Organic grow - newbie grower need advice

Organic or Hydro, Which do you prefer?

  • Total voters
    4
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
Hi,

I'm looking to do my first grow organically, I think it'd be cheaper for me cost wise and much more easier for me to grow. Iv read up on hydroponics and to be honest for me it's abit too much to do and gather expecially for a beginner grower. Iv looked through some threads on the forum and done a couple searches on the forum aswell as google but I'd like to ask the questions myself and hopefully indulge in conversation regarding the question.

questions if I may ask....

1) I'm looking to use the Canna Terra Professional soil...is that all I would need in terms of me not having to mix anything else with the soil I.E fertilisers or other nutrients or is the soil alone sufficient enough? Or should I just go for a Multi Purpose Soil with perlite?

2) as I'm trying to keep costs down I'm finding it abit hard/difficult understanding which lights I should use for the Veg stage and also the Flowering stage, what would you recommend? And is there a certain type of light I can use for both the Veg and Flowering?

3) As I'll be growing organic, would Autoflower seeds work? Or is there a certain type of seed organic growers have to use? (I'd like to use the Autoflower because i find that it'd be more simple and less time for me to look after the plants and constantly watch over them, do the lights etc etc)

Lastly,

4) Equipment, what sort of equipment do you recommend? I would think all I need is a grow tent, good soil and good lights along with Autoflower seeds and that's about it (not really but Im sure you know what I mean)

Apologies if this is too many questions, I'd rather keep it in one thread rather than opening multiple threads, expecially for me to come back too once I start growing and can always come back to this thread and implement some of your advice.

Iv also added in a poll just for abit of fun, please feel free to take part and cast your vote! :-D

Thanks In advance,

Rich
 
redeyedfrog

redeyedfrog

Well-Known Member
Go down to the hydro shop and get a deal on a setup with light (HPS), ballast, fans, cool tube, make sure the tent has a removable floor for spills and its lightproof and two air ports for intake and exhaust.
You should be able to to a 600w setup for under a grand. I've used canna soil and its good may have to add perlite.
Why autos? You only have to change the light cycle once with cannabis you know from 18/6 to 12/12 to induce flowering and in my opinion sativas and indicas are superior in every way to ruderallis (auto) I think indica is easiest to grow for beginner as well.
 
ebcrew

ebcrew

Well-Known Member
If money isnt an option listen to redeyedfrog about your lighting situation.

Autoflowers are great in my opinion i have 4 of them going now, all exceeding my expectations. I suggest the original Northern Light autos from Sensi Seeds. The plant is huge, bigger then some of my photos ive grown!! I absolutely recommend it.

I love fox farm ocean forest soil and their trio of nutrients.

As far as equipment, look into carbon filters, fans, temperature and humidity gauges, and a pH pen.
 
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
ebcrew said:
If money isnt an option listen to redeyedfrog about your lighting situation.

Autoflowers are great in my opinion i have 4 of them going now, all exceeding my expectations. I suggest the original Northern Light autos from Sensi Seeds. The plant is huge, bigger then some of my photos ive grown!! I absolutely recommend it.

I love fox farm ocean forest soil and their trio of nutrients.

As far as equipment, look into carbon filters, fans, temperature and humidity gauges, and a pH pen.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response, I am actually trying to keep the costs down as much as I can. Can I ask what strains you are growing? I personally am looking to grow Sour Cherry from breeders boutique I love the strain mix it's something like casey jones x cheese x blues or so,etching I can't quiet remember.

I don't think they sell ocean forest fox farm soil in the UK (which is where I am) which sucks..we don't even have pro mix here lol

As for equipment, would I really need the carbon filters?

Thanks :-)
 
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
redeyedfrog said:
Go down to the hydro shop and get a deal on a setup with light (HPS), ballast, fans, cool tube, make sure the tent has a removable floor for spills and its lightproof and two air ports for intake and exhaust.
You should be able to to a 600w setup for under a grand. I've used canna soil and its good may have to add perlite.
Why autos? You only have to change the light cycle once with cannabis you know from 18/6 to 12/12 to induce flowering and in my opinion sativas and indicas are superior in every way to ruderallis (auto) I think indica is easiest to grow for beginner as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your advice Redeyedfrog, just wondering if I absolutely need all of this stuff expecially it being my first grow and im still a novice at this, or is the equipment you listed are the basics a person needs to do their first grow organically with soil?

