First Grow, need advice

Hey all,

I hope the day finds each of you well. I have been scouring through these posts over the last few days and can see that you all are very knowledgeable and able to assist others with their questions. I need plenty of assistance. This is going to be my first grow. I have the land to do it outdoors. I want to do six plants, and am planning on getting clones from the local club. I understand the holes need to be about 2x2 for the plant to grow in the ground? And it sounds like at first I want to fill the hole with Fox farms Ocean soil? (the local soil is clay and no good for moving water through) But without added nutrients, from what I've read on here. Now, I've pulled up bunches of articles and forums about growing outside and it all makes it sound easy enough with time and care but I have had a tough time finding specifically if I can just bring the clones home and put them in the ground or if it is necessary to veg (?) them inside for awhile? I don't have much loot so am trying to do this as cost effectively as possible. Would also like to have them in the ground relatively soon as the weather here in N. Cal (sonoma) is just turning very sunny. I have found a few spots. Some are rather shady near blackberry brambles and the others get pretty much full day direct sun up on a hill (but well hidden). I have read some posts that say direct sunlight is too much for clones at first? Also wondering if anyone has advice on when to start adding nutrients, do I keep same soil in the entire grow? Thanks guys. I know I'm a noob at this. But I will take any advice very seriously and greatly appreciate absolutely any pointers.

Blessings-

I have read about moving clones to progressively bigger pots before planting in ground? Is there a timetable for this? Is it necessary? If its necessity is in a greater yield then I absolutely want to go that route but just need some advice on steps and such.

Graduated Transplant: I would start the clones indoors in a 16oz SOLO cup, after she becomes root-bound, transplant to a 1 gal pot. After she is root-bound in the 1 gal she is ready to graduate to a larger 3 gal pot. After she becomes root-bound in a 3 gal pot its safe to put into the earth. The hole in the ground should be at the very least, the diameter and depth of a 5 gallon bucket.

Start with supplemental lighting because that's the way the club/dizz has them. Transition them between a window sill and CFL for a few hours a day for about a week and the you should be fine with normal sunlight after that first week.

As for the nutrients, if you are going to be using FFOF it has every nutrient you need in it. You wont need nutes for about 3 to 4 weeks after you put her into the earth. This means thru the entire veg cycle, transplants and all. If you want a simple and easy to use nutrient regimen, I suggest TechnaFlora's Recipe for Success Starter Kit. It has an easy to understand mixing guide and every nutrient you need to grow a beautiful green beast.

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And if you want an all-in-one try General Hydroponics FloraNova series.

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[quote=ThePinkJina]Graduated Transplant: I would start the clones indoors in a 16oz SOLO cup, after she becomes root-bound, transplant to a 1 gal pot. After she is root-bound in the 1 gal she is ready to graduate to a larger 3 gal pot. After she becomes root-bound in a 3 gal pot its safe to put into the earth. The hole in the ground should be at the very least, the diameter and depth of a 5 gallon bucket.

Start with supplemental lighting because that's the way the club/dizz has them. Transition them between a window sill and CFL for a few hours a day for about a week and the you should be fine with normal sunlight after that first week.

As for the nutrients, if you are going to be using FFOF it has every nutrient you need in it. You wont need nutes for about 3 to 4 weeks after you put her into the earth. This means thru the entire veg cycle, transplants and all. If you want a simple and easy to use nutrient regimen, I suggest TechnaFlora's Recipe for Success Starter Kit. It has an easy to understand mixing guide and every nutrient you need to grow a beautiful green beast.
And if you want an all-in-one try General Hydroponics FloraNova series.


How long should it take to rootbound in the solo cup?

Any recommendation on wattage for CFLs, do you mean switch a few hours under light, few hours in windowsill, back and forth for first week? What about at night, do I just let the little babies chill, or keep them under light?

Any idea about how long from start of this process until it would be ready to put in the earth. The sun has arrived!:), from about 7am to 7 pm where I am. Is this too much sun after the week of alternate cfl/windowsill? Can i tell the plants are rootbound by looking at bottom of pot? if I see roots its rootbound yeah? ( I know, I know this stuff is all basic 101, thanks for your patience)

Have multiple sites, each hole will be 2x2, chicken wire around it.
Alother noob question: should I treat the plant, or its roots with anything when transplanting from cup to bucket, bucket to bucket or bucket to earth? I read on another thread someone had successfully transplanted with Mycorrhizae? I think it is applied to roots?

Will be feeding nutes with water, 1 gal twice weekly, but will wait 3 to 4 weeks after I put in earth.
WOW thanks for taking the time to help an incredibly stupid man like me ;)
Any more advice would be so wonderfully appreciated. Thanks Pink!

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Originally Posted by owlandoak

How long should it take to rootbound in the solo cup? This should about 2 to 3 weeks, if the plant looks like she has stopped growin upward.

