First timer soil!

[aridbud]

Water until saturated, then allow to drain, dry out. Roots hate to be drowning in water, another common autoflower newbie error in soil.

Not sure what you mean 97*3 LED.

 

[hicksticky]

I believe its 97 leds/didos @ 3watts, he'll be along to correct if not.

As far as it being enough well that has variables, how big are your 5 pots? 3gal pots you could arrange close enough possibly to all be under that foot print, but I would add some cfls or similar for supplementing light.

 

[aridbud]

I believe its 97 leds/didos @ 3watts, he'll be along to correct if not.

Thanks, hicksticky for explanation.
Highly recommend bumping up lights.....at least to 400w LED. Poor lighting dramatically decreases end product.

 

[Waterlab420]

Thanks for clearing that up yes 97 nodes 3w each. Ya there 3 gallon pots, I can pack them right in there. I was thinking of running my 400w mh for this one and using led also. Would that be to much light???

It's a a 30x37 area. Enclosed with intake and exhaust fan, panda filmed and 7ft tall.

 

[hicksticky]

Thanks for clearing that up yes 97 nodes 3w each. Ya there 3 gallon pots, I can pack them right in there. I was thinking of running my 400w mh for this one and using led also. Would that be to much light???

It's a a 30x37 area. Enclosed with intake and exhaust fan, panda filmed and 7ft tall.

If it were me, I would run that 400 with the led hung off to the side. Just beware of HEAT maybe its just me but I get nervous with big lights in small space.
Be very conscious of the temps and light spacing, but with plenty of air circ. a dialed grow should be attainable. good height in your set up, you can keep that light off the top of them got to dial that enviro. in, I usually run my new set up for a day or so empty so I can dial it in or close to it, then adjust while plant are in.
That way you minimize those shitty surprises

 

[Waterlab420]

If it were me, I would run that 400 with the led hung off to the side. Just beware of HEAT maybe its just me but I get nervous with big lights in small space.
Be very conscious of the temps and light spacing, but with plenty of air circ. a dialed grow should be attainable. good height in your set up, you can keep that light off the top of them got to dial that enviro. in, I usually run my new set up for a day or so empty so I can dial it in or close to it, then adjust while plant are in.
That way you minimize those shitty surprises

Our Temps are about 40 during day and 20 at night. So getting cool air into it to cool it down will not be a problem lol. I have 4 6" fans that I ran with the LED stAyed about 74 during day in the summer, 69 at night in the room.

I heard TO much light can be a problem, I don't think my autos will get very tall, not supposed to any wsy lol

 

[rastas]

I've used the paper towl every time.

if you put the seeds to germinate in a moist paper towel, the micro-roots can get damaged when pulled away from the paper towel, leaving opportunity for infections and stunting.

I put the seed to germinate in a cup that has water in it, at first the seeds will float on the top. I put the cup in a dark warm place overnight. In the morning I swirl the seeds around with my finger. All the good ones will sink to the bottom. As soon as I see a crack with white inside I put the seed in a soil. Be sure that its not too deep, not more than two seeds deep.
Soil for the seedlings should be very mild and airy, for example two parts soil and one part perlite.

Growers that want to change to soil or start with soil, I would advice to be sure to amend the soil. Be sure that it is rich in nutrients, N-P-K should be close to 7-6-12. For example Ive used this recipe with good results:

Canna terra professional plus 100 liters of soil
10 liters of perlite
500 grams guano kalong
500 grams of lime

and made sure that the water I water with has a Ph of around 6.0.



Peace and understanding.

 

[Waterlab420]

if you put the seeds to germinate in a moist paper towel, the micro-roots can get damaged when pulled away from the paper towel, leaving opportunity for infections and stunting.

I put the seed to germinate in a cup that has water in it, at first the seeds will float on the top. I put the cup in a dark warm place overnight. In the morning I swirl the seeds around with my finger. All the good ones will sink to the bottom. As soon as I see a crack with white inside I put the seed in a soil. Be sure that its not too deep, not more than two seeds deep.
Soil for the seedlings should be very mild and airy, for example two parts soil and one part perlite.

