New Grower Expert GROWER HELP ME!

[briman]

There are also some light units in the 250w range that have the balast built in and are switchable between MH and HPS. You buy the unit 2 bulbs and have the best of both worlds.

NO on the pro-mix all purpose. It has nutrient charge in it for 9 months and will burn the crap out of your plants and kill them, plus you will only be in your medium for up to 12 weeks. Look for PRO-MIX BX with MH/HPS!! Or Sunshine Mix #4(lowes or Home Depot) Both great airy mediums that are pretty forgiving.

Fox Farms is good, but the mineral salts build up pretty good, so a flush between veg and bloom will help. Just go lite. There are many Fox Farms Feed Schedules here on AFN from several growers, use the search bar!

pots-3 gallon no less I would go with smart pots, they are cheap and you can reuse them and they make bigger, better plants than plastic pots.
Ph meter a must. empty 5 gallon bucket airstone and air pump and you are off and running!!!

oh yeah, ph up and down!! Then you are set to grow trees!!

 

[blue]

Nice answers in here.
Just chucking in my pennies worth.

One plant per pot works best for me (I've multipotted plenty of times, but it rarely works out beneficial)

If you're stuck on the idea of 250 HPS, you could just get a (sylvana) HPS with extended blue spectrum. I've used them start to finish on many auto grows and they did just fine.

Bare in mind- if your space is small - a 250w HPS will kick out a decent amount of heat. my 60cmx60cmx180cm cab would run at about 85f on a coolish day with (really) good extraction and air exchange.
If you live in a warm place, I'd consider some of the latest generation LEDs. My cab runs about 15f cooler with it.

If you want another opinion on medium (soils etc) - I love using "canna coco professional plus" - It's consistantly clean and reliable. I water just like the soil guys do, but keep a lower PH. If you want some info on that, hit me up!

PH pen is Insanely important you're flying blind without one.

Blues top beginner trick:

Put your pot on little stilts (feet) so that when you water to 10% run off, the pot isn't stood in water. (simple i know, but worth saying). Also saves you emptying the run off every time - which is great for me becauase of space restrictions.

Watering to run off will help to keep any salts building up in the medium, it pushes them through keeping the medium nice and healthy for the roots to grow in. (I don't need to flush at any point doing this)

Don't water your seedling to run off though you'll possibly drown it. Wait until you've got 8-10 inches height before you do.

Pot size. I like 6 litre pots myself. tried 11 litres and didn't really see much benefit. (but then again, i can only grow a plant "so" big becuase of my space restrictions (width and height)

All the best
Blue ^_^

 

[AutoWanKenobi]

So I been reading what you guys have been saying and taking notes the modern way.... Copy/paste lol ... Anywho I just wanna share with you guys everything I'm gonna do and how I plan to start. Btw I haven't decided were to grow yet... I'm thinking a closet lined in foil.. Let me kno what you think about that.

List of thing I need for a grow:


1. PH Meter
2. Measuring spoons
3. Medicinal dropper/Syringes
4. Duct tape
5. Razor blades and or Surgical blade
6. Tweezers
7. 30x or higher microscope
8. Thermometer/hygrometer
9. Scissors
10. 24 hr timer
11. Spray bottles
12. Various tools -(hammer, nails, cordless drill w/bits, screwdrivers, staple gun, etc.
13. Measuring Tape/Level (laser model preferred)
14. Watering Can\Pump powered breaker watering head
15. Rubbing alcohol/Isopropyl
16. Cali Clean - specialization - ORGANIC PEST REMOVAL SAFE FOR ALL STAGES, EXCEPT DIRECTLY ONTO BUD
17. Spring-loaded clothes drying pins
18. Vacuum sealer
19. Labeling - Marker (Permanent), Labels
20. GT50 - Ionic Air purifier - Ozone
21. HOT SHOT PEST STRIP
22. Dowel Rods
23. Pruning sheers/Trimmer
24. 3 gallon pots


Soil:
Sunshine Mix #4 (home depo)
Check Ph of soil; soil between 6.3-6.8.in PH


Lights:
for small set up there are 75w, 150w and 250w HPS light systems that dont produce that much heat.
250-Watt HPS White Plant Grow Light Kit (home depo)
There are also some light units in the 250w range that have the balast built in and are switchable between MH and HPS. You buy the unit 2 bulbs and have the best of both worlds.


