I don’t have any pics of weed to post today – not yet. Like I posted about yesterday, I’m still at the stage of learning & planning.
I’m new here. But I’ve been learning. Specifically: I’ve learned how I should put a drain pan rack in my grow tent. That’s a specific way I’ve learned. And the list of stuff I need to buy has gotten better because of you guys!
I also let you know I’m an edibles guy. My main reason for growing in 2024 is: I want to start using weed I’ve grown in the stuff I bake. I’m emphasizing that today so you maybe understand why my grow technique has some differences. My weed gotta taste good… gotta taste better than award-winning stuff intended for smoking. Here’s what that looks like:
I’ll be trying out a couple different methods of curing (another labeling thing) so I can figure out which curing method delivers flavor I like best. That’s why info about harvesting, drying & curing are my new addiction with an emphasis on curing techniques to try.
I’m planning a vegetative stage that’s maybe a little longer. Long enough to give one happy plant enough time to fill a 3x3 grow tent in a ScrOG
Also during vegetative, I’m going to be foliar feeding as well as root feeding
Thanks again, all, for sharing your expertise. You really do love growing marijuana!
Shoutout as well to @Skydiver@Storm and @Myfriendis410 The guidance you gave about the importance of lights is . I’m open to having my mind changed, but only up to the point when it’s time to buy (January). For now, the lighting rig on my ‘buy’ list is:
Kind LED x330
Dimensions: 19.75 x 33.5” x 1.25”
Max Wattage: 330w (±5%)
One last shoutout… to you @Oldguy
Waving right back atcha!
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If I were in the market for lights I would look at first: Horticulture Lighting Group. Behind that would be California Iightworks, CHILled Tech, Spyder Farmer. Pretty much every light made in China (like your wish list) has participated in deceptive advertising and I simply don’t trust them. HLG is the recognized leader in lighting and uses the latest technology without making false claims. They also provide third party spherical test data on their lights; unlike just about everyone else. Plus, their customer service is top notch. They’re pricey but worth it in the long run.
I run home built lights using Samsung EB strips and Meanwell driver, built over scrap aluminum I had from a project.
Your plan is a 3x3 tent?
If so that specific model light is for 2x4 coverage not that it won’t work just will be wanting some on the 2 edges.
Thanks for posting the link I haven’t been in the market for lights for some time and the Kind has some cool features for sure.
3x3 is one of those sizes lol there are lights for them just not as many as for 2x2 2x4 etc.
So organic or chemical grow?
To me there is a difference in the final product taste smell etc.
Mother Nature has got it down!
I’d love to see an infused judging at the State Fair too.
Welcome aboard. I would suggest pairing your grows with your edibles (Blueberry OG with a pie, Strawberry cough with gummies…) If you do enter the state Fair. Hide in plain sight…
Thanks to that note, I’ve made updates to my ‘buy’ list. I still believe that the footprint of a 3x3x6 growtent will be the best fit for my place. Do you have thoughts about Spider Farmer? *Upgraded Spider Farmer SE5000
Dimensions: 34′′X34′′X3.5′′
Are okay answering a couple more newbie questions? Your postings here on ILGM are impressive.
Do you still recommend replacing perlite with pumice when mixing up soil medium?
Do you still use 1 gal pots for a plant’s seedling-to-vegetative stage before repotting to final size?
You asked if I’m planning an organic or chemical grow.
Since I live in condo (read: “nearby neighbors”), chemical is the pragmatic choice. Thankfully, growing weed here in MN is legal. And a carbon filter attached in the 3x3 should minimize any perfectly legal aroma
Again, happy Boxing Day. You helped me avoid setting up a build that would’ve made me unhappy real quick - inadequate lighting for a 3x3 footprint.
Just had a stoner thought now that I’m medicated.
If you’d like to save a bit of height in your tent , you can mount the fan and filter outside. Give you a lil more light height if needed.
Just something to consider.
Hey just call me clay glad I could add to your thoughts
Spider has been around for awhile and reading over the specs on the light it is impressive. Looks like it will be tight in the tent but it will fit and grow big dense buds!
I’ve just started using pumice in place of perlite but from what I’ve read and using my spidey senses it makes sense to me. More expensive but I will reuse my previous grows soils either by re-amending used soil right in the pot and regrow or dump into bin and re amend or use outside in raised bed etc.
Many times I do put them in 1 gallon pots before final home but it depends on circumstances. I’ve put seed directly in final pot I’ve sprouted seed and put in cow pots then into final home or into 1 gallon pots and so on and so on.
