New Grower Northen Lights Auto, UK Outdoor Grow, 1st Ever Grow Attempt

[bad dragon bzzz]

hi.
no need for a soil tester,a ph pen will do the trick.

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hi.
no need for a soil tester,a ph pen will do the trick.

 

[Chandyside]

Hi all thanks for the info


I only have a min now but will up date soon. Just for now I have a burning PH question


I have just prepped the big pots to transplant the seedlings in. I now know this is error 1 but it was done before I knew that, so I have given them a week to get established.


I have just got a simple mix, wastelands with IIS 20% pelite and 10% vermiculite. It has been VERY rainy her over night so that was good enough for a soil pre soaking, thinking that they are going to be out in it soon enough.


I have just tested the soil. It came out Neutral to Alkaline so about 7.3 going on the shade. What should I do to the soil to bring it down a bit before transplanting, should I do anything ???? It has been dry with time to soke in before I tested it.


On a sepret but related point. I have been looking into soil PH testers in the UK and they are very very expensive, like £50 min, I simply cannot afford this atm. Do you think it is posable to grow without one ?

The yellow ones f a fiver-ish on eBay have been given a bad rep but so far mine is working like a dream I have calibration fluid 4 and 7 and every time I test its spot on with no need for re calibration. Maybe I got lucky or it's doomed t go anytime but so far so good

 

[Early_Girl_UK]

Thanks Chandy. That is more my price range lol. I think I will take the risk on the pen rather than risking no pen!

Can anyone help me with the ph thing. Soil test showing ph of 7, should I do/ add anything to the soil to bring
the ph down before potting the seedlings on, they are getting kind of big for there small pots

Thanks

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NLA is one of the more hardy strains so don't panic of temp goes lower than 20C. Low temps will slow growth, only very low temps will kill the plant. A PVC greenhouse should keep them warm enough at night. On hot sunny days though they can get *very* hot inside, so if you're blessed with good daytime weather, roll the door up or take the plants out. Watch out for stormy winds though - the PVC greenhouses can get torn to shreds or end up in next door's garden


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OK, here's how I'd spell it out:
Get some biobizz grow for the veg stage (start at 25 days, continue every third water until flowering):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-grow
and some biobizz bloom for the flowering stage (start at flowering continue until 2 weeks before harvesting):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-bloom


Keep solutions weak, so as not to scorch plants. That's probably all you need. No more risky than ordering seeds online (and certainly not illegal on its own).

Thanks again for more much needed advice. I had come to that conclusion RE bio bizz (lots of recommendations on here) so I have a mix pack with bloom, grow and topmax winging its way to me now.


Much appreciate all your responses, even the one


Peace

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NLA is one of the more hardy strains so don't panic of temp goes lower than 20C. Low temps will slow growth, only very low temps will kill the plant. A PVC greenhouse should keep them warm enough at night. On hot sunny days though they can get *very* hot inside, so if you're blessed with good daytime weather, roll the door up or take the plants out. Watch out for stormy winds though - the PVC greenhouses can get torn to shreds or end up in next door's garden


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OK, here's how I'd spell it out:
Get some biobizz grow for the veg stage (start at 25 days, continue every third water until flowering):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-grow
and some biobizz bloom for the flowering stage (start at flowering continue until 2 weeks before harvesting):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-bloom


Keep solutions weak, so as not to scorch plants. That's probably all you need. No more risky than ordering seeds online (and certainly not illegal on its own).

Thanks again for more much needed advice. I had come to that conclusion RE bio bizz (lots of recommendations on here) so I have a mix pack with bloom, grow and topmax winging its way to me now.


Much appreciate all your responses, even the one


Peace

- - - Updated - - -

NLA is one of the more hardy strains so don't panic of temp goes lower than 20C. Low temps will slow growth, only very low temps will kill the plant. A PVC greenhouse should keep them warm enough at night. On hot sunny days though they can get *very* hot inside, so if you're blessed with good daytime weather, roll the door up or take the plants out. Watch out for stormy winds though - the PVC greenhouses can get torn to shreds or end up in next door's garden


- - - Updated - - -






OK, here's how I'd spell it out:
Get some biobizz grow for the veg stage (start at 25 days, continue every third water until flowering):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-grow
and some biobizz bloom for the flowering stage (start at flowering continue until 2 weeks before harvesting):
http://www.oasishydro.co.uk/biobizz-bio-bloom


Keep solutions weak, so as not to scorch plants. That's probably all you need. No more risky than ordering seeds online (and certainly not illegal on its own).

