I never realized growing was so complicated

[privatepile]

At the moment i am using top soil that i bought in my garden center.
It is sterilized.

I was thinking it would be better to continue using this soil and feed the plants myself.

Much easier to monitor how much nutes they have.

I live in Ireland so we have different brands.

I have seeing plent of 20 20 20 feeds.Would this be okay using 1/4 1/2 3/4 then full strength?

[Opie Yutts]

I assume you are talking about the solid (crystallized?) kind that you mix with water. I prefer to steer away from these and use liquid nutrients that can be used either for hydroponic or soil. These strengths are usually lower, like 4 2 3 or something. I'm pretty sure there is a much wider array of plant manipulating possibilities this way, such as using Big Bud or something, to really get the buds to swell up. Some people use like 12 different kinds of nutrients throughout the grow, depending on what stage the plants are in. Not me.

I highly recommend Fox Farm's Grow Big for veg and Tiger Bloom for bud, and a couple other things sprinkled here and there at your discretion (read up on that). Lot's of other people seem to like those products too. Every other watering or so, you mix these in at 1/4 to 1/2 of the strength recommended for hydroponic applications. That's for if they don't have recommendations for dirt farming.

Fox farm is widely available throughout the internet. Also I would really be surprised if you don't have at least a few of the major brands we have in the states.

Top soil will do, but potting soil is much better. I would mix some perlite, vermiculite, peat, and maybe some quano in it. By the time you do all that, I guess you could just buy potting soil, but then I would still still mix a little vermiculite and perlite in there. Would it be to much trouble to exchange the top soil?

[twoguysupnorth]

20/20/20 will work for you first grow(weeker solution), but just like opie said you will find something better your 2nd time around. they really can work if you are carefull. you dont want to buy an acidic plant food(roses and azelias), and i bet you can find some guano for both veg and flowering. use what you have.

[privatepile]

I bought some tomato feed.I will start using it in a few weeks at 1/4 strength.

I took a look at the multi perpose compost i have.It is ideal for sowing seeds,cuttings and young plants.

So i will transplant to night.

Thanks for all the help

[yokinazu]

i use earth juice with a little fish emulsions thrown in during veg. and just before flower i put a little rock phosphate on my soil.

[privatepile]

I transplated a while ago.I placed the 2 plants in much bigger pots.

I went with the potting compost for young plants and seedlings.

I wont use the tomato feed until it looks like the plant needs it.

I think i broke a part of the root in one of the plants so i am expecting it to die.

Although it was only a small piece of root.

They were just starting to turn yellow at the tips of the leaves so i hope that problem will go away npw that they are being fed.

I will upload some pics in a while justt charging the batteries

[privatepile]

[Opie Yutts]

Your broken root plant probably won't die since it is a small part of the root system.

Nice improvisation on the reflector. Haven't seen that one before.

A little yellowing on the first leaves is normal.

Make sure you let the soil almost completley dry out before next watering, unless the plant look like they are wilting.

[privatepile]

Again thanks for your help.

I keep forgetting that they are weeds and generally grow well.

I think that because its my 1st grow i am real nervous of the smallest change.

I taught the yellow leaves were a sign the plant was dying.

A bit like a 1st time mother really all the worry.

The reflector LOL.Cost â?¬2.00.Its a disposabe Salver tray.

I think the plants are way too small for there age.There are a lot of leaves forming but not much height.

Its 2 days shy of week three.I read that some people start to flower at this time

[Opie Yutts]

The people that flower at 3 weeks have likely started cuttings in an aero-chamber of some sort, and are planting roughly 12 days after being cut. The plants are 3-8" tall, and the roots are 2-5" long.

You have to be patient. Growing from seed takes time to get going. As long as they are still alive, don't get too much or little water, and the roots don't touch any ferts yet, things should be fine. Just keep the light back from them a little for a few more days, and keep them warm. The warmer it is the faster they will grow, but then there's more chance of mold or rot. Just watch carefully for that if you turn up the temps.