New to Growing

Hey guys, I am in need of some guidance on this endeavor. I have researched quite a bit through the forums, but I find it hard to grasp all of the content as people do things so differently. I am interested in doing my first ever grow using Rubbermaid containers and obviously using a short to medium sized strain. My choices so far are White Rhino / AK-48 / or Northern Lights. I need something that is short, easy to grow, and easy to maintain while still getting a good yield. How much can I expect from one plant of these strains with taking good care of it? How many watts and type of lighting would I need to do just 2 plants at once? I have researched and researched but I lose track on how to even get started, and it seems like such a pain in the ass to keep up with, but I see how it can also be simple. I would really like to know what I would need to go about doing a grow like the one i've mentioned.

The information is here, you just have to read it and search... It's not that difficult... You have to think about things like, proper lighting, ventilation, grow area, your grow medium or method... your ability to keep quiet and stealthiness of your selected grow area.. Each one of these is a subject within itself, so get started reading, no one really likes to spoon-feed this basic information, when it's readily available here...

D.N.A Rocklock. short ,fast and thick. But research before you jump in 150 watt hps with floros on the side can do 2-3 plants.. Study up.:thumbsup: O wait they will be out of stock till jan.-feb. Ak-47 or 48 is a good one as well.:thumbsup:

NL is a hybrid strain, not small by any stretch of the imagination. try to stay with something indica. i grew some diesel by g-13 labs, it didn't hardly stretch at all when switched to flower.


-shake

Where you referring more to what supplies to get versus what strain? If so, a sodium light would be great, about 400 watts. Just 2 plants though, you can use alot of flouro, which would be very cheap to buy and operate. it would also be very cool as sodium and metal halides put out alot of heat, both at the bulb and the transformer (power box). Personally if you're in potting soil, I'd get some stuff sold at a plant nursery. People keep using Miracle grow soil only to have problems with it. Some people use it and it works for them, but they also say they have to flush it like crazy. if that's the case, then you're wasting your money. Foxfarm soil, Black Gold, Roots, Sunshine mix, or Promix are dependable soils. You're right, people do things differently in an attempted to get the same result - to imitate nature with an indoor grow. All you're trying to do is give plants an environment that mimics nature. For ferts I'd recommend using Foxfarm's Fruit and Flower powder fert or Dr. Earth fert for tomatoes. Mix in one level cup of fert per gallon of soil, mix it well, and that's all you'll need to do. So you're right again when you say it can be easy. Just add water when the soil runs dry. Lighting is 18 hours on, 6 off and let it get about 2 feet tall or so, then switch the light cycle to 12 on, 12 off to induce flowering and budding. Use a small fan on the plants to knock them around a little, to strengthen their stems so they don't fall over. The most expensive part is the higher quality lighting. Flouro will probably work, but sodium should work better. Plants continue to grow while flowering, so if you don't want a plant that's 4 feet tall, switch the light cycle earlier. You'll have to deal with some odor in flower cuz they get stinky. If you don't want to use a powder fert, there are more than enough liquids to choose from. I always recommend Dyna Gro 7-9-5 because it has all the micronutes plants need. Not all the liquids do this. I guess they expect everyone to know the difference and spend more money, but why do that when you can get it all in a single bottle. It just has a bit of a short shelf life. The powdered ferts will last a long time on the shelf provided they don't get wet. Get fresh air to the plants and get the heat away from them so they don't cook. The leaves are kind of fragile. For liquid ferts in soil, using them is harder because even though the label might say how much to use per gallon or quart of water, they don't tell you how often to feed. You can let the plant tell you as if the lower leaves are turning yellow, it's time for some fert. You can get a plant to grow out rather than up by cutting of the top. Just do that when you're ready. You probably don't need a light reflector for just two plants, so save your money. Or get a cheap reflector off of ebay. It is easy provided you just do a few necessary things.