New Grower first auto grow

[auto_]

I ordered 5 blue mystics from Nirvana amd will be using those for this go around (because of advertised low odor). Ive read so much information but everyones opinion varies due to location and personal preference so I compiled what I thought was the best information on how to handle my own and wa4ted to post it here and see if anyone had any other advice or If Im missing anything.

Like i said i have 5 blue mystics from nirvana and i will be using a 75/25 mixture of coco coir and perlite in 15l pots. I will germinate them using the shot glass method (read it has best auto germination rates but i have no idea). Once taproot is visible it will go 1/4 in the coco coir on a 20/4 lighting schedule (this is my biggest grey area people swear by 24/0, 20/4, 18/6 so I choose the in between) I will start nutes 1.5 weeks in at 1/4 strength and slowly work them up to full strength, nutes will be advanced organic coco nutrients or fox fsrm hydroponic nutes not sure yet dyno gro seems good but I dont want to have to deal with the calcium def and magnesium problems down the road. Water is distalled jug water ph tested to 5.8 and lighting is 5 long bulb cfls as well as multiple regular size cfls (I dont have a set up for a hps and leds are so expensive at the time being) I will flully flush every other week
Ummmm yeah I dont know what else to add unless anyone has suggestions and wants to chime in on griwing space. Im using my closet so its gonna be a trial to have 5 plants going on cause I dont know what size they will actually get. Any help would be amazing.

 

[Trapper]

I'm by no means an expert but isn't Coco and Perlite a little "drainy"? as in not enough moisture retention? Seems like you'll be watering (and wasting nutes) constantly. And aren't hydro nutes for recirculating water systems, like DWC? Meant to be thrown into a soup that circulated via pumps as opposed to being a soil feed solution?

Hopefully a veteran will respond.

At any rate, Good Luck! Those Blue Mystics look delicious!

Cheers!

 

[namvet25]

Like Trapper said,that mix will not hold much water and a lot will drain right through the pot.If you like watering and feeding a lot than go for it but if this is your first grow I suggest you use a peat based mix like promix or sunshine mix,

 

[auto_]

I'm by no means an expert but isn't Coco and Perlite a little "drainy"? as in not enough moisture retention? Seems like you'll be watering (and wasting nutes) constantly. And aren't hydro nutes for recirculating water systems, like DWC? Meant to be thrown into a soup that circulated via pumps as opposed to being a soil feed solution?

Hopefully a veteran will respond.

At any rate, Good Luck! Those Blue Mystics look delicious!

Cheers!

From what I read you have to use the nutes when using coco coir cause u like soil coco comes with nothing added to it so you must provide everything and if you wanna use non hydro nutes you have to supplement with calmag for the calcium def and possibly magnesium problems you will encounter and in reference to using the coco it seemed like the cheapest soiless option I found

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Like Trapper said,that mix will not hold much water and a lot will drain right through the pot.If you like watering and feeding a lot than go for it but if this is your first grow I suggest you use a peat based mix like promix or sunshine mix,

Are those easily accessible like at most local stores or something I would need to order online?

 

[BillyMadison]

From what I read you have to use the nutes when using coco coir cause u like soil coco comes with nothing added to it so you must provide everything and if you wanna use non hydro nutes you have to supplement with calmag for the calcium def and possibly magnesium problems you will encounter and in reference to using the coco it seemed like the cheapest soiless option I found

dyna gro all the way brother! get the grow/bloom and their silica product 0-0-2 - a little hygrozyme if you want to get fancy.
I have used fox farms line and dyna gro's line (foliage pro, bloom and their silica product) loved it. Full of all the macros, micros, trace elements. gooood stuff.
got bad cal-mag deff w/fox farm as it was one of my first grows using their products. was easily fixed.

dyna gro is affordable and works amazing. serious. I stand by it - if it helps any. Hygrozyme helps with nutrient absorption and other things. It's like Advanced Nutrient's sensizyme, prob not as good but it works well.

Here is TaNg's Feeding Schedule - he has amazing results.

https://www.autoflower.org/f26/tangs-feeding-schedule-21301.html

You can essentially water or feed everyday with light mixes like coco/perlite. When the girls start taking off.

Something else that I seen is 5 blue mystics with no HID/LED...My advice here would be maybe grow 2 - make mistakes and learn from that grow as a lot of people recommend 10,000 lumens for a full blooming plant.

grow the other 3 with newly gained experience and possible upgrades by that time.

good luck

also, like others are saying, that is a light mix, some people put tubes over coco/perlite and drip water on it all day (top-feed drip system)

This would drown a heavy medium like garden soil.

