[haterade]

Ok, I decided that instead of disrupting other people's threads I should start my own. I am just gunna ask a bunch of questions and hopefully you all have the answers. Keep in mind this is a 1 plant then eventually a 2 - 3 plant project that will be done indoors over the winter.

1. Where is the best place to purchase seeds, and the best guarantee of females?

2. What soils, fertilizers, lamps and fans should I have, as well as containers to grow in? (it will be done in a wooden closet)

3. How many seeds should be in a pot, I was thinking 1 seed per pot and that should keep it healthy.

4. At the beginning how long should I leave the lamps on and in what cycles should the lights be set? I know that leaving the plant in light longer stimulates vegetative growth and darkness promotes flowering.

5. How old should the plant be or how big when I start to make them flower?

6. What are some of a particulars that people overlook that cause plants to become sick or even die?

7. If I do raise a good plant what is the best way to harvest and cure the buds?


Thanks in advance for any help and I will ask more questions in the future seeing as I won't probably start this venture for another month or two so I can get a better grasp on growing and the things that come with it.

[curtisd]

for number 4, this is what i hear most people do

24/0 to start OR 18/6

for flowering its 12/12 12 hours on, 12 hours off...

[Imperialgodfly]

1. That really depends, I've bought seeds online, bought seeds while I was in Amsterdam, and all have been okay....maybe some other folks can list some good seedbank websites, so far, I'd say Nirvana is okay...I've used them a few times, good faily inexpensive seeds for the beginner.
Some people say feminised seed is a good way to increase female ratio, but these are chemically altered, and so you run far too high a risk of having hermaphrodite plants, unless you have damn-near optimum growing conditions and even then they can start sprouting balls at the smallest thing......it's said that high humidity and low temps can increase the chance of females, but I don't know if this is true or just an old rumour.
2. A good basic potting compost should be alright for a first grow, just make sure you buy some perlite or vermiculite...that's the little white pebbles about 1/2cm across that you sometimes see in soil mixes.....these wee pebbles help to retain moisture within the soil, and also allow air into the soil (remember, it's just important to allow the roots to 'breathe' as it is to let them be moist.)

Light really depend entirely on budget....you can go from cheap fluorescent lighting all the way up to proper air-cooled ballasts that can support both hallide (blue spectrum) and sodium (red spectrum) bulbs.
Fluros are excellent for vegetative stage.
Plant pots wil do you fine, I use 10 litre plant pots to flower, but you don't have to use anything as big as that (not sure how that converts to gallons)

As for fans, you basic swivelling desk-type fan is fine...I ain't ever used anything but those.

3. NEVER put more than 1 seed in each pot, all that'll happen if you do is, the roots will become all tangled together, and the 2/3/whatever number of plants will end up competing directly with each other for the limited nutrients available in the reduced space

4. You can either leave the lights on for 24 hours continuous, or 18 hours light, 6 hours darkness...some growers start their seedling under 24 hours light, then switch to 18/6 once their about 2 weeks old, there's no right or wrong way there.....personally, I like to think that 6 hours darkness every day gives them a chance to have a wee rest.

4. Again, this is up to you, the standard age/height is usually 1 foot tall (this may not be the case with indicas which are much shorter bushier plants) or at about 4 weeks of veg.

5. A common mistake many people make is that they overwater their plants.....this manifests itself as a very droopy plant. People see that the plant is droopy, assume it's because the plant is thirsty, give it more water, it droops more, and so on....best to water maybe twice a week, or if you're not too sure whether or not to water, simply press your finger into the soil to check whether there is moisture further down.
Another good tip is [if using hot sodium lighting] put a dish/container of water in beside your plants to keep humidity up. They like 40% or so humidity....

7. Harvest, ahhh, it's a long journey but it's worth the reward! You'll know when it's time to harvest by the colour of the hairs, generally, when 70% of the hairs have turned brown/orange, you're plant is about ready. If you have a decent magnifying glass or a jeweller's loupe, you'll be able to see the trichomes (the individual resin glands/crystals) when the trichomes are clear and look like glass, it's too early to harvest, when they become cloudy, it's just right, when they look amber, you're too late!

Once you've chopped down the plant (and boy is that a sticky job!) you'll need to hang them to dry first. One mistake, DONT put them in an airing cupboard as they dry out too fast, end up with brittle weed with no substance to it, and not much of a nice taste.....you'll find it takes 10-14 days to dry out weed proper, then you need to cure it for another 2 weeks minimum (longer you cure, the better the taste). To cure, get some mason jars or any glass jar with an airtight lid, pop the buds in there, and store either in the fridge, or a cupboard out of bright light......every day take the lid off the jar for about an hour or so to 'burp' the buds and let fresh air into the jar......the idea is, as the plant dries natuarally, the cellulose dies off (that's what can give weed that 'gree plant' taste is not cured/dried right) and you start to get the actual flavour of the bud....

