Hi everybody, I'm still new to all this. Been researching for a few weeks now. I still have many questions and was hoping to eventually find answers for most/all of these. I also hope to establish some relationships with people that may be able to advise me in getting the ball rolling here.
I figure the best/easiest thing for me to do is going to be to just post everything in one thread and then try to lead experienced people to this thread
I'm sure some of my questions are being pondered by others on the sidelines and I hope some of the things I ask will further us all along, maybe even open some new ideas to vets. Technology is always changing and I've seen a lot of creativity.
So on with the questions here...
1. Does anybody have combo meters to recommend that measure PH, EC, C02, temp, nutes (ie. everything). I've seen a few posts here and there showing this and that gauge that usually measures 1-3 variables.
1b. Anybody well versed in automating some of the grow rooms tasks? Ex. a machine that will add nutes? Increase/Lower PH?
2. What's a good way for someone with a vertical setup (what I intend to build) to be able to move the plants closer to the lights? I look at the famous Flooded Vertical tubing setup and, although great, I don't see a good way to bring the light closer to the plants for more "free" lumens. I've seen a couple threads with people having shelves with wheels, but really that's about all I've seen. I imagine the best option is moving the plants to the light(s) that'll be dangling in the middle of the setup.
3. Considering the "entire setup", the clone method, vegging method, flowering method (aero, NFT, DWC, soil, etc). What have you found works the best together? Does anything good or bad come of aero-cloning some little 'uns, then vegging them in dirt, and finally moving them into hydro for flower? I imagine that's not good to do, but alas, I'm a noob. One reason I ask is because I've seen many DIY aero-cloners threads but I'm not confidant I'd be able to continue using an aeroponic method into vegging/flowering.
4. Anybody know of a good book or tutorial out there that teaches everything I need to know about High Pressure Aeroponics (50 micron droplets, roots like fishbones, etc.)? I've been reading up on Petflora's posts (various forums) and what sounds like the "holy grail" of growing methods probably isn't something I'll attempt on my first go-round, but I'd certainly like to give it a go eventually.
5. What kinds of charts/reminders do you have posted in your PC or around your grow room to keep you on track? Or maybe when you were starting out? I saw a combo chart somewhere that showed what levels to keep PH, EC, Co2, etc. it looked very handy. Wish I didn't lose the link!
6. How should I be dividing up my space? Pretty broad subject I suppose... I have a room in an unfinished basement that is 9x12'5"x7'8"H. There's also a closet near the entry (keep forgetting to measure that) and at this stage, I really don't know what to devote to cloning, to vegging, to flowering or if the vegging/flowering area should be one and the same. Should these areas be divided up by some kind of partition/sheeting? Or should I be investing in grow tents? I'd like to use the entire room. Plant numbers shouldn't be an issue for me unless I'm doing a SOG.
7. What methods should be used to keep myself safe/discreet while researching, planning, etc. for example... I'm using Tor. Good enough? Or should I invest in another username immediately?
8. (I have to ask, though I imagine the answer is "it depends") Which is better? A screen around your bulbs? Or a screen around your plants? Is there a consensus at which point it makes sense to trim off parts of the plant that aren't hitting the light? How about fimming and topping? Is there some plant height, situation, etc. that you need to
9. I'm confused when I see some people putting clones straight to flower, versus vegging for, well, at least some time. Is there an efficiency to be gained by not vegging at all? Is growing a tree simply not practical compared to smaller plants? I realize some of this has to do with how much room people have.
9a. Lets say that strain A take 10 weeks to veg. I assume that's how long it's supposed to take in soil? What about hydro? In aero? (any particular methods you're familliar with) I'd like to get some idea of the real gains in growth speed between differing methods.
10. Is anybody afraid of their power company? I been considering upgrading my halogen bulbs throughout the house, not sure what else I'd upgrade to offset increased energy costs. I plan on being legal, but still I don't want anybody to knock on the door.
11. How do we feel about these two books? Good enough? Wrong choices? I was shooting for a book on room designs and another on "everything"
"Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible"
Jorge Cervantes
"The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana for Recreational and Medical Use" Greg Green
12. If you had to do it over again, what would you avoid or do differently?
13. Anybody feel like giving away their Death Star plans? Some setup that worked out superbly well for you? Link? Email, PM, whatever I've seen lots. I was kind of holding out for DIY HPA aero, RDWC, or some kind of NFT. If you can yield well and are able to walk away from the plants for a week, damn, sounds like what I'm interested in. Gotta check on them every day? Yuck. I got a day job!
14. Anybody feel like helping me out with some in-depth information on these or other questions? I'm all for building a setup that I won't want to replace, spending money now, to save money later, something that grows quickly, yields well, etc. I feel like I have a lot of time to invest in design, but less on upkeep.
15. T-5 lighting - there are some threads out there (LED without LEDs -My first T5 grow), very current, that make it sound like T5 lighting can replace both MH for vegetative growth and HPS for flowering (by using several bulbs of specifc spectra/spectrum(?) ). Does anybody know of a way to calculate how many lumens are being "wasted" by MH or HPS bulbs (been done already?)? Lumens that're just hitting a spectrum that don't do anything (or maybe the right thing) for a plant? This is one of those efficiency things that.. I wanna know about
Has anybody else been extensively making use of T5's and wanna vet or denounce them?
15a. Vertically hanging T5s. I don't see anybody hanging 8-16 T5 bulbs with tons of plants growing around them. I've seen a few pics with T5s on either side of some grows.
15b. Any highly recommended and current DIY LED threads? I can build stuff, easy stuff, probably not LED panels anytime soon, but at least they're a fun read.
In closing. Any advice is appreciated I don't want to re-invent any wheels, but I do wanna build some.
