Need some help....I'm Hydrodude who is a complete soil super n00b!!

[BennyHogan]

BH-
You can use the FF. Just use it like peat in LC's Mix.
You can trim the fan leaves or just cut part of them off. You lose less water through the leaves that way. Spray the fresh cut clones with a little seaweed extract added to your misting water for better rooting.
Glad to have you on board Kid. Keep us posted.
Burn1

Thanks BurnOne, it seems like your a man who gets a lot of respect around here and I'm very thankful for you taking the time to show a n00b like myself the ropes.

Any one got any good ideas for a cheap dome??? I've got a plastic salad case with some organic salad in the fridge right now but I don't think it will be tall enough.....when you clone do they grow upward as they root or do the roots just grow first???

Also, I'm assuming the mix has the proper pH??? So I'll just have to monitor the pH of the water and nutes I'm putting in?? What pH reader do you guys recommend?? I want to make a list of all the supplies I need to acquire so I can get this rolling.....

I picked up some hydrofarm coco organic starter pellets that claim to be the perfect way to start seedlings and clones??? Will they work?? Or should I take them back??


THanks again,
Peace and Love

 

[ixnay007]

Clones won't move an inch before they set roots.

As long as there's space for them before they set roots, they'll be just fine.

 

[BurnOne]

Also, I'm assuming the mix has the proper pH??? So I'll just have to monitor the pH of the water and nutes I'm putting in?? What pH reader do you guys recommend?? I want to make a list of all the supplies I need to acquire so I can get this rolling.....

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ixnay007]

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's an ex-hydro guy, give him time.

 

[BurnOne]

Dude, you've got to read if you want to be successful...

Organic pH issues

I hear a lot of people asking or talking about the pH of their organic soil mix or organic nute solution and how they might correct or adjust it. pH in organics is not an issue like it is in synthetic growing.
The best place to settle the pH issues in organics is within the grow medium. A medium rich in humates (humus) is the place to start. Humates work to "buffer" the pH of organic mediums and the nutes you pour (or mix) into it.
Humates come from compost, worm castings and bottled humus. If you use a peat based medum, use dolomite lime to raise the pH of the acidic peat. Dolomite should be used in any soil or soiless medium to provide magnesium and calcium. But since we are talking about pH here, I'll mention dolomite lime's pH correction benefits.
A medium of coir has a pH near neutral (or 7.0). But humates are still neded to allow uptake of organic nutrients that are outside a near neutral pH range.
With an active medium rich in humates you can pour in nutes like Pure Blend Pro, Earth Juice and guano teas way outside whe optimum pH range without worry. The humus will allow the nutes to be taken up through the roots, even at such an extreme pH reading.
So throw those pH meters away folks and enjoy the ease and safety of organic gardening.

If you ask about flushing, I'm going on vacation.
Burn1

 

[BurnOne]

I picked up some hydrofarm coco organic starter pellets that claim to be the perfect way to start seedlings and clones??? Will they work?? Or should I take them back??

You can use them. LC's mix is better.
You can get domes and other supplies "safely" online from Worm's Way.
Burn1

 

[swampdank]

i will add. that though it seems expensive to start, use those bottled nutes after bubbling them for a coupla days, and while your crop is growing, mix a batch of soil with some guano, blood and bone meal. if you can find sunshine mix or a similar product, it takes a lot of the guess work out of it.

understand the main point of organics. you want to use bacteria and fungi to feed your plants. you dont have to buy this as it occurs naturally. read the compost teaguide.

the irony is, i always thought hydro was too complicated for me. i can go on vacation for a week with organics, and as long as i remember to water them real good before leaving, they will have no problems. i know this is possible with hydro as well, but not without signifigant investment.

dont worry, you will get it down. the help you will find here is second to none.

 

[Suby]

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROTFL

 

[BennyHogan]

Dude, you've got to read if you want to be successful...

If you ask about flushing, I'm going on vacation.
Burn1

Sweet.....now I see the importance of the dolomite lime!!!
I'm stoked to not have to acquire a pH reader!!!

From your flushing comment, I take it since it is organic there is no reason to flush??? Wouldn't it be smart be though to back off the liquid nutes before harvest???

THanks

 

[BurnOne]

Here's the key to organics...
The plants can't use organic nutes.
The bacteria (microherd) have to "eat" the organic nutes you add to the soil, then excrete "food" the plant can take up through the roots.
Forget everything you've learned about what happens at the root level in hydro. You're about to go into a whole new dimension.
Burn1

 

[BennyHogan]

got everything but the lime....I'm assuming that spranghum peat MOSs is the same as the peat???are 2 26 watt daylight cfls enough power to for the clones and some veg time???

 

[BurnOne]

^^^That'll work. Keep the lights close to your clones.
Burn1

 

[BennyHogan]

^^^That'll work. Keep the lights close to your clones.
Burn1

Sweet, right now I just have one cab but I'm planning on having a separate veg and flower cab once I need one. Are the 26 watters enough juice to veg a few p's for a couple weeks and possibly a mom??? If not, what do you suggest I add to the two 26 watters??

I'd ideally like to my have my flower cab in 'flower mode' all the time and then be able to randomly through diff strains in there.

I'm currently vegging 24/7......do the clones like some dark time??

Thanks,
Peace and Love

 

[BurnOne]

You should be able to keep a row of plants under a double 24" fluorescent. Keep them directly under the tubes. Clones, veg and moms.

Once you get moms, take cuttings and root them. Then go to flower. Or, short veg time. It depends on how high you want your plants to get.

You can veg 24/7. Go 16/8 if you want to save some electricity.

What kind of lights are you planning to use for flowering?

Burn1

 

[BennyHogan]

I don't have the space to use 24in lights......I currently have a 150HPS in a Cooltube and two 26 watt Daytime CFL's. The cab I currently have is 60in tall x 20in x 21in. Im yet to design a veg specific cab.

Thanks

 

[BurnOne]

Oh. You mean a CFL that screws into a socket. I dought if you can do more than four small plants under one of those. But, try it and see. Two of those CFLs would more than double that to about ten. The more light the better. Paint the inside of your cab with exterior flat white house paint for reflectivity.
Burn1

 

[BennyHogan]

Yea, I have a v-socket and have them both hooked up together.
I'm only gonna veg 3 at a time.....just curious whether the cfl's will be enough to veg 3 to maybe a 10in tall???

THanks

 

[BurnOne]

just curious whether the cfl's will be enough to veg 3 to maybe a 10in tall???

Should.

 

[BennyHogan]

BurnOne,
What size pots should I use.....I currently have 2 gallon ones and plan on scroggin them under a 150HPS.
I'm also curious when I can start feeding them my Humboldt Organic Nutes???

CHeers

 

[BennyHogan]

bumpski