parrajara
Well-Known Member
Hey folks,
Please note post is unfinished, but I've been trying to finish it for a few days and haven't had the time to. So I plan on coming back to update it as time permits. I have provided all of the details that I think are relevant to the current stage that I am in, but if there are any additional details you require please let me know!
I'd like to clarify that I made this thread with the intent of not wasting your time with commonly asked and redundant questions. I value it and intend of using it efficiently.
I will be starting my first grow within the next week. I have never planted or cared for a plant in my life, so I am as a beginner to growing as it gets; but I am very interested in learning this beautiful craft - and I want to do it properly. Since I will be starting my first grow soon (seed 24 hrs in paper towel as I type this), I wanted to drop down ALL of the information that I have gathered, with the hope that some of you seasoned growers can take a look at my plan and see if you have any suggestions/corrections for me. I hope this is the right sub-forum for this.
I will break this post down into the following sections:
The Environment:
The Plant & Accessories for Growing - 2 Plants
Since I would like to avoid liquid nutrients and such, this is what I thought would work on short notice. I'm not sure if I have time to let the medium and amendments properly break down before transplanting from my seedling mix to the vegetation and flowering mix. From the day I publish this thread, it should be another 2 weeks or so before I have to transplant (I believe).
Seedling mix:
Note: I have to put my germinated seed in a pot today, so I will continue editing and adding details to the vegetation stage in the days to come. That is the stage that I have the most doubts and questions about, but for now if you don't mind letting me know what you think of my seedling stage plan, I would really appreciate it. Thank you
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Vegetation: About 2 weeks after planting the germinated seed in the seedling starter mix, the plant should be getting into vegetation and the roots should be curling slightly around the bottom of the 5x6" pot (I hope). At this point I was planning on continuing to ease my plant into FoxFarm Ocean Forest (FFOF) soil for a week or so.
Harvesting: To be honest, I am have not started researching this stage in-depth yet. I am aware that you have to look for specific things indications that it's ready to harvest. Once it is, you have to let it dry for ____ weeks, then put it in a glass jar that you open once a week for 15-20 minutes (something like that). Anyway, this thread is more intended for acquiring help on the earlier stages.
Questions
I'd like to thank @013 and @Nunyabiz for providing valuable input that has helped me get here, and to all of the members that have contributed on the forum throughout the years - everything that is documented is extremely helpful. Thank you in advance to anyone that made it this far, and to those of you that provide your insight
Please note post is unfinished, but I've been trying to finish it for a few days and haven't had the time to. So I plan on coming back to update it as time permits. I have provided all of the details that I think are relevant to the current stage that I am in, but if there are any additional details you require please let me know!
I'd like to clarify that I made this thread with the intent of not wasting your time with commonly asked and redundant questions. I value it and intend of using it efficiently.
I will be starting my first grow within the next week. I have never planted or cared for a plant in my life, so I am as a beginner to growing as it gets; but I am very interested in learning this beautiful craft - and I want to do it properly. Since I will be starting my first grow soon (seed 24 hrs in paper towel as I type this), I wanted to drop down ALL of the information that I have gathered, with the hope that some of you seasoned growers can take a look at my plan and see if you have any suggestions/corrections for me. I hope this is the right sub-forum for this.
I will break this post down into the following sections:
- The Growing Equipment
- The Environment
- The Plant and Accessories for Growing
- The Growing Medium, Nutrients, Amendments, RH and Water
- Nutrients/Macro nutrients
- Feeding and watering schedule
- (More) Questions for you gurus
- Grow Tent: 2x4x6ft
- Lights: Full spectrum white LEDs, 400 actual wattage (two lamps with 200 actual watt each). They are active cooling (with fans), not passive (with heatsink)
- Exhaust: I have a 4" exhaust and carbon filter rated at 150CFM. I know this is on the lower end of the spectrum and a 6" is recommended, but I really am hoping this 4" one is enough - I've returned quite a few things to Amazon this month and don't want to get blacklisted lol. Will return and get a 6" if it will make a BIG deal. I don't care if the life expectancy of my fan is shorter, as long as I can get 2 years out of it.
- Intake: Passive, no intake fans.
- Fan: This is where I am not sure if one or two 6" clip on fans are necessary
- Humidity and Temperature: Thermometer and humidity monitor.
Average humidity in my home is about 55% RH, and temperature is 23C. I suspect this will be different inside my tent when it is closed and the lights are on. I am considering getting a humidifer/dehumidifier, but I am not sure if I need them to be honest. - Other: pH and TDS tester. I will be using citric acid for pH down and potassium bicarbonate for pH up. My pH tester comes with calibration solution, so that will work for now... Not sure how long I can expect it to last before re-calibrating.
- Location: I live in a 476 sq ft. studio. The tent will be in my "living room" which has thick carpet flooring. No direct airflow from any window, and no direct sunlight hitting the tent.
- Pest Attractants: Just my girlfriend and I, no pets, no other plants. My condo only has two windows located by the kitchen, at the far end of the apartment when you enter the unit. I am putting up the bug screen on the windows because we do occasionally find small flying bugs. Is this necessary? I really would prefer to keep my view unobstructed from the screen, but not at the expense of my plant's well-being.
