First Time Grower. Am I on the right track?

[Mobileaudio25]

I'm going to be ordering my seeds soon and I just want to make sure I have all of my materials in order. Im going to be growing outdoors.

I'm going to be purchasing feminized seeds from nirvana.
I'm using FF ocean soil with FF Trio nutrients ( I know to cut nutes in half per gallon)
Nutrients will be mixed in a gallon of distilled water, and used once every 3-4 days
Should I add anything to the ocean soil? If so what ratio?

Ill be beginning my seeds in a cup of water, once they sprout they will be moved into a 2 oz. cell 6 pack for 1.5 weeks. Then transplanted into a 3 inch pot (2 weeks), then into a 2 gallon pot (6 weeks). I will begin adding nutrients once I transplant into the gallon pot. Once I'm ready to flower I will move to a 4/5 gallon pot.

Any suggestions? This is my first grow so I'm open to tips/concerns. I've done a fair amount of research, BUT i'm not expecting a huge yield my first grow.

thanksimp:

Mobileaudio25 Reviewed by Mobileaudio25 on 07-08-2013. First Time Grower. Am I on the right track? I'm going to be ordering my seeds soon and I just want to make sure I have all of my materials in order. Im going to be growing outdoors. I'm going to be purchasing feminized seeds from nirvana. I'm using FF ocean soil with FF Trio nutrients ( I know to cut nutes in half per gallon) Nutrients will be mixed in a gallon of distilled water, and used once every 3-4 days Should I add anything to the ocean soil? If so what ratio? Ill be beginning my seeds in a cup of water, once they sprout Rating: 5

[Notrealname]

pH meter, check your water before you pour, check the run off as well.

Think about the harvest, much can go wrong at that point. Look into getting a dry rack and some jars... a meter for humidity will remove some of the guessing.

You got any books? The information in them can surpass much of what you get on the net.

If you can latch onto someone that has something decent. Don't give them suggestions, everyone is different... just pay attention. You can teek things later when you get better.

Oh and if you ain't getting seeds from these guys, don't mention where you'll get them, very rude.

[Mobileaudio25]

Sorry, I had no idea this forum/website sold seeds, I've only browsed the forums ! SORRY ! I haven't ordered yet, so looks like i'll be grabbing them from here !.......

And I've don't a lot of reading about pH's and harvesting. I have those materials as well. thanks for your input! anyone else?

what about the soil mixtures for growing and transplanting, what do you guys prefer?

[built2spill]

If you are planning to soak the seed in water I understand the seed should be planted when it sinks. If a seed does not float it will not be viable. Once it becomes water logged it should be removed from the water and planted in the soil. There is much debate over how to plant a seed, some say point up some say point down. I know from my plant science and greenhouse management courses that tip down is the most effective. The reason being when a seed sprouts it's tap root it will naturally uncoil itself. The tap root will start out with a quick u-turn and head downward when point is up. When point is down the root will still try to do a u-turn but then it finds itself pointing upward where it will have to do another u-turn to get headed in the proper direction. This wastes energy stores in germination and can lead to a less vigorous plant. If you care to test the science just throw some schwagg seeds in a paper towel for a few days and watch the root system develop. They will all pop out and start to curve around themselves not an opinion, fact.

When transplanting take into account the shock time. Every transplant can add usually between 7-10 days of shock. The plants will seem to stop growing during this period. with your planned three transplants you will add between 3-4 weeks of shock time to your grow. There is also much debate about transplanting. Personally I start seeds in a 20 oz. cup transplant to a 1 gal. pot then into the ground. The hole in ground is about a 3 foot circle 3 foot deep. I do not buy soil for outdoor grows since all you really need for good healthy soil is already outdoors. You just need to concentrate the good soil to your holes. Every year after harvest I dig up the holes and back fill them with leaves, sticks, wood ash, a fish, egg shells (saved all year) and top it off with a foot of top soil from nearby. A shovel full of this treated soil is like a bait store for trout fishing. Worms, Worms, Worms. In spring I mix the removed dirt from the fall and the cycle continues.

Any advice I give is based on personal experience. I do read a lot but only advise on what works for me. What works for me may not be suitable for everyone.

[Mobileaudio25]

Honestly I've seen other seeds that sprout and the root forms a u-turn. Good I for to know about cannabis seeds as well! I will choose another method to toting my seedling than soaking in water. Thanks for the good Info, I'll cut my transplant down by one as well!

[Shovelhandle]

Good information from built2spill except that I really don't ever, ever see transplant shock in my grows. Check them out, I've got a few on here going back quite a while. I don't know why that is or why others see a 7-10 day slump. The plants usually thrive in the new container right off.
I choose to germinate seeds by putting them in a DAMP paper towel, in a baggie on top of the refrigerator (now I use the cable modem in my office). 80ºF is a good temperature to germinate. The sprouts go into soil within 24-48 hours.

[Mobileaudio25]

Thanks for the good info. I'll germinate my seeds and so a slight reading up on the wet paper towel method. Thanks for the good info everyone!