How to Make a Grow Journal

[SmokingWings]

When I said that it’s necessary to update daily I didn’t mean that it had to be done with pictures. But I do think even if you’re just telling followers that nothing noticeable is happening with your plants you can still be sociable. We all have lives outside of growing weed. CL

I was thinking that you meant to update with the latest fertilizing, watering, or chores with photos optional. Kind of along the lines of the growers who say "I gave the small seedlings 4 drops of water and the big one 8 drips. I started to remove some leaves from the other big one and took off 7 of them.".

Yes, if there have been new comments or questions then the socializing should be taken care of while it is still fresh in the mind of the other person. Some of the growers get so involved in their minute by minute experience in the grow over the last 24 hours that they completely forget to answer a question or recognize that someone new stopped by to say hello.

 

[CaptainLucky]

I was thinking that you meant to update with the latest fertilizing, watering, or chores with photos optional. Kind of along the lines of the growers who say "I gave the small seedlings 4 drops of water and the big one 8 drips. I started to remove some leaves from the other big one and took off 7 of them.".

Yes, if there have been new comments or questions then the socializing should be taken care of while it is still fresh in the mind of the other person. Some of the growers get so involved in their minute by minute experience in the grow over the last 24 hours that they completely forget to answer a question or recognize that someone new stopped by to say hello.

. CL

 

[Sativa1970]

There's a "Watch" button at the top, no matter what page of the journal you're on.

That is most likely one of the common knowledge detail I was referring too. I have been on here for years but never noticed it until you said where to look. For that matter, I can't find the mayo in the fridge half the time without my wife pointing to it.

to keep an interest in a new journal updating daily is necessary. If you keep checking daily you’ll prolly give up after a couple of days.

So, are you saying growers should post an update daily so fallowers who check daily stay engaged? I agree you should check and respond every day if you have a journal. When you post every day, 5 months seed to harvest, how do you keep it from feeling like you are watching paint dry? Other than clones, seedlings, and the last week, I check on my plants twice a week and only actually interact with the plants once a week, if needed.

 

[CaptainLucky]

That is most likely one of the common knowledge detail I was referring too. I have been on here for years but never noticed it until you said where to look. For that matter, I can't find the mayo in the fridge half the time without my wife pointing to it.


So, are you saying growers should post an update daily so fallowers who check daily stay engaged? I agree you should check and respond every day if you have a journal. When you post every day, 5 months seed to harvest, how do you keep it from feeling like you are watching paint dry? Other than clones, seedlings, and the last week, I check on my plants twice a week and only actually interact with the plants once a week, if needed.

Yeah you don’t always have to be posting pictures or anything about your plants. Because I’m sure you’ll agree that we have lives outside of growing. Sometimes it’s socializing with others. CL

 

[Roy Growin]

Yeah you don’t always have to be posting pictures or anything about your plants. Because I’m sure you’ll agree that we have lives outside of growing. Sometimes it’s socializing with others. CL

I reckon I spend 95% of my time here reading other journos and getting involved in conversations
Only really update my journo once a week, and even then there is often nothing to write home about
I am also careful to keep my threads concise so it's easy to scan through to see what I'm doing
To be honest, I skip anything over about 10 pages covering multiple grows - unless you've been involved from the start, who wants to wade through 100 pages to find out what's going on?

 

[SmokingWings]

I skip anything over about 10 pages covering multiple grows - unless you've been involved from the start, who wants to wade through 100 pages to find out what's going on?

I have done it when I feel that there is something there. I have read through Emilya's watering thread twice from start to finish and picked at it at least twice just jumping from here to there or playing catch-up when reading some of the latest msg. Done the same with several 10 page journals.

It is tedious and sometimes I feel that there were better things to have been doing but there are the times when something jumps out at me and it was all worth while.

 

[SmokingWings]

When you post every day, 5 months seed to harvest, how do you keep it from feeling like you are watching paint dry?

That is the problem. For the person who started the journal it can get boring, tedious and become a chore. I could see it happening with-in the first page of messages in some of the short run journals that ended up abandoned.