Any recommendation on wattage for CFLs, Get the 23w which are equivalent to 100w, get the Daylight CFL's (6500k). do you mean switch a few hours under light, few hours in windowsill, back and forth for first week? Exactly, you can do every 3, 6, or 9 hours in/out. What about at night, do I just let the little babies chill, or keep them under light? You want to go with an 18\6 on\off light schedule. The lil one's benefit most from this regimen

Any idea about how long from start of this process until it would be ready to put in the earth? About 1 to 2 months probably less if you use the FFOF soil. The sun has arrived!:), from about 7am to 7 pm where I am. Is this too much sun after the week of alternate cfl/windowsill? No, however this might not be enough light, it depends on how tall you want them to be and how tall they are at the time you put them into the earth. Keep in mind they double in height during flower. Which occurs when the light schedule is changed to 12 on and 12 off. So if you are ready to flower at that time, its a perfect light schedule. Can i tell the plants are rootbound by looking at bottom of pot? if I see roots its rootbound yeah? If you notice upward growth stop, thats a good indicator. Also, YES if you can see the roots at the bottom of the pot, its probably root bound. Maybe give it another day or 2. ( I know, I know this stuff is all basic 101, thanks for your patience)

Have multiple sites, each hole will be 2x2, chicken wire around it.
Alother noob question: should I treat the plant, or its roots with anything when transplanting from cup to bucket, bucket to bucket or bucket to earth? I read on another thread someone had successfully transplanted with Mycorrhizae? I think it is applied to roots? Mycorrhizae is an amazing beneficial bacteria. You can definitely sprinkle a little on the root zone before transplant.

Will be feeding nutes with water, 1 gal twice weekly, but will wait 3 to 4 weeks after I put in earth.
WOW thanks for taking the time to help an incredibly stupid man like me ;)
Any more advice would be so wonderfully appreciated. Thanks Pink!

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Hope these answers are enough to start you the right direction..!

TPJ

how i tell if a plant is root bound or not is generally the speed at which it grows if it shoots up a few inches and then grows slower than your prolly root bound. from what i hear though not to step on any toes but i hear thats its better to go from a small pot ir cup in your case to a much larger such as a 3 gallon. i have always tryed to keep the transplanting to a minimum roots dont like to bound up the more room for expansion the better in my opinion. the last transplant i did went from a 6 inch pot toa 3 gallon to a 7 gallon pot.

as for vegging light you can get away with a simple 100 watt set up its cheaper and will get the job done and as for watering two gallons a week is prolly to much till they get bigger that the number one mistake by rookie growers is over watering you should just spray your starts with an atomizer ( squirt bottle) and when you transplant you will want to water the reason for this is so that the dirt settles around the roots and they can expand but as my general rule of thumb dont water till they start too look a lil droopy or how you could do it is get acustomed to the weight of a well watered plant and just pick up the plants to see if they need water. MJ dosent like whole bunches of water all the time too much water and you can drown your plants (kinda funny you can drown a plant lol) :rastasmoke:

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Originally Posted by ThePinkJina

Hope these answers are enough to start you the right direction..!

TPJ

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Yes, thank you so much! Really appreciate the advice.

Blessings

So maybe cup to 3 gal to earth? I can dig not wanting to transplant anymore than necessary.

as for watering two gallons a week is prolly to much till they get bigger that the number one mistake by rookie growers is over watering you should just spray your starts with an atomizer ( squirt bottle) and when you transplant you will want to water the reason for this is so that the dirt settles around the roots and they can expand but as my general rule of thumb dont water till they start too look a lil droopy or how you could do it is get acustomed to the weight of a well watered plant and just pick up the plants to see if they need water. MJ dosent like whole bunches of water all the time too much water and you can drown your plants (kinda funny you can drown a plant lol) :rastasmoke:[/QUOTE]

makes sense. Just read how most noobs like myself over water/ over nute. But in the ground will they still droop slightly when they are ready to be watered? I won't be able to pick them up as I am going to plant in earth after 3 gal pot. Someone also told me about drilling a 3/16th hole in bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and setting it near the stem? (personally I'm not to into this, I would just feel a little out of control.) Definitely want to make sure I don't drown 'em

Wow thanks guys and gals, lots to think about.

I have had much sucess over the years going straight from the cup to the ground. The first week or two you will need to water regularly since the root system is small and the ground dries up fast around it. Once the roots take off and get a bit deeper cut back on the watering and water plants as needed. Poly crystals can help by storing water and as they expand and contract throughout the year they loosen the soil.

Grow On! JPS

Also clean your area around the plants of any weeds and any other growth, this will let your plants get your food and water and not over grown weeds around the plants. This also helps keeps the bugs away, but do expect them as they will find your plants. Once they are around 3' or so and are healthy the bugs are not such an issue, its deer, ground hogs and rabbits. I found that steal wool around the plants main stem will keep the snails or slugs off as these bastards can do heavy damage.

Good info ya got bro, outside is not as difficult as growing inside, but its all the environment that a person must control is the issue. Once ya get them about 4' your good man, just hit them with some kind of fertilizer till they start to bud and then get a bloom fert so ya dont have all of the Nitrogen in your weed after harvest.

Good luck man,


LSY