First Time Growers: 8 Common Questions
January 7th, 2009 by Silvio
Now let’s get to it…
Q: Can marijuana grow in Northern countries?
Marijuana plants can grow anywhere corn can grow. All it needs is light for 3 months, water and soil. You will be able to grow weed almost everywhere on the planet. Factor in hydroponics systems, and you really can grow marijuana anywhere in the world.
Q: Why is it better to buy seeds? I found some seed in my last sack, can I use them?
Most people put a lot of effort into building a grow space. The same amount of effort is due when it comes to picking the seeds for your crop.
Sure, bag seeds will grow into a plant, but why play a guessing game? Especially if you plan to grow commercially, the process will be inefficient and unprofitable. You will end up with lots of different kinds of plants. And all of them will need a unique treatment. Flowering times will vary, so will height. Unless you have more then one grow space, this will be a problem.
Q: I am a first time grower – hydroponics or soil?
I truly believe soil is the all around better and more convenient choice. It may be right that hydro makes plants grow faster, but you will get better results from a good soil grow. Hydro should be attempted after you have a few successful soil crops under your belt. If you are starting from seed and growing for your stash only, soil is the better choice for you. If you plan on producing a constant harvest for commercial use, hydroponics is the way to go.
Q: Why are my seedlings stretching?
That’s an easy one: you need more light. Also provide a gentle wind and make sure to keep an eye on humidity.
Q: What lights should I use?
For your seedlings, use fluorescent tubes. For personal home growers, 400W metal halide or HPS (high pressure sodium) are a common choice. However, if you want to go pro, set yourself up with 1000 watt metal halide or HPS. Use at least 40 watts per square foot of grow space.
Q: How far should the lights be from the plants?
Put your hand under the light and check how hot it gets. If it feels too hot for you, the chance is high it’ll be too hot for a fragile plant. Other tips:
- Fluorescent Tube: tips of leaves almost touching bulbs
- 400 Watt Halide: two feet away from seedlings and one foot away from grown plants
- 1000 Watt Halide: four feet away from seedlings and two feet away from grown plants
Q: What’s a good watering schedule?
Once a week or once every two week for soil and twice a day with a hydroponic flood and drain system. When top 2 inches of the soil dry out. Occasionally provide periods of extra dry and wet soil. Allow 10% extra water to drain out of the bottom of the tray. This will prevent toxic fertilizer build up.
Q: How long do your seeds last and what’s the best way to keep them?
Seeds can last over 5 years if kept cool and dry. They may last up to 10 years if sealed and frozen, but fewer will germinate.
Ok, that’s covers every common item I can think of. Are there some questions I missed? There’s got to be, so let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to help.
First Time Growers: Common Mistakes
December 24th, 2008 by Silvio
Growing is easy right? You buy some seeds, source a couple of pots, grab lights, dump in the soil and then instantly start to grow weed. Sounds pretty simple!
Well, it is… until the first real roadblock makes itself known.
Luckily, we are here to get you past those roadblocks before they even materialize. Just remember; every mistake you are about to make, someone before you did the exact same thing. So, lets try and avoid the most common mistakes made by first time growers.
1) Overwatering
Overwatering kills your plants. Simple as that.
Only water once the top few inches of soil dries out, just stick your finger in the pot and test if it’s dry. Hydroponics is very hard to over-water, due to the abundance of water roots, but it’s still a good idea to keep a close watch.
2) Telling Other People
This should be obvious.
Telling other people will only make them jealous, it also gives them power over you. People love to feel important, if 4 weeks from now there’s a disagreement, you have no idea (or control of) who finds out there’s a grow-up at your house. So don’t tell anyone anything unless you absolutely have to. Keep it to yourself.
3) Touch / Kill Germinating Seeds
Waiting is never nice, especially for germination. But remember, some seeds may take up to ten days until they sprout. Some growers will tell you the paper towel method is not recommended because you must personally handle the seeds when transferring from the paper towel to your growing medium. I think that’s not a problem, just be careful and hygienic when handling your seeds.
Read the rest of Silvio’s tips after the jump!