I figure the best/easiest thing for me to do is going to be to just post everything in one thread and then try to lead experienced people to this thread
I'm sure some of my questions are being pondered by others on the sidelines and I hope some of the things I ask will further us all along, maybe even open some new ideas to vets. Technology is always changing and I've seen a lot of creativity.So on with the questions here...
1. Does anybody have combo meters to recommend that measure PH, EC, C02, temp, nutes (ie. everything). I've seen a few posts here and there showing this and that gauge that usually measures 1-3 variables.
1b. Anybody well versed in automating some of the grow rooms tasks? Ex. a machine that will add nutes? Increase/Lower PH?
2. What's a good way for someone with a vertical setup (what I intend to build) to be able to move the plants closer to the lights? I look at the famous Flooded Vertical tubing setup and, although great, I don't see a good way to bring the light closer to the plants for more "free" lumens. I've seen a couple threads with people having shelves with wheels, but really that's about all I've seen. I imagine the best option is moving the plants to the light(s) that'll be dangling in the middle of the setup.
3. Considering the "entire setup", the clone method, vegging method, flowering method (aero, NFT, DWC, soil, etc). What have you found works the best together? Does anything good or bad come of aero-cloning some little 'uns, then vegging them in dirt, and finally moving them into hydro for flower? I imagine that's not good to do, but alas, I'm a noob. One reason I ask is because I've seen many DIY aero-cloners threads but I'm not confidant I'd be able to continue using an aeroponic method into vegging/flowering.
4. Anybody know of a good book or tutorial out there that teaches everything I need to know about High Pressure Aeroponics (50 micron droplets, roots like fishbones, etc.)? I've been reading up on Petflora's posts (various forums) and what sounds like the "holy grail" of growing methods probably isn't something I'll attempt on my first go-round, but I'd certainly like to give it a go eventually.
5. What kinds of charts/reminders do you have posted in your PC or around your grow room to keep you on track? Or maybe when you were starting out? I saw a combo chart somewhere that showed what levels to keep PH, EC, Co2, etc. it looked very handy. Wish I didn't lose the link!
6. How should I be dividing up my space? Pretty broad subject I suppose... I have a room in an unfinished basement that is 9x12'5"x7'8"H. There's also a closet near the entry (keep forgetting to measure that) and at this stage, I really don't know what to devote to cloning, to vegging, to flowering or if the vegging/flowering area should be one and the same. Should these areas be divided up by some kind of partition/sheeting? Or should I be investing in grow tents? I'd like to use the entire room. Plant numbers shouldn't be an issue for me unless I'm doing a SOG.
7. What methods should be used to keep myself safe/discreet while researching, planning, etc. for example... I'm using Tor. Good enough? Or should I invest in another username immediately?
8. (I have to ask, though I imagine the answer is "it depends") Which is better? A screen around your bulbs? Or a screen around your plants? Is there a consensus at which point it makes sense to trim off parts of the plant that aren't hitting the light? How about fimming and topping? Is there some plant height, situation, etc. that you need to
9. I'm confused when I see some people putting clones straight to flower, versus vegging for, well, at least some time. Is there an efficiency to be gained by not vegging at all? Is growing a tree simply not practical compared to smaller plants? I realize some of this has to do with how much room people have.
9a. Lets say that strain A take 10 weeks to veg. I assume that's how long it's supposed to take in soil? What about hydro? In aero? (any particular methods you're familliar with) I'd like to get some idea of the real gains in growth speed between differing methods.
10. Is anybody afraid of their power company? I been considering upgrading my halogen bulbs throughout the house, not sure what else I'd upgrade to offset increased energy costs.
I plan on being legal, but still I don't want anybody to knock on the door.11. How do we feel about these two books? Good enough? Wrong choices? I was shooting for a book on room designs and another on "everything"
"Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible"
Jorge Cervantes
"The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana for Recreational and Medical Use" Greg Green
12. If you had to do it over again, what would you avoid or do differently?
13. Anybody feel like giving away their Death Star plans? Some setup that worked out superbly well for you? Link? Email, PM, whatever
I've seen lots. I was kind of holding out for DIY HPA aero, RDWC, or some kind of NFT. If you can yield well and are able to walk away from the plants for a week, damn, sounds like what I'm interested in. Gotta check on them every day? Yuck. I got a day job!14. Anybody feel like helping me out with some in-depth information on these or other questions? I'm all for building a setup that I won't want to replace, spending money now, to save money later, something that grows quickly, yields well, etc. I feel like I have a lot of time to invest in design, but less on upkeep.
15. T-5 lighting - there are some threads out there (LED without LEDs -My first T5 grow), very current, that make it sound like T5 lighting can replace both MH for vegetative growth and HPS for flowering (by using several bulbs of specifc spectra/spectrum(?) ). Does anybody know of a way to calculate how many lumens are being "wasted" by MH or HPS bulbs (been done already?)? Lumens that're just hitting a spectrum that don't do anything (or maybe the right thing) for a plant? This is one of those efficiency things that.. I wanna know about
Has anybody else been extensively making use of T5's and wanna vet or denounce them?15a. Vertically hanging T5s. I don't see anybody hanging 8-16 T5 bulbs with tons of plants growing around them. I've seen a few pics with T5s on either side of some grows.
15b. Any highly recommended and current DIY LED threads? I can build stuff, easy stuff, probably not LED panels anytime soon, but at least they're a fun read.
In closing. Any advice is appreciated
I don't want to re-invent any wheels, but I do wanna build some.
, Subcool's books are worth every penny"Dank: The Quest For The Very Best Marijuana- A Breeder's Tale"10/1/2008 and "The Quest For the Very Best Marijuana Continues"(4/11/2011).
