New grower checking in from oHIo

[Mattnatti]

Hello, I have lurked for a while and finally signed up. The forum is a great resource, thank you.
I’m 4 weeks flowering on my first grow. My first grow may seem unorthodox to some or most of the forum and I’ll break it down but first the background on why I’m growing.
My long time ( nearly 30yrs ) friend/medicine man told me last fall that he had stage 4 cancer and he wouldn’t be taking treatments. Being a long time trusted friend and grower from his early teens I took his encouragement to start a grow in my basement So I could sustain myself after he is gone. He has many years growing indoors, outdoors, greenhouses, hydroponic and a large hemp farm.
I’ve hesitated to post an intro and pics of my 3 ladies because I’m going on my friends wisdom and he’s an old school natural grower And he’s warned me about getting too wrapped up into the tech aspect growing.


He has me on a “ Just add water “ program.

5x5x7 tent
NextLight Mega Pro
4” in-line fan and carbon filter
portable AC unit installed for flowering, ducting cool air in averaging 71*F and 40%hum
10gal root pouch pot with bottom 1/3 goat manure compost and top 2/3 miracle grow potting mix
20 fem seeds from Crop Kings- 10 germinated in soil and 10 using CK wet paper towel method
3 survived my noob germination skills, all 3 were from soil. 1 Afghan kush and 2 Alien gorilla glue
i overwatered during veg stage and stunted them, got back on track and then under watered them during first week of flowering. Again, my noob skills.
The big girl ( Afghan Kush ) was stunted the most the other two were small enough that I didn’t underwater them as much. The big girl is recovering well and trying her best to make my first grow at least a small success. The larger of the AGG has started her top cola and it’s really starting to take shape the last 36hrs. No pics yet.
My pruning in veg with the over/under watering have prolly hurt my grow but my first attempt at a crude LST on the big girl has definitely opened more bud spots to good light and air. I’ll be doing this more on my next grows.
I now have a Veg room set up under the stairs for mother’s and clones. NextLight Veg Pro identifying as the sunshine in that room. 20 more seeds arrived today so I’ll start them in the morning after work.

sorry for the long post and thanks to those who made it this far.....puff puff pass!
On to the amateur porn.

 

[Mattnatti]

6” inline fan and carbon filter are on the way. The 4” isn’t getting the job done keeping temps down without the AC, hopefully the 6” will help and the AC can have a breather.

 

[Tokin Roll]

Welcome to 420 magazine @Mattnatti

Very interesting introductory, It sounds like you have been around the tree.

Out of interest, how did you feed her to get her this far?

When you are ready start a grow journal, we can follow along and get you to harvest. Here's the link How to Make a Grow Journal

If you want to see want other growers are doing, here's that link. This is where you place your journal.

Journals in Progress​

Current and Ongoing
www.420magazine.com

And, after you have over 50 posts you can vote and enter our contest to win free grow stuff from our sponsors.

420 Contests​

Win Cool 420 Prizes
www.420magazine.com

Stay safe, and grow well my friend,

Tok..

 

[Mattnatti]

Welcome to 420 magazine @Mattnatti

Very interesting introductory, It sounds like you have been around the tree.

Out of interest, how did you feed her to get her this far?

When you are ready start a grow journal, we can follow along and get you to harvest. Here's the link How to Make a Grow Journal

If you want to see want other growers are doing, here's that link. This is where you place your journal.

Journals in Progress​

Current and Ongoing
www.420magazine.com

And, after you have over 50 posts you can vote and enter our contest to win free grow stuff from our sponsors.

420 Contests​

Win Cool 420 Prizes
www.420magazine.com

Stay safe, and grow well my friend,

Tok..

I feed them spring water only. The nutes they get are from the Manure compost and prolly some from what’s left of the miracle grow soil.

 

[Roy Growin]

Hi from uk dude

 

[Azimuth]

Welcome, @Mattnatti

I'd suggest just popping a few seeds next round until you figure it out. No sense blowing through all your gear learning only one lesson as that will get super expensive quickly.

Your plants look pretty good from your pictures so you must be doing something right. Many growers on here aren't that fond of Miracle Grow soil, especially the prefertilized stuff but it seems to be working for you.

When you get your journal started there will be many fellow growers happy to help with whatever questions you have.

Is your Medicine Man trying concentrated cannabis oil (CCO) ? There are many success stories of folks that were helped significantly with the stuff. Sounds like he's got lots of canna experience so he may already have tried that route.

In any event, welcome, and ask away. Lots of friendly, helpful growers on here.

 

[Mattnatti]

@Azimuth

Thank you, I think my ladies are beautiful and wish I hadn’t hurt them but I have to learn. I honestly think the just add water program would have them looking much better if I only added the right amounts. I’m getting there.
I'm not sure I like the miracle grow potting mix either and am looking for an alternative. Im not sure it’s the right soil for germination of seeds. My big girl liked it but everything else struggled.
I have 20 new seeds, 10 fem and 10 auto and 3 that my buddy gave me he had put away in a glass vial. He can’t remember what they were but told me he wouldn’t have put them aside like that if they weren’t pretty good. I think I’m going to do all 10 auto’s and 5 fem in the morning after work and maybe those three extras. I’d like to get a couple of mother’s going with these fem seeds and just clone from there while I hone my skills.

