...particularly with the Kush, as it takes to LST like a duck to water.

What is LST, you ask? It stands for Light Stress Training, where you carefully tie down the main stalk so that it is horizontal, instead of vertical, and then train it around your container so that it forms many 'tops' instead of one.

There are some great threads around here on the technique, and I'm using it on /my/ first grow, which also happens to be with Purple Kush. I have something like 24-ish tops coming out of my Numba1 plant...

Another alternative would be SCRoG, where you do the same thing with some kind of lattice wiring. I think the Sdiesel would like it, too.

Also, the advice about the PH kit is really good, tho you don't necessarily have to test the soil, just everything that goes into it. If you're using dirt as the base, you need to aim for 6.0-6.5, and if hydro, 5.5-6.0. A decent cheapie kit should run under 10bux.

Hope this helps!
(c)C :chainsaw:

For those interested in perusal:
My 'build' thread:
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...-vanished.html

My 'grow' thread:
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ng-partay.html