Grow Guide for Newbs with a Basic Set-up

There's a number of threads come through on this forum from first time growers with a basic set up, and currently this is how I am tending my first grow.

I thought it a good idea to give my own basic grow guide from a beginners perspective to all those newbs who need the ABC’s spelled out just like I did.

Maybe if you want to make an adjustment on this info then take note of my numbered points and PM changes to me so I can edit this post.
I’ll be learning along the way too!
As I’ve only gone as far as the start of the flowering stage maybe you want to add your own views on later stages of the grow for me to add also. However if you want to comment in general please post a reply like usual.

And remember, I am not an expert so please don’t start calling me on my shit I’m just here to help the new comers like myself.

Please note I do not add any time scale to growth stages as this is dependent on your strain, and as I’ve just started my first clones I have not included this information either.

For background I have a converted wardrobe 109/49/76cm, growing Strawberry sativa. I have no intake or extractor fans. Due to this, I keep the doors to the wardrobe slightly apart when lights are on and have fashioned a white cardboard strip to cover the gap between the two to keep light in but in turn this leaves gaps at the top and bottom to allow some air flow and the hot air to escape. I have a 250w bulb with reflector. Smell can be a problem, but a towel at the bottom of my grow room door keeps it from escaping just fine. Make sure people you live with are cool with you growing and say you’ll pay for the difference in the electric bill. For my grow from seed I’d expect it to come in at £40/ £50 for the quarter (US$80/$100).


My shopping list...

Grow book £12
Seeds £26
Matt white paint £10
Brush £3.50
250w grow lamp with reflector and ballast £75
Timer £4
Contractor for timer £20
Watering can £4
2ltr Measuring pot £1.50
60ml Measuring pot £0.60
Pipette £0.20
10x 10cm pots and trays £5
(Depending on available space) 4x 11gallon pots and trays. I had a 5th plant growing in 20cm pot due to space. £8
Thermometer £2.50
Growing medium £14
All round every day nutrient (e.g. Superthrive) £3.99
Vegetation stage nutrients £13
Flowering stage nutrients £13
6" clip on fan £8
10" fan £10

Approx Total £235 (US$470)

1, Buy literature. When the situation demands make sure you have a book right by your side. At this stage EVERYONE knows more than you my friend! My personal choice is The Indoor/ Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible by Jorge Cervantes. The way it is set out the daunting wealth of information will soon be easy to navigate and learn.
2, Prepare and purchase. Devise what type of equipment you want in your grow space. Buy it then build it. Do not construct the grow space bit by bit while seeds are germinating. Things can change quickly and you may not be prepared!

I painted the inside of my wardrobe matt white. I have my light and reflector hanging from the clothes rail which can have the height adjusted due to holes placed in the sides which is part of the wardrobe design.

I have attached a 6” clip on fan to cool the bulb and have a 10” fan which to begin with sat on the base, but as the plants grew, I crudely designed it to hang down from the rail with string and scotch tape to flow over the top. Sometimes you just have to be inventive! I also place a thermometer at the height of the plants and can adjust due to sticking it with bluetack.
My ballast sits on top of the wardrobe and wires coming from the light and fans come out between the two hinges of the door. Of course I needed to unscrew one door, position the wires then screw it all back.

I have a multi plug due to the light/ ballast, fans and the contractor needed for the timer. Timers will blow if you don’t buy one of these.

Also, best not to use foil to line your grow space. Reflective qualities are not brilliant and can create hot spots on your leaves. Mirrors? Forget them.

Obey instructions about the ballast. This is high wattage equipment so place the ballast in a safe place as it gets hot. Screw in bulb all the way into its socket as the ballast can blow! Again, obey instructions!

3, Time to grow. Normally coming in packs of ten, germinate ALL your seeds by placing then in water over night until open and then 24 to 36 hours between damp kitchen roll etc. Eventually over the grow period some will die off, some will be male. I'm into my flowering period and I have 4 females from the 5 that made it to this advanced stage.

4, They’re alive! Once germinated, transplant into peat pellets or equivalent. Have the root pointing down and don’t leave too close to the surface. Let the shoot fight for the light. Keep moist, keep warm.

