First timer needs mentoring

[Krimzontide13]

Hey guys I'm a first time grower here. Growing for medicinal purposes, my wife was paralyzed in an auto accident in 2015 so I'm trying for her physical pain and my own emotional pain. I've started out with some Super Lemon Haze autos in a 2x2x4 closet tent under a 600w led. Using natures living autoflower in living soil setup. I have 3 plants going, all about 5-7 days apart with my oldest girl being about 12 days from seed. I have good airflow, fan, 365 c02 bag,

humidifier and stay stable at around 75degrees and 55RH under an 18/6 schedule. I have teas ready to brew, I dont ph water because I've mostly read the ph lowering stuff (which I did buy) would harm the soil life and that it should ph itself. My only question so far is should I be running my lights on veg or veg+bloom ? Any tips or thoughts would be endlessly appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read if you came this far

 

[Cotarakos]

Hey guys I'm a first time grower here. Growing for medicinal purposes, my wife was paralyzed in an auto accident in 2015 so I'm trying for her physical pain and my own emotional pain. I've started out with some Super Lemon Haze autos in a 2x2x4 closet tent under a 600w led. Using natures living autoflower in living soil setup. I have 3 plants going, all about 5-7 days apart with my oldest girl being about 12 days from seed. I have good airflow, fan, 365 c02 bag,

humidifier and stay stable at around 75degrees and 55RH under an 18/6 schedule. I have teas ready to brew, I dont ph water because I've mostly read the ph lowering stuff (which I did buy) would harm the soil life and that it should ph itself. My only question so far is should I be running my lights on veg or veg+bloom ? Any tips or thoughts would be endlessly appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read if you came this far

Veg light for seedling ,once seedlings get 3 nods then switch both light and I recommend ph your water so your plant will absorb nutrients you don't want to lock out your root system..

 

[Krimzontide13]

Hey thanks for the input! That was kinda where I was heading myself I figured about the time for LST I would flip them both on so that's cool thanks man. As for ph what number should I aim for? I've read so many diff things about using the natures autoflower soil , half seem to think ph'ing kills the microbial life an half say you should just to be safe for roots, an then some say it wont matter either way lol

 

[Modest Grower]

for soil I shoot for a PH between5.8 and 6.5. I too have seen varying recommendations but I do not yet grow in living soil. Someday I will get there but there are some experts here that can certainly help. I would check out journals from @Emilya on the subject. I will be following along if you don't mind

 

[Krimzontide13]

Thanks for the welcome and advice, I'm in love with this community already lol I'll check her out see what I can learn, feel free to follow along, I'll try to keep it updated often as I spend alot of time in "the garden"

 

[Emilya Green]

Hey thanks for the input! That was kinda where I was heading myself I figured about the time for LST I would flip them both on so that's cool thanks man. As for ph what number should I aim for? I've read so many diff things about using the natures autoflower soil , half seem to think ph'ing kills the microbial life an half say you should just to be safe for roots, an then some say it wont matter either way lol

In a true living soil grow where the microbes are feeding the plants from the minerals already built into the soil, there is no need to adjust pH. The microbes don't care about pH. You also need to run non chlorinated water with a living soil, or the chemicals will also kill your microbes and stop the feeding cycle in that soil. Living soil is a balancing act and adding things based on recommendations from the internet has killed many a grow. I would look into products like URB, Voodoo Juice or RealGrower's Recharge, to build up the microbe population in your containers on a regular basis... and then you shouldnt need to do anything else but add good water.

 

[MochaBud]

to Krim ...Listen to Auntie Em and you'll be fine...I like all that stuff in your tent...I've never had a soil tester, or Co2 drip, hell I don't even have a temp gauge ...man I'm behind the times

 

[Krimzontide13]

In a true living soil grow where the microbes are feeding the plants from the minerals already built into the soil, there is no need to adjust pH. The microbes don't care about pH. You also need to run non chlorinated water with a living soil, or the chemicals will also kill your microbes and stop the feeding cycle in that soil. Living soil is a balancing act and adding things based on recommendations from the internet has killed many a grow. I would look into products like URB, Voodoo Juice or RealGrower's Recharge, to build up the microbe population in your containers on a regular basis... and then you shouldnt need to do anything else but add good water.

