New Grower Getting ready for my first grow, input welcomed

[Minmatar]

Well i figured out how to work the google on the internet machine so to say, and found a good bit of answers on my own. I believe I found the information required for feeding the trio, in a thread by FullDuplex. I will go with soil-less as it will be easier to communicate with everyone here exactly what is being fed, at what ph, and how often. The soil whoever the brand will add variables that I cannot as a newbro accurately tell you. I am sure that during my first grow diary I will learn with the careful observation of the seasoned vets here. I also found a handful of videos by Dr. Autoflower that clarified alot from LST and tucking leaves to giving me a rough idea at the height I need my light to be from my plants. I still need help with the issues on testing the soil ph without a soil probe, and growing in an enclosed large room, but keeping the plants focused directly under the light? I should have clarified in my previous post that I still did not clearly understand the technique for testing my soil ph without a probe. Thanks for the help so far I am very excited to get underway!

 

[Taviddude]

You NEED to have a ph meter. Gonna run you about 70 bucks. There is no guessing when. It comes to ph. Knowing Ph is #1 when growing ganga. Buy a meter and you will succeed. If you don't you will run into tons of shit and no one will be able to help you without knowing your ph other than to tell you your ph is off

 

[Minmatar]

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/soil-testing-how-to-test-soil-ph.html They are discussing in method 3 for testing soil Ph what I was asking. What I am looking for a bit more specifics on how much distilled water and soil then how long to let it sit prior to testing the fluid? We are moving some of my wife's aquariums to the other section of our basement as we prepare an area bit by bit.

I did post in one of my first couple of posts that I have a digital Ph meter, just not a soil probe this year.

 

[Muddy]

Testing run off is simple. When you feed your plants give enough so that about 10% runs out the bottom of the pot. Capture that and use your liquid tester to check it. While not quite as accurate as a soil probe, it will give you a good indication of your soil pH.

Since smell isn't an issue for you, then an enclosed area isn't a necessity right now. I would suggest you set up your light in a corner and put some mylar or Panda film on the two walls to reflect the light back at the plants. Not as effective as having 4 walls reflecting light, but will still work very well. Since the light will be in an open room, that will also make the heat easier to deal with. One or two small desk top type fans moving the air around should be enough to move the hot air from the light away from the plants.

 

[c0py]

Welcome to the site!! I'm new here myself and I'm also growing the same seeds it seems! I'm only about a week into my grow though!

 

[Minmatar]

I am still doing setup/build. It is funny, my wife is getting almost as excited as I am. She does not use cannabis anymore, but loves plants and growing things. She will be a great help keeping me focused on the plants that will be growing downstairs.

c0py: are you keeping a progress of your grow on the forum?

Edit: Bad grammar.

 

[Minmatar]

Sorry everyone I really hate to necro threads, and I do not typically make it a practice of mine. I have had alot of real-life stuff sidetrack me and I had to make some revisions to my setup and stuff. I will update now and ask some more questions.

While setting up the area I was to be growing in me wife and I had a little bit of extra money come our way and I asked her if I could get a grow tent and vent fan and she said yes. I have a 48"x 48" x 78" Virtual sun grow tent. I measured over and over and over my basement would fit it with 2" to spare. (Well only one inch really since I put a one inch piece of Styrofoam insulation on the floor beneath the tent to keep the cold floor away from the roots.) Tight fit and assembly but wow what a reward. I did not get anything additional, but I am going to talk to my wife about getting a soil probe. I looked on amazon here and was wondering if this is the probe that Muddy was suggesting?> http://www.amazon.com/Control-Wizar...qid=1349796158&sr=1-2&keywords=control+wizard at this soil probe. I wanted to make sure that I was getting the reccomeneded probe because my wife has hated every soil probe she ever had.

I found this feeding schedule but FD uses his own teas to suppliment https://www.autoflower.org/f42/fds-starter-guide-nutrients-autos-noobs-please-read-11549.html Is there something over the counter that I could use to suppliment the fox farm nutes. for the nitrogen and phosphorus?

Could someone give me a checklist of things to do before I even put a seed into the soil or a paper towel? I went through the newbie tools section and loaded up stuff everything that was a must or seemed to me logical to have around. Being on a budget is rough! =) I am using the promix that muddy suggested, and I have read that you need to saturate the soil a few times prior to planting. How long must I do this with the mentioned soil. Using ph water is all. And so I don't get things off wrong I have the mixed seeds from stitch so it will be strain lottery! What ph should I be feeding my auto ladies? Oh my god I need to go back and read another "grow one with" guide. Well My brain just stalled on me Hope to start a first grow thread soon!

 

[Muddy]

Congrats on the new tent. It should help you keep a more stable environment for your plants. Yes, that is the soil probe that I use. That price is a bit high though. Here's a better price: http://www.horticulturesource.com/control-wizard-control-wizard-accurate-ph-8-p3015/.

The pH of Pro Mix is usually between 6.8 - 7 right out of the bag. Water it a day or two before planting your seeds with some water pHed to about 6, which will help lower it a bit to the proper range of 6.3 - 6.5. As far as nutrients, Fox Farms is a good one to start with. Get at least their Grow Big and Tiger Bloom.

 

[Minmatar]

Congrats on the new tent. It should help you keep a more stable environment for your plants. Yes, that is the soil probe that I use. That price is a bit high though. Here's a better price: http://www.horticulturesource.com/control-wizard-control-wizard-accurate-ph-8-p3015/.

The pH of Pro Mix is usually between 6.8 - 7 right out of the bag. Water it a day or two before planting your seeds with some water pHed to about 6, which will help lower it a bit to the proper range of 6.3 - 6.5. As far as nutrients, Fox Farms is a good one to start with. Get at least their Grow Big and Tiger Bloom.

Thanks for the link muddy, lower prices will help make my wife more receptive to getting it. Should she decide we need to wait I still have references for for measuring runoff. When you say wait until 10% comes out the bottom you do mean if I put a gallon in the pot wait until 10% (why can't we go to metrics in America?) then measure that. I will be planting in 4 gallon pots, would you be able to give me an idea how much water should be going into them each feeding?

I find it easier to learn when someone physically shows me what to do sometimes as I have a hard time communicating my thoughts correctly so please bear with me. Oh god I go read my posts after I hit enter and I am amazed that I read them prior to hitting enter.
I have the fox farm trio so crossing fingers that it will be enough. I was away for too long and forgot if I listed that I had cal-mag and blackstrap molasses too.

 

[Muddy]

I use 3 gallon pots and give each pot 1 gallon of water, so for a 4 gallon pot, I'd estimate 1.25 gallon per pot. With that amount about 90% of the water should remain in the pot and the other 10% should run out the bottom. That 10% that runs out the bottom is what you want to capture and use for pH testing.

Fox Farms Trio is fine, along with the cal/mag it should be everything you need.

LOL, you can always use the edit button on the green bar under the post.