New Grower Questions, questions, questions...

[GeorgiaPine]

First and foremost...I've read every sticky, and while I've gathered A LOT of information I'm still quite nervous about my first grow. I have a lot of questions...I suppose I'll start where I'd be starting in terms of growing.

Basically, I'm looking for a potent, high yielding, and fast growing strain to start out with (perhaps also a fairly easy strain to grow). I've yet been able to really nail it down, any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Also, when buying seeds I've noticed that seed companies offer auto flowering seeds, feminized seeds, and regular seeds (I did read the sticky, but it's just quite hard to understand for me, I'm slow I suppose). Does this mean that if I were to purchase auto seeds, would they be guaranteed to be females? This somewhat ties into what strain I'll want to grow, as I'm trying to nail down all categories; i.e. potent, high yielding, and quick growth. So basically I'm looking for a strain that has all of those qualities. Any suggestions would be wonderful, and greatly appreciated.

Also...I found this grow light on amazon...http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLC...TF8&qid=1379673451&sr=8-1&keywords=fluorowing.

It seems like a good choice. I've read up on the subject and from what I've read LED lights have more to offer than CFL's or HPS's. Of course I'm not sure, so I'd like to get some more information before I buy the first light that looks good. If perhaps I am wrong, what would you guys suggest? I'm on a budget, but I plan to drop some cash on things I'm going to be reusing, such as lights and other hardware.

I'm also concerned about what soil I'll be using. I read WG's post about the Lowes soil grow which seems fine; however, I really would like to put my all into this first grow. I've read that blood meal and fox farm works quite well...does anyone have experience with high yielding mixes that I could perhaps have a recipe for? I've almost decided to use this method, but I've read a few others and I think the problem is that there are so many methods I'm just unsure on which to use. I'd like to know what would produce the healthiest plants possible before I begin.

That's pretty much all for now, I know, wall-o-text. If anyone does take the time to give some advice I'd greatly appreciate it. This is a process that I'm really really excited to pursue now that it's available to me. At the same time I'm extremely nervous about how it'll go. I would like to put as much effort and knowledge into this before I begin, though.

I await the gurus' response.

 

[blue]

Welcome

Hi Georgia

Welcome to AFN! ^_^
Glad you've had a good look around and already done a lot of the important reading.
Why not pop up a "hello" over at the introduction section for a nice warm welcome form our members.

As far as seeds go - you can get autoflowers in regular seeds (which will be a mixture of males and females) and feminised seeds which will just be females. There are advantages to both of them depending on your setup and goals. I go for fem autoflowers because i can just pop the seed down and not have to worry about sexing it later on, which means i can sow my seeds directly into their largest pots from the beginning.
I'm not into breeding yet so i don't want males so don't get regular seeds.

Lights: CFLs are the cheapest to start out and can get good results. HPS you will get more light intensity but more heat with a similar inital outlay. LEDs will probably cost the most initially but are cheaper than HPS electricity usage (for equivalent results), they last a long long time and they're getting some really awesome results here. ( i can link you to some if you like)

I'm guessing by your amazon link that you are in America, if you are excited by LED, take a look at the GrowNorthern models - many good grows here at AFN with them. If you're not in America, check out the latest Dutch passion Highlite deal (it's pretty awesome)

Soil. A nice airy soil with as few nutes as possible would be a good place to start imo - I've never used fox farm, but biobizz and plagron make a light soil that many people have success with.

There are lots of grow methods though, From organic supersoil that you just add water, to coco, to hydro - It's a matter of personal preference really, again there's advantages to each style.

I'm no guru, but I know a good few basics

Hope some of this helped a little
All the best

Blue ^_^

:styles rasta::styles rasta:

 

[GeorgiaPine]

Thanks, Blue. I'll be researching the GrowNorthern models that you've mentioned. I plan to grow only one plant to begin with. How powerful of an LED do you think I should grow with considering I'll be growing only one plant, in a small closet type area?

