Newbie requesting backup!

Long 4-post thread.

I have never grown anything before, but I'm sick of all the shitty weed out there that local dealers have so I'm taking matters into my own hands.

Here is my setup so far. This being my first post on these forums (after only just briefly checking out what this site has to offer, and knowing nothing whatsoever about marijuana cultivation) I may as well give a quick intro as well.

I'm 23 y/o from Australia, and have purchased what I believe to be the bulk of what i'm going to need.. But no doubt I've fucked up somewhere along the line or have overlooked something, so I'll lay my cards on the table and see if any of you more experienced ladies & gentlemen out there can offer some insight, provide links to useful threads and hold my hand through this as I try something new.


First, here are the seeds. Picked them up from Attitude Seeds UK (discrete shipping, good selection!)


Seeds:





(All the $0 ones were free because I purchased a certain amount of seeds and was eligible from some freebies )
Product: Delicious Seeds Cotton Candy

Options: Feminized Cannabis Seeds

Quantity: 5 seeds

Price: $65.57


Product: Emerald Triangle Seeds Royal Purple Kush

Options: Feminized Cannabis Seeds

Quantity: 5 seeds

Price: $60.10


Product: FEMINIZED UFO #1 Cali Connection Seeds Grape Kush

Quantity: 1 seed

Price: $0.00


Product: FEMINIZED UFO #2 Dinafem Seeds Shark Shock CBD

Quantity: 1 seed

Price: $0.00


Product: FEMINIZED UFO #3 Vision Seeds AK-49

Quantity: 1 seed

Price: $0.00


Product: Emerald Triangle Seeds Trinity Kush

Quantity: 4 seeds

Price: $0.00


So i'm pretty happy with those. Excited to try the Indica dominant hybrids because I am a massive fan of Mary Jane forcing me to kick back and relax No pain - no worries! I love my Sativas too dont get me wrong but I want to grow some delicious indicas for their relaxing effects.

Pots, Soil, Growstones & extras


Here are two 18 Litre Pots (or 4.75 Gallons)





and the bottom of those. 2 inch raised circle for draining the pots. looks good quality. Nice black plastic





2 little clip on fans. 8" radius





and a humidity/temp thingy for inside the grow room

and one to stick into the soil mix






and the soil




and growstones which retain some water but also add air.

I have no idea what % of each I will use yet. A 50/50 mix i guess...

Fan & Filter


An 8" Inline Extractor Fan, and an Activated Carbon Air Filter (2 duct) all connected obviouslt with 8" aluminium slinkys.









The Lights


1 x 600W Grow MH (Metal Halide) Light Bulb to screw into a standard reflector

400W/600W/1000W Grow MH (Metal Halide) Light Bulb Hydroponics for Reflector


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331041180048?var=540252080312&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649


Reflector:


A kinda dodgy looking but moderately sufficient reflector..

Bit bent out of shape and has shitty yoyo hooks which I have struggled to setup and find very unintuitive.







250W/00W/600W/SUPER LUMENS dimmable Electronic Ballast.



----------------------------------------------------------------

So that's my setup

Interested in upgrading to maybe a better quality air cooled hood/reflector somewhere down the road. Not really sure how to go about it though.


I have one of these on the way. This will give me a 600W MH and HPS globes so that I can switch when necessary.

600W Metal Halide globe



and that's pretty much all I can think of at the moment. I have a few surge protector/timer wall socket plug for all of the equipment to ensure that any sort of scheduled usage of 12/12 hour cycles for example; would be managed reliably.

AND NOW THE ONLY PART YOU REALLY HAVE TO READ.. need help

I also do not know if I am going to be needing nutrients.. I just have soil and growstones, and will be feeding it bottled water as it requires it (when soil is dry on surface?)


The exact way in which i'll be doing things like topping, airating the soil, regulating the stages of flowering, germinating the seeds, dealing with disease, picking a nutrient to use.. (because I haven't done this yet and am a bit stressed) etc; is not yet known. I am just going to have to take it as it comes. Very nervous. Not sure what to expect here, and I'm terrified of the sudden increase of power usage making me stand out for suspicion of illegal activity.. But I'll test the waters by growing vegetables for a month or so and test the waters.


I also don't know which strain I will be growing first. Maybe 2 plants that are most different so that my first harvest is one of variety!

I still have to do some more research on the seeds I have.


Wish me luck, chime in with some suggestions to improve my setup and give tips please It would make this particular thread quite a haven for me and I can tell you; it's going to not make me feel so isolated in this experiment. I don't know anyone that grows and cannot tell anyone what I will be doing. It's just me and my setup and I have no idea how its going to turn out.


