What is the best method to grow weed? (or at least, your favorite way to grow weed)

[MeowMeow]

Just curious, as I'm always thinking about how to upgrade and improve my grows.

What is your personal favorite way to grow weed, and why?

For me...

Grow Medium & Nutrients: I think my favorite is coco coir with GH nutrients. I always get thrips when I grow in soil for some reason, and I can't figure out how to stop it. I don't know where they're coming from! But it's happened multiple times over the years even with long breaks between. I figure they must be a local pest. But I never get thrips in coco. The only thing is watering all the time and removing runoff is a pain. I have tried a drip irrigation system before, but it was too hard to dial it in, and dealing with runoff sucked. Some plants always drink more than others, yet their needs change throughout the grow. I want auto-watering pots after seeing the plants when their roots hit the water in this grow journal. The idea of being able to water less often, plus plants grow faster, seems hard to beat even if it's more finicky at first to get it dialed in. I've seen on Reddit some growers don't even change the reservoir, just water from the bottom once or twice a week.

Strain: I have found I prefer photoperiod over autoflower strains. Autoflowers are more fun to grow and quicker, but I think overall photoperiod buds just seem better. Photoperiod buds seem less leafy, stronger effects, more "sticky", prettier, etc. though I know it may be that I'm just not growing the right autoflower strains. Everyone says I need to try Mephisto.

Grow light: I started with HPS and switched to LEDs. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I stand by the fact that HPS makes more yields per watt, as long as you control heat. But I think the bud quality is better with the LEDs. Buds are smaller, but tighter, and more like "nuggets" than baseball bats. They look more like "magazine bud". LED bud size looks less impressive on the plant, but less chance of bud rot since LED buds aren't so chunky, easier to dry and cure, and overall nicer to smoke in the end. Plus LEDs make plants turn purple and pink way more often than HPS did. Though maybe it's just that modern strains are more purple and pink. Maybe next winter I'll dig out the HPS and grow some of the same strains and see if the difference in purpling is more grow light or genetics.

What about the growers of GrowWeedEasy.com? I've seen tons of awesome experimentation in this forum.

What is your favorite way to grow weed and why? Do you care most about efficiency/yields, bud potency, the easiest way to grow weed, the most fun way to grow...

Hopefully this is a safe place for everyone to share their personal opinions, even if they're not popular!

[golfnrl]

Hey MeowMeow that's a fun topic. My first grow was in FFOF soil. I didn't understand why my plants seemed to starve in flower until I learned more about the soil I was using. I switched to coco because I had a tendency to love my plants to death by overwatering and have been using it for a good while. I don't see me changing. I started off with Fox Farm nutrients but learned I did not apply them correctly.

At one point I needed to be away from my plants for days at a time. At first I DIY'd a drip system that got me by in the pinch using a timer, and an electric gate valve operated by said timer. Searching for an automatic water system led me to autopots. I bought a 4 pot system using cloth pots and haven't looked back. That's when I switched from soil to a 50/50 coco/perlite blend. Also when I switched to CX Horticulture nutrients. Autopots grow great weed. They are a self watering bottom feeding wicking type of system that operates off of gravity. The plants take what they want when they want it. No overwatering. The roots stay moist not soaking wet or sitting in water as some critics allege. I use a 12 gallon reservoir. That allowed me to be away from my plants for up to a week in early to mid veg and late flower. Late veg and during the stretch I could go about 3 1/2 - 4 days. So the system fit my needs. I don't have that requirement anymore but the system works so well I haven't changed. I don't see me changing that either. My quest of late has been to really dial in the system by taking care of the little things like mixing the nutrients in the right order, stirring the solution in between ingredients and starting of with cal/mag conditioned water so My CX nutrients have something to bind to. I did not understand how critical that is. And thx to someone on this forum I have been trying to further my understanding of EC.

I like Ace Seeds. I came to know them from a PHarmer on this forum that posted some bud porn called Nepal Jam. I haven't grown that but was so impressed with Ace's genetics that they have become my favorite breeder. I have two grow tents in a lung room. The 4x4 is for photos. I'm trying to learn the manifold process as I see that as a way to grow landrace sativa's in the tent. This is after I lost some plants that grew too tall. Did you know that MJ will grow past a grow light? It will. I thought it would stop at the light, nope. Since sativas typically take so long to flower I used that as an excuse to set up another tent for autos. Its a 2x4. Also with the autopot system. Ace has a limited catalog of autos but their Zamaldelica will kick some @$$. I've grown it several times, never fails to impress. Wanting to try an indica dominant hybrid I am experimenting with White Truffles from ILGM. When I find something that I like I tend to stick with it.

My first lamp was an LED. I began growing during that period when LED's were coming into their own. HPS seemed like it would be more of a problem so I opted for an HLG LED. I haven't switched brands. Their lights grow great weed.

When I first started growing I was chasing yields. I wasn't getting anywhere because I should have been chasing efficiency. The grow method, seeds, lights and environment all affect the yield. Leave one lacking and the harvest suffers. Dial in each component and the yield increases. Some one on this forum said something to the effect, that anyone can grow weed but it takes patience, knowledge and skill to grow great weed. Then there is the dry and cure process. Just my .02.

[Bluey]

Indoors in coco, fertigation, fully climate controlled.

All automated.

It works exceptionally well, great yields and unmatched quality.

But lots of work trimming back leaves so it doesnt turn into a jungle, which I suppose is a good problem to have

[shadycon]

I'm just a poor dirt farmer!

[ductwizard2]

I hear that, i'm a dirt poor outdoor dirt farmer, can't wait to try indoor where i have some control