1st time grower : grow log

I'm going to try something a little crazy for my first time growing - that is, i'm not going to pay attention to guides for this time (for the 2nd run, yes I will). The reason for this is... crazy as it sounds... I want to make as many mistakes as possible - and I want to learn it by trial and error as much as possible (i learn best this way)

So, rather than ordering seeds online for my first batch, i'm just going to be using seeds from weed i've bought before. I'm going to start the seedlings the way I usually do (see picture), and grow it like I do a normal plant.


Yes, I know that I will encounter a *lot* of problems this way. But, I figure that if nothing else this will make me a better grower in the long run.

That sounds like a decent plan, especially since you won't be buying seeds. But keep in mind how much time, electricity, and ferts you'll be using, and make sure that the seeds that you have will be worth it. One very positive aspect to your plan is that if you have to ditch your grow, you won't feel so bad.

I both agree and disagree with your method. I hope you atleast will follow the general rules which have been proven to be true in every situation, but doing a grow without direct help or insane amounts of questions and research is great. I love doing experiments! I have grown with almost no effort at all, just to see what the different in product is compared to a grow that took a lot of time, effort, and cash.

Keep us updated.

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Originally Posted by Racerx

I hope you atleast will follow the general rules which have been proven to be true in every situation, but doing a grow without direct help or insane amounts of questions and research is great.

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Well, I'm clueless - what are the general rules? :confused:

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Originally Posted by Racerx

Keep us updated.

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Not much of an update, but... a few hours ago I got some seeds from a friend to add to the ones I was able to find in my room, and so I filled up my starter kit and put 2-3 seeds into each unit. Picture attached.

However, a lot of his seeds were small so I'm skeptical about their sprouting rate.

I've had some good germination results with smaller seeds. There probably wasn't much of a reason to put more than one seed per pellet, but at least you'll have guaranteed sproutings.

Phytokind, do you by any chance live in New England?
Your watering can is the one they've been selling at Aubochon hardware- the elephant is their mascot.

BTW I'm sick to death of fucking around with those instant expanding pellets. They hold too much water, they're dense peat (crappy pH, no oxygen to roots), and the mesh bag they are pressed in inhibits root growth.

I switched to nursery 6-packs with soil mixed with 50% perlite or vermiculite, and growth is explosive compared to the crap I used to get.

Just my 2 cents..

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

BTW I'm sick to death of fucking around with those instant expanding pellets. They hold too much water, they're dense peat (crappy pH, no oxygen to roots), and the mesh bag they are pressed in inhibits root growth.

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Well I've already planted them... so it'd be pointless to switch 'em now (since its already been 2 days). What problems should I expect since I've used them, and what can I do to alleviate them?

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

Phytokind, do you by any chance live in New England?
Your watering can is the one they've been selling at Aubochon hardware- the elephant is their mascot.

BTW I'm sick to death of fucking around with those instant expanding pellets. They hold too much water, they're dense peat (crappy pH, no oxygen to roots), and the mesh bag they are pressed in inhibits root growth.

I switched to nursery 6-packs with soil mixed with 50% perlite or vermiculite, and growth is explosive compared to the crap I used to get.

Just my 2 cents..

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No I'm far away from New England. And yeah those peat pellets are crap, I used some and while germination was OK, if they got too warm the seeds would just rot or die.

The major problems are:
pH- can be really low, has to be checked.
Water retention- OMG you can get some ROT on those fuckers!
Wrapping-Some brands have too heavy duty mesh and roots sort of grow through, but only sort of.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

The major problems are:
pH- can be really low, has to be checked.
Water retention- OMG you can get some ROT on those fuckers!
Wrapping-Some brands have too heavy duty mesh and roots sort of grow through, but only sort of.

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Thanks. I'll keep the top off to help em dry out quicker, and i'll break up the mesh a bit when i transplant them.

Today I had my first sproutling! Yipee!

But I have a slight problem... the flourescents that I was going to use until I have some money for some real lights are broken :(

I was thinking about just putting them outside for a while, however I was worried about someone recognizing them. How quickly will they grow their true leaves?

I get paid in one week. Will they be ok in a normal room light until then? Or should I try doing it outside?

well if ya dont have any light to put them under just throw them outside in the sun. takes a few weeks b4 u can REALLY tell what it is. anyways good luck on ur grow :thumbsup:

Alright, so I got some lighting fixtures today.

Right now I have 3 sproutlings.

I decided that, at least for the time being, I'm going to grow them in the closet. I can use the entire room in the future if need be (and if all 36 plants sprout and survive, I'll have too!).

I have two 28-inch flourescent light bulb fixtures designed for plants and aquariums. They are hanging on chains attached to I-hooks in the closet. I have the plants about 6 inches below the lights, I'd get it closer (i was told 3 inches by some), but I didn't buy the chains long enough to do that.

Any suggestions for the time being?

WOW! I've forgotten how quickly plants can grow, these things are growing fast! So far 8 of them have sprouted, and about half of them are growing so quickly that I already have to transplant them! I borrowed 10 bucks off a friend so that I can go purchase the soil later today.

As soon as I can I'll take a picture. I'd do it now, but I lost my digital camera and my camera phone doesn't take very clear pictures of the lighting conditions.

I got a 4' flourescent fixture with 2x 40 watt bulbs putting out a total of 6800 lumens now. The plants are growing fine. Soon I'll get some fertilizer designed for plants which prefer slightly acidic soil.

Here's a pic

Guys, I didn't realize that you shouldn't make the soil too acidic and so i've been feeding 'em fertilizer for acidic loving plants... what's the best way to bring it back to a neutral range without shocking the plants?

(I've doubled the amount of flourescent bulbs now - 4x 4-foot 3400 lumen bulbs hanging from above and then one 2 foot flourescent attached to the wall)

How did it turn out? I am interested in growing myself.:hippy: