That is sweet Oct! I tried the LED approach a couple years ago tryin to keep my ferns from dying out in the winter so with the extra space in my greenhouse that I built in my unfinished basement I decided to give it a try... Learned a valuable lesson in the process, get educated. So now that I'm about to go headfirst into my own cultivation I would like to ask for your input on literature, where did, if you did, get your beginners information on the topic of starting a tent grow? My basement greenhouse didn't do so well and after winter had passed I ended up moving the 2 plants I started out into the natural world and away from the LEDs. Won't be making that mistake again. Also looking to purchase my first tent as well. Hope I didn't sabo the thread.
There is so much information out there you need to be careful not to let your head explode trying to decipher all of it, much of it contradicts it's self.
So much info I had to just find the things that made the most sense to me.
I think two things were key for me. First find a mentor, I was lucky enough to find one on this forum. I read some of this person's threads and looked at her grow journals, lots of practical hands on experience. She's always been cool enough to answer any questions I had and also put me on the grow light I'm using, no regrets at all in that department.
Second I read a book called "How to Grow Cannabis at Home" by Glenn Panik, I've read a couple of others but this one just made sense to me. You can get it from amazon as a download.
So I kind of used the two, I felt I could absolutely trust either, but really you need to find one, maybe two people to listen to. The old proverb that a wise man seeks counsel is a truth. On the other hand if you took the advice of everyone, you are in for a wild ride. Also don't be afraid after taking in all this information to make the decision that works best for you and your situation.
I decided for my first grow not to be to ambitious. I went with an Indica, grew in soil as opposed to hydroponics, no super cropping, no scrog, I just wanted to go with tried and true methods first time out. As I grow in knowledge I will try new things, in the future I want to try a scrog, maybe even hydroponics, but I have to admit I love growing in soil. I think the only thing I went off script on was using LED's, most growers start HID lighting. I chose an LED that was overkill for the space I'm growing in, I've had zero stretch and I'm getting good penetration through the canopy to the lower parts of the plants. Lot's of folks are using a 24/0 light schedule to veg in including my mentor. I opted to go the more tradition method and use a 18/6 schedule to veg with. Next grow I may try the 24/0, even read about a gas light schedule, sounds crazy, but people are having luck with it.
So for your first grow I'd suggest to go with things that are proven, listen to people you trust and admire and not be afraid to make the call that works best for you. I believe most indica strains are fairly forgiving so don't panic if something doesn't look quite right. I read that first time growers are guilty of these three things;
1. over watering
2. over fertilizing
3. harvesting too soon.
I haven't gotten to number 3 yet, but I already want to harvest!
So provide your plants with a good environment, try and keep the temps between 65 and 80 degrees and 40 to 50% humidity, lots of fresh air and exhaust the spent air out of the tent. When you get your tent, my suggestion is get as tall as tent as your space will allow. I bought a Lighthouse Hydro tent and have been happy with it. I've read many reviews on tents and all of them seem to have light leaks, including mine. My tent is in a closet, with the closet light on, the tent zipped up I still could not see the hand in front of my face, good enough.
Have fun be patient, enjoy life, be good to folks.
Peace
