My Botanical Venture

So here we begin. I started on this venture of curiosity April 24th of this year. Yeahhhhh, and this is where all of the intrigue begins. :wtf:

Day 1 The first set of bag seeds I germinated started my little operation off on the right foot. Woot!
They were planted/placed in their individual containers, labeled and set on the Veg-rack. :jointsmile:

Yeahhhh, and this is where the fun begins. I began this â??no money neededâ?� scheme to attempt to test my botany skills. Yeahhhh, so starting off from this juncture I had no awareness of the obstacles I would create for myself. :(

Day 2 I decided that all plants need is dirt sunlight and water. So I proceeded to the good ole garage to locate some potting/top soil (which for some strange reason this household has to spare) I took the potting soil, some mulch mix and some growth granules (I concluded that these were the murderers 10-10-10) and mixed them into what I thought was a Martini similar to the one James Bond is so famous for ordering, and my little seedlings soon-to-be-saplings would love it, Right? Yeahhhhh :wtf:

Day 4 Yeahhhhhhh, so once I had kiilled two perfectly germinated batches of seedlings by sticking them into this toxic crud, I realized something; this soil mix sure smells of Ammonia <_< :wtf:

Yeahhhhhh, so once I sorted out that seedlings definitely do not like Nutesâ?¦..:D

I had to scrap all that I initially began with after my enlightenment and brief brush with ignorant failure. I went out and bought some Jiffy seed starter mix (it is working wonderfully) 4 - One Gallon pots for the first of 2 transplants. A 1960â??s Sylvania Gro-Lux light fixture that I will use strictly for flowering. And I actually took the time to setup the Grow Room properly. (Osc. Fan installed/Light fixtures hung properly etc..) :D

I still have a few things to add like Intake/Exhaust for proper air circulation, and painting the entire closet with Flat white. (which we just so happen to also have spare counts of laying around) :jointsmile:

The Grow Room itself is a pine closet that measures, 89" X 47" X 78" Height X Width X Depth

There is a closet next to this one that is 3 times the size which I may use as an isolation room once I reach the gender determination stage.

To assess my first grow, I would say that "common knowledge" and assumptions can ruin the start to anything, but with the right insights (thanks to this forum) and a little preparation, and Plackoww!

Day 14 Now I have 3 little sprouts peeking at me when I enter the Grow Room. :D My 3rd Grade science teacher would be proud! :rastasmoke:Yeahhhhhhhâ?¦.

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Best of luck, tech2

Thanks for the comment....it seems you might be a liitle further than i am....i just started germination 7 day today, but they are growing good. a few questions and comments.

1. What type of light do you have in the room now....it seems like a big room if those dimensions are in inches.

2. How much are you watering at this point?

suggestions on my limited experience up to this point.

1. add some perlite to the seedling mix....i used the seedling mix by itself and the mix seems to retain to much water....i left my first of germinated seeds in just the seedling mix watered each 2 inch pot with only 1/2 oz of water (used a medicine cup found on nyquil) and the mix seemed to still be wet on the 3rd day.

When i germinated all the seed i planted using three different methods and the seedling mix by itself only produced 2 of 8 good spouts and of those 2......one became a mutant and the other my best looking plant (I guess the harsh conditions made it strong maybe).

2. Try smaller pots in the beginning...it seems harder to control the water in a bigger pot which could lead to death by overwatering

these are just suggestions from my limited exp to this point
killa12345

Nice insights bro. Much appreciated.

Quote:

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1. What type of light do you have in the room now....it seems like a big room if those dimensions are in inches.

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Nah, the room is really just a closet.
I have 2 GE 'sunlight 48" fluros currently for veggie stage.
I may try to flower with a redder spectrum fluro using the other 48" fixture I have.

Quote:

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2. How much are you watering at this point?

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I water once or twice daily. The room gets pretty warm so moisture does not accumulate and stay, it's humid, but the humidity levels are consistent due to the osc. fan.

I am doing exactly what you are doing with the three different mthods of germinating. I know have 3 healthy sprouts and a possible 4th poking through from the second batch of germinating techniques. The third setup involves me placing 1 seed each into their own individual containers with the seed starter mix, water applied generously to wet the surface, a lid was placed on all 8 containers, and they are resting on a heating pad.

