Growing for the first time!

[Rigby]

Hello everyone, I came to the conclusion that I will need lots of help my first time growing so I thought it would be good to start a journal. I am already 15 days into growing at the moment, and I will get pictures up as soon as my camera is charged. I am currently growing in my closet, and I am using a 400 watt Metal Halide HID lamp (it is a conversion bulb). The ballast itself is a 400 watt HPS. I am have been using the MH since day one. I currently have four younglings and they are looking ok I guess. I was very confused on the soil and all the mixutures and whatnot, so I went ahead and purchased Miracle Gro Potting mix with moisture control. It says it feeds plants up to 3 months, so I am not currently using any fertilizer other than what was in it. I purchased mylar and hung it up on all the walls in my closet. Things will be a lot easier to explain once pictures are up. Once they are up, any of your professional tips would be appreciated . Also, I want to let everyone know that since this is my first time, I didn't purchase any seeds; I am just using regular seeds that came from a bag I purchased. I didn't want to spend money on seeds and fail miserably. Ok, time to get some pics. Be back soon.

 

[gmo]

With that miracle grow with the time released nutes you really need to watch how much you water. Each time you water some of the fertilizer will be released so by watering to often you will nute your plant to death. You can have a successful grow with the MG moisture control, heck I've seen some fine plants grown it, but you need to be very careful. I wish you the best of luck and if you have any questions or concerns post away.

PS: get us some darn pictures :hubba:

 

[Alistair]

From what I've read on this site, MG soil might work well for vegetative growth, but it is not recommended for the flowering stage.

A lot of people here, including myself, use Fox farm Ocean Forest soil. Like MG soil it already has nutrients in it, but these are organic compounds that make up the soil and they gradually release nutrients. Man-made chemical compounds are designed for rapid release and uptake by the plant. The MG will release nutrients every time you water whether or not your plant needs them.

FFOF soil has enough organic nutrients to last about three weeks, so fertilizing isn't necessary during those first three weeks or so. Not knowing much about time released ferts I can only guess that if you keep your plants in the MG soil you'll be committed to three months of vegetative growth before you can transplant and put them into flowering.

 

[JBonez]

Good luck man, i just started my first grow as well, check the link in my sig.

 

[Rigby]

Yea, I have watered it a little bit since the beginning and I can tell that thay might be a little bit over fertilized becuase they have a slight yellow tint towards the middle of the plants. I haven't watered since, and they seem to be doing fine. As for the FFOF, is that something I can buy at a gardening store or is it a special order?? I would like to use better soil. Even though they are 15 days old, will i still be able to transplant if need be? I want to get better soil, like I said, I just don't know exactly what to get. Thanks for the help. I will have pics up ASAP.

 

[JBonez]

From what I've read on this site, MG soil might work well for vegetative growth, but it is not recommended for the flowering stage.

A lot of people here, including myself, use Fox farm Ocean Forest soil. Like MG soil it already has nutrients in it, but these are organic compounds that make up the soil and they gradually release nutrients. Man-made chemical compounds are designed for rapid release and uptake by the plant. The MG will release nutrients every time you water whether or not your plant needs them.

FFOF soil has enough organic nutrients to last about three weeks, so fertilizing isn't necessary during those first three weeks or so. Not knowing much about time released ferts I can only guess that if you keep your plants in the MG soil you'll be committed to three months of vegetative growth before you can transplant and put them into flowering.

Yeah, i use FF OF as well, but i mix in 1/3 light warrior for better drainage and it doesnt have as many nutes as the OF does, so i just fed at 2 weeks since my medium isnt as nutrient fortified as pure FF OF is, at least i think, we will see if I fry the little suckers in the next few days, i ph'd and gave a rather small dose, so hopefully all will be well.

 

[Alistair]

Well, concerning FFOF soil, it depends on where you live as to whether or not you can get it at a nursery. Where I live you get can get it at one of the hydro shops, or even at Green Thumb nursery. However, others on this site have had to order it online. There are other soils you can use; just stick around and you'll gets lots of advice.

