First Ever Grow: Learning Every Step Of The Way

[FlyinNumb]

So this is my first ever grow. What a learning curve!!! Let me preface by saying currently my wife is the Medical card holder until I retire. Then I will have one as well.

So I’m growing in a 2x2x4 to get things going with a Mars1000. Hopefully in a few weeks the 8’x20’x6’ will be complete and ready for the flip. Clearly I’m going to have to keep them short and bushy with only a 6’ ceiling.

Currently we are day 35. Still in 1 gallon pots with Terracraft soil mixed with some extra perlite. I have been feeding and extra 200 PPM of BioThrive.

I topped the plants last week.

thanks for any suggestions.

 

[TorturedSoul]

this is my first ever grow

in a few weeks the 8’x20’x6

Wow, that's ambitious. How many thousand watts worth of lighting are you going to run in there? Eight? Have you figured out what the electrical budget for a grow space that size will be, and made sure that you have enough circuits available? And what it'll add to the electric bill each month?

 

[FlyinNumb]

Wow, that's ambitious. How many thousand watts worth of lighting are you going to run in there? Eight? Have you figured out what the electrical budget for a grow space that size will be, and made sure that you have enough circuits available? And what it'll add to the electric bill each month?

just got 2 led lights that will flower a 5x10. Plenty of electric.

 

[TorturedSoul]

Must be powerful lights...

Anyway, my apologies. I had assumed that you were planning to use the entire 160 ft.² space for your grow. As you are not, you would get better use from your lights if you confined their output (in other words, boxed in the 5'x10' grow space).

 

[FlyinNumb]

Must be powerful lights...

Anyway, my apologies. I had assumed that you were planning to use the entire 160 ft.² space for your grow. As you are not, you would get better use from your lights if you confined their output (in other words, boxed in the 5'x10' grow space).

gotcha. Leaving room for growth and veg tent. I am planning on doing a SCROG and wanted a little room to get around the sides.

 

[FlyinNumb]

Gave them a little hair cut today. See what they look like in a week.

 

[FlyinNumb]

Moved to the new grow room. Looked and felt a little dry. Really going through the water. Increased the neuts at touch.

 

[FlyinNumb]

Back in the tent. Grow room Heat and AC coming. Too much temp fluctuation.

swapped over to 3 gallon pots.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Welcome

Yes there is a lot to learn and IMO you came to a good place to do that.
You say that they are taking a lot of water... are you waiting for your pots to become very light before you water again? They look like perhaps their feet are a tad wet orrrr it could be a bit rootbound, I bet they will take off in the bigger pots.

I've recently learned that up potting a little at a time can produce some crazy fast growth. Pots become rootbound in just a few days. Strong roots make nice fruits, place your plants as high as possible in their pots to give the roots maximum room to grow. I see you've done that... very nice.

Read and react is your best tool, take a good look every day and read all the little signs that your plants are giving you. They love to talk, we have a hard time listening to them = take your time and try to recognize the signs you will learn faster. React with caution though as we are not always right with our diagnosis.

Oh I see you have been studying for quite some time now... carry on.

 

[FlyinNumb]

So question...... as mentioned I am using Terracraft soil. How do I determine how much BioThrive to add??? Am I correct in saying the Terracraft has its own Nutrients??? Don’t want to mix it up too hot and burn them......

 

[FlyinNumb]

Day 44 in veg. Figured out that I needed to add more neuts. When I would water the plants would look great for 2 days and then would start drooping but the dirt was still wet. Bumped up to 4 tsp per gallon and much better.

Still training with LST because the ceiling in my flower room is only 6 foot. Short and bushy with lots of nodes is what I am going for.