5, Seedling stage. Once the shoots show give 16 hours of light. When the pellets have a good healthy number of roots showing, transplant them to 10cm pots. Do not save your money on your growing medium. Buy the best! Make sure roots are facing down. Keep things moist. Your growing medium will need to be researched. All depends if you want to do things organically (which takes longer) or not and your choice will effect what type of nutrient you buy.

Place light as close as possible to plants to avoid them over stretching but keep your temps to 25-28 degrees. However surface temps on the plants may differ to the general temperature. Place hand above plant and if it’s nicely warm then you're good.

6, Vegetative State. Once there is rapid foliage growth and a good number of leaves, place into an 18 hour light period. Again your plants will outgrow their pots and transplanting to 11 gallon pots (or to your desired size) is needed. Do this at night to reduce stress on the plants. Give a good watering when done. Of course use the same growing medium and make sure both are as moist as each other before transplanting.

Always try to water in the morning according to the plant size and start with your nutrient programme. As this stage continues you will naturally come across a water programme to suit your plants. Read dosage instructions and follow according to plant. Indica use the higher end of suggested ratios, Sativa the lower.

Some growers do not water every day, but you need to find what is right for your plants. Remember they like wet and dry periods.

Here I use Superthrive every weekday with vege nutrients on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Weekends are water only (though in flowering period Superthrive is added at weekends too). Eventually I doubled the water on Wednesdays as after a week the soil became very dry. I add the extra water to the drip trays and the growth by the end of the day is very noticeable.

The plants themselves will be a good indicator if your nutrient programme is going well. Too much vege nutrient and the leaves turn a dark green. Too little and they turn light. Be aware of drooping leaves, this may mean they need a drink. Then again if they’re drooping towards the end of the day, going into their night period will see them healthy again, ready for a drink per usual in the morning. At this stage the increase in ml’s for daily watering can double in a week or less.

Vegetative stage can drag on with not too much change in your care for the plants. Just keep an eye on general temps and the surface temps. Adjust accordingly.

7, Flowering stage. Eventually your plants will grow pre-flowers which signal the need to place into flowering stage of 12 hour light. However you can instead look for alternate node growth which can be your signal to go. If there is none, pre flowers must be on show for approximately 2 weeks before going to a 12/12. Change to your flower nutrients with a double dose on your first watering.

8, Sexy Mo Fo. Soon pre flowers will show their sex. Take the males away and kill them. They no good Senor. They’ll spread pollen to the females who instead of growing a nice smoke will just produce a lot of seed. Males will have the little balls, the females have long white pistils. There are photos in the stickies in this forum.

Ok, this is where I'm at... PM me some additions for further into flowering, harvest and drying...

 

Hi,
Great post, exactly the setup i am about to try!!! did you have to do any wiring or just plug the ballast into a normal socket? also how are you watering them?

 

Hi Nicko,

This is my post, I just can't locate my password or email to sort out the logging in so untill then I'm under this name.

No wiring needed. Ballast goes straight into plug socket but don't forget if you use a timer you will need a contractor which the ballast plugs into as the timer wont be able to handle the load.

To water I just fill up the watering can. The air-rates (sp?) the water better than just pouring straight from the measuring jug. Give a good even watering to the surface area though I save a little more for the stalk.

 

Ok, all up and running...

 

good thread idea. i'm sick of sifting through the same old help threads.


the set-up.
Clothes Closet(approx 4ft w X 3ft l X 6ft h)
8 Cfl bulbs(twisty bulbs at walmart) plugged into surge protectors(you can buy a plug that is a lightbulb socket on the opposite side for like a dollar at walmart). 2-3 plants in nice big pots. Tinfoil on certain unreflective areas of the closet. Take an extension cord and run it under the door to the room and plug it in. attach surge protectors(those things that have 5-8 sockets for plugs!). Most closets have some kind of shelf/rack/bar that you hang clothes from. run your surge protectors around those and secure with a twist tie. you can redo this as your plants grow. make sure the bulbs are 2-5 inches away from the tops of the plants.

total cost - 70$