New Grower The Sideshow Pre Grow Journal

[Sideshow]

Hello all!!

First time growing, just made my first order. I have been lurking a bit now. Reading here and there, to get a basic idea.

I have always had a small fruit, veggie and herb garden in my life, as well as roses and other seasonal flower gardens. Growing up in a combined household in the Philly burbs, Mom-Mom and Pop-Pops gardening has been something I have taken with me over the decades. My wife and daughter now continuing the tradition.

While I have little technical know-how, I seem to always harvest well with just years of trials and errors. Now I think its time to tackle a new garden.

So not to completely kill my wallet, I am doing my orders in a few phases, as needed, the first time around as my KISS grow....keep it simple, stupid.

Seeds should arrive in a couple weeks, Ordered them and basic supplies today.

I will be growing 2x Auto Blueberry in 7gal smart pots, using a mix of coarse sand, perlite, and top soil.
I ordered a quart of each of GH's ; Grow, Bloom, Micro, and CalMag for nutes.
I ordered 2x 300w (100x3w) LED rigs to start.

I have a space to use for the plants first 25ish days, nice 30" closet I will start them off, with a 20/4 cycle the first week, then once I start nutes, switch to a 18/6 for the rest of the grow.

The next order in a few weeks will be a 48x24x72 tent, and a third 300w LED rig. Once that arrives, Ill move the other two lights and plants in there for the remainder of their growth.

I expect it to be a couple weeks until I can begin the actual grow journal, I was hoping to get some input to guide me along the right path.

Thanks for reading!

 

[jingo]

Welcome slideshow

Sounds like you've got a good plan in place. It can take time to build up all the supplies and equipment you need and most people replace all their original equipment as they learn what works for them.

If there is any chance of bugs in your topsoil I'd try and dry it out or bake it to kill any hidden larvae. Seems to me hydro stores are happy to sell you thrips and root aphids in their soil.

It's worth knowing as much about your water source as possible. High amounts of dissolved solids can make it tough.

 

[Sideshow]

Thank you.

I planned on tossing the bags in the deep freezer for a couple days to kill off anything, having started my tomato and pepper plants indoors during cold months before spring, I learned a trick from a neighbor to kill off anything lurking.

Its well water, and I will deff check its levels before I start. perhaps get a mineral test done to see whats already included!!

 

[jingo]

Definitely want to check well water I know that I have well water and growing cannabis all the way through from start to finish is very very difficult with my water. Problem is I start off with the total dissolved solids over something like a thousand right off the bat. So if you want to test yourself you can buy yourself an EC meter or PPM meter total dissolved solids whatever you want to call it. I eventually just started using reverse osmosis water to save me all the heartache.

 

[Sideshow]

Hmm..... Preventive planning, Would I be better off just using spring water? I can get that rather cheap in 5 gal jugs.

 

[jingo]

May as well check and see what your water is like first. I bet you could find a place that will test it for free you know one of these places that sell you water softeners.

 

[Sideshow]

Ill do some digging.....no pun intended...next week and see what I can find!!

 

[budelee]

Ill do some digging.....no pun intended...next week and see what I can find!!

There you are!! GH is a good line and if you really want to keep is simple (and cheaper) look for info on the Lucas Ratio and you will find that the Gh grow solution is not even necessary,i have used the GH Maxi Bloom start to finish,in different ratios for a long time to grow all my plants but have also used the micro/bloom from the three part to get the same nute values...tag me in if you ever need anything by adding the "@" symbol in front of my name...peace!!

 

[Sideshow]

Thanks for the nute tips!!

I will do some reading!

 

[Sideshow]

@budelee

I managed to get ahold of Amazon this morning after looking up the info you posted.
Just in thr nick of time, I was able to cancel the nute order part, and grab a bag of the maxigrow instead.
I then spent $10.00 at local garden section on a 5lb bag of Calcium Nitrate, and a 4lb carton of epsom salts, and saved about $30.00 in the process!

Thanks again.