Questions from a very new Newbie....

[Cillitbang]

Hi all, nice to be here....

ok..hope these questions arn't too basic...as i'm very new to all this....

for my First grow i'm going to use a grow-tent type of thingy....

Northern Lights X big bud (i think), here are my questions....

Q1: Once the seeds have germinated (starting to sprout i think) and you put them in Soil(the right one of course) how long should they be under the 250w MH lamp (and for how long each day)?

Q2: What distance should the lights be at above the plant throughout it's life?

Q3: Do you water every other day right away or measure the amount of moisture in the soil and water at a certain reading ?

Q4: When do you add Nutrients (1 week in or later)?

Q5: In a very basic set-up how would you go about adjusting the humidity and temp (would that be a Fan issue) ?

Q6: Once males are spotted are they removed completely by pulling it put at the root and are males totally Useless ?

many thanks for any help...lots of questions i know just want a good go at getting it right...

ooh one last thing...Once your plant has "produced" and your ready to harvest where do you cut the stem and i've read somewhere that you can harvest a plant 2 or 3 times....how is this done ?

thanks again

David

 

[Guest]

Cillitbang]Hi all, nice to be here....
A:Welcome! This place can be helpful to all your needs. Just don't bad mouth Gypsy his business' or his vendors. They have they're own army.

ok..hope these questions arn't too basic...as i'm very new to all this....
A:No question is too basic. We all started out the same way........as Noobs!

Q1: Once the seeds have germinated (starting to sprout i think) and you put them in Soil(the right one of course) how long should they be under the 250w MH lamp (and for how long each day)?
A:Yes put them TAPROOT DOWN into the soil about and inch or so down. They can be put under the MH as long as you want them under there. 18 or 24 Hours is the prefered length of time the light stays on. Then after they grow to the size you prefer or sexually mature switch them to 12 hours on and 12 off to induce flowering (buds).

Q2: What distance should the lights be at above the plant throughout it's life?
A:For a 250 with good ventilation I say about 2ft. You can gradually lower it till you think they are safe. Using the back of your hand is a good measurement to see if its too hot for them. If its too hot for your hand then it's too hot for your seedlings.

Q3: Do you water every other day right away or measure the amount of moisture in the soil and water at a certain reading ?
A:Water according to moisture of the soil. A cheap Soil Moisture Meter can give you a good readout. Or you can pick up the pot and feel the weight while bone dry and water when its close to the same weight. Also it would be a good idea to water around the seedling and not directly in the middle. This will promote root growth.

Q4: When do you add Nutrients (1 week in or later)?
A:I usually go by the third or fifth node/branch depending on what the lil guys tell me. (they talk to you, ya know?). Depending on what soil mixture you need you may not need it for a while.

Q5: In a very basic set-up how would you go about adjusting the humidity and temp (would that be a Fan issue) ?
A:Humidity and Heat can be controlled by air exchange.

Q6oh one last thing...Once your plant has "produced" and your ready to harvest where do you cut the stem and i've read somewhere that you can harvest a plant 2 or 3 times....how is this done ?
A:Cut it where ever you want. You can hang the whole plant upside down by the stalk if you want, leaves and all. Step harvesting is when the top buds are fully matured and you hack the top third or so off. Let the under/lower buds get the full might of the light and ripen out. Then harvest those.

Oh yah many people do things different than I do. Same thing but just different variations. So you'll get a few different answers. All I can say is read up. There are plenty of threads on seed to harvest.

Hope that helps!
Blatant

 

[Cillitbang]

It's a great help, as i've been reading many articles i've just been writing down Q's as i go..mainly so i don't forget....once i move house i'll be starting my very first ever grow..how exciting!!!!

Many thanks much appreciated !!!

 

[Harry Gypsna]

well, i am usually happy to see more brits, but a Manc????? im not so sure, lol.
only winding u up fella, im from the other side of the Pennines so im sposed to, lol.
welcome to Ic mate....right lets see about trying to answer some questions for u!
In general, you would start you young seedlings under a 24 hour, or 18/6 light cycle, that is, either on all the time, or 18 on, 6 off! Best is to have some off time as its more like nature!
If you dont have any fluros, then you will ghave to use your halide, then you want them as far way as possible to begin with, you would be safer using s fluro or even a couple of energy saving lightbulbs in the very early stages so they dont get fried. you can start them directly under the MH, its just a case oif being very careful!, and not allowing them to dry out.
which leads to the next bit, Id say for watering, your best bet ios to plant them,m and then use saucers for the pots, just fill the saucer and let it drink it up...if it does drink it fast, put some more in but watch it, as soon as it stops getting sucked up, empty the saucers. that way they only get what the soil wants.
you wont want nutrients so early on, your soil will have enough for the first maybe 3-4 weeks or even more depending on the soil itself and the plants!
Ive just been debating myself wether it would be worth getting a soil moisture mter or not....i been doing fine without one though.
humidity and temp, yup a fan thing. you can pick up a bathroom fan prety cheaply which would do a small tent thingy, lol. you will still want a desk fan though to circulate the air inside! a few weeks time and you will be able to pick em up for a few quid each in towns and markets..wickes do em for about 7 quid I think!
Males, ....well, ye, as your a complete beginner, i would say just trash the males startight away as the only use they can serve is for seedmaking or breeding and that is not what ur after yet is it mate, lol.
well, i think i got em all for u??
hope i have helped, dont be surprised if you hear things slightly differently, as these re only how I do it, and every1 does it different....there are many many differet opinions about what we should and shouldnt do.
right, be lucky mate, I gotta tend to mine now
Harry

 

[Cillitbang]

Cheers mate thanks for that...as far as being a manc...lol...i'm moving down to "that London" in october for about 5 yrs then of to New York with the Missus(she's an actress) so hopefully i'm gonna spend the next 5 months having some growing practice before i go a bit larger....this forum is pretty cool...i'm already picking up lots and lots of info and i've only been here a few days...