Peace

Bubble-Gum

It's not much of an increase in power. That soil might not work well, I'd get some peat.

Good luck

Do not germinate your most anticipated strain on your first run… intact I would pop some of those Attitude freebies and maybe a couple of beans from a 10 pack. You will fuck up and you may kill all the seeds (I've seen growers with years of growing try to pop seeds for the first time and fuck it up, luckily for one of them they were freebies of a cross I'm going to be releasing to the public).

Keep this thread going with questions some will help and some will be asses but you'll get the answers or debates you want.

You probably won't find much grow info on the Royal Purple Kush and if you have you've probably came across my name lol… I grew a 6 pack of regulars ( i don't do fems) and got 2 males 3 fems and a junk seed. The bubba phenos were good but the Black Affie is the killer imo, I got an almost all black affie pheno short no stretch in flower almost black and total KO nighttime smoke. Only kept her and she's been around a couple years for me now.

if you took the time to put together this enormous presentation ill chime in with stuff i learned, first few mistakes, etc. ditch the mh and use hps all the time.using nutes is tricky and good soil will not need for a month or more.if balast has dimmer start seedlings at 50% after a week bump to 75 or 100.
caveat:600w is too much for just a couple plants if i had 2-3 plants only id stay at 75%
dont use a box leave em on floor with plastic.i use 6am to 9:30pm looks like normal life on bill and 15.5hrs is fine.cut the tops somewhere after 5th node(search topping).pretty freaky cutting a plant first grow but i advise it for first timers.like everyone before me i overthought everything.its a plant, more than that it's an annual and even more than that it's a summer annual weed which means it's crazy hardy in shitty conditions what we do is try to maximize it for our benefit.mother nature doesnt need our help for your first grow every time you walk up to them i want you to say 'less is more' just watch and water and exoerience 1 full cycle no matter yield. the seeds you have are good honestly i wouldnt even use them first grow. get seeds from friends or your baggies and save those feminized. why?i want you to see what a male looks like maybe even a hermie.yank those mothers.learn.then go to town with those kush seeds with some knowledge.its hard to get good seeds for some of us so thats why i think like that.

mudballs said:

if you took the time to put together this enormous presentation ill chime in with stuff i learned, first few mistakes, etc. ditch the mh and use hps all the time.using nutes is tricky and good soil will not need for a month or more.if balast has dimmer start seedlings at 50% after a week bump to 75 or 100.
caveat:600w is too much for just a couple plants if i had 2-3 plants only id stay at 75%
dont use a box leave em on floor with plastic.i use 6am to 9:30pm looks like normal life on bill and 15.5hrs is fine.cut the tops somewhere after 5th node(search topping).pretty freaky cutting a plant first grow but i advise it for first timers.like everyone before me i overthought everything.its a plant, more than that it's an annual and even more than that it's a summer annual weed which means it's crazy hardy in shitty conditions what we do is try to maximize it for our benefit.mother nature doesnt need our help for your first grow every time you walk up to them i want you to say 'less is more' just watch and water and exoerience 1 full cycle no matter yield. the seeds you have are good honestly i wouldnt even use them first grow. get seeds from friends or your baggies and save those feminized. why?i want you to see what a male looks like maybe even a hermie.yank those mothers.learn.then go to town with those kush seeds with some knowledge.its hard to get good seeds for some of us so thats why i think like that.

Click to expand...

How much experience do you have? I'm too tired to pick this apart but I'll catch up with ya tomorrow if I remember.

whatever you say grojak.you can be as elitist as u want it's a free world.i get good results with zero effort.

Definitely no good on the soil. Straight compost will be burn up your plants (I would guess). I would either get a MG one like Fox Farms or plan out a neutral soil (pro-mix type, I mix my own) and plan to provide the nutes yourself. I would also use perlite over those rocks. Those seem to be for hydro.

One thing you don't mention is being able to control PH. Crucial.

First grow is a learning experience. Keep it simple!!!!

