I’m new to all this in every sense. THC hasn’t passed my lips in over 30 years, and I’ve never been a gardener, but I do know that alcohol is too expensive ($300+/month wine/rum/vodka) and unhealthy of a habit. So I figure, what the heck, why not try and grow some weed.
When I look at the grow rooms pictured here though I feel like a caveman with my cave garden compared to all of you hempiculture scientists…hence the title of this post.
The room is in the basement, and has only one door which leads into another storage room. So privacy/security is pretty good. Some of the other plants when healthy have a lot of scent on their own so smell shouldn’t be too obvious. Those plants are citronella, basil, sage, oregano (not for mixing with the “special herb”), mint, parsley, chives, and I can’t remember what else.
I have my autoflower mix pack from ILGM already 10 days after ordering so I’m going to start with 1 Northern Lights plant once the rest of my gear arrives. I’m expecting a 300 W LED light, PH testers for soil and water, and Fox Farms Ocean Floor soil. The empty pot in the pic is where she’ll live.
The process I’m expecting to follow is to germinate in a SOLO cup until she cracks and gets her toe wet. Then I’ll gently remove her from the cup, fill the cup to 1/2 inch from the top with FFOF so she can start her roots for a couple of weeks. Then transfer her to the pot filled with FFOF to an inch from the top. I’ll follow my soil tester and finger for watering and do only watering for several weeks. 4 ceiling height fluorescent lights, LED light, and box fan will be on 24x7. I have a high intensity work light that I’m considering using on a timer for 4 hours a day at about 8 feet distance. I’m also considering using the tip from here Hot Tip… and cover the walls with the stuff. The walls are undone and look crappy so why not?
I’m open to any and all suggestions, tips, and questions. I still don’t have any plant food/nutrients purchased for instance. I’m planning on using baking soda for PH up and white vinegar for PH down unless I here that it’s the worst idea ever. I know harvest is a long time off, but I still don’t know the difference between drying and curing. when storing my harvest would it be a good idea to use silica packets in the containers to eliminate moisture?
Looks like you are off to a great start!!
I myself also new to this but with help from this lil community I am so far having some good results and tons of fun
I am growing outdoor so not sure on your set up but sounds like you are off to a great start
I grew the auto mix pack too and they are doin great!
Happy growing!!
When a plant is harvested, it needs to dry until most oft he moisture is out of it. You do this by hanging it to dry (But there are a number of ways) You then put them into jars to cure, opening the lids 2-3 times a day for a couple of weeks then once a day for another week. This makes the harvest nice and smooth and smoke-able. The difference between cured and uncured is amazing!
Have you downloaded the grow bible? There are also a ton of Guides under the "Guides: Tab in the upper right corner of the screen.
Not to mention just reading through all of the topics will help you get a feel for the start to finish process!
First off, welcome to the forum! You are definitely in the right place for the very best of advise with growing. I would say your off to a good start as far as I can tell. As far as storing your harvest, I wouldn’t store with silica packs…this will dry it out too much. I would store with Boveda 62% humidity packs. But I am also fairly new and would seek the knowledge of the more experienced people here. @bob31@Hogmaster@Countryboyjvd1971@garrigan62 just to name a few, are some good ones to ask questions about most anything to do with growing, harvesting, curing and anything in between. Best of luck with your grow!
@Openmind Good post, I like your style. One suggestion. I use the Foxfarm Ocean F that you plan to use. For seedlings its a little hot. I havent had any major problems but I could have. Different breeds of mj has diff reactions to it. Suggest you get some dirt designed for seedlings that isnt as hot as the FF dirt. It is a great dirt, as I said, I use it, but might not be the best on your seedlings. Just my FYI. I am not a long time grower though I have been an out door gardner for many years. On my first and second indoor grows with mj now. Learning more every day. This is the best place to learn for sure. Welcome.
@cyberblast has a great point. It’s a good idea to start your seedlings in a seed starting medium. They need to be nutrient free for the first couple of weeks.