At one point a few years ago I had to do various things as I had many plants above ground in various stages with 2 tents and closet and ….well I had to do what I had to do. I’ve even grown them to harvest in 1 gallon, 3,5,7,10,20,45 gallon pots.
Many roads to the same destination just sometimes we have to deal with bumps in that road.
As far as living in a condo and somehow organic isn’t doable and chemical is I’m not sure I get the potential down sides but you have insight on that where I don’t.
I just feel organic can taste better smell better and is how these and all plants have evolved over the mellenia to work with the living critters in the soil that eat the alphala meal or whatever and they do the work and poop and provide food for the plants rather than an IV drip of chemicals mainlining them and bypassing the natural order of things.
The main reason I asked is that when I first joined here it took me awhile to understand that other people suggesting things to do when I was having issues didn’t necessarily pertain to me as I was growing organically and not chemically as they do have overlap but not the same across the board. I don’t water with run off or check my PPM (EC) nor my PH nor flush etc unless I have some sort of problem that I’m not addressing properly.
To me it’s easier for the soil critters to do the heavy lifting.
. Happy Boxing day@Myfriendis410 Thanks for sharing your expertise:
Thanks to both you and@Skydiver , Spider Farmer has my attention. Changes have been made to my grow plan. I’m grateful for your help and I’m still on-target to drop seed-in-water on/about Feb 21st… assuming January deliveries happen as planned
Is there a section here in the ILGM forum where I can learn about controllers for grow tents? I’m still looking for a device that lets me automate switching them on & off at programmed intervals. Big plus if it monitors temp & humidity, and automatically switches on when temp or humidity problem is detected
Just point me to the forum section where a home grower can look for info on controllers (Maybe there’s a tag I can use?)
Thanks again for sharing your expertise. Happy Boxing day!
Clay, have you considered AC Infinity. They have the S33 that fits the 3x3 footprint, they also offer a couple of controllers, the 69+ and 69+ PRO. Both should allow you to automate your grow.
Both hydroponic supplies in the Twin Cities carry ACI and some HLG.
Gotta say that I love your elevated thinking!
Reading between the lines in your note:
It makes me wonder whether that happened to you at some point in the past, Oldguy… realizing you needed more height in your tent?
It’s definitely something every newbie with a shiny new grow tent like me should calculate…
5 inches for drain pan set-up - plus another
13 inches for 5-gallon grow sack - plus
etc, all the way to the top of the tent
How much height is left over for plants after adding up all space needed by equipment? If the fan & filter get put outside the tent, will the plants get another 8-10 inches of happy growing?
It just gives you that bit of leeway in case you happen to get a stretchy one.
I’ve got a couple 30 x 40 in by 8 in vented hoods in my room. Ceiling is only 7’4” so a bit short to begin with.
I lose 21 inches for the hoods fully raised on the ratchet hangers right off the bat.
Doesn’t leave me much to play with.
I’ve been into them a few times from necessity.
Yea old guy brought up a great point.
I’ve had to modify nearly every stock light hanging fixture to allow more headroom for growth.
The nice thing about the light fixture your considering is how close it can be to the tops of plants and that it really fills the 3x3 tent to the walls with great PPFD coverage with the additional option of dimming it down a bit if needed.
One big thing that helps keep the plants low is simply tying them down to make it look like a wagon wheel and at the same time exposing areas that otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to direct light. When you decide on pots wider is better than height. Think squat pots as roots will grow more horizontally than down deep of given the choice between the two.
If you’re looking to bake, this is the best blog I’ve seen on here. Lots of useful info. @Caligurl is a straight up pro when it comes to the “baked” goods. Lots of super solid tips and tricks.
Happy boxing Day!!
I do like edibles for evening use.
My sister puts dispensary edibles to shame, her game is pretty strong. I defer to her expertise for them, I just grow the raw materials.
As recommended to me, ill pass this on to you as i have done for others. Check out Emily Kyle website for additional information in your field of interest. IMO a phenomenal educational site for edibles. As mentioned, there are a couple here with a wealth of knowledge as well. Sounds like you enjoy research so hopefully this site will provide an additional avenue on your journey. @OUTinMN
with an emphasis on curing techniques to try.
. I’m open to having my mind changed, but only up to the point when it’s time to buy (January). For now, the lighting rig on my ‘buy’ list is:
… This one:
blackthumbbetty’s Cannakitchen:chocolate_bar: - About Marijuana / Concentrates - I Love Growing Marijuana Forum (ilgmforum.com)
