if YOU had to pick ONE instrument...

[fishing time]

When I started my first grow go I put myself on a budget for money spent of $100 (USD). It's a microgrow keep in mind, but it's still not a whole lot to work with even considering I already had many of the things I needed. I figured on subsequent endeavors I would put in a little more money each time and gradually amass better tools and genetics (read: not bagseed).

So far I've spent about $75 dollars and so I figure I have one more thing to buy for this run (About two weeks into flower now). So, veteran horticulturalists: please consider the following thought experiment.

For whatever reason, you have to choose only one of the instruments from the list to use. Which one would you pick and why?

--pH meter (assume you also have pH up/down at your disposal for and/or soil amendments like lime etc.)

--EC/ppm meter (you're growing in soil - and you're using an unfamiliar brand/line of nutrients)

--pocket microscope (for checking trich development/dialing in harvest time)

--digital hygrometer/thermometer (for curing ala Simon's method or whatever else you use it for)

--other (any other instrument in this vein which you rely on)

 

[Iron_Lion]

You can get a good quality milwaukee pH meter and a pocket microscope for under 100$. I've used a few different brands milwaukee seems to hold up the best in the price range.

pH is one of those things that can really f#ck up a grow, regardless if its chemical or organic.

With the money left over you could probly get a thermometer as well.

I run organic and have never really had a use for my EC meter.

 

[clp]

Definetly a PH meter..
You can always follow dosage directions for nutes/look up what others have used
Curing is easy.. Simons method just takes ALL the guess work out of it
A microscope is great but people have been doing fine without them for years - they are so cheap though.. No reason not to get one!

 

[simple green]

Agree 110% on the milwaukee pH meter...the cheap yellow one works very well.

If you shop around you could get a cheap hygrometer/thermometer for under $10. I know it's pushing your budget together but knowing the temp and humidity of your growroom is good...

If you have a decent camera you can use that as your microscope to check trich color.

Any time I started a new grow I always ended up 'investing' more then I wanted to set up or upgrade stuff, but with the investments came more and better weed.....


420th post

 

[727JoN]

honestly, id go with the scope on this one. Maybe pick up a dropper PH tester. You dont need any fancy shit like everyone is telling you, especially if youre already 2 weeks into flowering. The trichromescope is going to be very useful to you in a few weeks though when youre getting ready to harvest and you're looking for a specific ratio of cloudy/amber tric's.

and i have an 8mp camera, and youre not going to see shit in those trics unless you buy a usb microscope or a macro lens or some shit.

 

[bigtopsfinn]

The Milwaukee ph meter is $19.99 (plus shipping). I've heard of it being even less sometimes during a sale. I'd get this first.

The Radio Shack pocket microscope is like $15, and less than $10 on ebay. Surely you can save up that much by the time you harvest.

 

[ibjamming]

If you have binoculars...you also have a "microscope". Flip them around and look through the big end...get really close to your subject...what do you see? Pretty neat eh? It's not 30-40X unless you have binoculars that strong...it's probably be 7X...but clear as a bell.

 

[Kirsten]

PH Meter. Without it my plants would die from my high water PH because I would never have known. My water PH also fluctuates at times by 1.0.

 

[Bueno Time]

Im going to have to go with ph meter as well. I just got the cheap yellow Milwaukee pH600 when I bought mine it was like $20 shipped about. I was using DWC at the time with chemical nutes so I needed ph and tds meters. Now I am doing organics and only use the ph meter not the tds but really surprised that my tap waters ph was almost 8 and after chlorine evaporation it was almost 9 wowzers but the tds is fairly low so its decent tap just need to ph it. Also when i add my Alaska Fish Fert 5-1-1 it drops my ph way low and i need to use ph up actually to get it around mid 6s. Definitely would get the ph meter. But thats my opinion...

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

ph meter

 

[CANNATOPIA]

pH meter (assume you also have pH up/down at your disposal for and/or soil amendments like lime etc.)
I pick this one Cant live without a good PH meter.

 

[growingforfun]

imo if your already 2 weeks into flower you prolly have ok PH on average and your ppm is ok. maybe not locked in where it should be but your getting by. personaly id think a pocket microscope is your next stop so you know when to harvest. it will run you 10 bucks an it will be worth it. next stop would be a PH meter, then a ppm meter

 

[GuerrillaRed]

I've done grows with literally nothing more than water and micro & bloom. However the only reason I'm able to do such bare bones grows is I've done extensive pH testing on my water and can feel it out.

I honestly wouldn't want to attempt a grow in an unfamiliar setting without a pH meter.

The rest of all that is good practical stuff but not necessary.

 

[StealthDragon]

those little digital temp/humidity gauges from walmart that are like 6-8$
Great for curing via simon's method also great for just starting out and getting to know how high/low your temps and humidity get throughout the day.

I also have a infrared/laser thermometer gun thingie..this thing is kick ass..everything from checking temps directly on budsites to checking powercords temps to checking cloner water..hell you can even use it for cooking. all instantly and from a few feet away...just point and shoot. Also the best cat toy ever.