New Grower Advice requested

[Scribble420]

Hello, first timer here at AFN. I've been lurking the last couple of weeks as I've come to a decision.

I'm a photo period grower with two years of experience. I've grown in several medias from DWC to full organic and coco in between. I grow in a 4x4 tent under a 630 watt CMH to house personal medicine for my wife and I.

I looked around a bit and wasn't able to find any information regarding my dilemma. Sorry if this has been discussed before.

I usually grow 4 plants vegging them long enough to utilize most of my tent. With auto's, I obviously won't have that luxury. I'm really struggling with pot size and number of plants. I plan on using the Mephisto auto flower mix or something comparable; organic, super soil, water only.

I plan to run a variety of Mephisto's genetics. The strains include the 24 carat, which is their shortest strain (I believe?) and some of their larger strains. It is advised to run the smaller strains in smaller pots but more plants. Conversely, their larger strains are in larger pots with less plants.

I want a large variety so we can try the full array of available genetics. I was thinking about just running 8 - 3 gallon pots to limit the larger strains and to maintain a more manageable canopy. I'll be using 3 gallon fabric pots with insulated sides called Root Trappers. I prefer them over smart pots as the insulated sides help to minimize evaporation and keep the root temps more stable.

Would it be a better idea to run multiple pot sizes to accommodate the varieties?

Lastly, does anyone use a mulch indoors? I've heard of using straw, but that sounds super messy. I'm not sure about cover crops yet, I need to get a decent configuration run through so I can play with stuff like this. Any advice on mulching?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[MickJ]

Look up @Eyes on Fire he has loads of stuff around this subject on here.

Sent from my comfy chair.
[emoji16][emoji41]

 

[AJrexxx]

Welcome to AFN. In my opinion (you will get a lot of these) when I had my 4x4 I ran five and it was packed. Now this was in drain to waste coco and I used three gallon pots. In coco I always had larger plants in the smaller pots. I top all my autos and LST and lollipop them so I end up with an even canopy regardless of which strains I run (I always run 4 for variety). I would run as many 3 gallon pots as you can comfortably fit. You might end up with a jungle in there with eight pots. Autos can get big. My personal best is 11 oz and some change dry (NIrvana blueberry kush) she took up a quarter of a 4x4 by herself. You can use Mephisto's strain guide on their site. There is one in the Mephisto section as well. That should give you an idea what to expect. There are many people that grow Mephisto in soil so you can see some comparisons for size. I would plan it very carefully if I was putting that many in one tent. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Scribble420]

Look up @Eyes on Fire he has loads of stuff around this subject on here.

Sent from my comfy chair.
[emoji16][emoji41]

I started digging through Eyes profile, it felt kinda creepy tbh. I wasn’t able to dig far before I got lost in a rabbit hole... I have a tendency to do that. Thanks all the same.

Welcome to AFN. In my opinion (you will get a lot of these) when I had my 4x4 I ran five and it was packed. Now this was in drain to waste coco and I used three gallon pots. In coco I always had larger plants in the smaller pots. I top all my autos and LST and lollipop them so I end up with an even canopy regardless of which strains I run (I always run 4 for variety). I would run as many 3 gallon pots as you can comfortably fit. You might end up with a jungle in there with eight pots. Autos can get big. My personal best is 11 oz and some change dry (NIrvana blueberry kush) she took up a quarter of a 4x4 by herself. You can use Mephisto's strain guide on their site. There is one in the Mephisto section as well. That should give you an idea what to expect. There are many people that grow Mephisto in soil so you can see some comparisons for size. I would plan it very carefully if I was putting that many in one tent. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

The more I think about it, the more I think 8 is too many. I’ve been scouring journals and such trying to figure out how much space these monsters will take up and I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s too many unknown variables at this point to determine an accurate resolution.

I’ve looked at their strain and grow guides, which are very nice btw, but it’s still going to be a challenge. One that I’m excited and anxious about.

Thanks for the 2 cents

 

[MickJ]

I started digging through Eyes profile, it felt kinda creepy tbh. I wasn’t able to dig far before I got lost in a rabbit hole... I have a tendency to do that. Thanks all the same.



Thanks for the warm welcome!

The more I think about it, the more I think 8 is too many. I’ve been scouring journals and such trying to figure out how much space these monsters will take up and I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s too many unknown variables at this point to determine an accurate resolution.

I’ve looked at their strain and grow guides, which are very nice btw, but it’s still going to be a challenge. One that I’m excited and anxious about.

Thanks for the 2 cents

You can look at @hecno too and there is an organic soil section at the bottom of the art of the autoflower section.

Sent from my comfy chair.
[emoji16][emoji41]

 

[AJrexxx]

I started digging through Eyes profile, it felt kinda creepy tbh. I wasn’t able to dig far before I got lost in a rabbit hole... I have a tendency to do that. Thanks all the same.



Thanks for the warm welcome!

The more I think about it, the more I think 8 is too many. I’ve been scouring journals and such trying to figure out how much space these monsters will take up and I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s too many unknown variables at this point to determine an accurate resolution.

I’ve looked at their strain and grow guides, which are very nice btw, but it’s still going to be a challenge. One that I’m excited and anxious about.

Thanks for the 2 cents

I think 4-5 would work, again that is strain dependent. I have limited Mephisto experience. I know 24 carat & Deep Blue C are on the smaller side but beautiful plants. Double Grape is medium and hubbabubbasmellascope (hbbs) is large. HBBS is by far my favorite so far. Lurk around in the mephisto forum ton of growers and info in there. If you remember they do a huge sale during black friday every year. I have maybe spent 100$ and between freebies and extras I have more than I will grow. I think I have grown maybe 5 of 15 strains I have. You also could look into grow battles for when the next round starts. I placed in the top three last year and they gave me their next group of strain drops early. I am growing a forgotten cookies (amnesia x GSC) right now. Plus if you look in those battles you will see a good idea on what size to expect. What strains do you have?

 

[Scribble420]

I think 4-5 would work, again that is strain dependent. I have limited Mephisto experience. I know 24 carat & Deep Blue C are on the smaller side but beautiful plants. Double Grape is medium and hubbabubbasmellascope (hbbs) is large. HBBS is by far my favorite so far. Lurk around in the mephisto forum ton of growers and info in there. If you remember they do a huge sale during black friday every year. I have maybe spent 100$ and between freebies and extras I have more than I will grow. I think I have grown maybe 5 of 15 strains I have. You also could look into grow battles for when the next round starts. I placed in the top three last year and they gave me their next group of strain drops early. I am growing a forgotten cookies (amnesia x GSC) right now. Plus if you look in those battles you will see a good idea on what size to expect. What strains do you have?

I haven’t purchased them yet. I’m still growing some photos for the next few months. I plan on starting this new autoflower adventure sometime in April.

I’m waiting for the Mephisto shop to open up. I’m hoping to get some of the newer strains like 4am and cosmic queen.

I’ll definitely be running 24 carat and skywalker. I’ll probably run smalls and mediums my first go. I’m thinking 6 in 3 gals in my 4x4. Maybe 4 in 5 gals for those of the larger persuasion.

 

[bushmasterar15]

Hello and welcome to AFN @Scribble420

 

[Scribble420]

Hello and welcome to AFN @Scribble420

Hey bushmaster, thanks for having me

 

[G.Leave]

Hey great to meet you bud...good luck on your grows!!