So i bought all this shit? Now what?

Hey Peeps, I guess you can call me a newbie. Just a guy who's tired of spending 400 a month for the last 15 years on the tweed. So here we go.
Here are my purchases this far.
1)After lots of questioning..ordered 15 fem seeds from ATTITUDE after much debate. Sent to Momma's house. She was less than amused, but she's cool.They made it past customs to Jamaica NY last night! No seeds to the spot, but I did buy with my girl's debit. Hopefully no one at ATTITUDE is handing out billing info, and I think Im all good.
2) Have spent ALOT of time at Walmart at 2 am. I bought some Miracle Gro soil, some Jiffy organic, some perlite, some vermiculite. First germinated schwag bag seeds have been growing for 2 weeks under 4 100 watt desk lamps in a mylar box I made. 24 hrs light. This is just a test run so I don't fuck up my 12 buck seeds. lol. The initial plants were put in just this chunky MG mix with sticks and shit in it...growing great. Just transplanted to .5 gallon pot with a 50-50 mix of the organic and MG, and about 1/3 perlite. Plant handled it well. Was planning on buying Sunshine #4 and mixing with perlite and verm for the good seeds? Just want an easy soiless for my first grow. It seems soil will be bought at a nursery.
3) Have ordered 600 watt system, 4x4 virtual sun room(going to be stuck in a 6x8 closet with ventilation) 2 6 inch inline fans and 25 feet of vent(cut into ceiling, planned on splicing into bath exhaust), Hesi soil starter kit, ph up and down, azomite, hygrometer, ph soil test strips, water ph tester(using my filtered water from tap..ph of 6.8?, humidifier(my humidity in closet was 45 and my temp was 75..freaked out ordered a humidifier, put some water and perlite in a bucket...hung all my wet clothes in closet...humidity is at 72!! But a pain in the ass getting towels wet and hanging. Looking forward to the humidifier coming monday. Planned on ordering Calmag tonight? As well as some lime? Any other things I might need for the future? Suggestions would be great.
4) Was planning on doing 9 plants in a 4x4? Jorge said 16...seems a little cramped... Hippie dude in Netherlands on youtube said 9...I was going to go with 9 and some will die Im assuming..so if I end up with 6 Ill be happy and think that will be the best of both worlds? For future reference...can i put a 1000 watt in my 4x4?
5) I plan on taking pics and putting my batman mask on soon. Much admiration and respect for all you seasoned vets. You guys are crazy. Thanks for any suggestions in advance. I don't just watch the good guys on youtube, watch the fuck ups too, they'll teach you ALOT. 4 hrs a day of research and Ive got roots growing out my ears. Anything for that?

I see your future cultivation addiction looming...welcome to our world!

"Now what?".......Time to don the batman mask and plant those $12 seeds?....

Mr. Ganga...been reading your posts for days. Good shit. I guess it's time for the real deal. Going to put my 3 week old seedlings under the 600 on monday..have 4 middy bag seeds sprouting to go under cfl, and figure ill germ the good ones at the start of next week. With the lack of feedback, I guess im on the right track. Thanks Mr. G.

crack on son, good luck.

Welcome to the wonderful world that we experience every day...

everything sounds solid, and you seem smart enough to know that you can find ALOT of info online.

Good Luck

It's refreshing to have someone come on board with the necessary tools, and to have done some research already.
+rep is in order I reckon...

You probly could put a 1000w in a 4x4 but its gotta be air cooled. With some serious exhaust for the tent it self, And even then I can see you having more problems in the summer time with heat issues. 600w might be a better choice. actually a 400w would cover a 4x4 area, but plan for the future. The test strips will get you buy, but you should invest in some digital test equipment. I personally think you'd have a easier time in soil than in soilless. It's just easier IMO to maintain your Ph. Soil-less 6.0-6.5 Ph compared to soil 6.3-6.8 Ph even 7.0ph in soil would be cool. You have your lime so maintaining a almost neutral Ph should not be a problem.
good luck man. Hope it goes good for you.

almost forgot. It's dam nice not to have to buy any smoke. I haven't bought a bag In over a decade. What ever you spend on your grow, you'll make that all back man in just not having to spend any money on smoke.

^^^If I stopped growing, I'd have to smoke none....I smoke waaaay more now I have a near limitless supply muahahaa! It's all good!^^^

thanks Sworth. I see everyone is named Mr. Ganga except me. Im just a stranger. Ha. everyone is until you get to know em.

