This is as much for my own reference as anything else. I have an old Aerogarden that I purchased at a yard sale four years ago and a ton of seeds from some low-quality weed that a friend got. We'll see how it goes! It might be risky to defoliate since I've never grown before, but I do have experience with plants and this particular Aerogarden, so I'm going to give it a shot. A lot of the sources I read contradicted each other, but I chose the information and methods that made the most sense to me and ran with it.
SETUP NOTES
Seeds
-32 mersh seeds - 7 soaked, 6 germinated
Equipment
-Aluminum foil lined box, 18x18x24
-Box fan and carbon filter
-Aerogarden 7
-Alternate pump
-Two 1450 lumen CFLs
-Red/blue 200 lumen LED
-Blue 200 lumen LED
-pH meter
-Hygrometer/thermometer
Growth media
-42 mm Jiffy peat pellets
-1-2-3 schedule GH Flora series
-30 mL 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon (the Aerogarden was prone to mold when I grew other herbs)
Seed Storage
Store in the refrigerator with an equal weight of desiccant for one week, then transfer to the freezer until needed.
Germination
Lightly scarify the tapered end of each seed. Place seeds in a mug of warm water just a few degrees above room temperature. Encourage floating seeds to sink. Allow to soak for 24 hours, or until taproot emerges. Discard seeds that show no sign of activity after 48 hours. Place germinated seeds in the growing medium with the root or tapered end oriented down.
Light Schedule
18/6 until plants reach 12 inches. 12/12 until harvest. Complete darkness 2-3 days before harvest supposedly increases terpene production.
Nutrients
Parts equivalent to 5ml or one teaspoon per gallon
Vegetative stage: Use 3-2-1 (3 parts grow, 2 parts micro, 1 part bloom)
Early flowering: first 2-3 weeks or until stretching stops: Use 2-2-2 (2 parts each)
Late flowering: Use 1-2-3 (1 part grow, 2 parts micro, 3 parts bloom)
First week after germination: Dilute vegetative formula by 50% for one week
30 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon is a safe remedy for possible bacteria growth in germination and the water reservoir, especially if flushing less than once per week.
Flush thoroughly and replace nutrient solution every one to two weeks or if there are signs of nutrient deficiency, and one to two weeks before harvest.
Humidity
Vegetative: 50-60% encourages lush growth, lowers nutrient buildup in foliage
Early flowering: 35-40% reduces chance of mold or mildew
Late flowering: <35% during last 2 weeks encourages resin production as self-defense against dry conditions
Temperature
70-80° F daytime air temperature
60-70° F evening temperature, or 50-60° F near end of flowering
65-75° F reservoir temperature, 68° F target
pH
5.5-6.1, 5.8 target
Check daily. Adjust down with vinegar, up with baking soda.
Pruning and training
Top each branch using the FIM method at the fourth node. Lightly defoliate large leaves that block light from budding sites or any with yellow margins/purple petioles. Do not remove apical leaves when defoliating. Gently bend and secure stems with string to increase yield if the growth that occurs during early flowering is too extreme, stems are extended excessively, or the lower nodes are completely shaded.
________________________________________________
At the end of the fourth week, the plant are looking well. They're 5-6 inches tall and beginning to branch. I just FIM-trimmed them yesterday, which should increase the number of bud sites. Defoliating has worked wonders for me so far - immediately after removing all of the largest leaves (40-50% of the growth, actually) the branches on the lowest three nodes thickened and flushed with growth. They're beginning to reek. I'll take photos and document the next grow properly, but I'm terribly busy this time.
SETUP NOTES
Seeds
-32 mersh seeds - 7 soaked, 6 germinated
Equipment
-Aluminum foil lined box, 18x18x24
-Box fan and carbon filter
-Aerogarden 7
-Alternate pump
-Two 1450 lumen CFLs
-Red/blue 200 lumen LED
-Blue 200 lumen LED
-pH meter
-Hygrometer/thermometer
Growth media
-42 mm Jiffy peat pellets
-1-2-3 schedule GH Flora series
-30 mL 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon (the Aerogarden was prone to mold when I grew other herbs)
Seed Storage
Store in the refrigerator with an equal weight of desiccant for one week, then transfer to the freezer until needed.
Germination
Lightly scarify the tapered end of each seed. Place seeds in a mug of warm water just a few degrees above room temperature. Encourage floating seeds to sink. Allow to soak for 24 hours, or until taproot emerges. Discard seeds that show no sign of activity after 48 hours. Place germinated seeds in the growing medium with the root or tapered end oriented down.
Light Schedule
18/6 until plants reach 12 inches. 12/12 until harvest. Complete darkness 2-3 days before harvest supposedly increases terpene production.
Nutrients
Parts equivalent to 5ml or one teaspoon per gallon
Vegetative stage: Use 3-2-1 (3 parts grow, 2 parts micro, 1 part bloom)
Early flowering: first 2-3 weeks or until stretching stops: Use 2-2-2 (2 parts each)
Late flowering: Use 1-2-3 (1 part grow, 2 parts micro, 3 parts bloom)
First week after germination: Dilute vegetative formula by 50% for one week
30 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon is a safe remedy for possible bacteria growth in germination and the water reservoir, especially if flushing less than once per week.
Flush thoroughly and replace nutrient solution every one to two weeks or if there are signs of nutrient deficiency, and one to two weeks before harvest.
Humidity
Vegetative: 50-60% encourages lush growth, lowers nutrient buildup in foliage
Early flowering: 35-40% reduces chance of mold or mildew
Late flowering: <35% during last 2 weeks encourages resin production as self-defense against dry conditions
Temperature
70-80° F daytime air temperature
60-70° F evening temperature, or 50-60° F near end of flowering
65-75° F reservoir temperature, 68° F target
pH
5.5-6.1, 5.8 target
Check daily. Adjust down with vinegar, up with baking soda.
Pruning and training
Top each branch using the FIM method at the fourth node. Lightly defoliate large leaves that block light from budding sites or any with yellow margins/purple petioles. Do not remove apical leaves when defoliating. Gently bend and secure stems with string to increase yield if the growth that occurs during early flowering is too extreme, stems are extended excessively, or the lower nodes are completely shaded.
________________________________________________
At the end of the fourth week, the plant are looking well. They're 5-6 inches tall and beginning to branch. I just FIM-trimmed them yesterday, which should increase the number of bud sites. Defoliating has worked wonders for me so far - immediately after removing all of the largest leaves (40-50% of the growth, actually) the branches on the lowest three nodes thickened and flushed with growth. They're beginning to reek. I'll take photos and document the next grow properly, but I'm terribly busy this time.