 

[Cillitbang]

While looking around for equipment i found this Wireless Temp/Humidity tester at Maplins 14.99(GBPounds)

which isn't bad, also a soil moisture tester for 4.99(GBpounds)

 

[Cillitbang]

Regarding the lighting situation....would you recommmend Fluroescents initially (and arn't they quite cheap?)...and if i use Fluro's how far away from the seeds/seedlings?

sorry i'm just trying to take in as much knowledge as possible.....

...would a heat shield be a good idea, i used to be an imax projectionist, and Cinema projectors have heat sheilds in them to stop hot spots on film cuz they use 2k to 15k bulbs and reflectors with heat sheilds (35mm and Imax projectors respectivly)....

thanks again for any / all answers


Dave

 

[big mike]

Regarding the lighting situation....would you recommmend Fluroescents initially (and arn't they quite cheap?)...and if i use Fluro's how far away from the seeds/seedlings?

welcome to IC! i use fluros for seedlings and veg. in an 18/6 light schedule. it works for me. :smile:
and they are ALOT cheaper and they dont generate alot of heat so you can keep them alot closer to the plants to maximize light..

 

[Cillitbang]

Cheers mate thanks for that !
any particular wattage or doesn't that matter?

 

[big mike]

well i use a 125w bulb. keeps my cab bright enough but cool enough.. everyone is different tho.

how big is your area?

 

[Cillitbang]

Well that's not decided yet, but i was thinking about one of those 1m x 1m x 2m tent things as i don't want a perm growing space just yet ..as i'm going to be moving to London in 6 months..what do u think?

 

[big mike]

you can always buy a c13 type cabinet, they assemble and disassemble easily. you can set it up in this place and take it down and move it with you.

 

[Growdoc]

I agree with big mike...

 

[Harry Gypsna]

If your pretty handy, i wouldnt actually buy agrow tent, ...theyre only PVC pipe or sometimes metal frame with Black and white plastic on the outside, and reflective mylar on the inside! The grow shops really do shag ur arse on the price of em ready to use, lol. If you could get an old cheap wardrobe from somehwere, anything like that wiuld do as long as its structurally ok and not gonna collapse, lol.
does ur place have a walk in wardrobe or anything?? you got a cellar?? cellars rock!!
Fluros are very cheap, you will get a 4 footer with tube at 36 watts from wilkinsons £7;99 i think, but if you shop around places like TLC direct online or trade places for sparkies you will get em even cheaper. the energy savers though theyre great and very versatile! Have you seen those envioro-lights...thats all they are, just a big energy saving lightbulb! I get 20watters(which are equivalent to 100watts of normal lights) for £1:99 at Wilko!
If you did decide to buy a grow tent, shop around, and if possible buy online for a better deal...if you see a good price online, print it, and comparethe prices with growshops in ur area...often they will match prices or beat them, coz they want ur money, lol.
Oh ye...the fluros can go a couple of inches away from the plants as they give off virtually no heat!
a good idea is to have a small fan blowing on the young seedlings gently, this will help em get stonger stems and stand up!
One of the common mistakes (whixch I did too) is to plant your seeds in a massive pot...this will slow things down, and could be too wet for them, ...i start min in little 3 inch pots, ot sometimes i use those plastic drinks cups you use at kiddies B'day parties...
wll, you have no shortage of growhshops in manchester./...go have a moocha around...just dont take ur wallet hahahaha, until u know what ur after...oh ye, thats a good point, when you go in growshopd...know what you want and dont let urself get talked into or out of things....and if they recommend something thats twice the price...find another shop.
right then, im off, check me threads...hope you like it here, and I loopk rforward to see you starting ur own grow very soon man.
Be lucky....
Harry

 

[Cillitbang]

Cheers Harry, andeveryone else that's been REALLY helpful.....

chat soon

 

[Cillitbang]

HI guys n girls.....

a Quick Q on the grow tent, i'm not sure which way to go yet....obviously it will be easy with a wardrobe type setup....but if i do go for a constructed grow tent...either by my own making or prefab'd....this might seem stupid but...how do i hang the lights in a grow tent if the roof of it is made of black/white plastic sheeting ?


cheers...Dave

 

[Guest]

u suspend a chain from one side to the other or put a crossmember piece in the ceiling

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Well...some of them will be solid enough, and have an area with a fixture tio attach your hooks,Ezi-rollers or whatever you are using, wher others will need you tomake your own arrangements...Ive known people make a small slit and have the chain coming through from the ceiling above, and sealing it with duct tape, not the best way but it works. If you did buy a purpose built grow tent...id shop arounnd for a good one woth a strong frame and a hanging point on it!
I know that Growell sell the thick plastic framework seperately in lenghts and all the corner peices for wht you need to make your own...you ring em, give em the dimensions and they sort out a package.
Ill have a look thru some catalogues now and brb.

 

[Cillitbang]

I guess when you don't think "Out of the box" and you hear the answer.....(sat here shaking head - wondering why i didn't think of that)....

Cheers Harry very MUCH appreciated

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Hazey, Nice one.....that I had never seen or thought of!....Ive just made one you see, althpough mine is simply hangin from the beams above(its a celler, so they are the supports of the lounge floor above) ...Im lucky having them to fix things solidly to!
CB , Id go with Hazey's suggestion, simple, and will work, not much can go wrong with it!