Yes, you can transplant now, but you need to try not to disturb the roots. However, most people transplant when the plant is rootbound. In your case you might want to dig around the root zone very carefully so as to not disturb the roots. Remove the plant gently and transplant it into another prepared container. I'd try to eliminate the old soil as much as possible.

On second thought, maybe you might want to turn your pot upside down and tap on it until the soil and plant come out. You'll probably have mostly loose soil and will therefore make a mess, but it might be more gentle than digging around the roots and then removing your plant.

 

[JBonez]

I Love my ff of, its very nice, pretreated for insects, (not that they cant still contaminate) has a ph of about 7.2, so when watering, i use ph'd water adjusted to about 6.3. Good stuff, plus the plants thrive in it the first few weeks. good stuff

 

[Rigby]

I live right next to a gardening store so I will go check it out. I will look for that FFOF, but if that isn't there what would you suggest I look for? I really need to know what to mix in..I see all you pro's with a lot of "white rocks" or something in your soil. Is that how your soil comes? Or is it added....and what is it? I will keep it in the MG for tonight, and I will get some pics up tonight as well. My lights come on at 10:00 p.m. Thanks for all the help

 

[Alistair]

The white rocks to which you refer are perlite. Perlite is something that many people add to soil in order to make it drain better. FFOF soil comes with perlite mixed in, but some people add perlite anyway.

One thing you might want to add is dolomite lime, aka gardening lime. Some people add about one tablespoon of dolomite lime per gallon of soil. The reason being the lime adds magnesium and calcium to the soil. Often times plants will use up all the magnesium in the soil resulting in a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiencies are common when growing marijuana. Also, the dolomite lime helps to maintain a proper soil pH.

 

[Rigby]

I'm gonna need you to hang around a bit more . Thanks for that info. This is also stuff I can find in a gardening store I presume?

 

[4u2sm0ke]

:ciao: Rigby....welcome to the Family.. .glad to hear your startin up...i would like to add that I like to use a lot of perlite...50% of my medium is perlite..its awesome stuff..not only for soil drainage..you can clone straight in the stuff...


and them Batteries charged for that camera yet...:rofl: ..ostpicsworthless: ..


:welcome: :48: :banana:

 

[4u2sm0ke]

I live right next to a gardening store so I will go check it out. I will look for that FFOF, but if that isn't there what would you suggest I look for? I really need to know what to mix in..I see all you pro's with a lot of "white rocks" or something in your soil. Is that how your soil comes? Or is it added....and what is it? I will keep it in the MG for tonight, and I will get some pics up tonight as well. My lights come on at 10:00 p.m. Thanks for all the help

sorry to bounce your thread my friend..i dought the garden store will have it..Hydro store yes..just get yourself some good "organic" potting soil..be sure it has no added nutes..or moister control.....you want to contro; that okay?...then buy a HUGE bag of Perlite..and a bag of lime...mix 45/50/5..i mix my soils in large Garbage cans ..I always have 4 cans ready for pots..hope this helps...and be sure to read up in the resources..take care and be safe..


KEEP M GREEN

 

[Rigby]

Ok, so I will get organic potting soil. Does that mean the N-P-K will be even like 5-5-5 or something? And finally I have some pics!.

I am running 18/6 right now, and the temps are usually between 83-90 during the day, and just right during the night. My light is actually about 4 feet away because of the heat. I have that fan on low and on 24/7.

 

[Alistair]

Organic soil should be packaged in a bag that states that it is organic.

You should be able to get dolomite lime at the nursery. As 4u2smOke said, you probably won't be able to find FFOF soil at the nursery. However, you might want to try Green Thumb. They carry that soil and other good organic soil too where I live. However, where you live you might have to settle for some other brand of organic soil.

Do a lot searching around on this site for good fertilizers. There are many options regarding fertilizers, so you should be able to see a few that you'll like. Or, do a Google search for different fertilizers.

Your plants look good. It seems like a shame to have to remove them from their pots when they seem to like it. However, some people claim to have problems using MG soil, especially during flowering.