Also, I'll look into the soil brands that you've mentioned. I am in america, so are these brands that would be readily available? Ooh, and lastly, any particular strains that you would recommend that I start out with?

I really really appreciate the feedback man, it means a lot. I'll also stop by the new members area and give a welcome! Hop digity

 

[blue]

Grownorthern had a promotion on where they were doing free shipping to the USA, i think it's still on!

I only have a small closet too, I was considering the MS004 which is a 4 spot .. but then i thought I'd be better off getting the MS006 (six spot) as it has a dimmer switch and more power is desirable in flowering. Although i;m sure the 4 spot would have been fine. It's still on my shopping list!!

Those brands should be available to you - i'm not 100% sure, but they're very big companies. I'm sure someone with some FoxFarms experience will chime in for you though.
As far as strains are concerned - i would take a look at some grow journals and smoke reports - see what you like the sound of.

We've got a whole bunch of quality breeders here on the forums so maybe pick one of their strains and that way you can start a journal in their section and get first hand advice from the breeder and folk who have grown them out before. There's not many places you can get that kind of service ^_^

 

[Soylent Green]

Hi first of all welcome good you found the right place to grow some nice autoflowers !:styles rasta:

Second if you want to start growing and have zero material or experience its important to listend to to some great advice from AFNlogo!

Question number one whats your budget and whats the space you have, do you need stealth?

:gthumb:

 

[mjdregba]

Welcome AFN GeorgiaPine - I am in no way more advanced than you, but I can tell you my experience from the last year.

I started growing almost one year today (and still feel like a complete novice), all seeds I have tried have been autoflowers and all grown equally as well (or bad depending on how much I messed up), the ones I have grown are; Northern Lights, Super Skunk, AKR and Pineapple Express. I think the Pineapple Express matured and finished the fastest out of the lot, whereas the Northern Lights produced the biggest yield.

When buying, most seed sites refer to female autoflower seeds as AutoFem and I have bought seeds from Sensi, Nirvana, World of Seeds, Barneys and Greenhouse with no problems.

With nutes and soils, I have tried the full biobizz range costing me a fortune but had equal success with a cheap £3 nute and cheap seed soil from the local b&q. My aim is to try and find something simple that works... I have read that you can use Biobizz fish mix from start to finish without any other nutes. At the minute I am growing in a simple organic soil I mixed myself supplemented with BioBizz grow and bloom + some molasses.

My lights are CFL's - I would probably go GrowNorthern, but the LED's dont give off enough heat to keep my grow warm during most of the year (I live in the UK and grow in the garage). So I stack loads of CFL's in my grow box to keep my lovely plants nice and warm... also go CFL's because my grow box is small and I dont have the headroom for HPS. What are the dimensions of your grow area?

Good luck and looking forward to seeing a grow journal.

 

[GeorgiaPine]

Hi first of all welcome good you found the right place to grow some nice autoflowers !:styles rasta:

Second if you want to start growing and have zero material or experience its important to listend to to some great advice from AFNlogo!

Question number one whats your budget and whats the space you have, do you need stealth?

:gthumb:

Hi Soylent! Thanks for the welcome :

My budget is roughly 500 USD; that is if I want to start within the next couple of weeks (bills :\). Of course I could save a little more, but I was imagining that would mostly do it.

In terms of stealth...

I'll be growing in a small bathroom closet (around 3x3x7). I'm not really worried about my neighbors who live beside me (no one lives DIRECTLY in front of me). They're fairly cool neighbors who know I'm a toker. However, I'd like to keep the smell no further than 20 ft. Well, actually, as safe as possible; i'm not in a medical state.

Welcome AFN GeorgiaPine - I am in no way more advanced than you, but I can tell you my experience from the last year.

I started growing almost one year today (and still feel like a complete novice), all seeds I have tried have been autoflowers and all grown equally as well (or bad depending on how much I messed up), the ones I have grown are; Northern Lights, Super Skunk, AKR and Pineapple Express. I think the Pineapple Express matured and finished the fastest out of the lot, whereas the Northern Lights produced the biggest yield.

