My First Ever Grow (Advice more than Welcome)

[soccergal]

Ok...I'm starting this thing from the very beginning and going to go through the whole grow. Hopefully my plants will make it there. I've read the FAQ in depth, and while I'm sure there is much more to learn...I'm going to try to also learn by experience.

For right now, I have 4 seeds germinating. It's just bag seed, but came from some Skywalker I got a while back from Hightimestoner. I'm not sure they'll sprout, but hey, might as well give it a try.

Right now I have them germinating using the paper towel method.

I cut down some papertowel to the size of a ziploc bag. Wet two pieces wrung them out some and put them in my ziploc bag. Then I put the four seeds on top of those papertowels. I wet two more pieces and wrung them out, after whick I placed those on top of the four seeds.

Now we play the waiting game.

soccergal Reviewed by soccergal on 08-21-2006. My First Ever Grow (Advice more than Welcome) Ok...I'm starting this thing from the very beginning and going to go through the whole grow. Hopefully my plants will make it there. I've read the FAQ in depth, and while I'm sure there is much more to learn...I'm going to try to also learn by experience. For right now, I have 4 seeds germinating. It's just bag seed, but came from some Skywalker I got a while back from Hightimestoner. I'm not sure they'll sprout, but hey, might as well give it a try. Right now I have them germinating Rating: 5

[mobay]

try and grab yourself some superthrive, while your waiting.

[soccergal]

Not a bad idea Mobay. I've been debating with myself on which nutes to use.

I picked up lights today. I'm going to start them off Vegging with 2 45W cool spectrum CFL's and gradually increase that to 4, most likely throwing a warm spectrum CFL in the mix.

What do you guys think...should I go 24/0 or 18/6?

When they're ready for flowering I want to add a 400W HPS

[stinkyattic]

Uh oh, you're posting the same thing in 2 forums. Everyone pick one and stick with it so we don't get confused...

[soccergal]

Well I can erase one of them, I just wasn't sure which place would get the most attention. And obviously the more attention it gets, hopefully the better advice there will be.

[kush07]

Try to go organic in all things, soil, ferts, and additives. Make sure your grow space has reflective material in it and there is no light leakage whatsoever. When and if you get some superthrive only use it during vegetative stage. It doesn't do much and in some cases inhibites floral growth. Use sugar doing flowering instead. Try to give your soil a good N count cause higher N levels at the begining of growth helps to promote female tendencies. As for lighting go for a 20/4. Another thing, make sure the circuit you are putting the HPS on can support it. You don't want the house to burn to the ground do you? A good light mix for two plants is three Cool watt CFL on each plant with one Warm CFL over both to help fill out the spectrum. Hope any of this helps.

Happy Toking :rasta:

[soccergal]

Hmmm...seems I may have already made a mistake. I think I got the wrong CFLs. And yet...I didn't see any that said cool.

That said, I bought two of the 42W - 2600 lumen CFL's. but, now that I'm looking on it I see that they are soft white.

I did buy one daylight bulb that is 27W - 1300 lumens.

That said...I have taken nothing out of the packaging because I'm still germinating anyways. Which lights are better? I got these at Home Depot, maybe Walmart has the cool ones. Let me know what you think, I appreciate it guys.

[TokeNAway]

Picked up some Lights of American "Daylight" CFLs from WalMart. 35W (135W replacement) at 2k Lumens. Blue spectrum. Got them specifically because they say "daylight" on the package. Lights of American also makes some that don't have "daylight" on the packaging. These are the ones with the bulb in the circular pattern. They are bigger than the U shaped bulb CFLs that you always see.

Never have seen them at HomeDepot or Lowes.

Walmart doesn't seem to carry a large supply of these. The first time we cleaned them out and only got 4. The next two trips to different Wally-Worlds we couldn't find any. Got 2 and 1 from some WalMarts in a different town (cleaned them out too). So, you'll probably have to hunt for these.

Just started some seedlings, so I can't be certain how they will work. Anyone ever tried these?

[yabatab]

Is this what you are talkingt about? This is the 42 watt Megalite
also sold as the reading light but both are the same thing
model#2342 these are what in using.

[soccergal]

Ok...got it. I'll go back tommorow and get more of the daylight bulbs. I guess I'll hang on to the soft whites ones until I hear back from someone as to whether I could use them for flowering, or as supplemental lighting or something.