Completely New, Help A Newb Out!

Hey everyone, this is my first time grow so id really like some guidance with this entire grow.. i will keep a kind of an update going on here so some of you growers out there can keep up with it if you are bored or you wanna laugh at me or something..
but basically i think I've read enough about this stuff to have an idea where to go with it, please only help me out guys, you were new to this once too and i when i get good ill help the new growers out as i should, its a cycle!

but anyways, I've just completed a home grow box, kind of a small closet box actually, (dimensions probably like 12 inches high X 10 inches wide at best)
but I'm really proud of the way it came out, i used a cardboard box, coated the inside with foil, got a nice CFL light hanging in there, and i even wired a PC fan in there just in case the air starts getting to stagnant.. right now I have a thermostat in there and I'm leaving it on to see how high it gets with the fan.. with no fan i got about 84 degrees, too hot? keep in mind thats with out the fan, so i hope if its too high that can cool it down a little bit.

anyways this is just my introduction, I'm a pretty easy going guy so i don't think you guys would have reason to hate me, but thanks to the growers that do help me out, it will really be appreciated when/if this bad boy starts growing. -Dillinger

and i also had a question about the soil that i should use for this, any one have a cheap suggestion? and can you get away with growing a small plant with no nutrients? say if the soils good?

So what are your plans after you get your box all ready?

Here is the deal forget cheap it will only cause you issue...just get a bg of Fox Farms Ocean Forest, it is like $20 for the big bag, and use that...it really makes a new grower feel like they're doing a good job...I have tried with bad soil and thought I was just terrible at growing, got good soil and now everything is so much better.

I got the box already, trying to get my hands on some seeds right now. i don't really mind which kind they are, this is more of an experimental grow

noted, ill write down the name and give that a try, thanks!

Can't make it to harvest on that, but you can actually just throw in some household compostable garbage in the left over soil and let it sit outside...go turn it every once in awhile..and you will start you composting, and then you can use the compost to feed the plants...so it kinda can get you through harvest, but not without adding some stuff... but anyway. It is a good soil, and worth the $20, especially if you are new to all this...which I am and you are too...way way simplifies things, and it just makes me feel like I am doing a good job...I use it in all my everyday houseplants too...it makes the ornamental grass in my daughter's fairy garden grow like crazy...

and how about the nutrients? do i need to bother with all that PH stuff? that sounds confusing as all hell

So just whatever bag seeds or what not? because that is a good place to start, and a lot of times even bad weed grown carefully can end up pretty good, or at least way better then what you found the seed in...lol.

yeah i hope thats the way it turns out haha, being my first grow I'm going to raise this plant as if its my son hahah

change your nick........it'll be bad karma. Smilin' John was filled with lead, like a pencil. seek positive energy in your garden.

but any idea about the nutrients?

well i always use john dillinger as my secret name, even to send embarrassing things to my house on ebay lol

To tell you the truth I also have a hard time with all that, but this is the first time I haven't had terrible issues...So, I feel like I am doing better...but I got the General Organics GO Box...it's a set with all the little additives and thus and such... Some people say you don't have to worry about the Ph and with most plants you don't...some are just really picky...I use distilled vinegar for Ph up and I have well water...I also add a little lime and perlite to the Fox Farms soil right at first...although I don't know if I should add the lime because I was also using the cal-mag supplement, and now one plant looks like it has had a little too much...I should have just used the lime, and then not use the calmag, or use the calmag and not the lime... but now I know... It is easy to give too much, but hard to fix giving too much...so always give way under the recommended and then work your way up...you can add more, but can't take away --less? I lost that somewhere...anyway try not to overfeed and with the Fox Farms soil you don't have to feed they say to wait 2 or 3 weeks, but I find it can get you a month or more, especially because often you transplant during that time...which adds new soil...and new nutes.

johndillinger1911 said:

yeah i hope thats the way it turns out haha, being my first grow I'm going to raise this plant as if its my son hahah

Click to expand...

Correction! you must treat it as your daughter...males are not what we are looking for...

I have a hard time with the nutes. I am going to amass all the things to make this in the middle of next month https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/44686-subcools-super-soil.html and hopefully that will do a little better for me. I mean things are going well this time, but like I said there is this calmag issue and what not...I want everything to look super awesome!

i don't go as super, as subcool's super soil. i use peat/perlite/SS.......2:1:1 and mix; not layer.
i like to feed. i use worm/kelp teas. cheap.

Well, I am no expert...but I agree with the rest...soil seems to be a good equalizer. I had trouble with big store shelf soil. The Fox Farm Ocean is working for me...only 3 weeks, but so far. And I think your box may be a bit smallish..unless you are only veggin' in it. Once the plants start growing, it is going to get very warm in there even with a fan.

for vegging I just have my plants in like a little area that isn't even blocked off, and then I move them into my tent when they get bigger so they get some good light...Which I use a 400w MH for veg and flower...you are supposed to use HPS for flower, but it gets too hot...I am also getting the stuff to cool it, but I already burnt one out...lol. Anyway everything at my place is soon to be upgraded! Hooray!

I tried MIracle Gro organic potting mix and it wasn't too bad, but it was my first grow ever and the I used no nutes or anything...I literally planted the seed for fun and then kinda stuck a pot in the window and didn't worry about it for the next 5 months til I realized when driving past the house I could see it in the window and it was starting to bloom...it made some bud, but not what you might call good bud--- hahahahaha... I think it was like 3 feet tall and only yielded 6 grams...hilarious. I have since gotten more serious about the whole thing.