When buying, most seed sites refer to female autoflower seeds as AutoFem and I have bought seeds from Sensi, Nirvana, World of Seeds, Barneys and Greenhouse with no problems.

With nutes and soils, I have tried the full biobizz range costing me a fortune but had equal success with a cheap £3 nute and cheap seed soil from the local b&q. My aim is to try and find something simple that works... I have read that you can use Biobizz fish mix from start to finish without any other nutes. At the minute I am growing in a simple organic soil I mixed myself supplemented with BioBizz grow and bloom + some molasses.

My lights are CFL's - I would probably go GrowNorthern, but the LED's dont give off enough heat to keep my grow warm during most of the year (I live in the UK and grow in the garage). So I stack loads of CFL's in my grow box to keep my lovely plants nice and warm... also go CFL's because my grow box is small and I dont have the headroom for HPS. What are the dimensions of your grow area?

Good luck and looking forward to seeing a grow journal.

Thanks, Mjdregba! I'm glad you mentioned those seed retailers. I was anxious as to how reputable they were. Good to know their safe! I hear a lot about
BioBizz, but I believe I'll probably end up following a soil mixing tutorial which is stickied. It just seems to be the easiest way to go a head and get started.

Seeing as it is becoming winter, I was worried about what measures I would have to take to keep a good 72-75 degrees F in my closet. The CFL idea is actually a really good idea. I honestly feel a bit stupid for not thinking of that haha. Great advice man, and I'll be sure to check out those strains!

 

[GeorgiaPine]

Grownorthern had a promotion on where they were doing free shipping to the USA, i think it's still on!

I only have a small closet too, I was considering the MS004 which is a 4 spot .. but then i thought I'd be better off getting the MS006 (six spot) as it has a dimmer switch and more power is desirable in flowering. Although i;m sure the 4 spot would have been fine. It's still on my shopping list!!

Those brands should be available to you - i'm not 100% sure, but they're very big companies. I'm sure someone with some FoxFarms experience will chime in for you though.
As far as strains are concerned - i would take a look at some grow journals and smoke reports - see what you like the sound of.

We've got a whole bunch of quality breeders here on the forums so maybe pick one of their strains and that way you can start a journal in their section and get first hand advice from the breeder and folk who have grown them out before. There's not many places you can get that kind of service ^_^

I'm going to check out that promotion! I'll also have to see what the shipping prices are going to be, never the less I'm sure I could find one on amazon?

And let me get this straight...are you saying that breeders cross strains on this website, and create hybrids in which they'll send to growers for grow journals and information on the strains? That's an awesome idea...

 

[blue]

And let me get this straight...are you saying that breeders cross strains on this website, and create hybrids in which they'll send to growers for grow journals and information on the strains? That's an awesome idea...

No no, well - sometimes a breeder will ask a respected grower if they will test out a new strain - kind of a show and grow. It's a real honour but doesn't happen too often.

You will see hybrids being created here! our benevolent leader and super breeder Aunty Mossy made the Dragon strain - you will see people making their own crosses with dragons e.g Stone dragon .. and double dragon etc. She encourages breeding and helps many people get the right meds for their needs.

I'm going to check out that promotion! I'll also have to see what the shipping prices are going to be, never the less I'm sure I could find one on amazon?

If you're going the LED route, be carefull not to buy a piece of rubbish. There are plenty of people here at AFN who can guide you there. I would like to see a unit tested (grow journals) here at AFN before i'd consider buying one!

 

[mjdregba]

your welcome m8, hope some of my experiences can help.

here is a link to my new grow - https://www.autoflower.org/f44/cheap-organic-grow-journal-starter-kit-25015.html it has my soil mix in there as well as nute schedule. Also since you asked about breeders, I am following a grow method that a member called seraphim19 recommended (and is helping on my thread). Seraphim is also founder and breeder of his own seed company.