I’m new to the “hobby” of growing MMJ and have done quite a bit of reading. The one thing I’ve found is the more I read, I realize I need to read more. Education is key to any endeavor and this one is no different. So, I’ve decided to compile a few of my lessons learned after completing two grows and am now in my third. I hope that this will help some new growers as they are working their way through the growing process.
1. Read—a lot: There are some great forums on this site that will provide you with the answers to most of the questions asked. Learn how to use the search tool for the forums and bookmark (or subscribe) to some of the sticky posts.
Some of the forums I’ve bookmarked and refer back to frequently are:
How to Grow Marijuana Everything You Need to Know
Plant Abuse Chart
How to Ask for Grow Support
2. Follow other Growers: Depending on the type of grow you are doing, someone has already done it—successfully. Look through the Grow Journals and find one that closely matches what you are trying to accomplish. I am using LEDs in a Hydro setup, so I follow journals using similar methods. Read the journal from page 1 through the end before asking questions of the grower or other contributors. Nothing is more frustrating than having to answer the same question multiple times because you were too lazy to do the reading.
3. Don’t fall in love with your setup: I have seen people argue vehemently that they have the BEST system ever. Of course if you have spent a lot of time and money on building your system you don’t want to admit that it’s not the best. Every system has its own merits and I have toyed with three variations of mine. I will continue to tinker and look for ways to simplify the system and increase yields.
Don’t bash someone else’s system because you think you’re an expert grower. If you don’t have some great results using your setup, or are constantly making excuses for why your system didn’t perform then you shouldn’t be telling other growers that yours is the way to grow. Not everyone loves vanilla that’s why B&R sells 31 flavors.
4. Ask for help only when you’ve exhausted tips 1 and 2: I have read at least 4 new posts a day asking simple questions that should be common knowledge to every grower before they crack their first seed or take their first clone. If it is not common knowledge to you, then educate yourself first. Buy some books, read some journals and go through all of the FAQs on this and any other site. Google is a great resource too.
When you’ve exhausted all avenues and need to ask for help, please follow the guide lines posted:
How to Ask for Grow Support
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that is definitely the case here.
5. Don’t pass yourself off as an expert if you can’t back it up: I have read some spurious posts from people that are making some pretty outrageous claims. If you are making bold statements about a plants particular process, how certain wavelengths of light affect growth, how root development works, you better have some proof to back it up. There are a lot of first-time growers here that are looking for ways to improve yield, save money and grow some meds for their personal use.
• If you are giving out advice based on your gut feeling, please keep it to yourself.
• If you are an experienced (master) grower and have years of experience then please share.
• Unless you have a degree in microbiology, botany or another related science, don’t tell me that plants excrete waste from their roots. Advanced growing is a science and unless you possess the proper credentials please don’t pass on pseudo-science to the rest of us. If you find an interesting article from a peer-reviewed publication then please share it.
6. Share your experience online: Start a journal, even if you get no followers it will force you to take readings, measurements and give you a historical record of your grow so that you can either repeat it, or improve on it. If you do get some followers then you will reap the benefit of their input on what you’re doing. And let’s face it, we all want to brag about what we’re doing and talking about it at work or with your neighbors is just a bad idea.
7. Respect your fellow growers : Doesn’t require an lengthy explanation.
8. Support 420’s Sponsors: They help keep this community going and growing. When possible send business their way.
9. Support your local Hydro Shop: If you live in California, there’s a Hydro shop about as frequently as there are Starbuck’s. When you need to find that emergency item and can’t wait for it to be shipped you will need to visit them. If they don’t have a good customer base they won’t be able to stay in business to provide you that support.
My local guy is awesome, I get a 15% discount off of his best prices and that includes special order items. He and his staff are knowledgeable growers and can answer questions about your setup. They know what you’re growing so you don’t have to use the tomato analogy (unless you’re actually growing tomatoes).
10. Visit your collective/dispensary before you start your grow: This only really applies to growers that will be selling their excess meds to the dispensary. Find out what they are looking for in a vendor. Ask which strains are most in demand and also what they will pay for them. Ask to see/smell some of their top-shelf meds to better understand what they consider to be A+ quality meds.
The time to do that is not after you’ve spent 12 weeks growing, drying and curing to discover that your babies are not considered “marketable” because you bought seeds that appealed to you. They will still buy the meds but you won’t get top dollar for them. If you grow just for yourself not a big issue, but if you are growing for others find a strain that has mass-appeal. Find one that is not the basic/common strain but will be a bit unique and still retain the characteristics that the dispensary is looking for.
One of my local BT’s told me that they want “stanky”, didn’t care about name, if you don’t know the genetics. So for the next grow I will be using known genetics and finding the “stankiest” strain I can.
