather use MG but I'm sure you can find something better, I heard good things about foxfarm products and am now using them, thanks to the following link, it was turned on to me and I found a place near me that sold it, maybe you can do the same.


http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/buyfox.html


The lights you have will definitely work for veg but as they grow you may need to ad a few as you already know, although because I'm a noob! I vegged and now flowering using all softwhite and things appear to be doing awesome!


If you use plywood for your lighting fixture, be sure to build a support forming around it or it will bend/fold/warp in time.



Concerning lighting schedule I would recommend doing one or the other, 24/7 - 18/6 I used 24/7, things worked out good.


Here are a few things that helped me in my journey, hope they will help you in yours as well.


http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/plant_abuse.html

http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/nutrients2.htm

Hope this helps and good luck to you and your grow!

Thanks for the help!

It's official as of tonight, I put everything together and have it in place. Hopefully I'll get a couple of females

Here's my setup....I'm trying to find some Mylar locally for my walls...not working out so well I tried 4 places and nothing...I'll probably have to order online







Humboldt:

Topping I've heard of...you clip the top once you get a few nodes, it'll force it to fix itself on top and grow up instead of out, right? Never heard of fimming....

As for the soil, I don't have anything good around here to buy stuff. I checked Walmart, they've got all their gardening stuff put away for Christmas. Home Depot is about the same, that's where I managed to get he soil that I have. So unless I order some online, I'm not sure where else to go....

Same goes for ferts and nutes. That's about all I saw other than MG...and everyone shuns that so much I figured I'd stay away from it? Another thing I'm probably going to have to order

Hope everything goes well...I spent a lot more money on this stuff than I originally thought I was going to.....

Looking good so far but I would lay some plastic or tarp down to protect that carpeting, also the thermometer I think would be better off bellow the lights closer to the sprouts as you are trying to keep the roots warm but not hot and the smoke alarm would be better mounted above everything and upside down, oh and where's your fireextinguisher? .lol j/k


Here is something about fimming,


https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/13820-fimming-topping-101-a.html


The only difference I've noticed so far is the growth rate to recover, a topped plant may take a week or so to recover and fimming may take two or more, my topped plant took slightly longer than a week, she's now flowering and doing fine, I'm not certain if by topping or fimming a plant will always grow up, I stated that mine did and by what I've read and seen of lsting that they do tend to bush out, also I'm thinking that the bushiness of a plant highly depends on the strain and size of pots.


If you top or fim your plant and it appears to be widening start to grow out you could always train them to grow up, I'm sure there are several methods of doing so, for instance use a tomato cone as I call them.

As for soil, anything should work as long as it says ORGANIC and that its mixed with some perlite or something for proper drainage, I've seen people use woodchips, also they say to put small rock, sand and or gravel at the bottom of the pots, this is supposed to help with drainage and for the roots to breathe better.

I used MG on some of my plants in veg, I think they are turning out fine, just be sure to switch to a decent bloom when flowering even if it costs a bit and you have to get it online, it's well worth the investment, as for spending more than you figured, don't feel alone, I'm thinking everybody goes through that, I spent way more money on accessories than I did on the lighting itself, expect to spend a lot more.

The more your plants grow and are doing well the more you will want to care for them, you don't want to risk anything happening to them and you'll want them to grow as best they can, I think you will find yourself spending some money doing so.

Keep up the good work!

Humboldt let me just say that you've been a HUGE help to everything I've been trying to do here. I really appreciate everything

I think I'm going to buy some new soil from Home Depot, I noticed they did have some organic with perlite in it. I've also heard about the rock idea, I'll probably try that.

As for my nutes, I think I'm going to stick with what I've got for veg. I know it's not brand name and everything, but for the first round I just wanna see how it goes. I'm not so sure I'm going to invest in a ppm (expensive, once again) so I'll probably try and take it easy on the nutes....I know that's not really recommended for a good product but being a college student is hard, I'm broke as it is

Now for the topping...I'm not sure what I want to do. I'm doing this small...at most I want two ladies growing at the same time. I'm thinking maybe just one since I don't have a lot of space.....I'm really somewhat drawn to LST just because of the method used it seems to be pretty successful and profitable...but I also know topping is a popular method....

I don't know what to do...I guess I'll have to make that decision when the time comes LOL it's right around the same time, whether to start training or chop it off!

I'm sure you'll be fine with whatever you use as far as ferts go, for topping lsting why not try doing both? top one plant and lst the other, after all it's an experiment! if it gets carried away, you could always train or direct them to grow up....

For watering let your water sit out in an open container at least 24 hours, I use a milk jug rotation system, I have pictures of my ghetto watering station in my journal check it out sometime..

Feel free to pm me anytime,

Peace!

I just might try that, LST on one and topping on another

I've got water set out already also, I managed to pick up that in my readings

Well they've been under lights for the first official night now...YA!YY!!!

More pics coming when they sprout!

jomal206 said:

Humboldt let me just say that you've been a HUGE help to everything I've been trying to do here. I really appreciate everything

I think I'm going to buy some new soil from Home Depot, I noticed they did have some organic with perlite in it. I've also heard about the rock idea, I'll probably try that.

As for my nutes, I think I'm going to stick with what I've got for veg. I know it's not brand name and everything, but for the first round I just wanna see how it goes. I'm not so sure I'm going to invest in a ppm (expensive, once again) so I'll probably try and take it easy on the nutes....I know that's not really recommended for a good product but being a college student is hard, I'm broke as it is

Now for the topping...I'm not sure what I want to do. I'm doing this small...at most I want two ladies growing at the same time. I'm thinking maybe just one since I don't have a lot of space.....I'm really somewhat drawn to LST just because of the method used it seems to be pretty successful and profitable...but I also know topping is a popular method....

I don't know what to do...I guess I'll have to make that decision when the time comes LOL it's right around the same time, whether to start training or chop it off!

Click to expand...

If you are going to home depot for soil get Sunshine 4 mix. That is where I bought mine from so they should have it. its a little more money but well worth it.

they may only have it in big bales.

Thanks for the tip I'll check into that

I'm just starting to grow myself but I'm growing lowryders so I don't have as much risk as what comes with regular bud. I hope your grow goes well! Peace

Well I got my first sprout overnight!!!!!

I'm very excited...hopefully by the end of the day I'll have a few more





More pics to come

i hear that flat white is as good or better than mylar for reflecting light

ive also read somewhere here that roots like the dark, i just got rid of my transparent pots(although i did like watching the roots grow), it gave me a chance to dilute my miracle grow and add pearlite.

Yeah I'm only using the clear cups until they start to get bigger, then I've got dark green pots to put them in

I'm thinking about buying some paint or mylar, haven't decided yet if I'm going to put the money into it I might just go with the flow