- Temperature: I live in Downtown Vancouver, Canada. Winter is mild compared to most of Canada. I like to keep my apartment cool, but for the sake of the plants I will ensure the temperature is always above 20C. I'm not going crazy over keeping it at one specific temperature.. Right now my average room temperature at home is 23-24C.
- Humidity: As mentioned before, it is normally around 55% RH
The Plant & Accessories for Growing - 2 Plants
- Plant Type: Photoperiod Feminized Green Crack Kush. Now that I am learning more, I think Autoflower would've been best for my space, but too late... photoperiod will have to do for this grow. I also read that photoperiod is more forgiving and thus better for first time growers
- Pots: start germination in paper towel and transfer to 5x6" pot for seedling stage. In early veg, transplant to 5 gallon fabric pot
- Riser: Do you recommend I use plant risers to increase air flow?
- Drain: I put each plant/fabric pot over a plastic tote lid. Is this recommendable or are there better alternatives?
- Other: Twist ties for LST and materials needed for scrOG
Since I would like to avoid liquid nutrients and such, this is what I thought would work on short notice. I'm not sure if I have time to let the medium and amendments properly break down before transplanting from my seedling mix to the vegetation and flowering mix. From the day I publish this thread, it should be another 2 weeks or so before I have to transplant (I believe).
Seedling mix:
- Top (80-90% of the pot): 50-60% Dutch Treat (DT) starter mix soil, 30% perlite.
- Bottom (10-20%) of the pot: 1/3rd FFOF, 1/3rd DT soil and 1/3rd perlite. I am hoping that by doing so, it helps the plant start adapting to the FFOF right before transplanting to the 5 gallon pot. It may not make a huge difference, but I would like to experiment this if it's not a bad idea.
- Amendments: I wanted to use half the manufacturer recommended dosage of rhizotonic, mycorrhizae and azomite, but the guy at the hydro shop said it wasn't necessary. I still would like to hear feedback about adding these, as I am still inclined to try it on my next grow. Not a bad idea to ease on the spending for this grow...
- I did buy one amendment called Raw Grow Stage Microbes. I will put a little tiny bit in the hole where the seed is going to be planted.
- RH: I think 60% is ideal for the first two weeks. Since my house is 55% RH, I suspect that the heat from the lights will lower the RH near the seedlings. Therefore I plan on using a 2L pop bottle cut in half and placing it over the square 5x6" pot... However, if the bottle doesn't flush into the pot, since it is round, will it matter if it sits on top of the pot and there are small air gaps?
- Water: 6.2-6.8pH. I will not be going crazy over it, as long as it is within that range.
Does the temperature of the water matter? I plan on watering it very lightly once a day for the first week, and then on the second week water it a little more but every other day? Ratios and schedules for watering and top feeding is the area with the most ambiguity
Note: I have to put my germinated seed in a pot today, so I will continue editing and adding details to the vegetation stage in the days to come. That is the stage that I have the most doubts and questions about, but for now if you don't mind letting me know what you think of my seedling stage plan, I would really appreciate it. Thank you
---------------------------------------------
Vegetation: About 2 weeks after planting the germinated seed in the seedling starter mix, the plant should be getting into vegetation and the roots should be curling slightly around the bottom of the 5x6" pot (I hope). At this point I was planning on continuing to ease my plant into FoxFarm Ocean Forest (FFOF) soil for a week or so.
- Top (10% of 5 gallon pot): Same mix as the bottom of the seedling mix (1-1-1 ratio FFOF, DT and perlite).
- Bottom (90% of 5 gallon pot): 60% FFOF, 30% perlite, 10% EWC
- Nutrients: This is where things get confusing for me.... To my understanding, FFOF nutrients should last about 4 weeks, and the EWC may help a bit by then. My plan is to start feeding it around 4 weeks after transplant. I intend on giving it non-liquid nutrients, preferably organic... but I'm confused as to whether I can get organics that are instantly activated (or in short period), or if it's always months for them to "activate" together.
- Amendments:
- RH:
- Water:
Harvesting: To be honest, I am have not started researching this stage in-depth yet. I am aware that you have to look for specific things indications that it's ready to harvest. Once it is, you have to let it dry for ____ weeks, then put it in a glass jar that you open once a week for 15-20 minutes (something like that). Anyway, this thread is more intended for acquiring help on the earlier stages.
Questions
- After lightly watering during germination and seedling stage, I believe people water until run-off at the bottom of the pot. My question is; how much water do you typically need for a 5 gallon plant? If I mix amendments or nutrients with my water when feeding the plant, and I don't end up using the entire amount that I pre-made, does it all go to waste? Or do you keep it for later use?
- Similar to the previous question. If I end up making compost tea, if I don't end up using it all of the liquid, can I store it for next use? If so, are there any steps you must take before reusing it again?
I'd like to thank @013 and @Nunyabiz for providing valuable input that has helped me get here, and to all of the members that have contributed on the forum throughout the years - everything that is documented is extremely helpful. Thank you in advance to anyone that made it this far, and to those of you that provide your insight
I am planning on getting two clip on fans to replace this fan. Is it a bad idea to lay down the fan for the interim? until I get the clip on fans
