10 ways to F up your plants

I'm new to growing, so I don't have much advice to give on what to do, but I sure have a ton of advice on what NOT to do.

1. Don't squeeze the rockwool. Squeezing rockwool destroys it's ability to hold air. Instead of semi rigid growing material, you'll have a soggy water filled sponge on your hands and a swimming pool for your plant to drown in.

2. Don't feed the recommended amount of nutes listed on your nute bottle, always give half or 3/4. Let them want food. Don't let them hang between the nutrient burn cliff and max possible nutrients.

3. Don't write down a schedule of water and feeding. Let your plants dictate a schedule and stick to it. If you plants leaves point upwards, they want water. If they sag downwards, they're drowning.

4. Don't try to rip of the seed from the seed leaves just when your plant sprouts because you want to help it out. It will let loose of the shell on its own. Otherwise you'll end up ripping a seed leaf off.

5. Don't mix nutrients with water straight from the tap. It's full of crap your water company used to make it safe for human consumption. Let it sit for at least a day.

6. Don't germinate you seeds where there's light. Like in tuperware on top of you light reflector :D . When you put them in the dark they pop out like there's no tomorrow.

7. Don't try to figure out the best way to do things over and over again. You can't make an educated decision about what's best without giving each method at least a few days to a week.

8. Don't foliar spray you plants when their under an HPS. The heat from the lamp steams off the water and melts your plants.

9. Don't buy seeds from www.buydutchseeds.com. Those fuckers still haven't sent me my seeds, and they won't answer my help requests. :( I've purchased seeds from Gypsy Nirvana's and dope-seeds.com two weeks after ordering from buydutchseeds, I've already received my seeds from them.

10. And most importantly. Don't baby your babies. Sitting next to your plants and admiring them, makes you want to OVER water, OVER leaf spray, OVER fertilize, and OVER ventilate. If you grow cab or room has a means of ventilation, additionally opening the cabinet and sitting their watching your babies only disrupts the temperature and humidity. Pay attention to your plants by setting up a good environment and leaving them alone except for scheduled watering, feeding, and inspecting for problems.

I feel you dude I am new and have made almost every mistake up there. Def dont baby them, I cant think of how many things I have done wrong because I was anxious.

Also don't forget about light leaks.
In the flowering stage it should be pitch black in the room during the 12 hours the light is off. Other wise you'll turn your plants into hermies!

Or you could just grow lowryder and not worry about light leaks, give it all the light you possibly can!

I got my order from www.buydutchseeds.com without a problem. I think it took about 3 weeks.

Of course you have to wonder, what percentage actually gets caught by customs. Surely, they have to intercept a few packages.

yes, and also when you factor in the real life possibility of a small package NOT making it halfway across the world given the circumstances.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skriptkiddy

I'm new to growing, so I don't have much advice to give on what to do, but I sure have a ton of advice on what NOT to do.

1. Don't squeeze the rockwool. Squeezing rockwool destroys it's ability to hold air. Instead of semi rigid growing material, you'll have a soggy water filled sponge on your hands and a swimming pool for your plant to drown in.

2. Don't feed the recommended amount of nutes listed on your nute bottle, always give half or 3/4. Let them want food. Don't let them hang between the nutrient burn cliff and max possible nutrients.

3. Don't write down a schedule of water and feeding. Let your plants dictate a schedule and stick to it. If you plants leaves point upwards, they want water. If they sag downwards, they're drowning.

4. Don't try to rip of the seed from the seed leaves just when your plant sprouts because you want to help it out. It will let loose of the shell on its own. Otherwise you'll end up ripping a seed leaf off.

5. Don't mix nutrients with water straight from the tap. It's full of crap your water company used to make it safe for human consumption. Let it sit for at least a day.

6. Don't germinate you seeds where there's light. Like in tuperware on top of you light reflector :D . When you put them in the dark they pop out like there's no tomorrow.

7. Don't try to figure out the best way to do things over and over again. You can't make an educated decision about what's best without giving each method at least a few days to a week.

8. Don't foliar spray you plants when their under an HPS. The heat from the lamp steams off the water and melts your plants.

9. Don't buy seeds from www.buydutchseeds.com. Those fuckers still haven't sent me my seeds, and they won't answer my help requests. :( I've purchased seeds from Gypsy Nirvana's and dope-seeds.com two weeks after ordering from buydutchseeds, I've already received my seeds from them.

10. And most importantly. Don't baby your babies. Sitting next to your plants and admiring them, makes you want to OVER water, OVER leaf spray, OVER fertilize, and OVER ventilate. If you grow cab or room has a means of ventilation, additionally opening the cabinet and sitting their watching your babies only disrupts the temperature and humidity. Pay attention to your plants by setting up a good environment and leaving them alone except for scheduled watering, feeding, and inspecting for problems.

---

#6 I concur to be false, but believe if you want to. I have done under neath a 4 ft tube 60w Fluorecent light and I got 6 seeds to sprout in under 24 hours. Ziploc with wet paper towel method, place about 4-5 inchs away from lighting.

Johnny, that is because you used THE BEST GEMINATION TECH OUT THERE!

I use the same method and it rocks, but like Kiddy I do them in the dark. Usually take about a day for 10
;)

1. great info
2. good info, but only if you have no EC meter, and are a newb. (some nute recipe's are too strong, but that requires a brand to brand evaluation.) good advice for the 1st week of nutes in veg, and after transition. Acclimating the plants to the nutes is a good idea.
If using 3 part...use what is directed unless you are using alot of additves. Some additives raise the ppm levels, some don't.
3. hmmmmm, although it is a good idea to let your plants tell you when they need something...you should know that it is a proven fact that :consistency, i.e. a schedule, provides you with the greatest chance of big yields.
4. Excellent...leave your seedlings alone..never touch your seedlings!
5. RO or distilled water is best, but yes you can leave it out overnight to evaporate unwanted salts. If you must use tap water...then buy 3-part for hard water...
6. I don't germinate...I plant seed in a rockwool cube/rapid rooter for hydro or in dirt, peat, etc., then I put under fluoros. I believe that when you plant a seed in the garden, there is light. IMO
7. Right! Find out what get's "YOU" good results and stick with it. I have had more mediocre grows due to experimentation...so when I tell you something...I have done it!
8. Actually, water droplets will act like a magnifying glass and burn spots in your leaves. Be careful about foliar spraying period...do not use foliar feeding during flower.
If you purchase a mister...It is possible to foliar feed.
9. hmmmmmmmm
10. Well I have a room or 2 or 3 so I can have lunch with mine if I want. LOL

good start...At least you are aware of good ideas, mostly. Keep it up, you are on the right track. peace

LW- "to evaporate unwanted salts" on number 5? You mean maybe let the chlorine evaporate? when water evaporates it concentrates salts.. Im sure you meant chlorine but I thought I'd clarify..

My personal 2 cents on #5.. If you have spent more than $500 on a hydro setup of any kind you better budget in $75-$100 for a good RO system.. imagine adding a 5 gallon bucket of water to your res without the ph changing.. thats what deionized water can do for you! As well as making nute mixing and plant growing without nute lockout a cinch. If you are planning or do have a hydro system try store bought RO water if you want.. its like $.35c a gallon at the machines in my neighborhood.. which I use to fill 5 gallon buckets in.. much happier with the home system though and it makes better water than the store bought stuff.. expecially the stuff I got at wally world.. that was at 25ppm baseline!! BOOOOO!!!