New Grower Help I am new I dont what to do.

[joshua311]

Basically to start off I have no idea what is the difference between soil mix and soilless mixes. I understand one is soil and the other is not but what I am asking is do soilless mixes have the nutrients needed to grow the auto flower? I going to start my grow using roots organic. Is that to much or should I go with a soilless mix? As you can tell I don't know the difference.

 

[seraphim19]

first let me say welcome to the family, you are going to love it here.

now down to business.

I found this write up from the makers of roots organic soil

"A truly exceptional ready-to-use coco fiber-based potting soil. We begin with a base of the highest quality coco fiber/Coir on the planet which is repeatedly washed for an incredibly low EC, and composted for over twenty-four months, and is specially blended with extra long fibers. This soil is amended with only the highest quality organic ingredients including bat guano, premium earth worm castings, fish bone meal, feather meal, green sand, mycorrihzae, glacial rock dust, soybean meal, humic acid, and many more. Already blended with correct proportions of perlite and pumice for excellent drainage and a vigorous root system, Roots Organics potting soil encourages healthier plants and better yields."

from the description it sounds like there is a lot of nutrient additives to the soil so to be safe I would get a little bag of seedling soil too, and start the seed in an area of nutrient free soil and let it grow into the roots organic soil. I mean fill a pot with roots organic then hollow out a party cup sized hole in the middle then fill the hole with seedling soil and plant your seed. this will avoid nutrient burn in the early stages.

I haven't actually used roots organic myself so I am going on the info I found. it may be ok to plant in straight away, but unless someone comes in with first hand experience saying plant straight in the roots organic stick to my advice and you wont go far wrong.

 

[Sauce]

My advice as a new grower. Keep it stupid simple. i would recommend happy frog and perlite, or a mix of ffof and happyfrog and perlite. Allows you to get a grow off the ground and to start learning the basics.

It's up to you of course just input from one new grower to another. Doing complexed things at a starter stage can maka a turn for the worst. Just till you get your feet on the ground.

But with that being said, good luck in what ever you pick bud. Hope to read a log from you.

 

[late]

Use potting soil. Some guys switch over to hydro, but I don't think I ever will.
I do it the easy way.

You want an organic potting soil that isn't hot. That means getting a quality product.
There is a bunch, I am using a product made for pot, but when it's gone I am going to
switch to a locally made organic potting soil. The easy way would be to start with a soil
made for growing pot, and then later switch to something that is still good but cheaper,
or to make your own. There are several recipes here to make your own potting soil. Ask here before you buy it (unless it's Happy Frog)
and we should be able to tell if it's good.

You will still need nutes, at least for the flowering phase. You have a bunch of choices there.
One cheap choice is Grow More Sea Grow Hawaiian Bud and Bloom. I use the General Organics
Go Box. There is a lot of others. Everyone has their own take, I am in the process of coming up
with my own right now. I know it will have liquid fish fertiliser, HEY, it's a start

Tell us about your plans, what's the grow space like, the lights, which pot containers,
ventilation and air filtration method.

This is all a bit intimidating, but we'll help you get started. The first step is don't talk
about it, unless you're in a state where it's legal.

 

[Trapper]

Yup....you already have your answer from Sauce, Seraphim and Late....

The party cup sized crater in the middle of the pot....don't want to burn the seedling with too hot a soil.

Get the basics of soil growing down...and start with a couple plants, not 12. You don't want your learning curve to be so expensive if for some reason it all goes to heck.

I think those that have troubles with soil and think they can benefit from changing to DWC straight off are fooling themselves and not exhibiting the patience to learn the lessons.

 

[robwars]

As you can see there are many different ways to go about this.... Your roots organics soil will be just fine for autos bro. And no the soil-less do not have nutrients in the mix. Are you going to use the Roots organic nutes as well? :Sharing One:

 

[Eekman]

As you can see there are many different ways to go about this.... Your roots organics soil will be just fine for autos bro. And no the soil-less do not have nutrients in the mix. Are you going to use the Roots organic nutes as well? :Sharing One:

Really good advice from Robwars


Roots Organic is a great soil to start with. It has some nutrients, kinda like good for a complete grow, but you may have to add nutrients.

I can give you a run down at least of what you are looking at when you are looking at a bag of soil.

Soil is a good first time way to start by the way.

When you see a bag of say "ACE" potting soil. you are getting a soil with some nutrients in them and nothing for water retention other than some peat usually.

Roots organic is made for growing cannabis, ACE is used for growing flowers, and used in the vegetable garden.

Happy Frog and oF (Fox Farm Ocean Forest) is used for cannabis as well, but they are all different.

You will notice that Roots organic will have some perlite, which is used for water retention, and aereation.

Soilless mixes generally as far as I know, need to have almost all the nutrients added at the correct times.

Most people use it in thier DWC (deep water culture and or hydro setups)

But some do grow with them like soil, but it is tricky, and probably a more experienced grower.

I am sure there will be many other opinions, but this one is mine. Others will be just as valid I am sure.

Now, what you should do, is reserch the forums, and see exactly what your plant needs to grow for the cycle of its life

Start here =====>> Research Link for Joshua

Nice to have you here at AFN, and hope to see your grow journal soon.

Peace

Eek

 

[joshua311]

I purchased the HTG small complete grow tent. It came with roots organic soil and the Buddha grow and Buddha bloom. I keep finding info that I would not have to feed the autos for at least a week or two in the soilless mix. I tried a grow with some seeds out of a bag and I burned the plant pretty bad with the nutrients. Also I am using a 400watt MH. I really want to learn how to do this.

 

[steelrat]

josh if you need loads of info this is a great thread :

https://www.autoflower.org/f44/life-cycle-auto-flowering-cannabis-5113.html

i have 1.2GB of grow books covering everything you need to know (apart from autos, but all good!) if you wnt to PM me for mediafire link.


all the best,

steelystonedydrunky