Started Without A Clue

[OHaPpY2]

mega crop is easy to learn and use for a first timer. also the most cost effective.


light is a pandora's box for a new grower. this is where you want to invest, and good light costs.
it's the most important thing you will do.

don't cheap out and be mindful of the hype. on this board i like @Budget LED, @NextLight, there are a couple others. mars is popular here as well, they have a super strong sponsorship presence. i would call them choice 3, but have a look, they are a common budget go to. @SmokeSara is the on board rep. ( full disclosure - pray for them - good people in a bad system )

consider all three. for led tech you want either a quantum board, led strip, or cob based fixture. white light is the right light. the day of burple is over. quantum boards and strip style are all the rage. the first two suggestions are perfect examples of the tech.

cob is a bit older but still a good choice, i run cob - acronym for chip-on-board. it's a self build so i have no skin in this game. there is no longer a cob based sponsor, but timbergrow is a builder to look at for examples.

there are good diy builds in strip and cob on this board that rivals or exceeds anything pre-built for piles less if you are inclined.


stay the hell away from amazon ali baba etc until you understand the tech and know exactly what you are buying. stick with decent brands until then. good luck and welcome to a great new world ....

Ok got my series 3+ full series light from budgetLED. Should be here today. My makeshift box should do for now(insulated with reflective tape inside) but I am in between sizes and brand of grow boxes!? Any suggestion there? Would really like a small size with filter included!
Also my first Auto got ate by a cricket started 2 more...1 Amnesia Haze and 1 white widow, both auto, doing fantastic two weeks in! My plant from bag seed is also looking good, one month in and fox farm nutes should be here by end of week.

 

[OHaPpY2]

This is my first grow also, however I have spent probably 100 hours researching (not kidding) and at the risk of being wrong, here's some random thoughts/suggestions/comments:

• You're off to a bad start already - why begin sprouting seeds when it seems you have no plan yet. Start making a plan ASAP
• Determine your growing medium - are you doing to go with soil, coco or hydro
• Once you understand your growing medium, determine your nutes you will use (there are different nutes depending on soil vs. coco/hydro
• Learn the differences in PH ranges for different soils as they're not one-size-fits-all
• Determine how many plants you want to grow and what sizes they typically are, then pick a tent/grow area
• Once you understand the previous two bullets, you need to find the right lighting...learn different PAR ratings and u/mol's so you optimize the light you provide and thus photosynthesis rates for your area
• Determine what other tools you will need, i.e. PH pen, PPM pen, watering containers, etc.
• Determine what type of water are you going to use - tap, RO, Distilled...this can determine necessity of nutes, e.g. RO/Distilled may/will require use of Cal-Mag
• Learn the nutrient deficiency charts or know how to reference them when you run into issues...you probably will
• Determine how you may want to train them and what the general best practices are for Photo's, Auto's,etc

Those are just basics honestly. But given based on the lack of information you shared and the fact you already started germinating them, you should realize you've got the cart in front of the horse. Stop, think, plan and then do. Get the horse in front of the cart.

Best of luck!

Should have cleared that up! Have one bag seed started in coco, FF trio otw. 1st auto got eaten, made a box up to prevent this with insulated reflective material. Bought full spec series 3 light from budgetLED, have all materials to check pH/nutes/EC/PPM/temp/humidity. Been riding on 7.0 and believe I should lower atp. Very helpful advice...thank you!

 

[OHaPpY2]

Correct look at my sig and you will see how I think.

I read this before I posted hoping you’d see and join me

 

[OHaPpY2]

It is difficult to give you precise advice, because you have yet to decide how you want to accomplish your goal. Yes, we'd all like the weed fairy to drop off our favorite flavors... We could list off a bunch of merchandise for you to order, but without a budget or goal stated, we can't help you effectively.

An average grow cycle can take @ 4 months, seed to harvest. This doesn't even include curing your harvest (another month). Are you trying to keep yourself in ganja this entire time? Longer? Everyone's usage total for this amount of time is different.

PistolPete80 and Bluter are dead on.

MegaCrop and some HP Promix is a simple way to get you started on the nutritional side.

LED grow Lights should be your most expensive investment. You will use these for this grow and every future grow. Pick one that is strong enough to cover the square footage of your environment in flower. (Flower is when the light is needed most)
You can always run down to Home Depot and get a small 70 Watt grow light, to keep your new plant illuminated while you research what you want for your more permanent "future investment" solution.

Light bought, box made (having trouble deciding on grow tent) want one small but with all bells and whistles!.....FF nutes to arrive shortly along with tools to monitor.

 

[OHaPpY2]

Also, keep in mind that while there is a LOT of help here, we often disagree. It's always best to consider more than one 'opinion'.

As an example: Nun and I disagree on what he said above. I let my coco go to water every other day. And, in fact that is what the manufacturer of coco recommends.

Constant wet is not good for roots, and promotes bugs.

