Auto Blueberry-Aerogarden

First time grower of meds. Simple and easy is the plan. Using tap water-only checking PH. Only using liquid nutes that came with AG starting around the second week. Might end up using a couple CFLs, but for now just using the extended arm w/ AG lights. Will probably use fan, but just keeping it simple for now.

Started on the 8th with Dutch Passion's auto blueberry. Using paper towels and checking every 12 hours, both seeds sprouted. Planted on the 10th just before midnight in AG sponge that had been poked through with a skewer for the root to grow into. Setting on tomatos.

The pics at top are start of day 2, the pics on bottom are end of day 2.


Peace

Kellsbells: Your plan sounds good but I would urge you to please consider a couple of things for the sake of your babies.

#1. Use your plant labels if you have them, if not, consider going to a hydro store to buy a couple of the small white plastic ones to cover the cages. My experiences have shown that leaving your planting cages uncovered can result in eventual mold problems on top and algae growth in your reservoir. Cover your cages, and that's two problems you likely won't have to face.

#2. If you water is like the crap that comes out of my tap here in southern California you might want to consider buying at least bottled water. Some folks like distilled water although that may be an unnecessary expense. Wal-Mart and the 99 cents store's Niagra brand are good sources but if you have a filtered water kiosk at you supermarket that may be cheaper and better yet.

If you use tap water, you'll want to air it out for a day to let the chlorine evaporate before you add your nutes and balance the pH. From now until around mid November the water where I live tastes like it came out of my neighbors swimming pool and that's not good for your babies.

#3. I would have to warn you about Aerogarden's nutes; they're not designed to feed M/J. If you use them, and I would advise against that, please consider a couple of things. One, they're designed to feed seven herbs seedlings, not two M/J seedlings, and full strength you'll likely get a good case of nute burn. But, if you still decide to go ahead with using Aerogarden's I would strongly suggest you use it half strength for at least the first couple of weeks. Please don't get me wrong, their nutes are good for what they're designed for but they didn't design them cultivating M/J.

You might want to go to your local hydro store and see what they have to offer. I would urge you to consider Technaflora's, "Recipe for Success." It's very user friendly and you can get a strarter kit for about $30. With an Aerogarden it will last a long time.

#4. Your tomato setting on the lights is what most of us still use, and it works great, but as they grow up to the light remember to keep them adjusted to a height of between one to two inches above your plants. If you do you're not going to believe the veg you'll get. The problem is that it means you'll have to check your plants at least once a day. If they grow into the lights the cooler CFL's can still burn them

#5. Side lights are okay but Mylar reflectors will do the same thing and if they're positioned right you'll get buds right down to the planting deck with the same utility cost of lighting up your standard Aerogarden lamps. There's an initial investment involved but I've reused the ones I made now for a couple of years so I'm sure I've regained the initial cost by the electricity I would have had to pay by now.

#6. If you haven't already installed an aquarium air pump and put an air stone in the bottom of your reservoir you might seriously want to consider it. The five to ten gallon model at Wal-Mart is the best price I've found and some of mine are going on over three years old now and still working fine. It's about $7 and it comes with a one way check valve, (be sure to use it). You can buy the air line and stones at the 99 cents store for half the price. I like the smallest two inch stone best because it doesn't get in the way inside your reservoir.

I really hope you enjoy your experience growing with your Aerogarden. I would urge you to keep us posted on your grow, especially if you try something and it works.

HSA-

Thanks!!! I am going to follow every piece of your advice, and I truly appreciate your feedback. I saw a couple vids on youtube where growers used what came with the AG, but I am def going to order some "real" nutes. When do you think I should start them? I've read some posts that say right away, 2 weeks, and that autoflowers don't need them right away.

Today I took a pair of tweezers and ever so gently took the seedpod and skin like covering off Jane. She has two sets of leaves, but they were almost glued shut with the old pod. I looked up a bunch of pics and didn't see any plants still closed up on day 3, so I figured I'd better get some light on those leaves.

Other than that, turned on the 24 hr light setting. I wish I had two seperate grows, so I could experiment with nutes, light settings etc and see what works best. Maybe in the near future.... This started as a personal grow (and will remain), but it's more fun than I imagined...possibly keeping a mother alive and cloning when needed...not sure yet, but excited to get through my first grow with everyone's help

Thanks again!

kellsbells said:

HSA-

Thanks!!! I am going to follow every piece of your advice, and I truly appreciate your feedback. I saw a couple vids on youtube where growers used what came with the AG, but I am def going to order some "real" nutes. When do you think I should start them? I've read some posts that say right away, 2 weeks, and that autoflowers don't need them right away.