Thanks again for more much needed advice. I had come to that conclusion RE bio bizz (lots of recommendations on here) so I have a mix pack with bloom, grow and topmax winging its way to me now.


Much appreciate all your responses, even the one


Peace

 

[Wienerwoods]

I've gotten loads of stuff off of DealExtreme. Free shipping for practically everything and great stuff for the price. Search for pH meter and sort by most reviews. You will get two pens both with great reviews and a price of around $15-19

Sure sounds like I'm working for 'em, don't it?

 

[markp]

Can anyone help me with the ph thing. Soil test showing ph of 7, should I do/ add anything to the soil to bring
the ph down before potting the seedlings on, they are getting kind of big for there small pots

Thanks

Peace

One popular way for organic farmers to reduce the pH is to mix some coffee grounds in with the soil. If you've got a cafetiere or filter machine make yourself a brew and when everything's cooled down mix a little of the grounds into the soil. Or if you're feeling really decadent just mix in some fresh (as in unused) ground coffee (not instant). But just add a little at a time and give it plenty time to break down naturally in the soil. For more info see:
http://www.homeherbgardenanswers.com/coffee-grounds-for-plants/


From everything you've said so far I think your biggest risks to a good grow at the moment are probably:

1. Shock to the plants when re-potting into larger pots
2. Shock to the plants by adding too much to control pH or nutrients

For the re-potting: Sit the big pots next to the small pots for several hours so the temperatures are the same. Ensure soil in both is moist. Try to keep as much soil as possible on the roots when transferring. Leave the big pots where they are for a while to let the plants get used to their new surrounding.
I'm not sure when the optimum transfer time would be - have you got a second set of proper leaves yet (ie third set including seed leafs)? If you move too early the root system won't be strong enough. If you go too late they will have run low on nutes and space in the small pots. You could always transfer one of the plants and wait a day or two to see how it does.


I know I've written before (above) about the dangers of messing too much trying to contorl the pH and nutes in a soil grow. Let's just say that if you added nothing the plants would still grow, but if you add too much they might die.

One expert says:
"You shouldn't worry too much about your water pH and we don't recommend pH adjustment of water for soil/compost plants. Many soil growers still make the mistake of adjusting their pH when growing in soil but there really is no need - you could even be damaging your plant and its potential yield. The nutrient availability pH range is much wider in this organic environment than in hydroponics and the introduction of acidic pH adjusting liquids into these environments is neither necessary or desirable."
(see: http://www.growell.co.uk/blog/2011/04/getting-your-hands-dirty-growing-in-soil/ )

Additives might increase your yield at the risk damaging the plants. But for a first time grower I would say just focus on keeping your plants alive. It's disappointing to come down in the morning and see them withering away...

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[CharlesoOo]

Hi there, Just thought I'd chime in on some advise I saw earlier in the thread about using biobizz nutrients. Google Biobizz feeding schedule and you will see that you use all the nutrients together at the stage you are at now 25days plus depending on which soil you are using (you will see with allmix 1 mil grow per litre the whole way through the grow, lite mix it goes up gradually as well as needing the Algamic nutrient) after the first few weeks (which you are past)you want to be using the grow, bloom and topmax together (grab bio heaven if you can it does make a difference for sure) I use Evian water which after putting my nutrients in ends up at 6.5ph which is perfect. get some cal mag will help in the flowering stage.
peace brother

 

[dazedandconfuzed]

Hi there, Just thought I'd chime in on some advise I saw earlier in the thread about using biobizz nutrients. Google Biobizz feeding schedule and you will see that you use all the nutrients together at the stage you are at now 25days plus depending on which soil you are using (you will see with allmix 1 mil grow per litre the whole way through the grow, lite mix it goes up gradually as well as needing the Algamic nutrient) after the first few weeks (which you are past)you want to be using the grow, bloom and topmax together (grab bio heaven if you can it does make a difference for sure) I use Evian water which after putting my nutrients in ends up at 6.5ph which is perfect. get some cal mag will help in the flowering stage.
peace brother

100% agree, this is what I've been doing. Except my ph was a little lower, so used lime to raise it.