I'd like to do autos because i like the strains on the autos, iv also heard great reviews on it, I think I'll start with autos but as I become more advanced and know more on growing I will most def test out different types of seeds IE feminized, normal seeds etc etc

Thanks :-)
 
GrowinDad

GrowinDad

Well-Known Member
I grow LED so can't be of much help. I would think 1-2 plants under a 250 but don't know much about HID.
 
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
Mr.Head said:
how big is your space?
Click to expand...
to be honest its not that big. only want to grow about 1-3 plants. iv been on eBay and found complete grow kit link is -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Best-Complete-Hydroponic-Grow-Room-Tent-Fan-Filter-Light-Kit-250w-50x50x100-/111170254923?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19e243784b

because this is a hydroponic kit can it not also be used for organic growing? i dont seem to understand the difference between kits for hydro and organic.

im also assuming the 250w power is efficient enough to grow 1-3 plants aswell?

thanks
 
ebcrew

ebcrew

Well-Known Member
Rich_Porter1 said:
Thanks for your response, I am actually trying to keep the costs down as much as I can. Can I ask what strains you are growing? I personally am looking to grow Sour Cherry from breeders boutique I love the strain mix it's something like casey jones x cheese x blues or so,etching I can't quiet remember.

I don't think they sell ocean forest fox farm soil in the UK (which is where I am) which sucks..we don't even have pro mix here lol

As for equipment, would I really need the carbon filters?

Thanks :-)
Click to expand...
Im growing Northern Light, Amnesia x Pink Diesel and Dark devil, all autos. The nothern lights i really recommend because they are gigantic. My NLs are bigger then some of my past photoperiods and should yield a LOT!

Heres a pic of my NLs.

2015-02-25 21.36.34.jpg 2015-03-01 13.01.32.jpg
 
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
ebcrew said:
Im growing Northern Light, Amnesia x Pink Diesel and Dark devil, all autos. The nothern lights i really recommend because they are gigantic. My NLs are bigger then some of my past photoperiods and should yield a LOT!

Heres a pic of my NLs.

View attachment 3363141 View attachment 3363142
Click to expand...
looks awesome man congrats! i was thinking of growing NL, was also thinking of Dark Devil..hows that coming along? please provide pics if you have any :-) Gorilla Seeds sell them thats where i first saw it and also takes around 8.5 weeks from seed
 
budLIFE60

budLIFE60

Well-Known Member
Rich_Porter1 said:
Hi,

I'm looking to do my first grow organically, I think it'd be cheaper for me cost wise and much more easier for me to grow. Iv read up on hydroponics and to be honest for me it's abit too much to do and gather expecially for a beginner grower. Iv looked through some threads on the forum and done a couple searches on the forum aswell as google but I'd like to ask the questions myself and hopefully indulge in conversation regarding the question.

questions if I may ask....

1) I'm looking to use the Canna Terra Professional soil...is that all I would need in terms of me not having to mix anything else with the soil I.E fertilisers or other nutrients or is the soil alone sufficient enough? Or should I just go for a Multi Purpose Soil with perlite?

2) as I'm trying to keep costs down I'm finding it abit hard/difficult understanding which lights I should use for the Veg stage and also the Flowering stage, what would you recommend? And is there a certain type of light I can use for both the Veg and Flowering?

3) As I'll be growing organic, would Autoflower seeds work? Or is there a certain type of seed organic growers have to use? (I'd like to use the Autoflower because i find that it'd be more simple and less time for me to look after the plants and constantly watch over them, do the lights etc etc)

Lastly,

4) Equipment, what sort of equipment do you recommend? I would think all I need is a grow tent, good soil and good lights along with Autoflower seeds and that's about it (not really but Im sure you know what I mean)

Apologies if this is too many questions, I'd rather keep it in one thread rather than opening multiple threads, expecially for me to come back too once I start growing and can always come back to this thread and implement some of your advice.

