Hello, I’m new to growing in general so I’ve been doing a lot of research on the best mediums for growing indoors. I’ve been told that soil or coco coir will be the easiest for me as a beginner, but that left me the question of which brands and nutrients will give my plants the best results. I’ve seen such amazing results in this forum so I wanted to get advice from you guys!
I live in a small apartment so I have a 2x2x4 AC Infinity tent, Mars Hydro Ts 600w light and I plan to use 1 3-5 gallon fabric pot due to the limit size. I have 3 Banana Daddy seeds from Ethos Genetics.
Any help or suggestions would be great! Thank you!
Soil can be the most forgiving, coco is more forgiving then full hydroponics but just like with any other hydro, you have to supply everything the plant needs from start to finish because coco has nothing in it for nutrients…
Soil will need nutrients added later in the grow (typically around 4-5 weeks with autos in 3-5 gallon pots) at that time the plant will have used up what was in the soil to start with.
That tent is pretty short, some will say it’s to small to grow seed to harvest because of height. But with lst and a short container you be just fine.
Just remember, they can stretch double what they are when hitting flower so keep them tied down low and spread out…
Watch some youtube of both soil and coco to see what you think fits you better…
With coco, so many people use it so many different ways. Some basically turn it into soil by adding all kinds of organic matter. This dose work out for some people but I highly advise if you use coco, treat it as flood and drain hydroponics and it can be very simple with awsome results…
Thank you so much, I know the tent will be short so I was thinking maybe some low stress training early may help and maybe setting the intake fan and filter outside the tent to leave some room to raise the light. I plan to eventually get a bigger tent when I move later this year! If I do decide to use soil would you suggest a living soil or something along the lines of fox farms or pro mix.
If you have experience with organic growing the sure living soil. But if you going use say jacks or any other “synthetic” nutrients line, FF or promix would be fine. Absolutely FF soil works, it has to be the most used I would imagine the way we see it every where… I would say whatever of the 3 you have easy access to and maybe whatever is cheapest
I use FF myself, though I am transitioning to coco in autopots and bubble buckets at the moment. And I probably want use soil much moving forward…
I’ve used FF Ocean Floor with the liquid and powder trios. They are good products. The nutrients take a lot of mixing, and pH’ing, though, and are a little pricey. I think for the simplicity, Jack’s is the way to go. Unless you do an organic super soil. @oldmarine has a pretty simple mix for his grows, with top dressings here and there.
If you want super simple, look into autopots.
Go to there official site and not a 3rd party and they have all kinds of different set up. You would need a taller tent though, but something to look at fir the future…
Coco by hand you water daily, coco in autopots you don’t have to water daily as it does it for you…
Many other self watering systems other then autopots also…
This is exactly why I’m moving over to autopots with coco and bubble buckets. The bubble will probably turn into more autopots but it’s what I got for now.
Soil was great for a few plants, but as it’s progressed to 10+ at different stages, I’m so sick of mixing 3-4 batches daily
I’m just in fabric pots with the coco. Have 3 photos and an auto going. But I can make 5 gallons, twice a week. pH it to a real high 5.7 and it stays within range til it’s used. I really feel like the newer generation of growers (myself included) have it easy.
LST is not optional. With 48" of height, allowing 12" for pot, riser and saucer, and allow 18" for light clearances (that is not much) will leave you are 18" for a plant. One plant spread flat and wide.
If you need a filter and fan for odor control it will have to be set up outside of the tent.
You can save a couple of inches by using short fabric pots. A 3 gallon pot from 247garden is 7H x 11.5D. Standard height is 9"
Ethos describes Banana Daddy as medium height. It certainly packs a punch. I have some GDP started.
Good luck
I use straight Coco. You can add perlite. Lots of growers do at about 70% Coco and 30% perlite. Not sure if canna is better than this or that brand though.
Which autopot system do you use/recommend? I see they have several different systems. Recommend the basic one with the 3.9 gal pots? I have to go out of town & don’t want to ask/rely on anyone to water plants.
Honestly if you go to there website you can build a system to fit your space or how ever many you want 1-100.
I have 4pot xl system with spring pots they call it. .
It’s basically there xl system but with 5 gal grow bags rather then 7gal plastic pot I think it is…
But if you are handy with DIY stuff just a little bit.
I’d recommend only buying the trays with there “patented " aquavalve5” and maybe hoses and connections from them. And not buy the entire kit.
You can use your own grow bags, and make your own reservoir out of say a 25gal trash can with a lid that cost maybe $30. There kits come with small reservoirs and if you “upgrade” to one of their 25gal tanks it’s a few hundred dollars…
But go to there website not a 3rd party and they be tons of options.
The basic kits as they come work great with the 12gal reservoir they come with but if I had knew the trays and valves is really the only thing special about the set up, I’d just bought them and built my own.
@1HappyPappy My autos just got a tail yesterday & I may need to leave town for 5-6 days @ 2 1/2 wks into grow. If I start the girls in solo cup, will they still be in the cup at 2-3wks or should I just start in bigger pots? Will the 12.4 gal reservoir water then for a wk at that stage or will I need someone to refill it. What abt nutes? If I feed before I leave, can they go a wk w/o till I get back. Trying to not need someone else messing w them if possible
