Just need a little guidance

Lucki Luchiano

Lucki Luchiano

Member
Hello my fellow growers I'm just getting started on my second attempt the first was a disaster but I know where I went wrong and have corrected it. I have four questions to one post please help me get it right.

1. I have my seedlings placed in grodan cubes do I let them sit covered in just the cubes, or place them right in the soil I am using FFOF.

2. I hear floro's are fine for veg. Is this correct and what types of bulbs will give me the best veg light enviroment? I just need to buy me some time to save for a decent HID convertible housing.

3. How much perlite should i mix in with the FFOF in a 1 1/2 - 2 qt pot?

4. When do I start adding the FF big bloom neuts, after I add seedling to cube or after I put the cube in the soil.

Thanxxx my fellow greenheads. Happy Growing Everyone
 
1. I'd go straight to soil, and avoid using two different mediums. It's just an unnecessary stress, IMO.

2. Go with at least 50 'true' watts per square foot, and with a color temp of at least 5000K. Most agree that around 6500K(cool blue) is best for vegging. It's also good to throw in a couple 3000K bulbs,(warm red) if that's an option. It's not necessary, but helps. Blue is most important.

3. 10-20%, doesn't have to be exact. It already has quite a bit in it, plus, there's no real risk of using too much, so that leaves you lots of leeway. Add 8-16 oz per 1/2 gallon(2 quarts), and they'll do great.

4. Skip the nutes, til your plants are at least as tall as their pots. I use OF, and don't feed them for 4-6 weeks. Check the journal in my link, if you want to see some results. :wink:
 
Thanx Bro. After I started I kinda knew I didn't need these cubes but tha guy at tha store told me I did. He also sold me Grow Big without even recommending Big bloom. Thanx to somebody who knows I guess he thought I meant real tomatoes lol
 
Leave those two bulbs there, and if you add more, then you can add in some warm. The cool is more effective, between the two. I'd have to know the specifics of your setup, to be able to recommend any further than that,...like 'lumens per square foot',(total grow area, divided by total lumen output) total wattage, placement from plants, etc....
 
I agree with jawbrodt for the most part. I just don't feel that Ocean Forest needs any more perlite at all, and I do feel that there is a risk in using too much (although I didn't used to).

Perlite is extremely airy...perhaps too airy? I've noticed during transplants when I've used copious amounts of perlite that the root system actually seems to suffer. Particularly in the areas where the perlite tends to clump up, leaving pockets of it. It seems as though the roots prefer not to grow into these areas. I suspect there is either too much air there, or those pockets are drying out too quickly; or both.

Also, in terms of moisture and nutrient retentive abilities. I prefer to add more earthworm castings, forest humus and a small amount of coco coir; it results in a much richer, light and earthy mix that I know will hold plenty of air, water and nutrients.
 
^I can agree with that. I usually use FFOF or Happy Frog, straight from the bag, while my babies are in party cups. Then i go with the perlite-rich mixture, when I go to my final-sized pots, directly afterwards. That prevents any risk of overwatering, and works great, under those circumstances. I've foind that when you use the extra perlite when they are small, you have to keep the soil wetter than you normally would, or as you said, it can slow root development. Roots won't grow into dry soil.
 
P.S. I like the idea of using coco for aeration, especially added to FF soil. Sounds like it'd work perfectly, to me. As for the perlite, those soils will work well on the own, but I like to add more. The main drawback is that you have to water more often. I like the fact that it dries quicker. It's preference, I suppose. I experimented with MG soils, and with about 20% perlite added, they performed just as well, or better than FF, because IMO, MG soils lack drainage, that's it. Get that right, and they work very well, for 1/2 the price. It's a great option for those who don't have easy access to FF stuff. :)
 
jawbrodt said:
P.S. I like the idea of using coco for aeration, especially added to FF soil. Sounds like it'd work perfectly, to me. As for the perlite, those soils will work well on the own, but I like to add more. The main drawback is that you have to water more often. I like the fact that it dries quicker. It's preference, I suppose. I experimented with MG soils, and with about 20% perlite added, they performed just as well, or better than FF, because IMO, MG soils lack drainage, that's it. Get that right, and they work very well, for 1/2 the price. It's a great option for those who don't have easy access to FF stuff. :)
Click to expand...



i have used organic mg in the green bag i mixed1 bag mg 1 large bag of perlite and 3 heaping handfuls of pete. ? so do i still add more perlite
i live so far in the woods i have to go to town to hunt but i can get mg and that here. plus the last stuff i bought was 20 bucks a bag and cant see the diff i cant afford that expensive stuff.
 
I think I just may add about 10% or so and go from there. And just cool whites are fine. I do have another floro fixture that holds 1 24" so i'll add a warm white there. Also what is a good strand to start off with. My buddy gave me some seeds from either some Sour Deisel or Purple Kush he couldn't remember which they were from might be both and they sprouted quicker than the bagseed I had. But I'm looking to place a order to Attitude next week.
 
Thanx Snafu1236 it did help out. I think im doing good so far however I didn't think they would be growing this fast lol. Now all I need is a good strand recommendation to get started with
 
no prob. dont worry about your next strain, just keep it on the back of your head, thats all. for now, just be focused on tending to your garden, see how your first grow comes out. make adjustments, get a strain, learn it and grow it.
 
Yea that's pretty much what im doing now plus another one of my buddies gave me a white strand the other day ant the bag had 3 seeds in it so i got some good ones i was just curious as to know what is a good strand for beginners to start with plus there's no vacancy in my garden right now. lol. I think all is going well right now I went yesterday and got a 3way meter (measures light, ph, and moisture in the soil), some ph down, a bottle of big bloom, another 4ft floro light fixture with 2 cool whites, and a clip fan, I think that should suffice for now.
 
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