- - - Updated - - -

Hi there, Just thought I'd chime in on some advise I saw earlier in the thread about using biobizz nutrients. Google Biobizz feeding schedule and you will see that you use all the nutrients together at the stage you are at now 25days plus depending on which soil you are using (you will see with allmix 1 mil grow per litre the whole way through the grow, lite mix it goes up gradually as well as needing the Algamic nutrient) after the first few weeks (which you are past)you want to be using the grow, bloom and topmax together (grab bio heaven if you can it does make a difference for sure) I use Evian water which after putting my nutrients in ends up at 6.5ph which is perfect. get some cal mag will help in the flowering stage.
peace brother

100% agree, this is what I've been doing. Except my ph was a little lower, so used lime to raise it.

 

[Early_Girl_UK]

One popular way for organic farmers to reduce the pH is to mix some coffee grounds in with the soil. If you've got a cafetiere or filter machine make yourself a brew and when everything's cooled down mix a little of the grounds into the soil. Or if you're feeling really decadent just mix in some fresh (as in unused) ground coffee (not instant). But just add a little at a time and give it plenty time to break down naturally in the soil. For more info see:
http://www.homeherbgardenanswers.com/coffee-grounds-for-plants/


From everything you've said so far I think your biggest risks to a good grow at the moment are probably:

1. Shock to the plants when re-potting into larger pots
2. Shock to the plants by adding too much to control pH or nutrients

For the re-potting: Sit the big pots next to the small pots for several hours so the temperatures are the same. Ensure soil in both is moist. Try to keep as much soil as possible on the roots when transferring. Leave the big pots where they are for a while to let the plants get used to their new surrounding.
I'm not sure when the optimum transfer time would be - have you got a second set of proper leaves yet (ie third set including seed leafs)? If you move too early the root system won't be strong enough. If you go too late they will have run low on nutes and space in the small pots. You could always transfer one of the plants and wait a day or two to see how it does.


I know I've written before (above) about the dangers of messing too much trying to contorl the pH and nutes in a soil grow. Let's just say that if you added nothing the plants would still grow, but if you add too much they might die.

One expert says:
"You shouldn't worry too much about your water pH and we don't recommend pH adjustment of water for soil/compost plants. Many soil growers still make the mistake of adjusting their pH when growing in soil but there really is no need - you could even be damaging your plant and its potential yield. The nutrient availability pH range is much wider in this organic environment than in hydroponics and the introduction of acidic pH adjusting liquids into these environments is neither necessary or desirable."
(see: http://www.growell.co.uk/blog/2011/04/getting-your-hands-dirty-growing-in-soil/ )

Additives might increase your yield at the risk damaging the plants. But for a first time grower I would say just focus on keeping your plants alive. It's disappointing to come down in the morning and see them withering away...

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Thanks for this Mark, just what I was looking for, with a nudge in the right direction I feel I have a bit more confidance in what I need to do and be aware of. Think I am going to do the biggest one tonight, following these instructions and other bits from the net. Doing this one with PH as is, then add the filter coffee for one of the others in the next few days, depending on how the roots look. Ta

 

[Early_Girl_UK]

So plant no one was transferred last night and looks healthy this morning (I know too early to tell lol) the roots did no touch the air or light so figures crossed.

There was also no sign that it could be root bound so I think I will give the other two a few more days to get little bigger. The 2nd (3rd) set of leaves are showing on all three plants now, but they are very small atm so a bit of time to mature will probably help them.

Here are few pics taken yesterday before the move!

 

[GMan]

Looking good so far. Exciting isn't it?!