Nutrients:
Fox Farm 3 pack combo:
Never used Fox farm trio but a general rule is to start feeding at 1/4 or less of the dosage instructions on the label. Also, your soil type plays a factor too. Like I said earlier, some soil types have nutrients already included. If you went that route, you would not have to feed for a few weeks.
Fox Farms is good, but the mineral salts build up pretty good, so a flush between veg and bloom will help. Just go lite. There are many Fox Farms Feed Schedules here on AFN from several growers, use the search bar!
...


Water:
PH water 6.5


Humidity:
make sure ur temps and humidity in ur grow area are pretty stable 75-85 degrees and round 50% humidity more if u can during seedling stage


Questions to ask...
how to lower ph of water?
Does ec values matter when using low nutes?
Does the ph of water have to be 6.5?

 

[briman]

Foil is a NO NO! It doesn't reflect well and creates hot spots and can burn your ladies. Panda film or white paint is the where its at. I would suggest a grow tent and put it in your closet.

lower ph with PH down(grow store) lime(dolomite) lemon juice or vinegar
ph up with PH up(grow store) or Baking Soda.
NEVER both, if you go too far up or down!!!

If you are starting out with 1/4 nutes at week 2, no, ec doesn't matter.
Ph of your feed should be roughly 6.3-6.4 going in.

Great list and doing your homework in advance is going to save you time and money in the long run!! There are several places on the web, where you can get a complete setup, with a 250w package for under 500 usd! Some of that stuff on your list is not a necessity.

 

[AutoWanKenobi]

Briman hey thanks,
your reply time is great... I may just buy ph up and down
lets talk grow space, so panda film, I'll put that on the list, and the grow rooms I've been looking at all day here's one I found, check it out

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00725XBMK...lid=3B9NZVSTX82I3&coliid=I3GYEREYU2P7N7&psc=1

I'm debating on either buying this or just growing in the closet, if I buy the tent, it will be my first purchase, other than my seeds, which I have already (auto bio diesel mass, auto vertigo, and super Cali haze).

Now should I just go ahead and grow in the closet or is the tent worth it,
and I know some of the things on my list aren't necessary, it will be simplified.
if you know of a site that has the whole setup just drop my the link, if I like enough and I purchase it, I'm dedicating my first plant to you :grat:

 

[briman]

Appreciate it mate, but dedicate it to yourself first!! Nothing like growing out your first lady!! That tent is a good one. The most important thing to consider in tents and lights, is you want 50w per square ft. to be optimum for your setup. Its up to you, but I like grow tents. You can better regulate the temps in a tent where as in a closet, your temps are what they are inside the house.
You have a great seed line up and be careful of the super cali haze will get huge and is a super auto that takes 100+ days from seed.
As far as where to get the complete packages, I dont work for any companies or web site, so look into the bigger sites, like growershouse or monstergardens. Just make sure you have a good carbon filter and with the size tent/light you were looking for, a 4 inch carbon filter, fan and ducting is what you are looking for.
hope this helps.

 

[AutoWanKenobi]

Is this what you mean,

http://www.amazon.com/VenTech-Inlin..._indust_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MKJATZJSGME2GRSYCR7

do I need that long silver thing as well

 

[briman]

Yes, that is your odor control and trust me, you will need it!! After about your 3-4 week into growing, the smell will start to take over your home. This is one of THE most important tools in a tent or closet!! If you are not a licensed grower or have a mmj card or even if you have those, you are going to need one!! I have found that you want a reputable brand than a e-bay carbon filter. It will last longer and better quality. check em out on the web sites I gave you.

 

[AutoWanKenobi]

Ordered one off Amazon today, also just wanted to share this


SHIT JUST GOT REAL!!

 

[Anthropolis]

I got the Ventech 6" Fan and filter combo and very glad I did. The filter is frigin enormous and overkill for my tiny tent, but works flawlessly. I almost thought maybe I could cheap out and not get one, lol yeah right. It exhausts the heat well, and the few times I have it off for awhile when adding CO2, it gets mad smelly up in there. BTW the listing for it says that the filter may need its carbon replaced in a year or two, well the top of it is riveted. So replacing the carbon will require drilling out the rivets and replacing them with screws afterwards. Not a big deal for me, but could be an issue for some. I would have thought it would have been screwed, since the description mentioned replacement of the carbon. Doh!