My buddy was taking concentrate for a few months and felt that it bought him some time. Once he was able to finish Making his arraignments and buttoning things up for his family I think is when he stopped. He’s still doing good and turned down hospice 2 months ago. I drive up to see him once a week, he’s about 40 miles away so he can’t get down to see my grow or else I’d have it dialed in better. I take him pics and videos when I visit.

 

[Bill284]

Hello, I have lurked for a while and finally signed up. The forum is a great resource, thank you.
I’m 4 weeks flowering on my first grow. My first grow may seem unorthodox to some or most of the forum and I’ll break it down but first the background on why I’m growing.
My long time ( nearly 30yrs ) friend/medicine man told me last fall that he had stage 4 cancer and he wouldn’t be taking treatments. Being a long time trusted friend and grower from his early teens I took his encouragement to start a grow in my basement So I could sustain myself after he is gone. He has many years growing indoors, outdoors, greenhouses, hydroponic and a large hemp farm.
I’ve hesitated to post an intro and pics of my 3 ladies because I’m going on my friends wisdom and he’s an old school natural grower And he’s warned me about getting too wrapped up into the tech aspect growing.


He has me on a “ Just add water “ program.

5x5x7 tent
NextLight Mega Pro
4” in-line fan and carbon filter
portable AC unit installed for flowering, ducting cool air in averaging 71*F and 40%hum
10gal root pouch pot with bottom 1/3 goat manure compost and top 2/3 miracle grow potting mix
20 fem seeds from Crop Kings- 10 germinated in soil and 10 using CK wet paper towel method
3 survived my noob germination skills, all 3 were from soil. 1 Afghan kush and 2 Alien gorilla glue
i overwatered during veg stage and stunted them, got back on track and then under watered them during first week of flowering. Again, my noob skills.
The big girl ( Afghan Kush ) was stunted the most the other two were small enough that I didn’t underwater them as much. The big girl is recovering well and trying her best to make my first grow at least a small success. The larger of the AGG has started her top cola and it’s really starting to take shape the last 36hrs. No pics yet.
My pruning in veg with the over/under watering have prolly hurt my grow but my first attempt at a crude LST on the big girl has definitely opened more bud spots to good light and air. I’ll be doing this more on my next grows.
I now have a Veg room set up under the stairs for mother’s and clones. NextLight Veg Pro identifying as the sunshine in that room. 20 more seeds arrived today so I’ll start them in the morning after work.

sorry for the long post and thanks to those who made it this far.....puff puff pass!
On to the amateur porn.

Hey @Mattnatti great garden my friend.
Welcome to 420magazine.
Can't wait to see your journal.

Stay safe
Bill

 

[LKABudMan]

Hi @Mattnatti Welcome to the forum

 

[Azimuth]

I think I’m going to do all 10 auto’s and 5 fem in the morning after work and maybe those three extras. I’d like to get a couple of mother’s going with these fem seeds and just clone from there while I hone my skills.

Wow, all that in a 5x5? I learned the most when I got my clone game down. Then I had plenty of plants I could practice on, trying different things. I killed a lot of plants in the process.

But I did it with only one or two original seeds. And those were freebies I got with the actual ones I wanted to grow. Once I felt I had a better handle on things I was more confident in popping seeds for the plants I wanted.

There are plenty of good soil recipies out there we can point you to when you are ready to explore.

 

[Buds Buddy]

6” inline fan and carbon filter are on the way. The 4” isn’t getting the job done keeping temps down without the AC, hopefully the 6” will help and the AC can have a breather.

I find it better to use a larger fan for Intake air & a smaller one for Exhaust. I'd use the 6" for Intake & the 4" for Exhaust.
It gives you great air exchange & prevents your tent from being sucked in or blown out once you get the fan speeds adjusted properly. 71F is pretty cool for LED lights. I run my tent in the mid 80's which gives me a Leaf Temp of 77 - 80F.
Your plants look nice though & just the right amount of leaf tip burn to show they are feeding at their max level. Nice job so far. Sounds like you have better luck just putting the seeds straight in the soil. Me Too ! Even if I get them to root in a paper towel first 1/2 of them still don't make it. I believe it's from handling them with a root sticking out. I have close to 100% success just planting seeds straight in the soil as nature intended.
Oh yeah, Welcome to 420 Mag !

 

[Buds Buddy]

@Azimuth

Thank you, I think my ladies are beautiful and wish I hadn’t hurt them but I have to learn. I honestly think the just add water program would have them looking much better if I only added the right amounts. I’m getting there.
I'm not sure I like the miracle grow potting mix either and am looking for an alternative. Im not sure it’s the right soil for germination of seeds. My big girl liked it but everything else struggled.
I have 20 new seeds, 10 fem and 10 auto and 3 that my buddy gave me he had put away in a glass vial. He can’t remember what they were but told me he wouldn’t have put them aside like that if they weren’t pretty good. I think I’m going to do all 10 auto’s and 5 fem in the morning after work and maybe those three extras. I’d like to get a couple of mother’s going with these fem seeds and just clone from there while I hone my skills.

