About to grow my first Auto... Need some advice and input TIA <3

Hey RIUs, been a long time, but I'm back. My last grow was "okay", learned a bunch with photo, and looking forward to doing more photo again soon.

As I just made my new veg cabinet, and happened to get a free Afghan Kush Ryder seed, it is a perfect time for a rest, and an "easy" grow, while I ready my plans for my flower cab. I will soon have a two stage grow setup, and can't be more pleased.

As you probably do not know (since I haven't been around and never posted this section before ), I am a CFL user. I love them. Low heat, easy to acquire, cheap. I only run 2 or 3 plants at a time, and I'm about to run just 1 auto for now anyway, so I should be good on light. I plan to use 4 CFLs, 3 red and 1 blue, later adding a 5th and 6th as she grows stronger, also 1 red and 1 blue.

My space is 12x16x24. It's a bit taller, but the lights of course take up some space. It is the perfect space for 2 plants to veg at a time, and start two more each time those go to flower - but since I'm in for a break, and wanting to try this auto thing out, I'm going to run the AKR in there, all the way through, 20/4.

I have Fox Farms Happy Frog (2 gallons) that I plan to add 1 gallon of perlite to - good idea? Good soil and perlite mix for this plant?

I have NOT decided on nutes yet, and it is my FIRST oganic soil grow - Previously, I used some Schultz mixed with some basic soil and some cactus/succulent mix (just to make it less muddy, it was shit, and then it grew me two awesome plants!) - This time, i didn't want to ghetto the guess work, so researched a bit, and settled on "trying" Happy Frog - should I add the perlite, or no? Should I do 3 gallon bucket in this space, or just 2 gallon? Will 3 gallon outgrow my space? IF this auto outgrows its space, can I just take it out and place it out back or in my window to finish? What kind of nutes are a must? Can I use the blue shit? I am NOT picky about chem vs organic, not enough experience to be so yet! I would LIKE to keep this fully organic, but I have NO idea at All whether I will need veg nutes (won't my happy frog last until flower nutes time anyway?), whether chem will be fine for flowering, or even what kind of flowering nutes I need. I been looking around a lot and can't decide. I thought about buying some 2 or 4 ounce "self made second hand samples" of tiger bloom or something like that, but I don't want to until I hear from the people here!

Guys, I just want as much input as possible, and will add whatever info I should have added but didn't! I am set to plant this bad girl TODAY, I am pretty sure that's alright, right? I have my soil, my box, and my lights - now I guess I just need to plant and go, and follow you fine people's input when it comes time for flower? Or am I wrong? Anything I should change about that soil? Does it NEED the perlite, should I do it for sure, or just consider it? Thank you so much in advance, I love you all.

Grow Love,
-Brian.

well, for flowering i like plagron terra bloom. and i like just plain cheap compost, i don't use perlite. those work good for me.

Advanced Nutrients! (Flora Series). I found this stuff a run back, and my plants LOVE IT! You get the entire lineup in a "starter" box on amazon.com for like 35$ the last time I purchased it..

Great guys, I'll check those out and take my pick! Everything else seems okay then?

~Dankster~420 said:

Advanced Nutrients! (Flora Series). I found this stuff a run back, and my plants LOVE IT! You get the entire lineup in a "starter" box on amazon.com for like 35$ the last time I purchased it..

Click to expand...

An flora series? I have 85% of AN products and never heard of it. General Hydroponics has a flora series, was that who you meant? AN has the GMB and sensi boxes were one of those what you meant?

http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/nutrients/ (I used the flora nova for my first grow but not the original flora series.)

Grow Micro Bloom PH Perfect
http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/products/grow_micro_bloom/grow_micro_bloom_product_information.php (what i use now, kinda nice never having to worry about PH. Cant remember the last time i checked )

Yes. I was super fucked up & tripping when I replyd to tthis! It is the GH (Flora Series). My plants eat that shit up!
http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/nutrients/flora_series/floraseries_performance_pack/
That's the link to it, but I had purchased my start up box off amazon.

