New Grower My first grow. Still need some help!

[Username]

Hey everyone. I'm exited to start my first grow soon, but before I start and purchase everything I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. I have done a lot of research on AFN and on other sites, but I haven't find any concrete examples of setups and how they built it. So I'm here to hopefully get everything clear for me.

I'm doing this small sized grow on (quite) a low budget as possible, so please keep that in mind. Also note I live in the Netherlands where all your fancy stuff like special soil and nutrition isn't as cheap and easily accessible for me as it is for you.

This is on my "shopping list":

Have

• 3x Dutch Passion AutoBlueberry (that's 3 seeds, not 3x 3 seeds) LINK
  
• 3x Square Pot Strong 6,5litre LINK
• 1x Canna COCO 1litre LINK EDIT: This became Bio-Buzz Bio Grow and Bio Bloom
• 1x Bio-Bizz All-Mix 20litre LINK
• 1x Seed & Clone Mix 5litre LINK EDIT: They took this out of their assortment, I got some Grodan Rockwool blocks instead. LINK

Need

• 4x 26w CFL Soft White LINK [1] (edited from 2x to 4x)
• -x White/Black plastic foil LINK
• Secret Jardin Dark Room 60 II (60x60x160) LINK

[1] Also I'm not sure if this will be enough. I noticed someone using six of these growing nine plants, so divided by three that's two lamps for three.

Am I ready to go? Since a pH meter is still out of my budget, I haven't included one. Or should I buy one instead of the grow tent?

I really do hope I don't sound like I'm asking you to decide for me, I'm only asking for guidance in this project. I really want it to go as well as possible within these conditions.

 

[The Squid]

Hey man and welcome to the site. I highly suggest a good digital ph meter before even getting started, seriously. I know you probably are itchin' to get started, but trust me. Ph reigns supreme. Anytime you have a problem, we are going to ask what your ph levels are almost every time.

Everything else looks pretty good though. Although that's not a whole lot of light for three plants, it may work out. Also, you didn't mention anything about ventilation. You will need fresh air going into your space and the warm old air getting exhausted out, and you'll need to exhaust through a good carbon filter because they will get rather smelly especially during flower depending on your strain. You have DP Blueberry and those are smelly from what I have read.

My main point is make sure you have everything in line before you even put beans into soil. Glad to have ya and ask if you need anything else.

 

[seraphim19]

be carefull with the biobizz allmix it is a hot soil and can have bad effects on young plants. if you get some seedling/sowing compost it will be much better in the first few weeks.
i germ in a party cup of seedling soil mixed with perlite and transplant at around 14-21 days(a trick i learned here!) and its been working great for me

good luck with the grow brother :thumbs:

 

[Username]

Hey man and welcome to the site. I highly suggest a good digital ph meter before even getting started, seriously. I know you probably are itchin' to get started, but trust me. Ph reigns supreme. Anytime you have a problem, we are going to ask what your ph levels are almost every time.

Everything else looks pretty good though. Although that's not a whole lot of light for three plants, it may work out. Also, you didn't mention anything about ventilation. You will need fresh air going into your space and the warm old air getting exhausted out, and you'll need to exhaust through a good carbon filter because they will get rather smelly especially during flower depending on your strain. You have DP Blueberry and those are smelly from what I have read.

My main point is make sure you have everything in line before you even put beans into soil. Glad to have ya and ask if you need anything else.

Thanks! Well alright, I guess I'll get a pH meter as soon as I can. I'm not too sure which one I should buy though. Are three of these enough: LINK / LINK or do I need one of those expensive ones like for instance a Hanna Instruments LINK. I will also get two more lamps so I have a total of 4, which has to be enough I think, the difference in price isn't even that big. I wasn't aware the plant's smell would be so present, but I will need some sort of ventilation in that case, I'll check if there's a cheap solution for a good ventilation.

You're right, I'm quite itching to start haha, but on the other side I want to make sure I'm prepared before starting. Thanks again for your advice!

be carefull with the biobizz allmix it is a hot soil and can have bad effects on young plants. if you get some seedling/sowing compost it will be much better in the first few weeks.
i germ in a party cup of seedling soil mixed with perlite and transplant at around 14-21 days(a trick i learned here!) and its been working great for me

good luck with the grow brother :thumbs:

Ahh thanks, I was wondering if it was the right one. Do you have any good alternatives? Or is it safe moving them to the Bio-Bizz after 2-3 weeks putting them in this kind of soil LINK, mixed with perlite?

Thanks man! I'll be sure to post pictures when I'm going to start.

There's a great friendly vibe going on here on AFN!

 

[Hugo]

Hey man! Welcome!

If I had to chose I'd get both. You'll get away easily with a cheaper pH meter for now. After a few grows you'll probably be able to get a better higher priced pH and ppm meter.

It's true about the soil. I'm using it with great results though, but I'm also using kelp and humic acids as the only feed for the first 4 weeks. My auto-BlueBerry responded very well to it

 

[Username]

Hey man! Welcome!

If I had to chose I'd get both. You'll get away easily with a cheaper pH meter for now. After a few grows you'll probably be able to get a better higher priced pH and ppm meter.

It's true about the soil. I'm using it with great results though, but I'm also using kelp and humic acids as the only feed for the first 4 weeks. My auto-BlueBerry responded very well to it

Hey, thanks! With both you mean both the cheap ones, or the cheap one and the more expensive one? As for the soil, I think I'm gonna play safe this first time haha. I'll purchase some soil for the seedlings like this LINK. I think I dare to experiment a bit more on my next grow! Cool to see you're growing AutoBlueBerry as well! I'll be checking your thread often, I'm curious to see how you did!

 

[Username]

As for ventilation, will this be sufficient? Or are there even cheaper alternatives?

Ventilation LINK
Carbon filter LINK

Also I have a question about the lights, if I have four of them, what is a good way to attach them? Can I still use a reflector, because I've only seen reflectors with one socket, like this one LINK.

 

[insert name here]

How are your DIY skills, you could make a basic reflector, just so you are not losing half of your light. I can tell you the Blueberry smells amazing.

 

[Username]

How are your DIY skills, you could make a basic reflector, just so you are not losing half of your light. I can tell you the Blueberry smells amazing.

I've browsed the DIY forum, and checked for some projects on other sites, and I think I can create a simple reflector, though I will have to look into the wiring which sometimes looks complicated. A simpler version of this one (4x CFL instead of 10x) LINK might be quite doable. I also liked the rain gutter version.

I was wondering, if I buy a 125w cfl light, could I use only this one lamp with a reflector? Or doesn't it work that way? haha Like I said, I'm really new to all of this, just want to make sure I checked all possibilities so I won't kick myself on the butt afterwards.

 

[insert name here]

The things about the CFLs is that you want to get the light spread arouond really well, multiple lights can do this for you. I am not a CFL user yet ;-)! Check out noods cream caramel, easy ryder grow. He is the CFL master, hold on I'll get you a link