Alright everyone, I'm a brand new grower attempting Swiss Bliss (SB) and Black Pearl (BP). So far germination has been complete and out of 6 Swiss Bliss and 6 Black Pearl only 1 Swiss Bliss didn't germinate. I've used the paper towel method and the only SB that didn't germinate was crushed, somehow?!?

Soil
My choice of growing medium is soil. I have purchased Miracle Grow Organic Choice Mix with Perlite and Vermiculite mixed at 2 part soil, 1 part Perlite and 1 part Vermiculite. Is that even a good mix? Should I be going with something else? Right now I tested the soil pH and its around 7.5. I know that is high but I'm going to buy pH down tomorrow to bring the pH down a bit. Obviously my target is anywhere between 6.5-7.

Lighting
For lighting I have a 4 ft. 4 bulb fluorescent setup with two 6500K and two 3000K at 40w at piece in my 3x5x4 box. Right now its placed about 3-4 inches above the pots.

Watering
As far as watering goes, I initially put about 1 cup of distilled water into 6" pots, mixed and let it sat for about an hour before putting the sprouted seeds into the pots. Its been about 3 days since they all sprouted and I have watered them once.

Catch up thus so far:
4/3 - Total of 6 of 12 seeds germinated (4SB and 2BP) so far. They were transplanted into the veg box. 6" pots with one cup of distilled water.
4/4 - Check moisture levels on 6 of the plants and they still had water. Also 1 SB was transplanted into the veg box.
4/5 - 3 BPs were done germinating and put into the veg box. 6" pots with one cup of distilled water. 6 seeds that was put into the veg box on 4/3 were watered with 1/2 cup.
4/6 - 1 BP was done germinating and put into the veg box. 6" pots with one cup of distilled water. I orginally had a 125w blue and red light that wasn't big enough. So I went out to Home Depot and purchased 4 T12 lights with 6500K and 3000K lights. Much bigger and it lights up my whole box.

I've only been using just plain distilled water. I know that I am supposed to be doing this for about a 1 week and then I can used nutrients at 50% strength. Right? I have General Hydroponics with FloraMicro, FloraGro, and FloraBloom. Will these be OK to use with my babies?

As far as how much water, I'm having a hard time grasping how much water is need for these size pots? Is there a good way to figure out?

I'm also in the process of putting together my flowering room. I've got the money and room!! So here is the equipment list so far: (I'm very excited!!! )

6x12x9ft room (I'll have a drawing spec put up sometime over the weekend)
-Mylar and also black/white sheeting. (mylar bought, black/white sheeting - still need)
-(2) 1000w HPS (air-cooled) -bought
-6" can-fan for air-cooling the 1000w HPS - bought
-(2) 12' vortex fans (one for exhaust and one for intake) - bought
- Carbon Filter. I'll be getting the Can125 - still need
Alternative Garden Supply - Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening Super Store
- 50 gallon drum for water, with hose and sprayer. Heating element and pump. - bought
- Climate Controller - still need
Alternative Garden Supply - Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening Super Store
- AC unit - still need
- Humidifier - still need
- Lumber - still need


I'll have pics of everything tomorrow. I have just found out that my fluorescent light has been going on for 24 hours straight!?! My digital timer was set to turn on at 6:00am Mon-Sun, but turn off only on Mondays at 12AM. That is now changed from ON 6:00am Mon-Sun and OFF at 12am Mon-Sun for 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark.


Let me know what I can do to improve my setup or grow? Thanks guys!

Ok...Pictures as I promised.

My room temperature under the light is ~75 degrees and my humidity stays around 55-57%. I know my temp is about right, but the humidity should be anywhere between 65-70%. Right? If so, what can I do to raise it?

I've been checking my pH in my soil and its around 7.5. I was at a grow store yesterday I've bought some pH down and I'm anxiously waiting for my ph water meter. It sucks to know that my babies are at that level and I cannot do anything about it until the damn meter comes!!

I also bought some necessary items for my flowering room which included my huge carbon filter (its about 4 and half feet tall), black/white sheeting, etc...

Just to update my list:
6x12x9ft room (I'll have a drawing spec put up sometime over the weekend)
-Mylar and also black/white sheeting. (mylar bought, black/white sheeting - bought)
-(2) 1000w HPS (air-cooled) -bought
-6" can-fan for air-cooling the 1000w HPS - bought
-(2) 12' vortex fans (one for exhaust and one for intake) - bought
- Carbon Filter. I'll be getting the Can125 - bought
Alternative Garden Supply - Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening Super Store
- 50 gallon drum for water, with hose and sprayer. Heating element and pump. - bought
- Climate Controller - still need
Alternative Garden Supply - Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening Super Store
- AC unit - still need
- Humidifier - still need
- Lumber - still need

Here are my pictures....

Attached Images

	SB 1-4_small.JPG (129.4 KB, 27 views)
	5th SB and 3 BP_small.JPG (137.4 KB, 19 views)
	Other 3 BP_small.JPG (133.9 KB, 11 views)
	VEG_small.JPG (157.7 KB, 78 views)
	100_1082_small.JPG (72.5 KB, 31 views)

Keep that light nice and close like the last pic. Watering will be very minmal.Get a cheap moisture meter or use old finger in the pot if you can stick a finger in and its moist down to 2 inches your good.I use miracle grow moisture control.Ph is great has a slow release feed so food is good for 30 days and it has moisture pellets that will pop if soil getts dry saving you accidnets and keeping soil perfectly moist.Good luck

Should get that Mylar up ASAP! Before it becomes a pain in the ass to do!

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Day 6
Well it's a progress. I just got my pH meter in and all I can say is wow! My tap water is around 8.4 !!! I brought it down to around 6.6 with the pH down that I bought over the weekend. I bought mylar off of ebay and it should be here any day now!

Its been two days since I have watered the plants and the Black Pearls look awesome! Unfortunately the Swiss Bliss are not doing so well. Out of the 5 only 2 looks like they are doing pretty good. I'll be posting the 3 that look pretty bad and would like some feedback from you guys.

Well here are the pics. I'll post the 3 bad ones separate...
1st pic is the Swiss bliss 1-4.
2nd pic is Swiss bliss 5 and 3 Black Pearls.
3rd pic is the rest of the 3 of 6 Black Pearls.

P.S. I also started a germination of AK47s...so I'll add it to this log too. Because two of three Swiss Bliss might die and I have another pot that needs to be filled, I've decided to germinate 3 more AK47s. Hopefully one of them are females!!!

Attached Images

	SB1-4-no light.JPG (205.9 KB, 22 views)
	1SB3BP.JPG (198.8 KB, 13 views)
	SB4-6.JPG (174.2 KB, 14 views)

You can see this one is deformed. I don't think that It's a problem, but compared to the rest of the plants this one is the little red headed step child.

Attached Images

SB_DEFORMED.JPG (167.1 KB, 28 views)

This one seems like the leaves has been eaten. It hasn't been growing at all for the past two days like the other ones?!?

Attached Images

sb_dying.JPG (180.2 KB, 25 views)

This one well...I found that the root was growing horizontally and wasn't growing at all! With that found I took the seedling back out and planted it again. The right way. 12 hours later it seems like its doing better! I have to keep an eye on this one.

Attached Images

SB_SMALL.JPG (169.9 KB, 29 views)

Good luck with that little guy and the rest of the grow.

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i n h a l e , h o l d , e x h a l e.

Thanks HumboldtGreenz...I thought so.

Has anyone have any recommendations on using nutrients? When should I start using them? Should I start at 25% strength one week and then jump up to 50% the next, then working my way up to 100%? I've been reading the forums with people starting at different times and at different strengths.