Growers that want to change to soil or start with soil, I would advice to be sure to amend the soil. Be sure that it is rich in nutrients, N-P-K should be close to 7-6-12. For example Ive used this recipe with good results:

Canna terra professional plus 100 liters of soil
10 liters of perlite
500 grams guano kalong
500 grams of lime

and made sure that the water I water with has a Ph of around 6.0.



Peace and understanding.

Ive seen the cup method, but I have never tried it. Think ill stick to what i know. im using sunlight soil.

About the lights. 400 MH and a 97*3 in that small of an area, will that be to much light if heat stays down??

 

[hicksticky]

Ive seen the cup method, but I have never tried it. Think ill stick to what i know. im using sunlight soil.

About the lights. 400 MH and a 97*3 in that small of an area, will that be to much light if heat stays down??

Well some would say no, me I could go either way if the heat was managed. You say you got 7ft of clearance so that MH can be used with out it being right on them which is good. As far as the LED goes I dont really know if you would see a large enough benefit to be justified with running both. People do though, and I could see it being something I would do in mid- late flower if at anytime.

Too much light? well I see problems with too much too close, those Led's sometimes cause bleaching. Mh's too close can cook your plant. If you do run both keep them from being too close, that and heat would be the only worries (as far as lights goes).
Good luck and karma, Hick

 

[Waterlab420]

Well some would say no, me I could go either way if the heat was managed. You say you got 7ft of clearance so that MH can be used with out it being right on them which is good. As far as the LED goes I dont really know if you would see a large enough benefit to be justified with running both. People do though, and I could see it being something I would do in mid- late flower if at anytime.

Too much light? well I see problems with too much too close, those Led's sometimes cause bleaching. Mh's too close can cook your plant. If you do run both keep them from being too close, that and heat would be the only worries (as far as lights goes).
Good luck and karma, Hick

Ya I was thinking if I ran the MH torwards the top of the room, and then put the LED where i normally run it. Would be a little more blue/white spectrum, as when I run the LED I run in flower, and it has a lot of RED spectrum. Ah! Decisions lol, my issue is I wanna run 5 plants. So not sure if the LED will be enough to for them. But dont wanna just throw it to the side lines and run MH haha.

 

[hicksticky]

Ya I was thinking if I ran the MH torwards the top of the room, and then put the LED where i normally run it. Would be a little more blue/white spectrum, as when I run the LED I run in flower, and it has a lot of RED spectrum. Ah! Decisions lol, my issue is I wanna run 5 plants. So not sure if the LED will be enough to for them. But dont wanna just throw it to the side lines and run MH haha.

I hear ya, I want a reasonable return on my investment too.

The LED alone probably not enough, Mh works good. I would run the MH as the primary source and if temp doesnt become an issue run the LED on the side angled so not to block a lot of the MH, as a supplement. 5 plants will fill that space up nicely if vegged to do so, you can scrog or sog and run the lights like so and get a decent out come.

 

[Waterlab420]

I hear ya, I want a reasonable return on my investment too.

The LED alone probably not enough, Mh works good. I would run the MH as the primary source and if temp doesnt become an issue run the LED on the side angled so not to block a lot of the MH, as a supplement. 5 plants will fill that space up nicely if vegged to do so, you can scrog or sog and run the lights like so and get a decent out come.

Ya I ran a scrog with my last one! Worked awesome. I prob won't with the autos. But I do wanna run a SOG on my next grow my buddy is starting a mother plant so gonna be able to take cuttings!

I'm not sure how I'm gonna set it up. The MH takes up quite some room so putting the LED might be tight! Would putting it above the mh do anything? Or would or just block everything. I have everything panda filmed so.

 

[hicksticky]

oh yeah your right forgot your running autos sorry been busy..

Led above probably wont help much, you have to run them a little closer than MH.
the only way I would envision both in there would be side by side upside down angled like a V inverted ( ^) so one doesnt block the other. cant really say I am not familiar with the dimensions of the lights you have.

or and probably better would be getting another smaller tent to run the LED in, a 20$ trash can, can be a nice little cab I've seen people rock those things with LEDs, MH, Hps, CFL ext...