How does that person keep his or her interest up when every day they have to water, inspect their plant/plants or feel that the insects are out of control? Then they have to go and log-in so they can entertain the general public here with info on what has happened since yesterday and provide answers to questions asked.

So, are you saying growers should post an update daily so fallowers who check daily stay engaged?

That it is their job. They started the journal. They are the ones who have to maintain that journal. It is not up to the rest of us to carry their journal along from start to finish when their life gets in the way.

I agree you should check and respond every day if you have a journal.

Yes. It is not necessary to do an update on the plants or the grow operation itself. As you mention "check and respond if you have a journal.", as in checking to see who asked something and saying hello to whoever says they stopped by.

Not necessarily an update on what is happening in that particular grow operation so much as keeping the journal's maintenance up to date. Two different things the way I see it.

 

[420]

It's great to get so many diverse perspectives on this, everyone has great points!
This will help to create the best advice for our members

 

[CaptainLucky]

It's great to get so many diverse perspectives on this, everyone has great points!
This will help to create the best advice for our members

Keep up with everything you guys are doing and know that we all appreciate it bro. I might look at some other sites but @420 Magazine is family and the only cannabis site that I’m a member of. CL

 

[HashGirl]

To be honest, I skip anything over about 10 pages covering multiple grows - unless you've been involved from the start, who wants to wade through 100 pages to find out what's going on?

When I feel I'm on top of all my 420 reading and want to follow a new journal, I go to the Journals in Progress forum and look for new journals to follow that don't have many pages yet. Like Roy, I don't want to read 100 pages to get the rest of the story.

*****************************************

@420 - I'm pretty handy on creating instructions using an app I have called Snag-It. Here is one that I created on how to search a thread. If you'd like me to create instructions, let me know.

How to Search Emilya's thread for mentions of SIP:

 

[420]

@Renee Roberts and I would like to thank everyone for your amazing contributions to our new
Tips & Tricks to Gain Followers & Grow Journal Subscribers

Please check the first post of this thread for the updates.

You all gave us some great feedback, which we compiled into this tutorial.

What do you think? Did we miss anything?

 

[Roy Growin]

@Renee Roberts and I would like to thank everyone for your amazing contributions to our new
Tips & Tricks to Gain Followers & Grow Journal Subscribers

You all gave us some great feedback, which we compiled into this tutorial.

We love it, what do you think? Did we miss anything?

 

[CaptainLucky]

@Renee Roberts and I would like to thank everyone for your amazing contributions to our new
Tips & Tricks to Gain Followers & Grow Journal Subscribers

You all gave us some great feedback, which we compiled into this tutorial.

We love it, what do you think? Did we miss anything?

Spot on! You guys should all get a raise. lol CL.

 

[XWeed]

Follow These Steps to Create Your Grow Journal​

With enough setup information in the beginning, your grow journal will be seen and supported by growers from all over the world. The more pride and effort you put into your journal, the more response, interaction and support you will receive from everyone.

1. Click on the header text link (desktop) or the hamburger menu/three white bars (mobile)
2. Click "Grow Journals" and then click "Journals in Progress"
3. Click on the black button "Post Thread" to start your journal.
4. Create your title, utilizing proper grammar and structure.

A good title will include the member's name, strain, grow type and sponsor when applicable.

Here are some examples:


Including this information in your title will help you get more followers and subscribers.

5. Copy/Paste this template and change the answers to reflect your grow environment data.

Strain/s: ObiWan Kush & Girl Scout Cookies
Genetic Makeup: Hybrid Sativa
Pot/Bucket Size: 3.5 Gallon
Tent Size: 4' x 4'
Grow Space: 10' x 10'
How Many Plants: 10
Environment: Indoor
Stage: Flowering
Medium: 75% Perlite 25% Vermiculite
Lights: 1000 Watt LED
Nutrients: Remo Nutrients
Room/Tent Temperature: 78°
Relative Humidity: 65%
Media/Res PH: 7
Pests: None
Watering: Once Daily

This information makes it easier to get grow support, while keeping the community interested in your project.