Jeffdogg said:

An flora series? I have 85% of AN products and never heard of it. General Hydroponics has a flora series, was that who you meant? AN has the GMB and sensi boxes were one of those what you meant?

http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/nutrients/ (I used the flora nova for my first grow but not the original flora series.)

Grow Micro Bloom PH Perfect
http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/products/grow_micro_bloom/grow_micro_bloom_product_information.php (what i use now, kinda nice never having to worry about PH. Cant remember the last time i checked )

Click to expand...

~Dankster~420 said:

Yes. I was super fucked up & tripping when I replyd to tthis! It is the GH (Flora Series). My plants eat that shit up!
http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/nutrients/flora_series/floraseries_performance_pack/
That's the link to it, but I had purchased my start up box off amazon.

Click to expand...

Flora is very good as well, i've used the flora nova 2 part and didnt have any complaints.

Jeffdogg said:

Flora is very good as well, i've used the flora nova 2 part and didnt have any complaints.

Click to expand...

Yup, I hear ya bro! I really like um, & so do the girls... and that's all that counts, rigght...?
Good Lord, you wouldn't believe how many different nutrients I've tried out within the past 6 months or so!! Its a good thing that I could talk to these "nute companies" & get um to agree to send me free nutrients! Hell bro, even some of them sent there entire lineup! General Organics was 1 of them! alittle off topic, but I received a bran "new" 800 watt LED system all for sending anemail to a LED company & asked the rep if I could do a "vs" test run with there system vs my HPS or MH system! Well, I couldn't believe it when I had an email inbox telling me he was packing it up, and it would be here in around a week or so! Well, I thought it was bs ya know!? Cause hell I've never herd of a comapny like that just "giving" a high $ system like that away for FREE! Well I returned home that day & had a package on the front porch!! I was so stoked about it! And still can't believe it to a point! Boy I'm glad I sent that company an email, I know that..

I like all of your posts, but where do they actually help me? Like, where is the input on my actual post? lol.

Well the floranova series will be very good for ya, easy to use. PH buffered, organic, and not too expensive. As I mentioned I use Advanced Nutrients, they are a little expensive but you see results. W/e you choose make sure you dilute the dial down the strength to about 1/4 and gradually work your way up. I have a thread on here ill post that has alot of great info including feeding tips.

Does it NEED the perlite, should I do it for sure, or just consider it?

Click to expand...

Yes most of us would advise so.
In horticulture, perlite can be used as a soil amendment or alone as a medium for hydroponics or for starting cuttings. When used as an amendment it has high permeability / low water retention and helps prevent soil compaction.

https://www.rollitup.org/auto-flowering-strains/652871-advanced-autoflower-training-tips-secrets.html

this is what i use http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=248 minus the b-1 thrive alives
and 50/50 soil perlite is a good spot to be at if you use 1/3 perlite then you would want to hold off on the nutes until week 4 or so with 50/50 i usually start 1/4 nutes at 2-3 weeks or a good show of preflower

tekdc911 said:

this is what i use http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=248 minus the b-1 thrive alives
and 50/50 soil perlite is a good spot to be at if you use 1/3 perlite then you would want to hold off on the nutes until week 4 or so with 50/50 i usually start 1/4 nutes at 2-3 weeks or a good show of preflower

Click to expand...

I had used these and honestly didn't have much luck with them.. I had followed the directions exactly the way directed, and still not the best results.. I had searched high & low for nutes that my plants produced good results with, and spent a shit ton of dough before finding the Flora Series..
I've herd good things about Heavy 16 nutes lineup..

^^^ what he said

inexpensive Jacks Classic all purpose 20-20-20 is rocking for my plants...
1:1 Promix HP:Fox Farm Ocean Forest. beautiful consistency, good drainage, enough nutrients for 1+ months.. also added lime for calcium and epsom salts for magnesium. some extra worm castings for nitrogen helps too.