I’ve seen that mentioned in many other threads. Do you happen to have any recommendations for seedling soil? @bob31@Hogmaster@Countryboyjvd1971@garrigan62 ( you can thank Buck5 for my dragging you guys in but I do see your name everywhere and for good reason ) Most everything arrived today except for the water PH meter which comes tomorrow. Pretty excited to get started.
By the way, how do I upload pictures into a post from my phone?
Thanks for the great info @bob31. I have read The Grow Bible once and will probably do so several more times. Since then I have been going through many of the guides and have learned a lot. The basic wisdom I think I’m getting from what I’ve read so far is is to just love and nudge these plants. Perhaps like treating them like a woman in some ways. 1. Keep them moist but don’t drown them. 2. Don’t feed them too much. 3. Keep them in the limelight. 4. Give them a little attention every day. 5. Be patient.
I used fox farm happyfrog for my seedlings and they like it
I filled the bottom half of my grow bag with a hot super soil /subcool recipe I found here some where and then the top half with fox farm happy frog I used happyfrog for the base of my super soil too. I have not had any burn or deficiencies.
Hope this helps
@Growit thats the stuff. the happy frog. Couldnt think of it. I had some and mixed it in with my other FF so maybe thats why my seedlings did okay? Forgot I had done that. It was about half and half ratio. Got to get some more of both. Go today I guess. The place that sells it is kinda a countrified grow shop. Only one in this area. Nice folks there. But the FF stuff aint cheap.
I found a local place that should have Happy Frog so I’m going to try to pick up a bag today. So should I use that as the seedling soul in the cup and then after two weeks transplant that into the shown pot full of FFOF? Or should I make the pot 2/3 FFOF & the top 1/3 FFHF?
So I’m very curious about this smell issue. How strong would one plant get? I’ll be growing one maybe two plants at a time in my room that’s inside a room. Nothings air tight but it is pretty isolated.
@Openmind would make it the happy frog first and then if you wanted maybe go half and half since that is what mine was and all my seedlings did okay. But others that been here long would likely recommend transplant into the happy frog as well, then later move it to the FFOF. Up to you since its your grow. Just telling you what worked for me, same as the others. Good luck.
AS to the smell issue. It depends on if you get alot of fresh air into your grow area and if you have an exhaust fan with carbon filter once the plants get big enough to start smelling Some smell alot more than others. My gold leaf plant was smelling big time from week two of veg. My others…didnt really smell untll they started flowering. The smell will get pretty bad if you dont do something to remove it such as the carbon filter and exhaust fan.
@Openmind I agree with @cyberblast too
Pics of the seedlings above in FFHF. I would let them go in the solos till the root system gets going (you can see alot of that when you search transplanting in the forum search) Then put them in a mix or straight FFOF from there. Two of my seedlings are in a 5 gallon sack filled all the way with FFHF and seem to be growing well in it I gave them there first feeding the other day.
FFOF has enough nutes in it to carry them to flower with not alot of fuss. The FFHF nutes will eventually dissipate and so you will likely want to stick to your nute regimine and follow the charts.
@Openmind if you start them in Happy Frog you could add about 25% perlite to it to cool it down some.
Another trick thanks to @Wishingilivedina420state is to start in a clear Solo cup nested in a red one. You can periodically check the state of the roots with this setup.
These three are the result with the FFHF with 1/2 super soil. I slowed down growth with the low stress training and early defoliating but that has nothing to do with the dirt.
Only gave nutes the other day
I am happy with how healthy these girls are and well fed from the dirt.
Just some options for ya.
I really dig the super soil I will be doing it for my photo fem grow too
A month into veg and I had accidentally unplugged my exhaust / carbon filter and within hours my entire house smelled like weed. I didn’t understand why until when lights came back on and I went to check the tent. They stink up fast and I was only in veg.
Depends on the phone
Mine gives me options when on the forum
When writing the body of the message you can see in blue print on the lower right hand corner. Tap that and your phone may give you options like take a photo or photo library
