I changed the soil once in 4 years. I did this because the seeds with tap roots went swimming in the toilet. Then I had to fish them out with my bare hands. It was a fun grow.
Its easy. Well to me it is. You just start adding nutrients faster is all. Once the seedling is between 7 days to 14
days old I just make up between 1/8th to 1/2 strength nutrient solution. Depending on size. I don’t measure this amount. As I just make it up as it grows. Really a crap shoot trying not to over do it. Instead of making 1 gallon, I scale it back mathematically and bam, I’m good. Then hope I am right. I guess you could compare a depleted bag of nutrients to Coco aka meaning you use nutrients right out the door.
I absolutely do not pH, ppm, runoff, flush, and anything else. Just my skills in tune with Mother Nature. What is good enough for her, it’s good enough for me. You don’t see her pH’ing the rain. You get what I mean.
I am not a fan of training. Why my Sativas looks like a jungle and my Indicas and Autos is more controlled. I don’t train them at all. I see no point. They do it themselves.
Once they are past the 2 week old above ground I generally go full strength. But I play close attention to their leaves. The Rule of Thumb is 1/4 to 1/2 dose. But step it up over time. Generally with new soil, you are good for 6 weeks with a Sativa Dominant. Now Indicas, you may get 2 full grow cycles before needing nutrients. I am on a 3rd Indica grow in the same soil. She needs nutrients finally I gave her the first dose last week and I went full strength and no issues.
I just don’t worry about it all. I have mad growing skills. I was always helping mom. I kinda chuckle when members say they have been growing for 40 years, yet they have massive problems. If you have mad skills, you won’t have any issues at all.
I feel people go way over board. Like I need to add fish meal, worm casings and everything else. You really don’t if you are dialled in how you grow. I also noticed the pattern these are the same people with insect infestations and other deficiencies. Generally speaking of course.
As for Soil pH. Fox Farms is buffered at 6.5 and since I don’t test the soil via a slurry test, it has to be pretty accurate or my grows would die.
I had growing pains but it was mainly heat issues.
And the best part…I grow 12/12 start to finish. I never transplant. I also don’t Veg and if I did, my plants would be 20 feet tall. My Sis would chuckle if that happened.
The grow lights I generally keep at the top.