need help from experienced grower plz

Well im looking to get my first ever grow going in the next 2 weeks or so (OUTDOOR) and i had a few questions...

I will be using a few autoflowering strains and was wondering whether to use a 3 gallon or 5 gallon pots as i have heard they do not like to be switched between smaller and larger pots ? also if i do put my seed in one of these pots as soon as it is germinated how much water do you estimate i should give them and how often ? as have heard it is very easy to overwater when using largish pots from the start , another thing is do i have to keep them a certain distance away from any female photoperiod plants i have growing or does it not matter?

what is a good easy to obtain growing medium for a complete begginer ?


Also how far through the vegatative stage shoud i start to give my plant nutrients ? (certain size or certain numbers of weeks ?)
(im sure these have been answered before im just having a hard time finding the answers)


thanks in advance

hazeblazer said:

Well im looking to get my first ever grow going in the next 2 weeks or so (OUTDOOR) and i had a few questions...

I will be using a few autoflowering strains and was wondering whether to use a 3 gallon or 5 gallon pots as i have heard they do not like to be switched between smaller and larger pots ? also if i do put my seed in one of these pots as soon as it is germinated how much water do you estimate i should give them and how often ? as have heard it is very easy to overwater when using largish pots from the start , another thing is do i have to keep them a certain distance away from any female photoperiod plants i have growing or does it not matter?

what is a good easy to obtain growing medium for a complete begginer ?


Also how far through the vegatative stage shoud i start to give my plant nutrients ? (certain size or certain numbers of weeks ?)
(im sure these have been answered before im just having a hard time finding the answers)


thanks in advance

Click to expand...

Depends how long you plan to veg and build the root system and everything, but for me, with one month veg or straight 12/12 from seed, 5 gal. is plenty of room for my plants.
I usually start to feed in the late third week or early fourth week (21=35 days) of veg depending on the soil content, and reading the plant.
It all depends on what soil mix you use, and what you are growing.
IME, the Sativas are usually nute hogs compared to the Indicas.
*EDIT*
In answer to your auto/reg question, the autos should start to flower when they mature, but your reg's should stay in veg as long as you want them to/ keep them in 18/6 or better.
As far as watering, you will have to figure out a system that works for you......... plenty of threads here about that.

Bakatare666 said:

Depends how long you plan to veg and build the root system and everything, but for me, with one month veg or straight 12/12 from seed, 5 gal. is plenty of room for my plants.
I usually start to feed in the late third week or early fourth week (21=35 days) of veg depending on the soil content, and reading the plant.
It all depends on what soil mix you use, and what you are growing.
IME, the Sativas are usually nute hogs compared to the Indicas.
*EDIT*
In answer to your auto/reg question, the autos should start to flower when they mature, but your reg's should stay in veg as long as you want them to/ keep them in 18/6 or better.
As far as watering, you will have to figure out a system that works for you......... plenty of threads here about that.

Click to expand...

Couldn't had said it better myself bro!!
I wouldn't doubt bakatare 1 bit! He knows his stuff!!

cheers lads, i was looking to grow 2 russian rocket fuel auto's and also a photoperiod frisian dew , i take it that it doesn't matter where i put the photoperiod in relation to the autos then ? also i really don't understand soil mix's , do i just buy some coco and put it in a pot or do i have too mix it with other things ?
sorry for all the questions again lol

Don't apologize 4 qasking ?: bro.. that's what where all here for..
And as far as your photoperod on your (autos), they tend to flower when they want to flower!! Now when I grew out an auto or two in the past, I would just throw it in with the rest of my babies during there 12/12 cycle! Didn't hurt um 1 bit! And as far as your soil goes, you can really use just about anything you want. Its all up to the grower! I mean don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be buying any $ tree soil, or MG soil, etc'! But that's just me. I mix my own soil. I use a lot of organics, when it comes to my soil mixture!! I do purchase an organic soil offline, and then add my other ingrediants to that. But yeah, some growers do grow in just coco, or even perlite,etc'. I hadn't never used those as my medium, but it does work! Another thing you gotta keep in mind! If you do decide to go with say a (MG) soil mixture from say wally world, I would just be super carefull as to adding nutes at first, atleast for the 1st two to three months! Reason being some of those soil mixtures already has added nutrients mixed in that lasts up to three months! So if you go adding nutrients to your babies at first with the new nute already added soils, it may burn your plants!! You just got to keep a close eye on your gurls, and if you see any sign of deficiency, then you may need to add nutes, "depending on what's going on" though.. I hope that helps somewhat bro. If you ever need any other help with anything, just ask! There's tons of great growers on here that would be willing to help you out I'm sure!!

