Trying my first too soil mix

[A4]

Congrats on your retirement home! I am anxiously awaiting the day, lol.

I wouldn't add the soil from your home because you don't know what is in it. Not just minerals and nutrients but also any problematic pests that could be hiding in it like gnats, spores, spider mites, what have you. It is generally recommended to keep outdoor grows outdoors and indoor grows indoors. Outdoors, you have enough natural predators normally, to keep the pests at bay. Indoors, not so much. That is just what I would do, looking at it through my perspective. You would probably get several different opinions on the subject.

As for your heater, I will put a couple of links below. I do the same thing in my tents in the winter as they are in my garage. I have a small ceramic heater and attach it to a remote thermostat from Johnson Controls that will cycle the heater on and off for better control of the temps. You don't really want a wide varying temperature in there and I find that the thermostat on those small heaters can vary wildly, like +/- 20F. The Johnson Controls can be set up to cycle at any temperature and you can program a "bounce" control with it so the heater will come up to the temp setting and it won't come back on for the programmed amount of degrees. Easier way to explain it, say you set the temp at 70 and your bounce at 5. It will stay on until 70 is reached then allow it to drift to 65 before coming back on again. That way the heater isn't cycling on and off every time it drops below 70. Saves the life of the heater.

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Johnson-...CDjyAcNbBO1Bs6-GKc1tf9SoaIkb5CoT-pxoCWrPw_wcB

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lasko-9-...-Compact-Heater-754200/100669067?N=5yc1vZc8og

 

[Dirt Weed]

Thanks everyone for the replies, A4 thanks for the links they may come in handy. I haven't figured out how to post pics here yet and when I joined it was hard to just upload to my album in my profile, but there are where the pictures are of the grow cabinet and I encourage everyone to take a peek.

And if I understood correctly then war it up, tea it up and "don't invite bugs when you have no bugs"
Got it!

A BIG THANKS to everyone

 

[Dirt Weed]

Look at that I figured it out, really helps when done from desk top instead of Ipad

 

[Dirt Weed]

Just a few from my last grow, nothing special as they hermied on me due to heat stress from a failed carbon filter, anyway that caused me to build this box and I refuse to grow meds in it until I get it right. Just need to separate power and test, then off to my first TLO, something that I wouldn't be able to do if it weren't for the help of all the kind people on here..Once again Thank You!!!!!

 

[Dazed]

Really pleased you're off to another start! Sub'd up and will be watching you get this on! :karma Cloud::karma Cloud::karma Cloud::karma Cloud:

 

[A4]

Very nice setup DW! Love the Solar Storm.

From the looks of everything, your attention to detail will reward you nicely when you do get things going. Age has many drawbacks to it but one of the positives is we learn not to cut corners. It shows in your work.
:kusht:

I will be subbed up for this grow!

 

[Dirt Weed]

Thanks Guy's

Unfortunately I didn't have enough forethought to think that I would be using the cab in the middle of winter, works great in spring and fall, oh well live and learn...

hopefully I can get the electrical separated this weekend and resolve the low temp issue, then I can follow everyone's expert advise and get a TLO on...

 

[Joedirt]

Nice Dirt !
Your back at it,
Looks like you got your rock on back on,
let your boy know that it aint easy being a man baby.
im subed bro!

 

[Dirt Weed]

Okay guys

Solved the low temp issues and wanted to start on humidity but my mother in law just lost her male friend and isn't doing real well up in NY. My wife want to move her down here in spring so I must pop seeds ( I only have one auto seed) and get my TLO on shortly. I was thinking about starting the seed in its final pot using the tiered method as suggested but was wondering which germination method that would/should be used for autos. In the past I have used the paper towel method but with all the reading that I do here it sounds like going direct to the soil is the way to go, I guess my question is how much water would I use if I go direct to the soil and how moist should it stay. Should I use cfl at first or use the LEDs that I have set up?

once again your input is greatly appreciated...

Thanks Everyone

Dirt

 

[Eyes on Fire]

I personally would go with the T5's from sprout till the first week or two n then swap to your LED.. sprouts dont need a ton of light early on.a simple veg T5 6-8 inches above your sprout letting it grow to your light and when its time to raise your light id swap to the LED. but prep your pot( i like the plugged ,method over the teier method.less work and just as effective imo.water in the whole pot assuming your soil is ready for use. and having the tiered pot or plug slid in there and use a mellow cal mag watering of soil, and then soak the bean for 12-24 hours in bottled water,then 1/2 inch deep right to the soil/seedling mix and if you watered it well all youd need to do it mist it once its up n going, but i use a tooth pick to either expose the soil a cpl inches from the sprout to see the moisture level of the soil and also if the toothpick is moist an inch er two away it prolly dont need any water for a bit if youve freshly watered in the pot. if you wait a few days after watering in the pot as i do sometimes.you can concentrate on the seedling solely now.dry soil and a whole bottle of water used then sow with the 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch into the seedling mix and mist it a cpl times a day.drier soil early on is easier to work with. once its been watered in.soil should always be fully watered in prior to using or sowing of seeds.i let it drain for a day before i use it usually.even to sow a seed into.

I personlly water the whole pot in with cal mag water.Just literally a few drops of cal mag for the soil watering.then let it dry out for a day er two days and drain good and after a day soak the bean for 18 hours or so(no more than 24 hours) and 1/2 inch hole n drop it in n cover it and spray the soil wet n let it sit for a cpl days misting it every day a cpl times lightly n youll be fine. I personally find its thee easiest way for organics imho works like a charm man.:Sharing One: i hate the paper towel method too many ways to screw it up imo n i dont like it.tried it many many times.i personally feel its far less effective.a living seedling mix or simple seedling mix with a big bloom starter feed and a soak of the bean has given me the easiest and healthiest sprouts ive ever had to be honest.