If I have success from this method, this will be the 'method of choice' for the future.

Once I transplant, I plan to begin using a high drainage lower half, and a more concentrated/compacted upper half. I only plan on 2 transplants, but I am fighting with only transplanting once IF I build this 20 Gallon tub into a sanctuary for possibly 4-6 healthy dames.

Hey there, I would recommend a good nutrient. Your plants will love you for a good dose of P + K for flowering. Two things not to skimp on...Light and Food. Just my 2 cents.

@ PlantheadJ

I will definitely be investing in Bloom Booster for flowering. I am going to go easy on the nutes for flowering. I never want to OVER-DO anything. I want nature to take it's course, and I assist.... ever so slightly.

Thanks for the insights.

Hey Techique2

For germinating i use the paper towel technique. I use very high quality paper towels, but 1 roll might cost you $2.50....i used 1 paper towel....run it under tap water.....squeeze all the excess water out (all of it). Place seeds in paper towel....fold once...spray once with tap water sprayer....very gently slide in quart size bag....DO NOT CLOSE BAG......place next to cable box or anyone hot electronic device IN THE DARK....I try to prop the bag vertically against the cable box..Usually all seeds will have a very nice tap root by 48hrs..I then place them in jiffy pellets...Using this method ive almost gotten 100% germination rates.....I will be testing this method further....But im a statistician by trade...so i will be test the validity of this claim further...

Try this method..
Good Luck....Ill stay tuned.
Killa12345

Nice method. I DID attempt this method in the beginning, with a HIGH success rate. The only thing is, there was mold or mildew in the process. Meaning the seeds would germ' but they would also have a moldy aroma associated with the process. I REALLY did not like this, so I changed my germ' method.

I now place the seeds into 4" containers I purchased from the $1 store, all of which have lids. I start by filling half the container with Jiffy mix, then I wet it, then add another layer of Jiffy Mix, wet, and layer again, then I use a pencil to poke a hole and drop the seed in, cover it and wet again. The lid is applied and the containers are placed on a heating pad.

This method has turned my "Look and See" method of the paper towels into a "Wow, look at that sprout already showing" from just placing the seed in an environment conducive to growth.

I remember from Elem. Science class, nature knows best, we help with the rest. We being HUMANS.

So I only give my plants EXACTLY what is contended that our type of plants need. From that point, I know I can NEVER over-do it. Besides, what is the old adage?
"If if ain't broke' Don't fix it"

Updated Images
Technique's Grow Log

Time for an update:

Here are a few shots of my progress:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/martinjazz1/SCf...0/DSC01321.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/martinjazz1/SCf...0/DSC01319.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/martinjazz1/SCf...0/DSC01318.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/martinjazz1/SCf...0/DSC01313.JPG

As anyone can see, I am in the infantile stages of this grow. I am using Bag Seed to get my process down. Any inputs of insights would be greatly appreciated.

I have a few more installations to make, such as;

1. Installing DC conversions to make intake and exhaust fans active.
2. Painting the entire room Flat White
3. Adding a door seal strip to prevent light infiltration
4. Mounting my 2nd 48" fluoro fixture
5. Installing a power surge protector

Once I complete these tasks my Grow Room will be pretty much set. One other idea I have is to move my Grow Room to the closet next to this one. This closet is 4X the size of the current one. But as it stands, the current setup is perfect for what I intend to accomplish.

Technique,

Thanks for stopping by ive been watching your as well.....But definity set up the other closet....the perpetual grow will give you probably 2 extra crops per year.....everyone i know who cultivates uses 2 or more rooms....without the extra closet you might get 2-3 crops per year which might work for you....but if you have one room for your mothers and clones and another bigger room just to flower.....its just a matter of getting the durations right and you can probably get 4-5 crops per year.

The set up looking good man....my plants arent doing so well....they need a flush already runoff was at like 6.0...they still look good but they are getting worse by the day...i need a new house so i can just do it in a whole room again......but back to you......do all that stuff to the room because its probably all needed at this point if your goint to take this hobby serious....unlike what im doing at this point....good luck....ill be tuned in..

peace..until next time
killa12345:thumbsup: