This has been an interesting thread to follow, and it embodies so much of what is true about growing advice and this forum in general (though I’ve only been reading here for a month or so).
Really, what real world experience would make you think that we would all agree on something as varied in it’s possible approaches as growing? Or even the terminology? I’m also a guitar player, though i prefer humbuckers, lol, or really under saddle pups these days as I’m all acoustic. But as a player (I assume based on your handle) you’ll recognize the breadth of seemingly contradictory advice, from how to hold the instrument to the best type of pick material or string type or pup design. I think the metaphor also holds up in that most people aren’t going to know or think about the subtle differences when they‘re simply listening in. These things can matter a lot to the player, I know.
I’m a new grower too. I grew two outdoor plants last summer - one went pretty well and the other struggled with all host of problems, though both produced pretty ok buds in the end. I thought I was doing pretty well till I helped an experienced buddy with his trimming and saw that any one of his several plant’s individual branches had more weed then my entire plant, lol. Important to remember that it’s a hobby and you shouldn’t need to impress anyone but yourself.
The great takeaway for me from last summer‘s grow is that even my imperfectly grown bud was at least as good as the stuff coming from the store. I’m now on my second indoor grow. Just finished two plants in the tent, one was a champ (4 ounces dried or so, nice weed which im happy with, even though I know I can do better. Autos. The other struggled, but still harvested 2z or so.
Question: if you’ve struggled with the same variety for three grows, why not try a different strain? My limited experience and various readings so far suggest that some grow more easily than others. I hesitate to give advice at this stage, but perhaps do a little research for easy to grow strains. Maybe try autos. I was psyched to pull around six ounces (just weighed the dried and curing flowers the other day) in a little over three months (which will easily get me through the next harvest). High quality as far as I’m concerned, and I’m pretty much the only one using it, and it’s working great for me. I’ve got four plants going now and hope to atleast double that harvest total in April or so. Keeping it simple. I’d be happy to share the ones that have grown well for me, a learning gardener with no history of green thumbs. But I know I’m getting better and learning from past mistakes. These threads can get you freaked out over little things like the timing of harvest, but if the buds are fat, stinky and sticky, they’re going to be good, whether or not you miss someone’s definition of the optimum window or not.
I think some of the online/YouTube sources of info are super helpful. Just figure out which ones make sense to you. I have espially enjoyed Mr. Grow It’s podcast. He is well informed and has all variety of guests with a wide range of opinions/approaches, some pretty far out, but I’ve found it interesting and informative to listen in. There’s also a hemp professor from U of Utah. I was never as interested in a college science lecture as I have been watching him.
You mentioned it might be just as economical to simply buy the stuff from the store. I’m sure this equation varies based on consumption habits, but even having invested in a higher end tent kit, I’m close to breaking even after my first grow (cheapest store bought ounces are $150 at local stores, but most stuff is much more than that). No way I would save money in the long run buying the commercial stuff. And again, imo, it’s simply not very good most of the time. All good reasons to keep after getting it right.
Good luck, single coil. Those plants look pretty decent to me so far.