My buddy was taking concentrate for a few months and felt that it bought him some time. Once he was able to finish Making his arraignments and buttoning things up for his family I think is when he stopped. He’s still doing good and turned down hospice 2 months ago. I drive up to see him once a week, he’s about 40 miles away so he can’t get down to see my grow or else I’d have it dialed in better. I take him pics and videos when I visit.

Have you considered Re-Charge since you are only using water ? It's for organic type grows. I'm using SoHum Super Soil in one of my grows. That soil requires water only. But you can Super Charge your grow by adding Re-Charge every other watering. It's my first time using it, but the advice came from someone @Emilya that I pretty much consider a pro grower.

 

[Rolling Green]

Greetings Mattnatti,

Enjoy reading of your grow and looking at your pictures. Sorry to hear about your friend the Medicine Man although we are all headed that way sooner or later. He sounds like a great friend who thinks very highly of you and has taught you much over the years.

Your friend Medicine Man sounds like my friend Sam who was a farmer and had worked for since a little kid. He taught me how to take care of animals, slaughter, grow and harvest crops organically, weeds and bugs, to list a few of the most important things. I consider myself fortunate to have had someone like Sam to teach and guide me through life from a young age.

 

[Mattnatti]

@Bill284 thank you. I’ll be exploring the journal section this weekend. I have lots of notes, dates, temp/ RH readings etc. I took my notebook with me to my friends house this morning and he laughed, told Me he expected a teachers Apple after watching me walk in with notebook, iPad and ink pen in my pocket.

 

[Mattnatti]

@LKABudMan thank you

 

[Mattnatti]

@Azimuth
ha, I only can wish they all germinate and want tent space, with my skills I’m only hoping on 10-20% germination rate. I did question miracle grow potting mix for seedlings while I was at school.....errrr....visiting with my friend. He apologized for telling me MG potting mix for seeds. Dude has a lot on his mind so it’s all good, he steered me to seedling soil. I have some now and will plant seeds today. He also suggested dropping maybe 5 fems and 5 autos to start with using this better soil. I was hoping to get one or two mothers out of the fems, I only have two strains so wishing for one each.

 

[Mattnatti]

@Buds Buddy
thank you. I run AC ducting in and carbon fan out, no other fresh air intake. Before I added the AC I was just running the Carbon fan during veg and it wouldn’t keep it below 82-85* F with 60-80%RH running 24/7
I asked about the 6” while visiting my friend this morning because I read where a 5x5 needs 200cfm fan. Mine is 200 but I have a carbon filter, 1 90* bend and two 22-45* bends so that’s would choke my fan back some. Thinking back tho during veg, without a tent vent open that fan sucked that tent in pretty good, I didnt even think about what a 6” would do before I ordered. I may give serious thought to your suggestion and use it for intake and keep the 4” as is for exhaust instead of sending it back, maybe that set up would help keep the T/RH cycles acceptable without the AC.

As far as the recharge goes, I think I’ll ride this grow out with as much guidance from Jack as possible and he says “ just add water “ so That’s what I’ll do, out of respect. I will eventually blend in some growing techniques learned elsewhere with what he’s taught me. He keeps telling me he is jealous of my RH and temp cycles. He tells me that my quality will Improve With the cooler temps And the AC was a good investment.

thanks BB for the info, it makes sense and gives me a use for the 6” and I’ll do some research on the Re charge.

 

[Mattnatti]

@Rolling Green
thank you, I Can be long winded even if it is on a keyboard. Thanks for reading it through.
yes, Jack is good friend that will be missed by many when his time comes. I’m fortunate that he has spent the amount of Time on me and my grow over the past 3 months.

Similar to your friend Sam, my friend Jack has shown me a few things. 2005 he gave me a handful of nice clones mid to late summer and told me to find spots outdoors to grow them. He also loaned a pair of Night Vision binoculars so I could go check on them at night. Only one survived, it earned an A- grade from Jack, my effort, nice buds and quite a few for the short grow cycle and just adding water.
im hoping my first small little indoor grow will be at least a small success, I already have plans amd ideas to make the next one better.

 

[Azimuth]

Unless those seeds are really old or were stored poorly, you should get a  much higher germination rate than 10-20%.

If you have questions, ask. It usually comes down to simple environmental conditions, but should be pretty straightforward.

 

[Bill284]

@Bill284 thank you. I’ll be exploring the journal section this weekend. I have lots of notes, dates, temp/ RH readings etc. I took my notebook with me to my friends house this morning and he laughed, told Me he expected a teachers Apple after watching me walk in with notebook, iPad and ink pen in my pocket.

Keeping notes is very important.
If he gives you a hard time give him detention.
Hope your having a good weekend my friend.

Stay safe
Bill