Live Stoner Chat Newbie

[Lordhonkyconcord]

@Lordhonkyconcord Welcome to AFN. I am a hydro grower but have done soil in the past. I do recommend a microbe inoculant for soil and perhaps some coco or perlite to open it up a bit.



Get ready for about 10 million answers as there is more than one way to grow a cannabis plant. I am an old organic farmer with lots of practice outdoors with flowers and vegetables. IMHO do not use the paper towel method of germination. I know lots of people do it but if you ever looked at the tap root under a microscope you will see hundreds of root hairs that become the laterals that feed the plant. They grow into the fibers of the paper towel and are stripped off every time the towel or seed is moved - ouch! In soil I would use a Rapid Rooter or equivalent Just plant the seed 1/2" deep keep moist (not wet) and warm 78°F. It will grow if viable. Then in a big pot like that you can simulate starting in a smaller pot by watering only a small circle around the rooter and a little deeper. then every couple of days expand the watered area out and down so that by the end of the 2nd week you are watering the entire pot.

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Thank you.
I’ve got a sealed bag of John innes no1 soil that someone gave me but after reading about biobizz light mix I’m leaning towards that because of how good it sounds. And it’s premixed with perlite. I plan to eventually use biobizz nutes as well with them being organic.

That close up of the tap root is amazing ! And thanks for pointing that out to me, I’ll rethink my idea of using the paper towel to germ

 

[Lordhonkyconcord]

You and me both! I've been reading for over a month, and along the way been purchasing items based on what I think will be best for me.

Best site I've found, and only one that I signed up to be a member! You will find tons of great info, and lots of help along the way.

I’ve been doing the same with slowly building my set up bit by bit.

I made a stealth cabinet out of a pasting table but it’s only 3 foot tall.
It would work well as a micro grow with CFL lighting but I’ve ended up with LED’s and I don’t want to make things harder for myself by learning how to LST just yet so I’ve put a tent on the shopping list.

Good luck buddy

 

[wes]

@Lordhonkyconcord How long is a good dry period? That’s a great question and everyones answer is a subjective one. One of the best ways is getting the feeling of your pot right after watering and just when it’s dry enough for the leaves to start drooping. You will get the feeling of the different weights and learn when it’s time to water just by picking up your pots. Truthfully, I don’t own a ph meter, moisture meter, or even have a thermometer/humidistat in my tent. These are things you will learn from experience. Good luck with your grows.
*addendum* I do recommend testing your water ph with some tester/test kit. I have well water that is ph steady so that’s why I don’t test regularly.

 

[Need4Weed]

It seems like the best place for me and I’m enjoying what I’m reading so far, the bits that make sense anyway.

I’ve got some ph up/down and a ph pen is on the way.

The moisture probe sounds like the best method for me to start with. That way I know I’m getting it right.

Question time ! .....
How long is a good dry period ? Or is that something I’d have to learn ?
And am I right in thinking I should ph my tap water anywhere between 6.2 and 6.8 ?

Like wes said, it's subjective and it can also depend on how well your grow space is dialed in, (desired temp and humidity). If either varies too much, it will affect how much they drink!

 

[Lordhonkyconcord]

@Lordhonkyconcord How long is a good dry period? That’s a great question and everyones answer is a subjective one. One of the best ways is getting the feeling of your pot right after watering and just when it’s dry enough for the leaves to start drooping. You will get the feeling of the different weights and learn when it’s time to water just by picking up your pots. Truthfully, I don’t own a ph meter, moisture meter, or even have a thermometer/humidistat in my tent. These are things you will learn from experience. Good luck with your grows.

Thanks for the good luck. Between a bit of luck and a lot of learning I’m confident I’ll get to where I want to be and become self sufficient. I’m wasting too much money lining other people’s pockets for bad quality smoke.

You mentioned the leaves drooping, is that a good indicator of when I should be watering ? Could I rely on that and a moisture meter until a learn the weight of the pot ?

 

[Lordhonkyconcord]

Like wes said, it's subjective and it can also depend on how well your grow space is dialed in, (desired temp and humidity). If either varies too much, it will affect how much they drink!

Understood. Thank you !

 

[Lordhonkyconcord]

@Lordhonkyconcord How long is a good dry period? That’s a great question and everyones answer is a subjective one. One of the best ways is getting the feeling of your pot right after watering and just when it’s dry enough for the leaves to start drooping. You will get the feeling of the different weights and learn when it’s time to water just by picking up your pots. Truthfully, I don’t own a ph meter, moisture meter, or even have a thermometer/humidistat in my tent. These are things you will learn from experience. Good luck with your grows.
*addendum* I do recommend testing your water ph with some tester/test kit. I have well water that is ph steady so that’s why I don’t test regularly.

I’m going to be using tap water as a source, I’ve got ph up/down and waiting for a ph pen to be delivered.
I’ve asked this question before but not sure if I’ve had a reply yet .... do I ph my water to anything between 6.2 and 6.8 ?

 

[wes]

I’m going to be using tap water as a source, I’ve got ph up/down and waiting for a ph pen to be delivered.
I’ve asked this question before but not sure if I’ve had a reply yet .... do I ph my water to anything between 6.2 and 6.8 ?

For soil grows best ph is between 6 and 6.5, but people have subjective opinions on this also. I’m not a hydro grower but I think it’s a little lower. Plenty of hydro growers on here will be glad to comment on that. This is a great group of people willing to share their vast amounts of knowledge. I have been growing over 20 years and I learn something new every cycle

 

[Lordhonkyconcord]

I’m planning to grow in soil so the 6 to 6.5 will be where I’ll aim.

Thanks for answering that one for me. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to say I’ve been growing for 20 years