Topfuel..I have an air-cooled 25 inch hood with glass pane. One 6 inch for intake, one for exhaust to attic for now, ( hooked to bath exhaust or dryer when I stop being lazy and want to get some insulation all over me). Im also going to unhook my spare bedroom house heat/ac and hook it to the 6x8 or so closet, then with the 4x4 tent...I should easily be able to control the environment. Or that's the plan. As far as soil goes...Foxfarm or Pro mix is what im going to go with..mixed with a little perlite. Guess ill leave the vermiculite out. Seems like it's pretty similar to perlite...fluffy shit for air and drainage? You think 75 Promix 25 perlite will be a good mix? Growing medium/mix is my next step.

Damn, you're in for a helluva ride I bet! Welcome to the club! Braver than I was for a first grow, I stuck with CFLs and small scale...you're aiming for the stars, and sound like you might have a level head to pull it off. Best of luck to ya!

FWIW, I'm just gonna suggest looking into coco as your medium. I know you already bought some shit, but just hear me out It served me very well for my inaugural grow for several reasons. You essentially can't overwater coco. It will retain alot of moisture, but when its at capacity the rest just runs right through it. You have to water more often, and you don't want it to totally dry out like you would inbetween waterings with soil. Coco alone is airy enough for great root development, mixed with perlite it becomes root heaven. You treat it like hydro since its inert and pH everything to 5.8-ish. Anywho, that's my two cents and them some...

I hope all goes well with your grow!

75% soil-less-25% perlite should be a decent mix. I like to also add a layer 1"-2" of perlite at the bottom of my pots, and a 1" layer of perlite on the top of the pot. The bottom layer helps with drainage the top layer helps keep moisture in. And the 2 layers make your medium incapsulated keeping pest out.

Thanks for the advice. I havent bought enough for my 3 gallon planters...was waiting for input. I like the idea of coco too. SO you don't use ANY soil. Just coco and perlite. Ratio? Cost wise how is the coco vs the soil? Cost isn't an issue. With what Ive spent over the years, a grand investment is nothing to avoid shady black market people, and having to constantly drive. Getting too old for that shit.

thanks for the advice, Ill probably do a little coco, some MG mix with organic, and some good soil with perlite on my next germination..and see what works. Experimenting is fun...with bag seeds. lol

SPECIFIC answers..that's what us Newbies are looking for! Thanks Top. After trolling threads and posts for my answers the last couple weeks...my opinion is..Some of you old bastards are way too cryptic round here. Seed, dirt, light, water+ some nute and it seems it will grow. Complication makes shit complicated.

If I can throw in my two cents...

Go coco... best of both worlds. The forgiveness of soil, combined with an almost hydro like growth, you can't go wrong...

and if you're gonna try coco, see if you can get this stuff... Sunshine Advanced "Ultra CoCo Coir", pictured at bottom of page in link below
http://www.sunshineadvanced.com/products

I absolutely love it!!! I'd never use anything else given the option. almost all the salts are pre-rinsed out, myco-activated, great water retention AND drainage

Thanks Personal...by the end of it all..Ill have tried ALL mediums. I like the myco acitvated idea...was going to buy some Mykos stuff as well. Will this avoid purchasing myco? Is it enough in the coco? I don't know about you guys, but this sure is fun. Put my green light bulb in. Just sit there and watch and talk sweet to em. My girl is getting jealous. hahaha

my wife says I spend more time with my ladies than her... its the life we choose... and you aint the only one who talks to your plants, shit, I play music for them most times, LOL

I've never noticed any problems related to there not being enough myco in the Ultra Coir... If you are looking for a beneficial organism product, try OregonismXL (link below), that has about 40+ types of beneficials including your myco's...

for what its worth, when I chop and drop my ladies, and I go to clean out the pots I used... I've never had root systems so big and healthy since I started using Ultra Coir... they feel like a 3 gallon dirt sponge when I pull them out

... And I'm on the East Coast too... Northeast to be specific

here is the link to OREGONISM XL... and if you can request a sample and just pay for shipping.
http://www.aurorainnovations.org/oregonism_xl.html

To me, that seems like a lot of money to spend without spending 15-20 on a book too.

Just ordered a 3 c. ft. bag for 39.00 with shipping included from amazon prime. 1000bulbs was the supplier, but when I went to their site specifically to order...they WANTED 40 bucks for shipping!!!! Amazon...30 bucks cost...8 bucks shipping...better than driving around tracking it down. Thanks for the soil!