Newbie planning a 4 x 4 grow

I pulled the trigger on a 4X4 Viparspectra tent (48" x 48" x 80")and a blurple QB light (viparspectra 1200w dimmable). Couldn't turn down the sale. Tent is going to be setup in a relatively temperature stable (63-75f range) spare room, smells are not a concern, 2-3 clip fans will be installed (1 on intake down low, one interior circulation, one on the exhaust up top. Scheduled to arrive in a few days.

I'll be using soil and seed (a bit more forgiving) --- Those are my hard facts for this grow. I'm on a tight budget, so hydro and light changes are out (for now...)
My preference is simplicity - fewer variables, fewer problems (within reason).

So my thoughts and questions will be aimed at optimizing what I have for this grow.

Strain - unkown indica / hybrid. A friend gave me some seeds that he's been using. I really like the effects (top shelf dispensary grade), and free is a good price for 25+ seeds. His grows are vigorous, usually 2 plants filling his 4X2 (48" x 24" x 60") tent to the point that he has space issues - hoping the additional 20 inches on my tent helps this.
Plant count:
I'm thinking of 5 or 6 for flexibility. That way I can cull one or two males / hermies if necessary but still have a decent harvest.
Pots - thinking 5 gal or 3 gal. --- Probably 5 gal since my first grow in a foil lined box with a dodgy light became root bound (they're still flowering - the grow is a comedy of errors, but somehow it looks like I'm going to have some smoke from it in a few weeks!)

Methods I'm considering:
SCROG - might be a winner - my budget can certainly afford some netting....
Topping - just a simple topping & lollipopping, then let 'em go.
Quadlining - Seems a very organized way to grow. I love the symmetry. Also, most of the work is done early.
Mainlining - Seems very effective, but quad seems a bit quicker (less topping / recovery)
LST - combined with quad / mainlining.
SOG - I don't think SOG is a good idea - too much too soon (and I'm starting from seed).
Supercropping - makes a lot of sense, but might be more than I want to tackle this grow.

Combinations - see below*

Veg time - guessing at 5-6 weeks / a week(ish) past topping to flip
Lighting will be 18/6

Flower time - 6-8 weeks??? - no idea here. I'm planning to watch the plants, journal and read.

Question:
How's this sound for a first tent grow?
*Combination method questions:
Seems to me that SCROG involves LST - just on a net up in the canopy instead of anchoring to the pot?
Also - seems that LST is necessary in almost every method to maintain an even canopy?

Thanks in advance!

Have you selected a soil brand or nutrient line yet? Sounds like you did your homework. Good luck.

I would suggest using the KISS method...."keep it stupid simple" if this is your first grow

Wattzzup said:

Have you selected a soil brand or nutrient line yet? Sounds like you did your homework. Good luck.

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Fox Farms Ocean was recommended by the friend I got the seeds from.

Haven't thought much on specific nutes yet - open to suggestions and other needs I'll run into.

Homework - thanks! I had the good fortune to ping a couple of friends with experience, and I've been trolling the forums for a while now (and signed up here ) --- I had to postpone this purchase when C-19 quarantine started and my job stopped... so homework has been about all I can do till now!

Definitely sounds like you’ve done your research! I’m on my first grow as well from some bag seeds. Seedlings are a little over two weeks old. I am trying to keep this first grow as easy as possible like ISK said. I’ve got 4 that are gonna to in the tent and I’m going to top them once and let them grow. Good luck my friend, excited to see the progress!

ISK said:

I would suggest using the KISS method...."keep it stupid simple" if this is your first grow

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Stupidly Simple is the plan - Light, water, soil - light nutes until I get a "feel" for them (tough to "un-feed" them).

One of my friends has a very advanced system - it's a glimpse into the rabbit hole of growing.


---Next up, learning to multiquote!

Something I wish someone would have told me to do in the beginning if you plan on LST; put your bean on the very edge of the pot and put a stake in on a 45 and tie the top to the stake as it grows. I also wish I would have learned about Lucas/head formulas before I went and purchased my nutrients

I’m doing the exact same...light water and soil. I’m using Dr Earth for feed so we’ll see how it goes! I’ve seen some crazy crazy setups and I fear that might be my path haha.