I hope this is of use to some of the new growers out there. I continue to learn something new every day about the art and science of growing and appreciate everyone’s feedback and support I’ve received.
1. Read—a lot: There are some great forums on this site that will provide you with the answers to most of the questions asked. Learn how to use the search tool for the forums and bookmark (or subscribe) to some of the sticky posts.
Some of the forums I’ve bookmarked and refer back to frequently are:
How to Grow Marijuana Everything You Need to Know
Plant Abuse Chart
How to Ask for Grow Support
2. Follow other Growers: Depending on the type of grow you are doing, someone has already done it—successfully. Look through the Grow Journals and find one that closely matches what you are trying to accomplish. I am using LEDs in a Hydro setup, so I follow journals using similar methods. Read the journal from page 1 through the end before asking questions of the grower or other contributors. Nothing is more frustrating than having to answer the same question multiple times because you were too lazy to do the reading.
3. Don’t fall in love with your setup: I have seen people argue vehemently that they have the BEST system ever. Of course if you have spent a lot of time and money on building your system you don’t want to admit that it’s not the best. Every system has its own merits and I have toyed with three variations of mine. I will continue to tinker and look for ways to simplify the system and increase yields.
Don’t bash someone else’s system because you think you’re an expert grower. If you don’t have some great results using your setup, or are constantly making excuses for why your system didn’t perform then you shouldn’t be telling other growers that yours is the way to grow. Not everyone loves vanilla that’s why B&R sells 31 flavors.
4. Ask for help only when you’ve exhausted tips 1 and 2: I have read at least 4 new posts a day asking simple questions that should be common knowledge to every grower before they crack their first seed or take their first clone. If it is not common knowledge to you, then educate yourself first. Buy some books, read some journals and go through all of the FAQs on this and any other site. Google is a great resource too.
When you’ve exhausted all avenues and need to ask for help, please follow the guide lines posted:
How to Ask for Grow Support
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that is definitely the case here.
5. Don’t pass yourself off as an expert if you can’t back it up: I have read some spurious posts from people that are making some pretty outrageous claims. If you are making bold statements about a plants particular process, how certain wavelengths of light affect growth, how root development works, you better have some proof to back it up. There are a lot of first-time growers here that are looking for ways to improve yield, save money and grow some meds for their personal use.
• If you are giving out advice based on your gut feeling, please keep it to yourself.
• If you are an experienced (master) grower and have years of experience then please share.
• Unless you have a degree in microbiology, botany or another related science, don’t tell me that plants excrete waste from their roots. Advanced growing is a science and unless you possess the proper credentials please don’t pass on pseudo-science to the rest of us. If you find an interesting article from a peer-reviewed publication then please share it.
6. Share your experience online: Start a journal, even if you get no followers it will force you to take readings, measurements and give you a historical record of your grow so that you can either repeat it, or improve on it. If you do get some followers then you will reap the benefit of their input on what you’re doing. And let’s face it, we all want to brag about what we’re doing and talking about it at work or with your neighbors is just a bad idea.
7. Respect your fellow growers : Doesn’t require an lengthy explanation.
8. Support 420’s Sponsors: They help keep this community going and growing. When possible send business their way.
9. Support your local Hydro Shop: If you live in California, there’s a Hydro shop about as frequently as there are Starbuck’s. When you need to find that emergency item and can’t wait for it to be shipped you will need to visit them. If they don’t have a good customer base they won’t be able to stay in business to provide you that support.
My local guy is awesome, I get a 15% discount off of his best prices and that includes special order items. He and his staff are knowledgeable growers and can answer questions about your setup. They know what you’re growing so you don’t have to use the tomato analogy (unless you’re actually growing tomatoes).
10. Visit your collective/dispensary before you start your grow: This only really applies to growers that will be selling their excess meds to the dispensary. Find out what they are looking for in a vendor. Ask which strains are most in demand and also what they will pay for them. Ask to see/smell some of their top-shelf meds to better understand what they consider to be A+ quality meds.
The time to do that is not after you’ve spent 12 weeks growing, drying and curing to discover that your babies are not considered “marketable” because you bought seeds that appealed to you. They will still buy the meds but you won’t get top dollar for them. If you grow just for yourself not a big issue, but if you are growing for others find a strain that has mass-appeal. Find one that is not the basic/common strain but will be a bit unique and still retain the characteristics that the dispensary is looking for.
One of my local BT’s told me that they want “stanky”, didn’t care about name, if you don’t know the genetics. So for the next grow I will be using known genetics and finding the “stankiest” strain I can.
I hope this is of use to some of the new growers out there. I continue to learn something new every day about the art and science of growing and appreciate everyone’s feedback and support I’ve received.
brother!
