some of the most important & helpful things i've learned so far are:
- don't start flowering until your plants are at least 1 foot tall
- get a moisture meter! i had no idea that i tended to over water until i bought one of these. buying one of these for $15 or so was the biggest improvement i've ever made
- a humidity dome and heating mat REALLY helps your seeds sprout, especially during the winter time when your room gets below 70 degrees
- when transplanting plants, tease the outside roots to encourage them to start re-rooting, especially when they get rootbound in 16 oz cups. i actually learned that watching "this old house" on PBS, but it's good to know
- 18 inches is the optimum height for your HID grow lights to be from your plants to get the most light without burning
- don't use a lot of ferts on your plants until they're well rooted as starts can burn easier
- take some time to stress your plants stems every day by gently bending or twisting them. that's one of the reasons oscillating fans are recommended for gardens. they mimic the effect of wind damage on your plants not only creating stronger stems that will make your plants less like to tip over, but the newly repaired stems will have better nutrient flow. i'm ate the "finger slapping" stage right now with my babies, but will start twisting their stems and fan leaves when they get bigger.
- the best way to grow a bunch of different strains in the same space is using the SCROG technique
- if you're using soil, only use organic ferts every 2 weeks to prevent salt buildups.
- before watering your plants, age the water at least 24 hours to let any chlorine evaporate as well as let the water warm up to room temperature
- generally, your plants want warm roots and cool leaves
- KEEP TRACK OF YOUR FLOWERING TIMES! that was the biggest mistake i made in my first grow and harvested too early by just waiting until me seeds looked full size. i don't like taking the time to take notes or pics, but now know it really helps you get it right though i have bought a cheap 10x magnifying loupe for checking trichromes but intend to harvest on the early side to avoid couchlock.
as to soaking methods, i like the tried and true 2 day soak method. just put your seeds in water, tap the ones that will sink down to the bottom of your cup or whatever after 24 hours and then put them in soil or pellets 24 hours later. it's simple and works just fine. i've had a lot of mold problems trying the paper towel method in the past and don't like it.
a really good online grow guide you should check out is green man's guide here
http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/