100% New

Hey all,
I'm putting together my "parts list" for in indoor grow. After around 3 months of research I have decided on an 4 x 2 ebb and flow system with drippers on veg. I'll be vegging / cloning in one area and flowering in another. Fox Farm for nutes, Clay pebbles for growing medium with rockwool blocks. My goal is to grow a strong mother and clone for a 2 month harvest cycle (hence Mr. Green as my avatar). I wanted to start with auto-flower, but seed prices and the availability of clones in my area keep me from it. I like to tinker with automation so ebb and flow seems right up my alley. Lighting is a bit confusing and the false claims of specs. seem to run wild. Also seed prices are a bit confusing as I see the same strain range from 5 dollars to 40 dollars a seed. Other then that it all seems pretty strait forward. Gorilla glue is my flower of choice (#4 strain) and I already know I will be fighting smell. I had thought about Strawberry / Banana due to the fruit smell instead of skunk, but that strain doesn't help me with my needs (constant chronic pain due to some very messed up guts). Anyways, just like everyone starting I have big dreams of personal use with 100 grams cured at all times, we will see if they pan out. Currently I have been able to stop 4 medications thanks to cannabis and the monthly cost savings alone will more then pay for the extra electricity and initial cost of setup (over time) if/when I start growing. Currently it's $50 and up for an eighth in Ohio for medical, which is just insane and no were near sustainable for me. Like all things, it's cheaper to just do it yourself and you'll know what your getting. Start up looks like it will come in right at $600 if I shop around (most of that will be lights, ventilation and tents). Then around $50-ish a month to maintain. Quick math tells me I'd save $2,400 a year over my prescriptions in the first year and be a lot nicer person as I'm not very fun to be around when everything hurts. I'm sure other know what I mean...

Anyways, Hello......., if you know of an indica dominant strain with 22%+ typical THC content that doesn't smell like your boarding homeless skunks, let me know as I'd love to save a bit of money on air filtration equipment. Also recommendations on a good sead bank that isn't trying to cash in on the recent MJ boom would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Ohigrow

welcome to the forum Ohigrow ! I am currently growing Northern lights and the smell is not too bad but you will certainly need a carbon filter. I have a vivosun and it does the job

Sounds like you have done your homework. Have you read up on drain to waste? If you care about start up costs that is the cheapest to get started.

Welcome to Roll It Up @OHIGROW and Happy New Year!! Seedsman lists some seeds as low odor. I grew Northern lights and Auto#1. I wanted low odor for outdoor grow, trying to attract NO attention from the neighborhood. Inside, these girls still smell though and not having a carbon filter just wasn't fair to the rest of the house, even low odor strains. I'd look for another place to save money and pay the $50+ for a filter.

https://www.seedsman.com/en/cannabis-seeds/cultivation/low-odour-strains

I concur with @DaFreak that drain to waste is the way to go. DTW sets up nicely for automation. I grow in coco and often water/fertigate several times a day. I automate both the watering and the collecting of drain water too. I've got "self draining saucers" and collect the waste water outside of my grow tent.



The trough in the middle covered with some foil is where the waste drains. I've got a pump in there that moves the water outside the tent and into a five gallon bucket.

I went with DWC since I wanted to play around. Also one in soil. The one in soil vegged a heck of a lot slower and then turned out to be male after veg (happens I guess). Anyways, after a super long veg cycle, I flipped her to flower a week ago. Needless to say, she is doing great. Not too bad for a bag seed.... Obviously indica, but what strain? No Clue.. but very calming, very cerebral and deep couch-lock if you want. No ceiling. Again I have no clue about this strain but it is definitely worth growing. This is medicine for me, I have wicked stomach issues and this helps me sleep without pain. The plan is to become self-sustaining.

As for why I let her get wild a wooly, I have 5 lights in that tent. 2 floor/side lights and 3 top lights. Heat is controlled by an 8" fan plugged into one port and pulling air from the bottom vents. No light burns and she is loving it. She is drinking almost a gallon of water a day now. Nutes are the general hydroponics set and the water is always PHed to 5.8 after adding nutes.

At this stage, any tips or tricks for a newbie will be welcomed.