Noob on the Cheap

[Cede2Weed]

I have a little experience growing outdoors. We basically used large numbers to guarantee success and were at the mercy of the seasons. Long story short, the land we grew on is no longer available to us and I am not the type that would even consider guerrilla growing.

I have ready many, many, posts on this board and am very excited. At the same time, the more I read, the more differing views I get. So I have decided to just jump in, splash around and hope If I am not able to swim a lifeguard will come to my rescue.

This log will be for tracking my mistakes and, hopefully, getting advice as I am sure to make many of the same mistakes I have read about here. American eagerness sometimes triumphs over ingenuity.

Cede2Weed Reviewed by Cede2Weed on 04-08-2008. Noob on the Cheap I have a little experience growing outdoors. We basically used large numbers to guarantee success and were at the mercy of the seasons. Long story short, the land we grew on is no longer available to us and I am not the type that would even consider guerrilla growing. I have ready many, many, posts on this board and am very excited. At the same time, the more I read, the more differing views I get. So I have decided to just jump in, splash around and hope If I am not able to swim a Rating: 5

[Cede2Weed]

My goal is to produce only for personal use and to be able to dictate my high. In my outdoor grows this was accomplish be timing the harvest alone. We would harvest in three phases, each phase producing a different high from the same crop. I know understand why, before I was just told that was how you did it.

I have purchased 2 large rubbermaid storage containers for making a portable grower, but have not begun the construction.

I have three 6500k CFLs, 26W = 100W variety.
1 oscillating fam, 1 box fan and 3 pc fans
JiffyStrips jiffy pots (although I am accustomed to nursing sprouts in egg cartons prior to translanting to buckets with handles for outdoor, but time to learn new tricks)
Seed starter mix consisting of a sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and "other" ingredients - lightweight, free of weeds.

I have a large collection of seeds from 5 different strains. I do not know their names or anything scientific about them. One was chosen because it has been my favorite and I was fortunate enough to be given 10, presumed to be female seeds. I will wait until I have a well defined and successful process before I risk these seeds.

The other 4 types were chosen in hopes that one will prove to be hearty.

[Cede2Weed]

For my initial germination I attempted to chose 3 female seeds (based upon chart found here) from each of the 4 strains.

I thoroughly wet a wash cloth, placed the 15 seeds on top and placed in a large zipper lock bag.

April 6 -
checked on seeds, 7 have cracked with a sprout, with tweezers I placed the cracked sprouts in the soil attempting to have tap facing down. I barley placed below soil line and covered. Then placed under 24 hr light.

FYI - because I have not completed my rubber maid grower, I cannot assure total darkness so I am going to go with 24hr light until complete darkness is available to me.
They are simple on a table in an extra room with the light a couple of inches above.

April 7 -
The remaining 8 seeds have cracked and I followed the same process as above.

I know have all 15 germinated and in soil, but there has not been any separation of the seed shell.

Please wish me luck!

[Cede2Weed]

For those of you that use seeds, when do you move to dirt? After separation from the seed shell?

Thanks!

[bombdiggity]

I moved mine into the dirt as soon as the taproot showed itself. In all honesty though, geminating in the soil is just as effective. Main reason for germinating in paper towels is to satisfy curiosity IMO

[hudson88]

Hey Cede, I use the paper towel method, as soon as the taproot pops out I put them in the soil. The seed then gets pushed through the soil as the stem grows, the seed usually drops off when the stem is 1-2"s.

Good luck!

[Cede2Weed]

Thanks, Bomb and Hudson. Came home at lunch to check on them. The jiffy pots and seed starter soil does not retain much moisture. They were very dry. But the sprouts are poking through. About half have the seed stickin out a 1/4".

I will begin posting pix tonight.

[stinkyattic]

As soon as the little sprouts show above the dirt, get a BUNCH of light on them. And yeah, you will have to watch the moisture very carefully at this stage, since they do not have a good root system yet, and those small pots dry out fast. It gets easier after the first transplant, which you will do in about 2 weeks, into a 4-6" pot.

[Cede2Weed]

Thanks, Stinky.

I had 3 6500k/26w/1600L CFL's on them but turned one off to see if that will help slow the drying of the soil.

I am able to come home for lunch most days to add water, but not always... And when I wake up in the morning they are arid.

Is this acceptable or should I go back to 3 and work on a method to keep moisture in the soil?

Thanks, again!

[hudson88]

Keep the 3 on them, they shouldn't be producing too much heat, you're gonna need to add more of them soon anyway. What's the temps like?