Daily Grow Tips (with pics)

[email468]

this is a rant, so i figure i will just toss it in after the real tip...

do not worry about the yield of your first grow! there is no telling what you will get and odds alone say you wont get anything at all because you wont make it to harvest.

as a virgin grower just work at getting through it with everyone alive and be happy if you get a joint for your trouble.

if you get your head gear cleaned out of silly notions you stand a better chance of making it through and actually getting something.

yep! i would add that it would be wise to buy enough weed to get you through a whole grow so you're not cutting at your plant as soon as buds start appearing!

 

[email468]

i've got a tip if u dont already do it.give your plants 24hrs to 48hrs of darkness before u flower.i read about it and tried it and my plants showed sex in 5 days and i had extra gowth when i turned lights back on.i gave mine 32hrs

this brings to mind another tip... when you first start out - use tried and true methods of growing especially light cycles! Whichever you use - make sure they represent natural light occurrences. I would rule out any dark periods over 12 hours and make sure your daily/nightly cycle adds up to 24 hours to stay in harmony with the plant's circadian rhythm. So 24/0, 18/6, 12/12 is all good. 24/1, 19/7 and 14/14 are all great for experimentation but not on your first grow!

 

[email468]

water temperature is important for happy plants.

i think that hydro systems like the water to be kept chilled but i am not a hydro guy.. just pointing out that my following advice does NOT apply to hydro.

in a soil grow, the water temperature should match the grow environment's temp so as not to shock the roots.

an easy way to do this is to store your water jugs in your grow area. if you are growing organic you want the chlorine to leach off anyway so the water should stand. the temp of the room will keep the water pretty close to ambient temps.

of course, be careful... you are storing water in an electrical area.

minor note on this... dont get too ahead of yourself and stock too much water. stagnant water has no oxygen. you want to rotate your water.

Yep - temperature is one of the most important environmental factors. 70-80 F is safe -- ideally 75 F at the canopy and 68 F at the roots with a 5-10 degree drop during the dark period.

 

[email468]

Keep in mind all the tips, tricks, equipment and know how in the world can not make kind bud from shit genetics.

also, bear in mind that each strain is different - what one strain likes e.g. low nutrient level, higher temps, may be rejected by another strain that desires higher nutrient levels and lower temperatures.

Listen to your plants - they will guide you. If they are luscious, green and healthy looking you are doing it right - regardless what I or others say.

 

[satman rocks]

For new growers,not a tip,just advice....Keep it as simple as possible....Give your plant all the light and fresh air you can,and don't fertilize until you have researched what and when to give....Fertilizer will make it big and strong....It will also stunt it if applied too soon....Bear in mind,you can drown your plant....Water to a good runoff from the bottom,and don't water again until the soil is dry 2" down.

Thanks for all the growers who read this,stick around,we are just getting started.

 

[Barking Mad]

I store my water in my vegging room, iI use 2 ltr and 3 ltr bottles with no lid for between 2 to 4 days.
Is 4 days too long?
Also, I only water enough to get a small amount of run-off. ie most of my plants get about 500ml water and about 5ml run-off (just enough to test the ph)

 

[Barking Mad]

My tip for the day.
Soil growers: Check the pH of your run-off, ideally it will match the pH of your feed. I always make sure the water (with or without nutes) is between 6 and 6.5.
My run-off is usually the same

 

[Barking Mad]

Here one for people posting, Highlight or change the ink color for your tips so that users don't have to read a book to find the chapter they want.

 

[satman rocks]

B-mad...good to see ya...to add to your tip....If you let your water sit,get a small aquarium bubbler and throw it in the jug....It will increase the oxygen content of your water,which will increase nutrient uptake by the roots....In short,your plants will love ya for it

 

[bleezyg420]

tip...stick your finger in the dirt,down to the knuckle...if it is moist,you are good...do this every day,you will quickly be able to monitor your plants health.

and im sure you damage, rip and tear your roots every time you stick your fat finger into the soil. Have them on a schedule, monitor it untill its perfect. then the moisture meter is even pointless. go stick your finger somewhere else, like a pussy

 

[satman rocks]

and im sure you damage, rip and tear your roots every time you stick your fat finger into the soil. Have them on a schedule, monitor it untill its perfect. then the moisture meter is even pointless. go stick your finger somewhere else, like a pussy

once you get a little more experience the finger method is not necessary....I do mine by pot weight....and grow up...if you have no useful advice,then don't post

 

[Barking Mad]

Use lemon to lower your pH.
In the UK, tap water is usually between 7 and 7.5. 3 drops of lemon will reduce 1 litre of water from pH 7 to 6.
It probably equates to about half teaspoon per gallon (4 litres)

 

[kulan hunter]

the reason for a 10-20% run off is that it flushes out the crap that can build up in the bottom of the pot which can either send your ph way off or poison your plant i just can not word this right i think i did better last time.

you should get between 50-100mil run off from 500mil watering.

 

[Barking Mad]

and im sure you damage, rip and tear your roots every time you stick your fat finger into the soil. Have them on a schedule, monitor it untill its perfect. then the moisture meter is even pointless. go stick your finger somewhere else, like a pussy

To each their own. There are a number of different methods.

Try feeling the weight, lift the pot before & after you have watered, then you will get used to the weight and know when it need watering.

I go by the leaves, and water when they start to droop lower down.

 

[Barking Mad]

the reason for a 10-20% run off is that it flushes out the crap that can build up in the bottom of the pot which can either send your ph way off or poison your plant i just can not word this right i think i did better last time.

you should get between 50-100mil run off from 500mil watering.

No. I totally get what you are saying. I understood both posts.
I always test the pH of my run off.
What your saying makes sense though I will try to get at least 100ml next time.

 

[kulan hunter]

sorry if that post came across grumpy or snotty it was not meant to be. i am having problems today explaining myself and it's p*****g me off sorry again

 

[email468]

I would be careful using pH adjusters that aren't designed for growing.... see this thread..
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/37836-white-slime-my-roots-airstones.html

if you don't want to read it - bottom line - using "stuff around the house" for pH adjusting caused the reservoir to slime up resulting in root rot (and worse).

 

[kulan hunter]

email i have just read that thread, i use growthtec ph up/down in a DWC but i know a few people who use lemon/by-carb but i soil, after reading that it seems to me it would be ok to use the household products i.e lemon and by-carb in soil what do you think?

 

[blazin waffles]

My tip for the day.
Soil growers: Check the pH of your run-off, ideally it will match the pH of your feed. I always make sure the water (with or without nutes) is between 6 and 6.5.
My run-off is usually the same

the reason for a 10-20% run off is that it flushes out the crap that can build up in the bottom of the pot which can either send your ph way off or poison your plant i just can not word this right i think i did better last time.

you should get between 50-100mil run off from 500mil watering.

after i wrote last night i checked the pot that i watered with a hlf gallon......there was some runoff! So i think in the 10in pots i will start watering with at least a half gallon!

I tested the PH and it came out to be 6.2-6.5!!!!! When i measure in the pot it says its around high 7's......but go with the runoff measurement right!

 

[email468]

email i have just read that thread, i use growthtec ph up/down in a DWC but i know a few people who use lemon/by-carb but i soil, after reading that it seems to me it would be ok to use the household products i.e lemon and by-carb in soil what do you think?

your call but for the price of real pH up/down, i wouldn't risk it. but then again, i'm a hydro grower and may emphasize pH more than i should.