Ugh, I hope some of that makes sense!!

K
-x-

[haterade]

That all made perfect sense and thanks alot.

Now I have been browsing the internet and saw a few 1 - 2 plant Aquafarms, is it easier to grow a plant with hydroponics? I know I won't try to do that at first because it seems like a hard process, but the buds that come from Hydro plants are insane.

[Imperialgodfly]

Um....for that question I'll pass you over to Phessie and Sticky!! I've absolutely no idea, never touched hydro (yet!)

K
-x-

[haterade]

Oh and another thing, I have been looking at some of the seeds that come from Nirvana and they come in 10 seed packages, now can I store those seeds or do they have to be planted ASAP?

[sticky]

The Aquafarms are pretty easy to use, its mixing up the nutrients and adjusting your ph which is the most difficult and after doing it once its like riding a bike

You will need a truncheon which measures the strength of the nutes and a ph pen,bag of clay pebbles and nutes and thats it and if you going to grow, start off right and get a hps
unless its a stealth grow use floros

They have a tube running up the outside which tells you when they need topped up
I use an waterfarm which is slightly bigger than an aquafarm and it would hold 3 plants at most...
happy growing

[drukqs]

Nice info guys, im really interested in growing too cuz i have a good spot.. Problem is its an unfinished attic, real hot, and has all of that yellow insulation that irritates your skin if u touch it.. So im sure if little particles of that got on my bud then it wouldnt be nice

[TheBagman]

www.hempqc.com
that is where I bought my seeds. I lived in Minnesota and got them fine.

[haterade]

Ok I am back with a few more questions.

1. What is the best method for wet-paper-towel germination?

2. What is the best method for fertilzing plants?

3. I know you are supposed to water your plants maybe 2 - 3 times a weeks, but what method do you use to water them? I don't know whether to use a wattering bucket or a spray bottle.

4. All-in-all how long does it take to raise a plant from a seedling to finished product?

5. Is powdery mildew a big problem for anyone?

6. Do I need an advanced form of ventilation or will a simple reciprocating fan work fine?

7. What is the easiest strain for a beginner? I was thinking BigBud, but I really want to raise a nice Puple Power or Silver Haze plant.

[TheBagman]

1. I have a little rubbermaid container with a damp paper towel on the bottom and a damp paper towel on the top of the seeds, with the rubbermaid lid sealed. I put the container on top of my computer monitor to keep it warm. My seeds sprouted within 18 hours.

2. I just used a chemical fert that you mix with the water. I'd recommend that for your first time.

3. I just dumped a jug of water right in their pot from a gallon jug, make sure you do it slow to not expose the roots by washing away the soil.

4. Can't remember but it was about 4+ months...?

5. Nope, wasn't a problem for me.

6. That's all I had and I had two healthy plants.

7. You could probably do either of those, I did White Widow, and people were telling me that that is a hard strain to go and telling me I was going to fail, but I had two Beautiful Healthy plants. I hear Northern Lights, and AK47 are fairly easy to grow.

[stoned jude]

this is a good threadd as i ham harvesting soon. still got my 2 girlsin the woods wish they had more son but i panicked and sunk em fast i just carry a gallon jug and pour half on each lady thy only now have tiny buds on em and i started them mid to late april. they loved it in my greenhouse best but got to big hubby found em :blazed:

[drukqs]

lol^^

Im interested in how long it takes for most people.. Also, is the electricity bill gonna go up that drastically.. Like how much does your electricity go up? (also tell me what light source u use)

[elroypornlab]

If I were a little faggot like you i guess i would probably put the seeds up my as because that's the only chance you have of growing shit you fuckin cock stain

[haterade]

Originally Posted by elroypornlab

If I were a little faggot like you i guess i would probably put the seeds up my as because that's the only chance you have of growing shit you fuckin cock stain

The topic doesn't say "Flame People" so shut the fuck up you wannabe.

[elroypornlab]

wannabe bitch, Don't confuse things here you the bitch I'm the pimp

[elroypornlab]

Oh and I'll flame who I like

[TheBagman]

Originally Posted by drukqs

lol^^

Im interested in how long it takes for most people.. Also, is the electricity bill gonna go up that drastically.. Like how much does your electricity go up? (also tell me what light source u use)

It will go up like $10 bucks a month with a 400w HPS lamp.

[iRonONE1lunG]

If you havn't read all this shit already in grow guides, than you shouldn't grow.