Today I took a pair of tweezers and ever so gently took the seedpod and skin like covering off Jane. She has two sets of leaves, but they were almost glued shut with the old pod. I looked up a bunch of pics and didn't see any plants still closed up on day 3, so I figured I'd better get some light on those leaves.

Other than that, turned on the 24 hr light setting. I wish I had two seperate grows, so I could experiment with nutes, light settings etc and see what works best. Maybe in the near future.... This started as a personal grow (and will remain), but it's more fun than I imagined...possibly keeping a mother alive and cloning when needed...not sure yet, but excited to get through my first grow with everyone's help

Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Kellsbells:
1. Depending on the nutes you use, I would be conservative. It's usually safer that way. With Technaflora, the last couple of years, I've used their seedling/cutting formula right from when I planted the seeds, although everyone advises us to wait to feed. I used to, but I've had no problem using Technaflora right from the start. One of my instructors at the hydro classes recommends this: start your seeds in pH adjusted water for a week to ten days and then add 1/2 strength nutes. He didn't specify any specific brand. He's a lot smarter than I am so I'd listen to him if I were you.

2. I've never grown autoflowering or any of the new genetically engineered strains so I'd listen to our friends here and again do what sounds like the most conservative approach with your babies.

3. Like you, I used to take the seed cap off with tweezers but I now have the attitude that when mother nature wants it off she'll take it off, and so far so good. I try not to mess with my babies any more than I have to.

4. If you have two sets of leaves you might consider putting your babies under a 'gentle breeze' with a fan starting for a few hours every day.

5. Why 24 hours a day light? I know a lot of people do that but aren't they pushing their plants to harvest for money? The instructors we have at the hydro classes all agree we should rest them at least four hours a day right from the start. I've been using a progressive light schedule for the last year with very good luck. You might want to try it on your next crop. Start with 20/4 and drop the light by one hour each week. Don't be surprised if they flower on their own without a dietary change at about 14 hours of light and ten ours of darkness. I change thier diet as soon as I saw them trying to flower and the result was spectacular. But then again that's with the seeds I'm growing.

6. My friend you are embarking on an adventure that can almost become an addiction. I started growing culinary herbs for my wife with an Aerogarden a friend gave me for Christmas five years ago. It was so easy I figured what the hell do I have to lose? The prescribed codeine meds were costing me a fortune and ruining my kidneys and liver. I figured if I can grow basil and oregano I can grow my own medical M/J. It's so much fun I think I'd do it now even if I didn't need it if only to see it grow. It's a wonderful plant.

Here's a good piece of advice from my guru, "Get a couple of successful crops under your belt before you start experimenting." But when you do, remember what they taught us in seventh or eight grade science class: "Change only one variable in an experiment or it'll become a confused mess." Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.

Hey fellow mj enthusiasts!

Day 5 already. Mary's looking good. HSA, I'm totally with you on the mother nature taking her course thing. Jane got totally stressed after removing the seed pod...plus the aero was up by the sink and I accidentally bumped it. She started leaning sideways, almost completely face down, but I left her alone, turned the light off for about 4 hours (which I didn't want to do, but was surprised at how much it seemed to help), turned the light back on, and she perked up. She has a piece of lint on her right now, but I don't dare blow it or rub it off. I have moved them to a small closet hung with foil for the rest of this grow. We are in the process of moving after this grow is complete. I will be able to put more thought into my setup at the new place. Probably just a small, clean, flat white closet. I would like to experiment with non-autos once I get comfortable.

Didn't buy plant labels, just covered with foil. Bottled water, check. Technaflora's "Recipe for Success" on the way. Will start at half strength (maybe even 1/4 for the first 2 or 3 days on day 10-14. Picking up a small fan this week and will start a gentle breeze once the second pair of leaves come in. Picking up an air stone later this week, along with another power supply to give 4 hours of darkness per day on my timer. Right now I'm doing it manually. I almost think they are a little on the small side, compared to some pics I've seen of them in soil. Makes sense as the soil will have nutes. I will start nutes right away my next grow for comparison. Well....here they are

Day 5

Hey, does anyone have suggestions on what type of Aerogarden to get??