jdhutson2006
Active Member
I've been gardening my whole life, successfully. At one point having 4 kids, two in diapers I gardened to feed my family. So I knew i could do this..."successfully" is a relative word based on what were the expectations of the end result. My expectations were minimal...grow the plant, achieve bud production, and enjoy some tasty smoke! Although i am still a couple weeks (i believe) from a complete harvest (still have 4 girls i'm letting flower, 3 will be cut in a couple days) i have cut down 3, completed the drying and now in jars for cure. the top colas of those three weighed 3+ g dried - feel pretty good about that outcome. i made mistakes - didn't join RIU until a week before i started flowering - i stretched them pretty good.
now for the pics and what i did! I approached this with the idea that this is personal...a hobby...keep costs minimal. the cubby (only word to descibe the grow area) is 4Hx3Dx3W. I planted in Miracle Grow, and set up CFLs so that i could raise and lower as needed. started with 4-100w (92 actual watts) daytime 65k bulbs. as they got bigger i added 2 more 100w. when i started flowering i switched the bulbs to 6-60w 27k and one 27k down by the pots to reach lower branches.
I wanted to experiment with size and production. started with 15 seelings. i got 3 males and 2 hermies. i kept 2 in very small pots (the bottom of a big Dasani bottle) with clear bottoms to watch the roots. these girls are about 10 inches tall today. VERY small buds but producing
now i went at these plants fearlessly...figured if i kill them i've learned something...but for the most part as someone i noticed on here said...it's just a weed! i used my 5 senses to care for these girls. How do they look? How do they smell? How do the leaves feel? Does the room feel too hot too cold? Is the soil dry or damp? and What do the leaves sound like when i rub them?...do they feel soft? dry? papery? crispy? This forum was instrumental in helping me resolve any diversion from what i felt didn't look like a happy plant...so thank you all!
ok...3 girls down...2 small letting them go a little longer...the last 5 girls - 3 are about 15 inches tall and here's a peek at them
i'm happy with what they producing...for their size. i didn't do anything really but let them do their thing...and watch and learn. i know that if i had used some of the techniques i've read about on here i might have had larger producing plants however let's be realistic...first grow i think should be used to LEARN...the plant, it's grow cycle, what lighting and soil and nutrients are needed. you know...get in touch with this beautiful, strange, plant that so many desire!
Now my two girls that i put in a little bigger pots (still small by most standards so as to control size for my box). They are both 3 feet tall! The one girl is SO pretty! I knew early on these two would thrive so i clumsily took 2 clones...one died...the other is coming along good so i have high hopes!
These big girls have been treated much the same as the others except the light in the bottom of my box is much closer to them...and i'm glad...i've learned that light is EVERYthing for good bud production! and PROPER light...my 2 big girls seem very happy - they get the most light, and their in 10" pots. Even tho they were also stretched by adding lower light its made their lower branches produce nicely!
SO WHAT HAVE I LEARNED? LOL This is a FUN plant...with rewards! The seeds i used were bagseeds from 3 different ppl...all quality smoke. The soil...well...i'm starting my second grow and using MG moisture control this time...didn't care for the damn gnats (FYI - i sprinkled cinnamon on top of the soil and this reduced the gnat problem dramatically! cinnamon kills the larvae and the fungus growing in the soil). CFLs are sufficient with a small grow...10 girls was too many for the light i was providing...i'll probably continue with CFLs however this second grow i've only got 4 seedlings and 1 clone. This plant is VERY picky about tempurature! That's how i believe i got 2 hermies. But i honestly believe that with minimal cost and a basic understanding of how to "read" a plant, ANYONE can grow...experience, guidance (RIU recommended!), and some self education about the cannabis. I plan to have a little more fun this second time around...use some of the techniques i've read about on here, and who knows...second one could be even better! We'll SEE!
Thanks to all who take the time to offer advice and guidance to those on here who just need someone to talk to about their experience! YOU ppl make this site worth coming to!
Peace! and happy growing! D
now for the pics and what i did! I approached this with the idea that this is personal...a hobby...keep costs minimal. the cubby (only word to descibe the grow area) is 4Hx3Dx3W. I planted in Miracle Grow, and set up CFLs so that i could raise and lower as needed. started with 4-100w (92 actual watts) daytime 65k bulbs. as they got bigger i added 2 more 100w. when i started flowering i switched the bulbs to 6-60w 27k and one 27k down by the pots to reach lower branches.
I wanted to experiment with size and production. started with 15 seelings. i got 3 males and 2 hermies. i kept 2 in very small pots (the bottom of a big Dasani bottle) with clear bottoms to watch the roots. these girls are about 10 inches tall today. VERY small buds but producing
now i went at these plants fearlessly...figured if i kill them i've learned something...but for the most part as someone i noticed on here said...it's just a weed! i used my 5 senses to care for these girls. How do they look? How do they smell? How do the leaves feel? Does the room feel too hot too cold? Is the soil dry or damp? and What do the leaves sound like when i rub them?...do they feel soft? dry? papery? crispy? This forum was instrumental in helping me resolve any diversion from what i felt didn't look like a happy plant...so thank you all!
ok...3 girls down...2 small letting them go a little longer...the last 5 girls - 3 are about 15 inches tall and here's a peek at them
i'm happy with what they producing...for their size. i didn't do anything really but let them do their thing...and watch and learn. i know that if i had used some of the techniques i've read about on here i might have had larger producing plants however let's be realistic...first grow i think should be used to LEARN...the plant, it's grow cycle, what lighting and soil and nutrients are needed. you know...get in touch with this beautiful, strange, plant that so many desire!
Now my two girls that i put in a little bigger pots (still small by most standards so as to control size for my box). They are both 3 feet tall! The one girl is SO pretty! I knew early on these two would thrive so i clumsily took 2 clones...one died...the other is coming along good so i have high hopes!
These big girls have been treated much the same as the others except the light in the bottom of my box is much closer to them...and i'm glad...i've learned that light is EVERYthing for good bud production! and PROPER light...my 2 big girls seem very happy - they get the most light, and their in 10" pots. Even tho they were also stretched by adding lower light its made their lower branches produce nicely!
SO WHAT HAVE I LEARNED? LOL This is a FUN plant...with rewards! The seeds i used were bagseeds from 3 different ppl...all quality smoke. The soil...well...i'm starting my second grow and using MG moisture control this time...didn't care for the damn gnats (FYI - i sprinkled cinnamon on top of the soil and this reduced the gnat problem dramatically! cinnamon kills the larvae and the fungus growing in the soil). CFLs are sufficient with a small grow...10 girls was too many for the light i was providing...i'll probably continue with CFLs however this second grow i've only got 4 seedlings and 1 clone. This plant is VERY picky about tempurature! That's how i believe i got 2 hermies. But i honestly believe that with minimal cost and a basic understanding of how to "read" a plant, ANYONE can grow...experience, guidance (RIU recommended!), and some self education about the cannabis. I plan to have a little more fun this second time around...use some of the techniques i've read about on here, and who knows...second one could be even better! We'll SEE!
Thanks to all who take the time to offer advice and guidance to those on here who just need someone to talk to about their experience! YOU ppl make this site worth coming to!
Peace! and happy growing! D
