First time grower here. I plan on experimenting this spring with a little garden in my backyard. I did not plan on putting my plants in the ground as the soil isn’t particularly good. I was wonder if 5 gallon grow bags will be enough? I imagine the size of the bag would limit the size of the plants overall growth. Is there anything else I may want to consider? I’ll be using auto flowering seeds in Foxfoam Farm ocean forest soil. This is just for me, a hobby, etc. I would be thrilled if my garden thrived, but should I consider different sized containers?
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I see a lot of people using 7 or 10s for outside.
Set directly on the ground they will root right through the fabric and into the dirt. Even if its poor soil that will add something.
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Hello @Runarounddennis !!! Welcome aboard! 5 gallons will be plenty for autoflowers. Depending on strain, they can begin to flower anywhere from 3-7 weeks.
FFOF is a good soil also and the nutes already in it will last from 4-6 weeks.
Do you have your nutrients picked out for feeding time? Jacks 321 system is cheap, easy and very gentle and forgiving should something go south. Part A, Part B and Epsom salt. There are 6lb kits on ebay for around $30 that will last about 20 plants!
Also, a pH meter, such as Apera or Bluelab is crucial. Don’t skimp and get a soil probe for $11 at walmart. You get what you pay for and pH meters are essential to growing. For soil, you want the pH of the water, and mixed nutrients, to be between 6.2-.8
Another key tool is a TDS meter. Cheap ones usually do fine. The brands mentioned have combo pH/TDS meters.
On to PEST CONTROL! You could grow in the desert and caterpillars, mites, aphids, sooooo.e nasty critter will find its way to your grow. Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew Concentrate, mixed at 1.5x strength is a great defense. Mosquito Bits on the top of the soil help as well against any soil/rootbound critters.
Lastly, don’t overwater those babies. When it sprouts, very little water is necessary. A few ml’s away from the stem, every other day at first is enough. Then adjust from there.
Theresa lot i know I missed, but this should help some. Good luck and happy growing!!!
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Thanks @Borderryan22 for the manageable and detailed info. Very useful and digestible. There’s a tremendous amount of info to weed through and yours was helpful. You mentioned Jacks 321 kit, I went into to eBay and would assume you are referring to Hydroponic kit, even though it’s not hydro grow (again, novice). Also based on what you said, I imagine I wouldn’t need to start a feed program until about six weeks in. Do you have any recommendations for a feed program?
I am in the Northeast, plan to start the garden early May as the weather can stay cool until then. My property gets wonderful southern exposure which I plan on taking advantage of, moving the kids into the best exposure.
Thanks, again!
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I believe so. I can’t remember specific amounts of each, but its x pounds of Part A (5-12-26), x pounds of Calcium Nitrate (that’s part B), and x amount of Epsom Salt.
This is where that TDS meter will come in super handy. When you begin feeding, you want to try and maintain about 1000ppm. TDS is Total Dissolved Solids and those are measured in Parts Per Million.
Start measuring your runoff when you begin watering enough to do so, usually a couple weeks in. When you start using enough water that it’s running out of the bag, try to make sure only about 20% of what you put in runs out, that is the runoff. Your PPMs will be high still, but you’ll have an idea of where she’s at. When you get to 1000 or less, feed.
Jack’s is fed with every watering. When you begin feeding, mix at about 3/4 recommended amounts to see how she likes it, then adjust from there.
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Im with @Spiney_norman on pot or bag size for outdoor photos but id put them on rolling casters so i could move them around easy for concealment or getting them out of nasty weather for a bit since natural weather hasnt been that cannabis friendly the last few years
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@Borderryan22 with the Captain Jack’s how do you apply it? To the soil, the leaves, around the container? I ordered the nutes and PH/TDS device. 
@Medicineman33 yeah, Mother Nature has been odd the last few years. Dry last year and quite hot. So you also brought up a good point, the elements, would you suggest bringing the plants indoors in the case of say heavy rain and/or wind, which I have experienced many times in recent years. Another question, is there too much of a good thing, the sun? As I mentioned, I get decent southern exposure. I was going to move my plants around to optimize the sun. But should I also consider some shade, too? @Spiney_norman thanks for your input to get a good conversation going.
Like I’ve said, this is my first go at it. I’m excited about the potential but won’t be too disappointed if things don’t pan out. It’s like with my cooking, fun to experiment. If things work out this season, I may opt for larger containers (slightly) next season.
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I am good for a little now and again 
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It’s just a spray. You can buy it already mixed in a spray bottle, but I like the concentrate so i can make it a little more potent. It’s ok to all the way to harvest. Once or twice a week is good for maintenance. Daily for infestation.
Another thing, avoid using oil based pesticides like neem oil. At least well before flowering starts. They work. But the flowers absorb the oils and don’t rinse away.
Which brings up bud washing at harvest. Bugs or not, it is hiiiiighly recommended to do a bud wash at harvest. Yes, that’s right, totally dunking buds and branches in a bucket of water and peroxide. Sounds scary, but has very little effect on the end product. Check out “bud washing” on YouTube
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@Borderryan22 yes! I’ve read some on the bud wash, but again, heavy on the info and not simplified like I need. With pest control, I didn’t want to mistaken fry my kids.
Thoughts on auto feeding/watering if I’m out of town? To keep things on the DL, don’t want to bring anyone if not needed. I’ve watched some simple solutions for a drip system. I don’t want to fall into accidentally overwatering.
@Spiney_norman last time I fooled around with growing was 20-years ago, but gave up when someone was busting my chops, drawing attention to what I was doing. Now I can more or less so as I please. I’m not so much worried about Johnny Law or neighbors.
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An outdoor plant will treat a 5 gallon fabric pot like a solo cup as far as wet dry cycle
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@Bluntsmoke do you have input on the container to grow in? From your comment, I assume it may not provide optimum growth.
Depends on your location. I wouldn’t do anything less than 10g outdoors maybe that’s too small idk. I set a 5 gallon from my indoor grow outside for 1 month and had to water everyday twice a day when it was real hot
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Yes i would bring them into a garage or shed during adverse weather absolutely and trying to get the most of your sun is a good thing but dont wear youself out with it the sun penetrates if i did a run outside it would be under a heavy canopy of trees
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@Bluntsmoke thanks for the insight. I’m in the Northeast. Summer can be a wild card. Last year is was dry.
@Medicineman33 thanks, I’ve been watching how the sun falls in the yard. I get some nice exposure, but also have some shaded areas. My feeling was to get some morning sun and move them a bit as the afternoon comes on and pull them back out in the evening for the morning. I’m on a 1/4 acre and have the time. I’m a novice and really just getting my feet wet this year. Everyone has been providing some great insight.
Thats cool be aware though that the sun will cross the sky differently between now and/thru harvest time
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5 gallon and other containers can be blown over during windy periods. Better to prevent before any damage occurs. Something to ponder prior to. Good luck, we eagerly await some pics someday.
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Is the ppm something you measure in the soil or in the water
@Helpmegrowbuds from what I gather it’s the ppm is measured when the that passed through your potted plants. You measure it with a TDS tool.
You can measure either way. You want measure the runoff, though, to know when to feed.
If you water with distilled or RO water (they have virtually 0ppm), then the PPM in the runoff will be what the soil has.
If you use tap water (pH’ed between 6.2-.8), then measure it before watering. Say your tap is 250ppm. Subtract that number from your runoff number.
In FFOF soil, I didn’t even measure runoff until about 3½-4 weeks in. It can be up to 6 weeks before feedings are necessary.
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