Growing like a weed

[OverMedicated]

I've been growing for about 2 years now and I have to say it's been a journey of trial and error for me. Although I read everything I thought I needed to know, I still had a lot of small plants with you guessed it... small yields. When I first started out, I thought I needed the best of everything. So, I bought "Fox Farm" dirt, cloth pots, expensive full spectrum lights and the best seeds. Even with all of that I was doomed. Being a beginner, I was a mother hen and over tended them. I overwatered them something fierce. I didn't know about adjusting the lights height and basically all of my plants were stunted. Some plants only yielded one bud! I never had a plant over a foot tall and for the first year only had one or two that had any buds big enough to write home about. I was getting about 1/4 of an ounce off each plant thinking that was OK. Not much of a return on my investment. Then one day I got smart and decided to trash the whole operation. I got rid of everything but the cloth pots and my timers. I had been using the closet in my music room, so I decided to stay with it. Perfect size after all 6x2. I lined it with silver weather building wrap (cheaper than commercial reflector wrap). Hung 2 "Mars Hydro" 100-watt TS-600's @ $69.95 ea., filled my cloth pots with "Miracle Grow", bought some auto flower seeds from "MSNL" and my new life began. Now I'm growing like a weed. I'm not saying growing pot is easy... far from it! I got a very, very, very long way to go, but simplicity was the key after all. I'm sure no one here started out growing 6-8 ounces on their first plant. There is a lot to learn, but if you follow the cues the plant will tell you what it needs. If you're a beginner and you're reading this don't give up but read all that you can before you start growing not while you're learning from your mistakes. I'm still learning! I joined this forum to learn how to grow killer photos. The sooner I start saving money by not having to buy auto flowering seeds the better. Here's a picture of my latest "Magnum" auto @ 5 weeks.

[HolyHippie]

Hey Helpless- Im a newbie here - it amazes me how something so easy becomes so hard.... meaning- its a weed- it should grow- and it will.... The one thing I have learned in my two months so far is this summabitttches are resilent... its tough to kill them..... meaning- it really is easy to grow weed...... but now we want RETURN also..... now it gets hard because there are so many things that really make them thrive... I dont mind sayin Im a backwoods idiot green thumb..... I couldnt fathom these things only needed watered every other day---- I was giving them a sip each day... like I like my whiskey..... a friend said give that thang some water till it runs out the bottom and see how it takes and dont do it again for 2-3 days.... guess what Im STONED Saying is -- its all good.... Smokem if ya gottem boyzzzzz

[OverMedicated]

Yeah, you can just let them grow or you can grow them well. Either way they will grow, but I want big buds, so I choose to grow well! The folks here will teach you if you let them and the grow guide is simple and direct, it's some of the best info I've ever gotten. I'm doing new things and getting killer results! I mean check out my pics!

[AGH]

I think that you bring up a super important point about not only growing, but about lots of things: all the right tools are helpful and can be a great benefit to your endeavor, however you need to have the basics down before those tools do much. I tell everyone that 95% of problems can be avoided/fixed by paying attention to the Big Six: Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation, Circulation, Watering Regime, and Lighting. If you start with the goal of managing the Big Six, you then find the tools that help you manage those best. Too often the journey goes in reverse: people think that if they buy the most expensive equipment that it will make up for lack of experience or worse: laziness (whether intentional or not) and that often leads to disappointment.

Good for you sticking with it! The more you learn about the plant the more intuitive gardening becomes. That's one reason that I don't use synthetic nutes - growing organically, you're pushed to think like mother nature in that you care for the soil that in turn cares for the plant.

Keep it up and happy growing!

[OverMedicated]

Yeah, I can honestly say I have been fulfilled by my grow and have not had to resort to other means for some time now. I would tell anyone, if you have a spare closet you can use as a grow room you should. You don't have to go crazy. You can get started for under a bill $. I find it challenging and fun and best of all... rewarding...