 

[Waterlab420]

oh yeah your right forgot your running autos sorry been busy..

Led above probably wont help much, you have to run them a little closer than MH.
the only way I would envision both in there would be side by side upside down angled like a V inverted ( ^) so one doesnt block the other. cant really say I am not familiar with the dimensions of the lights you have.

or and probably better would be getting another smaller tent to run the LED in, a 20$ trash can, can be a nice little cab I've seen people rock those things with LEDs, MH, Hps, CFL ext...

I might try the V thing, see how it comes out, not sure if I can angle the MH like I could the LED.

I might try side by side, see how that works. Keep the LED away from the MH as far as I can, and maybe angle it a bit! Who knows. Guess ill play with them a bit, Seeds are already sprouted a bit so tomorrow ill be planting them.

Got a question, gonna put them right into the 3 gallon pots so I dont have to transplant them. Obviously I water the soil, but do i get alllll of it wet before planting the seed? Or just damped where the seed is going in?

 

[hicksticky]

this is what I would do, make sure its all equally moist ( squeeze handful and only a drop of water comes out) plant sprout 1/2" deep,add about a cup of water to same area.
once it needs it again water in center a little more than outer edges but dont neglect them or saturate whole container completely, it would take quite a while for the roots to build them selfs up to being able to drink that much, you want there to be dryness some what in order for roots to search out for water building there mass, plus water sitting for to long = root rot. fresh water = oxygen.

once they gain size you then begin to water completely

at lease this is what i do.
hopefully this helps

 

[Waterlab420]

this is what I would do, make sure its all equally moist ( squeeze handful and only a drop of water comes out) plant sprout 1/2" deep,add about a cup of water to same area.
once it needs it again water in center a little more than outer edges but dont neglect them or saturate whole container completely, it would take quite a while for the roots to build them selfs up to being able to drink that much, you want there to be dryness some what in order for roots to search out for water building there mass, plus water sitting for to long = root rot. fresh water = oxygen.

once they gain size you then begin to water completely

at lease this is what i do.
hopefully this helps

Helps a lot! Thank you

I'm doing a test run with my 400mh right now. I only have a 3" exhaust fan right now. And rooms staying about 79 degrees. I'm gonna upgrade to 6", move a little more air out.

And I have a tower fan just blowing fresh air in right now. Gonna install another 6" in the door for intake. Hopefully get them around 75 degree.

I can't find a way to run my LED at same time not enough room right are for the mh hood! So guess just gonna run it lol hope for the best with 5 plants.

 

[hicksticky]

sounds like a solid plan!
once you get a round or two under your belt you might find a need for a space for that LED
poss up some progress w/pics lets us know how it goes.

with all this typing I'm now invested lol

good luck and karma, hick

 

[Waterlab420]

sounds like a solid plan!
once you get a round or two under your belt you might find a need for a space for that LED
poss up some progress w/pics lets us know how it goes.

with all this typing I'm now invested lol

good luck and karma, hick

Oh I will def keep ya posted!! I am gonna be planting them into the soil when i get home tonight. They are def ready

 

[Waterlab420]

So I planted the 5 autos tonight!!!

I got all the soil moist just so wasn't dry, and then made a whole with a pen cap. Put the seeds in and put a little more water on them afterwards. Did I do that right? Lol I decided to start them in solo cups. Gonna do one transplant into the 3 gallons.

And I have the LED above the cups like 2 feet so not so strong right now. Ahh nervous about this lol first time soil! Any advice or tips ( any more tips ) appreciated!!!

 

[hicksticky]

get a good mix going one with amendments added = water only
or
decent mix that is lightly amended ph balanced (6-7, 6.3-5 being optimal ) and get a feeding program, I've used FF in the past but now I am leaning more organic with Earth juice's line, but I try to stick with just simple teas ( ewc+molasses, kelps, ect..) with my currant soil mix

If you havent already, check out the organic forum here. Pick up some of the fundamentals and start with what your comfortable with..... dont stress out!! if ya do it right, take it easy and they will grow them selves lol ............so to speak