My first grow, ever. Critical Mass, Tangerine Dream, Lemon Diesel x Phantom Cookies.

Alright folks, after some nicely acquired genetics and good reading, it's time to start the grow.

Run down: I'll be using a (4ft height x 8ft length x 2ft width) text with one 400 watt metal halide bulb. I'm not giving these plants any nutrients until flower, and I'm using Fox Farm Ocean Forest through the entire grow. 18/6 lighting schedule during vegetation, and 12/12 during flowering.

x1 CBD Crew - Critical Mass
x1 Barney's Farm - Tangerine Dream
x1 Private genetics - Lemon Diesel x Phantom Cookies

I'll post pictures tomorrow. So far all three seeds have cracked. The Tangerine Dream is already showing its baby flowers, I just planted the Critical Mass in soil, and the Lemon Diesel x Phantom Cookies will be ready tomorrow for planting. (Day 3 since germination)

If you have any constructive criticism or help, please offer it. I'm ready to learn, that is the name of the game.

Thank you and welcome aboard.

Hello AnarchoCannabis,

Glad to hear your amping up for your first grow you may want to reconsider your nutrients though. FFOF soil gives your plants a good starting point, but they will need food to survive unless you plan on flowering in the first few weeks. I dont know if you already have your nutes picked out or not, but if you wanted to keep it simple you could get the Fox Farms trio pack. That, or some other nutrient that has a decent N rating.

Thank you buddy, I'm glad to finally be on the community forum. When do you think adding nutrients would be smart? Or, how long until the FFOF is not as dense?

Let me look up some nutrient packs, I'll consider the idea. I don't want to get too into money spending on this project, and nothing complicated. I have plenty more beans and would like to keep this run simple, but I think the nutrients is practical.

Any pics there bud?

edit: oh tomorrow your going to i got u

I love my general hydroponics floranova set. Get great results just using Floranova Grow for veg and just Floranova Bloom for budding and they are both super concentrated. 1 bottle for veg one bottle for bud

Thats an odd tent size. That FFOF is pretty rich and may burn a seedling. When I use soil I use FFOF but I first remove about 1 cup from the center and replace it with regular inert top soil. Then I place my seed in the top soil area I added. By the time the roots hit the FFOF the girl is strong enough to take it. The FFOF soil should have enough nutrients for a 1 month veg and after that you'll need to add some nutrients. I like the flora series.

You may want to look into the Lucas formula. There are many ways to achieve said formula (although with variations in exact ratio of nutrients) Floranova Bloom is the Lucas formula in one bottle (easiest but not the cheapest way to achieve said formula)

ChemPro said:

Thats an odd tent size. That FFOF is pretty rich and may burn a seedling. When I use soil I use FFOF but I first remove about 1 cup from the center and replace it with regular inert top soil. Then I place my seed in the top soil area I added. By the time the roots hit the FFOF the girl is strong enough to take it. The FFOF soil should have enough nutrients for a 1 month veg and after that you'll need to add some nutrients. I like the flora series.

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And I agree FFOF is very rich with nutrients and may harm young plants/ seedlings. and putting low ppm soil in the center so the plants can build up a structure before getting full strength nutes is a great idea

ChemPro said:

Thats an odd tent size. That FFOF is pretty rich and may burn a seedling. When I use soil I use FFOF but I first remove about 1 cup from the center and replace it with regular inert top soil. Then I place my seed in the top soil area I added. By the time the roots hit the FFOF the girl is strong enough to take it. The FFOF soil should have enough nutrients for a 1 month veg and after that you'll need to add some nutrients. I like the flora series.

Click to expand...

Isn't the tent size a bit off, it seems? This project is a cheaper-scaled one for me, so this was the most inexpensive tent online. Honestly though, I think the dimensions in person are a lot nicer to see, the length gives it room for operation.

Personally, I know a few growers who use FFOF throughout their entire period of growing (veg-flower) with little to no problems. I'm going to keep using the FFOF and if I notice any issues, I'll post them, maybe it'll be nutrient-related/soil-related.

In terms of nutrients, I've read the Fox Farm package (Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom, Grow Big) are great to use, but what do you all think? Should I be trying out other solutions or use the common FF Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom, Grow Big mix?

Here are the pictures so far.

The Tangerine Dream is the already sprouted plant, the Critical Mass was just planted last night (hasn't sprouted) and the Phantom Cookies x Lemon Diesel is the seed still germing for a bit longer.

I'm looking to replant all three into Solo cups once the last one is done germing.

To me, the Tangerine Dream is already stretching a lot so I'm going to need to start 18 hours a day, close lighting. Any ideas on what else to do? I'm also going to replant it deeper in the Solo cup once transplanted.

I've heard people say good things about GH as well, and it may be simpler/cheaper since its only one bottle for veg growth, and one for flower. I just use the FF set because I use their soil. Im sure it doesn't make a huge difference, but its what I have stuck with.

You wont need to feed for the first couple weeks. Between the soil and your plants built in resources, you should be ok for the first few nodes of growth. Once you get a couple of nodes then start off half strength on whatever you end up with and see how the plant reacts. Move it up to full strength and go from there

Rentaldog said:

I've heard people say good things about GH as well, and it may be simpler/cheaper since its only one bottle for veg growth, and one for flower. I just use the FF set because I use their soil. Im sure it doesn't make a huge difference, but its what I have stuck with.

You wont need to feed for the first couple weeks. Between the soil and your plants built in resources, you should be ok for the first few nodes of growth. Once you get a couple of nodes then start off half strength on whatever you end up with and see how the plant reacts. Move it up to full strength and go from there

Click to expand...

Agreed to that, I already re-planted all seeds and the sprout in Dixie cups today, moved the light down and am buying the pieces to install the carbon filter/tubing out. Pictures to come.

So we begin.