Bakatare666 said:

Depends how long you plan to veg and build the root system and everything, but for me, with one month veg or straight 12/12 from seed, 5 gal. is plenty of room for my plants.
I usually start to feed in the late third week or early fourth week (21=35 days) of veg depending on the soil content, and reading the plant.
It all depends on what soil mix you use, and what you are growing.
IME, the Sativas are usually nute hogs compared to the Indicas.
*EDIT*
In answer to your auto/reg question, the autos should start to flower when they mature, but your reg's should stay in veg as long as you want them to/ keep them in 18/6 or better.
As far as watering, you will have to figure out a system that works for you......... plenty of threads here about that.

Click to expand...

aronkhakhuk said:

cheers lads, i was looking to grow 2 russian rocket fuel auto's and also a photoperiod frisian dew , i take it that it doesn't matter where i put the photoperiod in relation to the autos then ? also i really don't understand soil mix's , do i just buy some coco and put it in a pot or do i have too mix it with other things ?
sorry for all the questions again lol

Click to expand...

I like to start them in clear solo cups with hole in bottom. Then put that inside red solo cup. That way I can lift the clear cup and see how roots are doing. Then I know when to transplant.

stone1977 said:

I like to start them in clear solo cups with hole in bottom. Then put that inside red solo cup. That way I can lift the clear cup and see how roots are doing. Then I know when to transplant.

Click to expand...

Great idea, but I know some newb out there is gonna skip the second cup, not knowing it's purpose.

would there be a problem if the auto's were close to the photoperiod even when the auto is in flower and the photoperiod is not ? the plan is i hear that the autoflower's dependent on strain can finish after around 80 days ? which will be what i smoke until the frisian dew is finished around late sept early october ?

also that newbie is definitely me lol , what is the purpose of the red solo cup ?

I've always been told "never" to plant in clear "see through" pots/containers, being the roots don't like, and aren't use to the light myself. So I never tried it in the years of growing. Have you had any issues out of doing it this way??

~Dankster~420 said:

I've always been told "never" to plant in clear "see through" pots/containers, being the roots don't like, and aren't use to the light myself. So I never tried it in the years of growing. Have you had any issues out of doing it this way??

Click to expand...

The way he described will keep light out, same as being directly in the red cup, but the advantage is he can lift the plant out to peep the root ball without actually 'removing it' from the cup and disturbing it.

aronkhakhuk said:

would there be a problem if the auto's were close to the photoperiod even when the auto is in flower and the photoperiod is not ? the plan is i hear that the autoflower's dependent on strain can finish after around 80 days ? which will be what i smoke until the frisian dew is finished around late sept early october ?

also that newbie is definitely me lol , what is the purpose of the red solo cup ?

Click to expand...

I think you are over thinking this and making it more difficult than it really is.
When the auto is 'ready' or 'mature', it will "automatically" start flowering.
You can take a photoperiod (non-auto) and veg it indefinitely theoretically, but it will go into 'flower' mode when your light schedule gives it more than 6 hrs/ day of darkness.
However, if it is not mature, it will not start 'flowering' yet.
Thus another controversial point like to trim fan leaves or not.
When do you actually call it flowering? Is it the first day you change the light schedule to 12/12 like some guys count, or is it when you actually see the first pistils like other guys count.
Your finish time is more determined by the strain, not whether or not it is an auto.

Oh! Yeh I didn't understand his post, and thought he meant those "clear" see through cups... yeah, I use those small styrofoam cups, (comes like 50 to a pack) for 2 bucks! And do the same, just try and give alittle tug on my clones to see if they have any roots gripping into the soil..

I've also been using my "ice cream cups" too!!

Bakatare666 said:

The way he described will keep light out, same as being directly in the red cup, but the advantage is he can lift the plant out to peep the root ball without actually 'removing it' from the cup and disturbing it.

Click to expand...

~Dankster~420 said:

Oh! Yeh I didn't understand his post, and thought he meant those "clear" see through cups... yeah, I use those small styrofoam cups, (comes like 50 to a pack) for 2 bucks! And do the same, just try and give alittle tug on my clones to see if they have any roots gripping into the soil..

I've also been using my "ice cream cups" too!!

Click to expand...

He did mean the clear solo, but after planting in a clear one, he drops the whole cup into a red one, basically using the clear like a liner for the red one.
Then when he wants to peep his roots, he can just lift the clear one up.

Bakatare666 said:

He did mean the clear solo, but after planting in a clear one, he drops the whole cup into a red one, basically using the clear like a liner for the red one.
Then when he wants to peep his roots, he can just lift the clear one up.

Click to expand...

Right on.. tottaly missed that 1.. I'm way to stoned!! Lol

Holy crap red solo keeps roots dark and catches water from dainty holes in clear cup. The clear cup let's you see roots thanks 666.

stone1977 said:

Holy crap red solo keeps roots dark and catches water from dainty holes in clear cup. The clear cup let's you see roots thanks 666.

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NO!!!!
Poke drainage holes in your red cup as well!
You are only using the red one to keep the roots dark.
You still want your plant to drain well.

Lol this is funny shit.

I've heard of two girls one cup, but never 2 cups one girl!
Great idea...