Dr. Earth granular if you need it during veg works well. I did my first grow with it mixed straight into the soil using their container guidelines. People say that the FFOF soil has enough nutrients to get you through veg and only bloom nutrients are then needed after that. I'd say using their bloom boost formula would be a great way to keep things simple. You might need to add a little cal-mag but that is a wait and see sort of thing. I liked not needing to mess with nutrients all the time when watering. 2 cents from almost a newbie gardner. Good luck!

farmingfisherman said:

Dr. Earth granular if you need it during veg works well. I did my first grow with it mixed straight into the soil using their container guidelines. People say that the FFOF soil has enough nutrients to get you through veg and only bloom nutrients are then needed after that. I'd say using their bloom boost formula would be a great way to keep things simple. You might need to add a little cal-mag but that is a wait and see sort of thing. I liked not needing to mess with nutrients all the time when watering. 2 cents from almost a newbie gardner. Good luck!

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I’ve also got the Dr Earth Flower Girl for flower period. Hoping it goes well.

curious618 said:

I’ve also got the Dr Earth Flower Girl for flower period. Hoping it goes well.

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I'm onboard to see how it goes if you start a grow journal here!

farmingfisherman said:

I'm onboard to see how it goes if you start a grow journal here!

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I’ve got one started labeled First Grow ( real original I know lol)

curious618 said:

I’ve got one started labeled First Grow ( real original I know lol)

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Got you beat! "First time indoor grower"

Reading your Journal.. Didn't see or at least don't think I saw how many plants you were planning on flowering in your tent? Reading about pot size and was wondering if you decided yet..

farmingfisherman said:

Reading your Journal.. Didn't see or at least don't think I saw how many plants you were planning on flowering in your tent? Reading about pot size and was wondering if you decided yet..

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Ooh I don’t think I put that in there yet good call. I’m planning on having 4 in 2.5 gal pots. Advice from RIU member said go with 3 or 4 gal. Hoping to only do one transplant as that process scares the crap out of me lol

@farmingfisherman
Figured I should put the journal in the right section, I'll link it here though.

curious618 said:

Ooh I don’t think I put that in there yet good call. I’m planning on having 4 in 2.5 gal pots. Advice from RIU member said go with 3 or 4 gal. Hoping to only do one transplant as that process scares the crap out of me lol

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Read your journal as well - can't wait to see how they turn out!

Also, transplanting - I'm starting in little brown pots (a bit bigger than a solo cup).
From there to 2 gal? Then to 5 gal to finish?

Lockedin said:

@farmingfisherman
Figured I should put the journal in the right section, I'll link it here though.




Read your journal as well - can't wait to see how they turn out!

Also, transplanting - I'm starting in little brown pots (a bit bigger than a solo cup).
From there to 2 gal? Then to 5 gal to finish?

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Yea I think that’s the preferred path. I’m hoping to take it from the cup to a 2.5g or 3g and finish there for my first grow. Will probably just top them once and see what I get. These are bag seeds so I’m just hoping to get at least half female! Lol

One more - light distance.

I'm finishing a microgrow right now - an experiment to see if I could get from seed to smoke on a MINIMUM setup.
The blinky, "300w" light I'm using works MUCH better than I thought, but the sweet spot is very close to the canopy - 4-6 inches.
I get about 1.5 sq. ft of direct canopy light that way. One bud is about 2 inches away and shows no bleaching or unhealthy signs. Weak light?
I'll post pics on another thread - the "enclosure" I made, the light I'm using, and mistakes along the way (rootbound dwarfs) are good comedy, but distracting from an actual grow --- however, it's also a testament to how hearty and tough these plants really are!

The new light is a 1200W. I would assume that 24-30 inches would be a good starting point, then drop down to find the sweet spot.
Let me know!

curious618 said:

Yea I think that’s the preferred path. I’m hoping to take it from the cup to a 2.5g or 3g and finish there for my first grow. Will probably just top them once and see what I get. These are bag seeds so I’m just hoping to get at least half female! Lol

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Probably where I'll end up - topping & some light defoliation to promote even canopy and good airflow.

Not sure about my genetics this round either - not bag seeds, but not known either. Kinda doubt it would help much if I knew for sure - I might think I know something! lol

curious618 said:

Definitely sounds like you’ve done your research!

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Link to my last few months' research. They're flowering nicely despite my best effort to kill them...
That grow was just to get a feel for growing till I could get the tent and upgrade the light - I spent ZERO on the build / seeds, and about $50 in total electricity costs and I just might have smoke soon - so I'm very happy with my little girls!