Ok, outdoor grow in pots on west-facing covered deck. Have one baker's dozen (Stage I) that are just about 3 weeks old, getting the 2nd set of leaves on first node filling out. I think my growth is slow, Dave says stop comparing my grow to others. Uploaded a few pics to my gallery just yesterday, I think.

Stage II plants just began sprouting yesterday, by evening almost all had broken through and some were opened. All but one are open this morning.

When would you, outdoor growers, begin nutrients? I'm thinking fish emulsion, mayhaps? Simple, yet sweet, yes?

I want to keep this simple and inexpensive (a la fdd2b). I have ordered a couple of books, one of them recommended here, they won't arrive til next week and possibly not til after we leave.
What I'd like is to keep it to something I can pick up at Lowe's (not Home Depot, please, that's about 50mi. away), or maybe True Value, Ace, or Longs Drugs. Organic and inexpensive are my goals. I do have some MG basic blue stuff on hand here at home, as well as some orchid food.. but I killed the orchid. Plants were put in a mix of Miracle Grow, our native clay, and some composted soil. No additional nutrients or fertilizers have been added to this mix, watered with our well water.

Also, in your opinion(s), which method derives best harvest results in terms of volume? LST or SCroG?
The answer may determine whether I'll use rectangular plastic bins versus more traditional pots to grow out the plants. I do like the idea behind LSTing the plants, and soft wire should be a bit easier to come by than.. what could be utilized for SCroG, easily, on a covered deck? On the south end I would say that the plants can get direct sunlight the majority of the day, interspersed with an hour or two here and there where they're shaded (obviously, this will change as the earth shifts on its axis).

Thanks!

__________________
Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!

Damn... no one? Not even just to crack a joke or somethin'? Ok, fine.

I got blood meal.. or was it bone meal? Crap! I'm looking for numbers that match fdd's two products that he said he likes to use, one is 16-0-0, that's fairly high in nitrogen, and fairly low in phosphorous and potassium. Best I could find is 12-0-0. Hrm.. guess I'll read when I get me books.

__________________
Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!

I think by you growing outside your best bet is to just let it grow. If anything top the plant.

your growth is fine. stop comparing your grow to others. the temps alone can make major differences. it's early yet, they will be fine.

i've used miracle grow blue and orchid food, both with positive results. i'm not sure if they are organic or not but i used the orchid food for several years and loved it. i feed when my leaves start to look light colored. then i feed until the leaf tips start to turn white. then i back off 1 click.


LST is easy, you can just bend the whole plant all the way over. start as soon as you'd like. they used to do scrog a lot back in the day. they would build a little chicken wire frame over the plant. a lot of times this was done simply as a theft deterrent. it's hard to rip a plant and run real quick when it's all woven then a screen. i saw my first outdoor scrog back in 1986.



6 hours of direct sunlight a day is needed for a good grow. anything over is bonus.




water, nutes, pleanty of sun and lots of love. that is all.

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i'm the guy i've always wanted to be

Ha! Ok, thank you.

The leaves of the more mature denizens are a pretty strong green. And, I'm not sure, but I think I'm seeing some differentiation between plants that might indicate types.
I guess I'll dig out my orchid food, and return the fruit & nut tree ferts (the numbers looked close to the flowering MetaNutrients I think you use). Just an FYI, it's Turf Magic Citrus, Avocado & Pecan Food @ 16-7-5.. I thought that you use something that's along the lines of 10-5-5 or 1-5-5, can't remember exactly, damn. Anyway, thank ye.

__________________
Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!