First Grow Start to Finish. My set up. Would like feedback!

Gentlemencorpse said:

I'm actually starting to feel the same way about the FFOF. I still like it, but it's definitely inconsistent. Also, it can be pricey. But it's pretty easy to get and way better than MG so I still suggest it to new growers. Coast of Maine stuff is my favorite but obviously not available everywhere and I've never used Promix outside of starting veggies in the greenhouse. I'm going to be trying my own blend on a couple plants soon though.

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Gentlemencorpse said:

Honestly, always happy to help new growers any way I can.

I'd pick one medium to start with. I'm a big fan of the K.I.S.S. philosophy when you start growing. Soil is more forgiving so I usually recommend growers start there but hydro is totally manageable so if you have the gear and want to dive right in don't be scared! But starting with both is just introducing too many variables to your first grow.

I'd skip the MG entirely myself, I genuinely hate the stuff. I'm admittedly completely unfamiliar with that Kind soil. After reading up on it it looks like it's trying to be some kind of living soil facsimile so you wouldn't use your other nutes at all with it according to their literature. Absolutely no idea how well it works. If you want to use I'd search around for some grow journals that are using it and see how it worked for them. Soils like Fox Farms Ocean Forest or Coast of Maine Stonington Blend have enough nutrients in them to not need to feed the plants for 3 or 4 weeks anyways so that's what I usually use. Eventually you'll need something with a little more P and K than the nutrients you have now. Something like MaxiBloom. Im also a big fan of MegaCrop but it has to be ordered online.

For a 3x3 tent I'd recommend just going straight to a 315cmh to be honest. It's a lot less expensive then getting adequate LEDs and you'll get great results. Then you could veg in your smaller tent with the SF1000. If you really want to stick to LED in that tent you will want AT LEAST one more SF1000, and better yet, you'd run an SF2000 with the SF1000 you currently have. Or if you really don't mind splurging you could go with a Timber Model 4VS and see this guy get jealous lol.

It's awesome that your granddad used to grow, and it's really cool that your trying to pick up the hobby.

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Gentlemencorpse said:

So weirdly enough dispensaries can't sell seeds even in legal states, at least as far as I'm aware. I know in MA we can't. Most people order them online. Seedsman is a popular site I've had good luck with, and they have thousands of strains to choose from. These days though I try really hard to support the stateside seed banks, so my personal favorites are Great Lakes Genetics and JBC Seeds. Both have great genetics to choose from and really take care of you in terms of service and freebies. GLG even sent me a koozy with my last order haha. Some breeders sell direct as well. If your looking for autos (which I don't recommend for beginners honestly) you can order direct from Mephisto or Wicked Pissah as well.

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Budzbuddha said:

Soil grows are often overthought ....pick a good mix like Fox Farm Ocean Forest , Kellogg’s Organic , Black Gold , Dr. Earth , Mother Earth groundswell. Look for veg garden mix type of soil. Most are already precharged with amendments are are ready to use.

Take Miracle grow and throw in dumpster or use it outside on blooming flowers. It also contains heavy bug infestation ( fungus gnats ).
Miracle grow is formulated with either water “ retaining “ elements and or “ controlled release fertilizer “ CFR , meaning it FEEDS at every watering. That is why that shit fries most plants. Not saying it “ can’t grow weed “ but it overfeeds. So there’s that.

Try this : example

Fill container bottom 1/3 with FFOF , top rest of container with a mild Potting soil ( happy frog , Kellogg’s, or similar ).
Reason FFOF goes at bottom is it acts like a super soil at base. NO NEED FOR BOUTIQUE BLENDS like that KIND SOIL .
Soil medium as it is “ will feed those plants “ all by itself ... on ph water 6.5 . NO NUTES OR BOTTLES NEEDED.
FFOF will feed a plant easily for up to 6 weeks BEFORE showing minor depletion.
THEN ...all you do is add a scoop or two of FFOF soil on top as a top dress and water in. THATS IT.

Your plant has “ already become acclimated to soil “ so you are not adding things that might upset the grow.
By top dressing alone , you are merely RECHARGING the medium. Plants are happy and no stupid overkill.
Some growers complain about FFOF but it’s because they dump “ More Nutes “ on top of an already well ammended mix.

NOTE : always add extra perlite to mix to improve the aeration and drainage. It just takes maybe 20% more by volume .
Also , if you want a real boost to this mix idea , add EWC and Myco to top layer soil mix before filling. Perfect for solo grow transplant, because myco will temper any shock and begin explosive root growth.

SIMPLE RIGHT ?


Look at my SIG for link of this “ layered “ method.

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SipSlowDabLow said:

Dude- u make my day- no homo- why can't everyone be this thorough? I think I'm going to order some Fox Farm mail-In have heard a ton of good stuff about that soil. I believe the Kind Soil is meant to last with no nutrients- but my grandpa's plant seems like it ate them all.lol. I hung her up and I'm waiting for her to dry. I feel stupid for not PH checking- but I only gave her filtered water for drink-no food. Yah- I won't do both- just wanted to see what you thought is the way to go.

As far as lighting-
The 2x2 is pretty small, no way is another light hanging up in there. You sure the one won't be fine in the 2x2x3?

All I need for the Hydro is the potting bags, but like you said- soil-more forgiving. If anything, I'll go soil route a couple times before Hydro depending on how well it goes.

If I knew where to get autos in town I'd go that route.

Thanks again!!!! Can't say it enough. Do you got pics of some of your grows? It would be sweet to see what your working with.

Appreciate the words as well.

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Gentlemencorpse said:

Hey, sorry for not answering your questions man, sometimes this site doesn't let you know when peeps reply. For some reason I thought you had a bigger tent. An sf1000 would be fine in there. Your going to have a tough time with only 3ft of vertical space so tie those girls down!

This is my current grow journal:

A Gentleman's Grow 2020

Historically I haven't been very good at keeping on top of journals, but with all this "social distancing" going on I decided to give it a go. I've got a few things in the works this season. Tent #1: Quasi-SOG style seed dump. Using up a couple years of freebies. I've decided it's time to make...

www.rollitup.org

I've been trying a lot of new things so it's had its ups and downs so far haha.

For my next round of Autos I'm actually trying a method similar to what @Budzbuddha suggests. I'm not layering but I am using my own super soil mix and top dressing instead of using any other nutes (unless it ends up being necessary). If the results are as good as using dry/bottled nutes I'll be changing all my growing over to it. And yes, the idea is to go through the whole grow cycle without adding nutrients beyond what's in your soil mix.

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