************

Coco is a great medium to grow in, and they make nutes for it. They are natural, or organic in nature so not easy. BUT, any nutes can be used.
I would not recommend the stuff I use as it is very commercial in nature, sold in 40 lb bags for large grows.
I would suggest simple as being the key word. Simple. So, don't go organic. Your plants cant tell the difference between a molecule of nitrogen that fell out of a cows bladder and one that fell out of a laboratory somewhere.
For your first grow, keep it simple.
Go online and google search "cannabis nutrients" and find a good two part system.

Very helpful and informative! TYSM! Have lights, FF nutes, would like opinion on grow boxes if you could?

 

[OHaPpY2]

don't worry auggie i think we chased the poor bastard away already ...

Nope not going anywhere! LOL my problem is there is so much info didn’t really know where to start! I’m a nurse to getting to molecular level and understanding it is kinda interesting but I knew I wouldn’t completely see without getting I there and getting it done so I went for it!! First preflowers for bagseed and it looks good but idk what I’m looking at quite yet? Should I be more patient?

 

[OHaPpY2]

If you want to buy a cost-effective light, I suggest you consider Mars Hydro TS series leds. what's the size of space do you plan to grow?

Mars Hydro

Welcome to our website.

www.mars-hydro.com

2x2x4 looking for tent here is the light I thought looked ok

 

[OHaPpY2]

Larger plant from bagseed: started 8-23-20, pH 7.....also read about topping and tried it(yesterday) just to do so! Last 2 pictures: Both started 9-11-20 smaller plant WW Auto, tad bit larger plant AH Auto.
Seem to be going well... light also in pics. Any suggestion on grow tent brands for small 2x2x4 space is welcomed!

 

[Enr0n]

Sorry I do indoor but have a room dedicated to it so can't help with the tent.

 

[OHaPpY2]

Sorry I do indoor but have a room dedicated to it so can't help with the tent.

Oh how I wish I had a closet!....I have a heated garage just would like it to have its own closed off area.

 

[OHaPpY2]

Decided to give update and hopefully you guys will join in. Have mother plant still that has been topped and pruned repeatedly because I have the 2 autos and have no idea how to “keep them on one accord” so still wingin it there! and just continuing to cafe for them all, AH has gone into full blown flower. I don’t start counting at the time she preflowered just when I could see she had pistils coming together more so than just a few wisps; she now has little budlets all over!!! Yayyy me!WWxCM has started as of last week both planted 9/11/20. Defoliated a bunch because I had a few spots of WPM on top of the coco, added 2 more small fans and it is keeping at bay. Have the same light but also ordered a second to assist with flowering (I felt it wasn’t enough spread as they began to get bushier) light to arrive tm!Continuing with FF trio +Camg I understand some like molasses some disagree decided to give it a go for the first time yesterday and will try once a week maybe This has been a fun experimental first grow! Had a few issues with fungus gnats , the WPM as mentioned, high PPM (no nute burn, total confusion but backing off ATP just to be sure) Also, should I have pistols already browning some are most aren’t....Please join me until the end! Happy

 

[OHaPpY2]

After defoliating last week. Above pics are last night before lights out

 

[OHaPpY2]

New light + current both from BudgetLED

 

[OHaPpY2]

This morning pics right at lights on. Opinions? I believe the WWxCM is going to start budlets in next week or so...I’ve been trying 11/13 idk why...should I stop this and start 12/12 or is it too late to go with 18/6 being I’m in flower ATP? And the photo is also in this tent...she’s beautiful I just don’t know what to do with her at this point, probably shouldn’t have started autos and photo grow together for first time on both definitely been knowledgeable on seeing the difference, just hard to keep track of water/feed/light schedules for em. I’m also very hands on can’t help it I like to see thingsany advice/constructive criticism welcome

 

[OHaPpY2]

Shit forgot pics Also, ran out of Big Bloom so I’ve used camag+tiger bloom last two days (adding molasses just yesterday) the girls ate em up with ppm going down and wanting more through the day. This AM gave the trio and numbers were way high for flowering AH. PPM:1382 TDS:3021 PH: 5.3 which is down from usual 5.5-5.7 any ideas?

 

[OHaPpY2]

Today’s pics lights down low. Fed this AM-=pH 5.5-5.9 runoff PPM=1100-1300 Extra light been in since just yesterday after adjusting to new bigger light I threw the smaller in as well! Close up is of photo going into flower. Also did some super cropping to keep low.

 

[Stoned Ape]

Big difference in 4 days. Nice

 

[OHaPpY2]

Big difference in 4 days. Nice

Appreciated!

 

[OHaPpY2]

Really want to defoliate today! Or should I keep my hands off?! I defoliate A LOT, like too much I feel but I can’t keep my hands off keep them as they are or keep em clean?

 

[OHaPpY2]

Did it!! Girls are down at lights out so pics in AM to see if we perk back up