Dont water when top of soil is dry as the water will be sucked up due to evaporation dehumdi etc. I would do .33 of earth worm castiings. .33 of areation ( pumice rice hulls lava rock peatmoss etc) and .33 soild/compost etc esp if you want to be full organic. You can also get epsoma organic.plant food and mix nto soil. Some dolomite lime to help keep soil at a 6.5ph. Theres others stuff you can use i am just naming the most accessible. Dontnuse ammended soils on seedlings. Ph meter is good to use until your soil ir right and then you can do whatever. Look into the rols thread in organic section if going organic esp the first few pages of the no till thread. If your using bottle then you can use whatever you want. Bottle water is not a must. Look at your tap water analysis. If its has chlorine and no chloramine i would use it. a t5 woulld be better to start Seedlings off with as they wont burn seedlings etc. Sorry for the ramble i was thinking and typing with no uniformity

GrowinDad said:

Definitely no good on the soil. Straight compost will be burn up your plants (I would guess). I would either get a MG one like Fox Farms or plan out a neutral soil (pro-mix type, I mix my own) and plan to provide the nutes yourself. I would also use perlite over those rocks. Those seem to be for hydro.

One thing you don't mention is being able to control PH. Crucial.

First grow is a learning experience. Keep it simple!!!!

Click to expand...

Going to get some perlite also and see what mix works in terms of how airated, moist, humid and happy my soil is.

anzohaze said:

Dont water when top of soil is dry as the water will be sucked up due to evaporation dehumdi etc. I would do .33 of earth worm castiings. .33 of areation ( pumice rice hulls lava rock peatmoss etc) and .33 soild/compost etc esp if you want to be full organic. You can also get epsoma organic.plant food and mix nto soil. Some dolomite lime to help keep soil at a 6.5ph. Theres others stuff you can use i am just naming the most accessible. Dontnuse ammended soils on seedlings. Ph meter is good to use until your soil ir right and then you can do whatever. Look into the rols thread in organic section if going organic esp the first few pages of the no till thread. If your using bottle then you can use whatever you want. Bottle water is not a must. Look at your tap water analysis. If its has chlorine and no chloramine i would use it. a t5 woulld be better to start Seedlings off with as they wont burn seedlings etc. Sorry for the ramble i was thinking and typing with no uniformity

Click to expand...

PH level balancing is something I know nothing about and am currently studying & reading up on.
Thanks for your comment; any further tips are appreciated

BubbIe Gum said:

Going to get some perlite also and see what mix works in terms of how airated, moist, humid and happy my soil is.

PH level balancing is something I know nothing about and am currently studying & reading up on.
Thanks for your comment; any further tips are appreciated

Click to expand...

Anytime

Got some perlite on the way and a soil ph reader. What other stuff should I grab from ebay or local hydro place before I concoct a soil mixture and get started?

I used to run nothing but hydro for a long time so i know plenty about the importance of proper ph levels..However i have learned that with -organics- ph is never an issue..ever!.. Might be something to read up on while you run some veggies..i use one part FFOF/two parts FFHF/1/2 part worm castings...i use fish emulsion/kelp meal/ molasses to nute with...NEVER worry or check PH...ever..may wanna spend a little time on some organic threads..ill never look back..best tasting,highest quality smoke ive ever seen or had was all organic. Take your time and learn from your mistakes...Take notes on everything you do! You obviously have already done quite a bit homework judjing by your setup..Nothing to it,But to do it!

Yeah I don't know much about organics at all but I'd rather avoid chemicals

BubbIe Gum said:

Yeah I don't know much about organics at all but I'd rather avoid chemicals

Click to expand...

Changed my organic growing for the better https://www.rollitup.org/t/recycled-organic-living-soil-rols-and-no-till-thread.636057/ just reuse your soil over and over........becomes a very cheap/easy system to run.

For an easy one step organic fert this is probably the best on the market ATM for canna......veg through flower

http://buildasoil.com/products/buildasoil-craft-blend-nutrient-pack amend/tea/topdress whatever, covers all the bases. I would add Earth Worm Castings into it, not absolutely necessary though. Or source all the separate ingredients locally, I'm lazy so I don't....

your mix is fine, just make sure to thoroughly rinse the grow stones(clay/glass?) first. With the added weight from the stones it will be harder to tell for a beginner when your plants need water in containers. Use your ^^ cheap moisture probe and stick it your soil and forget about it. when it reads red .....well it's pretty self-explanatory

BTW your avatar scares me........

I rolled around in soil for a few years, but hydro is honestly easier and im no Einstein.

If i were you id stagger my germination and planting. Have each of the plants about 10 days apart.. .

ActionHanks said:

I rolled around in soil for a few years, but hydro is honestly easier and im no Einstein.

If i were you id stagger my germination and planting. Have each of the plants about 10 days apart.. .

Click to expand...

I totally agree hydro is much easier but i have found that the bud quality with soil is way better..