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From what I read you have to use the nutes when using coco coir cause u like soil coco comes with nothing added to it so you must provide everything and if you wanna use non hydro nutes you have to supplement with calmag for the calcium def and possibly magnesium problems you will encounter and in reference to using the coco it seemed like the cheapest soiless option I found

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Are those easily accessible like at most local stores or something I would need to order online?

Try roots organic brother man, amazing quality stuff and it's what I personally recommend for beginners.

you could try a fox farm mix but that get's expensive. people mix fox farm happy frog/ocean forrest and warrior together.

you can purchase those mediums online or locally. go to their websites and use their tool's to find if a nursery or hydro store has them near by.

Shipping would be quite high for soil - Amazon sells a bag of ocean forrest on Prime for 50$ (rip off!)

Get a nice, light, structured soil or mix. Sunshine #4, Pro-Mix Bx with Mychorizae or HP (just added perlite vs Bx) , Fox farm mix, roots organic ORIGINAL soil - none of that fancy stuff. It's better if you don't have to feed as much as a beginner. Let the soil do the work. Also, indoor grows plus organic soils can equal gants, whiteflies, and stuff so heads up on that. (bags can come with larvae)

 

[auto_]

dyna gro all the way brother! get the grow/bloom and their silica product 0-0-2 - a little hygrozyme if you want to get fancy.
I have used fox farms line and dyna gro's line (foliage pro, bloom and their silica product) loved it. Full of all the macros, micros, trace elements. gooood stuff.
got bad cal-mag deff w/fox farm as it was one of my first grows using their products. was easily fixed.

dyna gro is affordable and works amazing. serious. I stand by it - if it helps any. Hygrozyme helps with nutrient absorption and other things. It's like Advanced Nutrient's sensizyme, prob not as good but it works well.

Here is TaNg's Feeding Schedule - he has amazing results.

https://www.autoflower.org/f26/tangs-feeding-schedule-21301.html

You can essentially water or feed everyday with light mixes like coco/perlite. When the girls start taking off.

Something else that I seen is 5 blue mystics with no HID/LED...My advice here would be maybe grow 2 - make mistakes and learn from that grow as a lot of people recommend 10,000 lumens for a full blooming plant.

grow the other 3 with newly gained experience and possible upgrades by that time.

good luck

also, like others are saying, that is a light mix, some people put tubes over coco/perlite and drip water on it all day (top-feed drip system)

This would drown a heavy medium like garden soil.

- - - Updated - - -



Try roots organic brother man, amazing quality stuff and it's what I personally recommend for beginners.

you could try a fox farm mix but that get's expensive. people mix fox farm happy frog/ocean forrest and warrior together.

you can purchase those mediums online or locally. go to their websites and use their tool's to find if a nursery or hydro store has them near by.

Shipping would be quite high for soil - Amazon sells a bag of ocean forrest on Prime for 50$ (rip off!)

Get a nice, light, structured soil or mix. Sunshine #4, Pro-Mix Bx with Mychorizae or HP (just added perlite vs Bx) , Fox farm mix, roots organic ORIGINAL soil - none of that fancy stuff. It's better if you don't have to feed as much as a beginner. Let the soil do the work. Also, indoor grows plus organic soils can equal gants, whiteflies, and stuff so heads up on that. (bags can come with larvae)

thank you you for all your input mate my next question is if I got my hands on say a 300 watt full spectrum led grow light could I supplement regular cfls for the under foliage and shady spots? I mean in my mind the more light you provide the higher your yield should be essentially (granted all other factors are perfect)

 

[BillyMadison]

thank you you for all your input mate my next question is if I got my hands on say a 300 watt full spectrum led grow light could I supplement regular cfls for the under foliage and shady spots? I mean in my mind the more light you provide the higher your yield should be essentially (granted all other factors are perfect)

with adequate cooling you (oscillating fan is one item for instance) you sure can :thumbs:

 

[spikerbiker]

I just got the same seeds from Nirvana, so am right behind you! Still working on my cabinet so not started yet. Can't wait to hear how it goes for you.

 

[auto_]

with adequate cooling you (oscillating fan is one item for instance) you sure can :thumbs:

I have the money now for a 400 watt hps but I'm scared simply cause I don't know how much heat it will put off in term don't know how much ventalation I'll need. I wanted to do this in my closet (I have a pretty large closet) but at the end of the day it's still a closet and if I hang a 400 watt hps I don't wanna burn my crib down at the same time what's that look like to a electricity bill?

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Could a 400 watt hps be safely used in a small tent? I don't know much about them in terms of heat, electricity consumptation, etc. I just know there the best

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[Trapper]

IMHO - Small, cramped space w/ substandard ventilation = LED