6. Upload photos to our Photo Gallery and embed them in your journal. See our Photo Gallery Guide for further guidance. Titling your images and adding tags and descriptions is important, so people can find your targeted topics. The only way to receive optimal attention, feedback and support is to provide photos.

7. Update your journal as often as possible with new photos and commentary of your progress.

8. When your harvest is complete, click the

Report bell at bottom left of the last post in your journal.

9. We will move your journal to Completed Journals and you can start a new one.

10. Complete a Strain Review using our How To Make a Strain Review tutorial.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tips To Help You Get Nominated for Grow Journal of the Month​

• Frequent Activity & Updates: Updated at least once per week, preferably daily
• Attention To Detail: Discuss growing methods and techniques in detail
• Quality Photography: Clear and good quality pictures
• Proper Grammar & Structure: Well-written and easy to understand
• General Forum Conduct: Adhere to published forum guidelines
• Stays On Topic: Focused mostly on Cannabis cultivation
• Responds To Questions: Provide clear and thoughtful responses
• Explains Well & Offers Advice: Journal is a good environment for new growers to learn
• Promotes our Sponsors: Feature or recommend our Sponsors when possible

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tips & Tricks to Gain Followers & Grow Journal Subscribers​

• First and foremost, be patient and consistent. Rome wasn't built in a day.
  
  
• Introduce yourself in the intro forum, and add a link to your journal so everyone can get acquainted with you. Then you can follow each other and subscribe to each others grow journals.
  
  
• Subscribe to other grow journals and make comments, showing your interest in their work.
  
  
• Help others solve problems in the FAQs forum, this is a great way to make friends.
  
  
• When you need help with your grow, it's best to post your questions in the FAQs or Problems, Pests & Disease forum, then link to that post in your journal. You'll get faster attention and support, and those people may also find their way to your journal.
  
  
• Reply to those who post in your journal, or at minimum hit the like/love/thanks right away, and respond when you have more time. It's important for your followers to know that you appreciate them and are reading their posts or comments.
  
  
• Update regularly so your journal has a higher likelihood of being discovered by people browsing the forums. Older posts can sometimes get buried before they have a chance to be noticed.
  
  
• Add tags and images to your journals so people searching for something specific like strain names, nutrients and lighting can find their way to your content.
  
  
• Upload pictures to the gallery instead of just uploading them using 'attach photo'. The gallery is another avenue of discovery, and will help others find your grow journal.
  
  
• Interact with and befriend others. If you take the time to subscribe to and post in other people's journals, lots of those people will reciprocate, making your journal more active and visible. Some of the top journalists spend more time reading and posting in others journals, than they do their own.
  
  
• Add a link to your grow journal in your signature so when people see your posts in other threads, they can find their way to your journal.
  
  
• Welcoming new members in the Introduce Yourself forum, is a great way to gain new followers and subscribers. People always remember those who first welcomed them and made them feel included.
  
  
• Get involved in the monthly contests to put yourself out there and get noticed.
  
  
• Be bold, innovative and adventurous. Experiment and push boundaries. Test new growing techniques or hypotheses and take advantage of trends. For example droughting, SIP or whatever is hot at the moment can provide traffic to your journal.
  
  
• Tag your friends and followers to alert them of your new journal. Some people like to tag a few of the higher profile members, asking them to subscribe to their journal for support.
  
  
• Include information about where you're from. It doesn't need to be specific, just your country or state. People are more likely to visit and eventually follow with the occasional comment on a journal when they can relate to where the member is from.
  
  
• Maximizing the quality of your grow journal is essential, but the social part is what makes it shine. Sometimes a little flattery and scratching of backs, can be the key to success.

Hi,

to post a new entry to an existing journal, I guess, one has to post as reply to the first one, right? There isn't a "continue" or "new entry" such as at the blog's environment.

Thanks so much for helping out
best
X

 

[Renee Roberts]

Yes, all you do is post a reply in the thread, just like you did here.