From what I can see, your plants are small enough to be spooned out using a big spoon. But I still think that turning the pot upside down, or pointed downwards at an angle,while holding onto the plant gently might work well. If you do that I bet the dirt would pretty much fall away, leaving bare roots. Be sure to prepare in advance a pot with soil ready to go, and then put the plant in its new pot.

 

[4u2sm0ke]

hey Rigby...just as Alistar stated ..DONT change nothing man...wow apics say a thousand words my friend ...and those look GREAT...and their are lots on here that are successful with Miracle grow products..but some of us like to control things...lol...stay with it this time my friend.....hell its a learning curve...but now that you know...maybe when you transplant..you will add a lot more perlite...yes?...but stay with MG if its making them happy....But If you can transplant do ...IMO...less headache down the road..take care and be safe

 

[Rigby]

Ok, I will stick with the MG for a few more days maybe, but I would really like to get new soil. I have really only watered them once, I presoaked all the soil, so I assume they are still doing ok. Thanks for the input. I will do a little shopping today. When I do get good soil, should I presoak it all, or with the perlite, just water it as I transplant? I just don't want to kill all my plants lol. I will get some more pics up tonight after they wake up.

 

[Alistair]

Normally, people water the plant that they're going to transplant first, then they transplant it. However, in your case, since they're young and not rootbound just try and gently shake off the old soil and then transplant into a new pot and then water.

You can keep them like they are, but in the long run you might encounter problems.

I suppose you could keep them as is, and then when they're rootbound transplant them into a different soil and continue vegging them until you feel that the MG nutrients have been used. If you transplant when they're rootbound the procedure will be less stressful to the plants than if you transplant them now with bare roots. However, I once transplanted a little seedling like yours and it wasn't rootbound. As I was removing it from its pot all the soil fell away from the roots leaving bare roots. I did the transplant and it all went well.

The decision is yours to make.

 

[Rigby]

Well, I made the decision to change soil. I found perlite at the greenhouse, and I purchsed some organic potting soil and some nutralime. I am going to use about 45% perlite, 50% soil, and 5% nutralime? I am not to sure about the lime, I just saw it and thought I remembered reading something about it. ....I have a bad memory...don't we all . Anwho, the organic soil I purchased is already wet because it was outside. Is that ok? I will be turning the lights on at 10 tonight, so if the wet soil is ok, I am gonna go ahead and mix up my soil tonight and transplant. I also have some fertilizer, I didn't buy it but there was some already at my home, it is MG All purpose plant food. N-P-K is 24-8-16. Is that good to use? Please let me know, thanks a bunch...Also, I will add more pics tonight for your viewing pleasures .

 

[Alistair]

I don't know what you mean when you say the soil is already wet because it was outside. When I go to the nursery the soil is kept outside, but when I get my soil from the hydro store it is kept inside, and in both cases the soil is the same; it is moist. The bag was closed and sealed, right? It should be moist, not wet.

I forgot to mention that the dolomite lime needs to be chunky, not a fine powder. I don't know much about lime, but I read somewhere on this site that it should be chunky and not a powder. In other words, if I understand correctly, the lime should not be a fast acting lime, but rather, a slow release lime. You want to add about one tablespoon lime per gallon of soil.

The fertilizer you mentioned seems to be good, but don't use it until your plant needs it. If it is an organic soil then I imagine that you shouldn't have to feed them for a couple of weeks. If after your plant has been growing in it for awhile you see signs of nutrient deficiencies (Yellowing leaves because of insufficient nitrogen, for example) then I'd say it's time to add a little fertilizer.

The above mentioned fertilizer is designed for vegetative growth; there is a higher percentage of nitrogen per volume than phosphorus and potassium. The high N is for vegging. Be very careful when you use it; it is easy to over-do it with man-made fertilizers. When it's time to use it, you might want to use it at half strength, or maybe one quarter the amount recommended on the package.

Please do a lot of reading on how to fertilize, etc. You have a lot of questions and reading will help answer a lot of them.