Iv also added in a poll just for abit of fun, please feel free to take part and cast your vote! :-D

Thanks In advance,

Rich
Click to expand...
I'm gonna put myself in your shoes real quick. if it were me buying all that equipment...

1. I can't really help you much there sorry. I don't know.much about those products. I myself love fox farm ebcrew said. I use an organic soil mix that mainly consists of 3 bags of fox farm and gets me through the whole grow. You can buy them online I get mine off amazon.com

2. Again if this was me I wouldn't but an HID smaller than a 400 watt. They may be a little more expensive but you get way better quality and quantity. MH for veg you can run 18/6 to save on the electric bill. HPS for flower 12/12. If you want just one bulb use HPS over MH

3. Autoflowers are great in organic soil and totally fine to start off growing! They will give you nice feel of how to grow a healthy plant in quick version but don't expect to big of a yield off them your first time.

4. Grow tents are awesome. 4x4 and 3x3 is a good size if you can fit it. You will want some fans to circulate the air in the tent, one across the top of the plants and one pulling air out of the tent to a carbon filter to clear the smell. You'll want a timer, thermometer. Possibly a humifier or dehumidifier if you want for dry and cure.

That's what I'd buy knowing what I know now. I had the same intentions as you when I first started growing. But I quickly got into it and fell in love with gardening this awesome plant. I wish I would have known that before i started, it would have saved me a lot of time and money in the long run.

Best of luck!
 
Terry385

Terry385

Well-Known Member
Rich_Porter1 said:
thanks Terry, im thinking of also using Terra Canna Professional Organic Soil with perlite..if you have any knowledge in this please advise whether i should use this or not :)

thanks
Click to expand...
Never used Terra Canna Professional Organic Soil so can't say
a 400 watt is better tho
 
Rich_Porter1

Rich_Porter1

Member
budLIFE60 said:
I'm gonna put myself in your shoes real quick. if it were me buying all that equipment...

1. I can't really help you much there sorry. I don't know.much about those products. I myself love fox farm ebcrew said. I use an organic soil mix that mainly consists of 3 bags of fox farm and gets me through the whole grow. You can buy them online I get mine off amazon.com

2. Again if this was me I wouldn't but an HID smaller than a 400 watt. They may be a little more expensive but you get way better quality and quantity. MH for veg you can run 18/6 to save on the electric bill. HPS for flower 12/12. If you want just one bulb use HPS over MH

3. Autoflowers are great in organic soil and totally fine to start off growing! They will give you nice feel of how to grow a healthy plant in quick version but don't expect to big of a yield off them your first time.

4. Grow tents are awesome. 4x4 and 3x3 is a good size if you can fit it. You will want some fans to circulate the air in the tent, one across the top of the plants and one pulling air out of the tent to a carbon filter to clear the smell. You'll want a timer, thermometer. Possibly a humifier or dehumidifier if you want for dry and cure.

That's what I'd buy knowing what I know now. I had the same intentions as you when I first started growing. But I quickly got into it and fell in love with gardening this awesome plant. I wish I would have known that before i started, it would have saved me a lot of time and money in the long run.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...
lovely, i enjoyed having a read of this, thank you for your input!

regarding the fox farm and the likes of Seagrow etc etc i think these are only available inthe U.S..i am from Europe so unfortunately i cant get hold of this, hence im looking to go for Canna Terra as iv read some good reviews on this.

2. i was going to use a 250w HPS light for both Veg and Flower on a 50cm w x 50cm d x 100cm h tent but this is only big enough for 1plant so i will actually go for a 120x120x200 with a 400w HPS for both Veg And Flower this should give space for around 3plants..just to confirm i can use the 400w HPS light for BOTH Veg and Flower right?

3. Auto Flower appeals to me more, quicker growth time and little work, as i get more advanced i will look to do the normal feminised seeds or regular seeds

4. as mentioned on point 2, the 120x120x200cm i am looking to buy a all in one grow kit such as this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120-X-120-X-200-Grow-Tent-Hydroponics-Bud-Room-Box-Full-Kits-Fan-Ballast-400W-/111088460692?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19dd636394 i think this would be a perfect kit for a beginner

thanks :-)
 
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