 

[Krimzontide13]

Thank you for the help! I've got a bag of growers recharge ordered so ill have it ready an on hand when the time comes. I've been bubbling my tap water overnight with a couple air stones as well and only light watering when the soil was dry(about every other day). I think so far there doing really well, my oldest (almost 14 days) is a lush green, very symmetrical and is starting to develop nodes an move upwards. They seem very happy I just wanna do everything I can to keep them that way thanks Em!!

 

[Krimzontide13]

to Krim ...Listen to Auntie Em and you'll be fine...I like all that stuff in your tent...I've never had a soil tester, or Co2 drip, hell I don't even have a temp gauge ...man I'm behind the times

Thanks for the welcome! Em def seems to be well informed so I think I will listen closely to her advice lol

 

[Emilya Green]

Thank you for the help! I've got a bag of growers recharge ordered so ill have it ready an on hand when the time comes. I've been bubbling my tap water overnight with a couple air stones as well and only light watering when the soil was dry(about every other day). I think so far there doing really well, my oldest (almost 14 days) is a lush green, very symmetrical and is starting to develop nodes an move upwards. They seem very happy I just wanna do everything I can to keep them that way thanks Em!!

bubbling or setting water out does not dechlorinate it, if your municipality uses chloramine. They use this new product because it does not evaporate or boil away, and it is much cheaper for the city to use.
This small amount of chlorine will eventually slow down the microbes in your soil. Either use RO water or a good trick is to fill your bathtub with water and put one big vitamin c tablet in there and mix it all up. All of the chlorine and chloramine drops to the bottom of the tub as sediment. Bottle it up and use it freely in your organic grows.
The recharge product however is so strong that if you water every time using the full dosage, even tap water chlorine cant do away with all the microbes. Good purchase!

 

[Krimzontide13]

In a true living soil grow where the microbes are feeding the plants from the minerals already built into the soil, there is no need to adjust pH. The microbes don't care about pH. You also need to run non chlorinated water with a living soil, or the chemicals will also kill your microbes and stop the feeding cycle in that soil. Living soil is a balancing act and adding things based on recommendations from the internet has killed many a grow. I would look into products like URB, Voodoo Juice or RealGrower's Recharge, to build up the microbe population in your containers on a regular basis... and then you shouldnt need to do anything else but add good water.

Ok cool! I'm gonna look into the chlorination problem this morning, I may try the bathtub trick that seems like it would be fairly easy an convenient. One question I have for helping the soil life, would brewing teas (molasses and a few tablespoons of fresh NLS) be a solid way of keeping the soil charged? I have plenty of it still and had actually brewed a 1 gal test run last night an when I checked it this morning it was a nice brown color, dirty suds up top and didnt smell to bad..

 

[Emilya Green]

actively aerated compost teas, made with the right raw ingredients and brewed in the correct order and for the correct amount of time, can be very beneficial... but that takes a lot of study and raw materials to do correctly. You might have brewed up a couple of species of beneficial microbes, but nothing like what recharge can do. Just trust the recharge... use it every watering.

 

[Silverfox125]

Welcome to the community. You’ve been given great advice. I hope you get the relief you both deserve

 

[Krimzontide13]

Ahh thanks man, it's very much appreciated! Cant explain how excited we are to have found a home to share our journey with ✌ I've already made some big changes an purchased some recommended items the community has already pointed me towards and my first girl couldn't seem to be doing any better so far!

 

[GIjose]

Welcome to the site! Lots of good info here. Good luck with your grow.

 

[Krimzontide13]

actively aerated compost teas, made with the right raw ingredients and brewed in the correct order and for the correct amount of time, can be very beneficial... but that takes a lot of study and raw materials to do correctly. You might have brewed up a couple of species of beneficial microbes, but nothing like what recharge can do. Just trust the recharge... use it every watering.

So just a quick update from last week, I've been watering and feeding with recharge and honestly I feel like these girls are right on track for starting week 3! Thanks so much for the advice Em **the small blue pot is the same strain (planted 2 weeks behind the organic pots), but I'm using FF bottle nutes instead just to kinda play around and learn but it seems to be going pretty well too so far.

 

[Krimzontide13]

So it's been a while guys but I just wanted to share a quick update on my 2 Super Lemon Haze girls.. hope everyone is staying inside these days ! Been in quarantine for a week now it's crazy! *also pictured in the corner are two bloody skunks and a northern lights stuffed in the back at about 32 days. Around day 65 from seed on the big girls and still truckin

 

[JWPcinders]

That looks like a nice little setup!

 

[McRib]

you look like you're on your way to some nice meds