COCO COIR What supplies do you need to start growing weed?

[growingisfun]

About to start growing and just wanted to make sure I have everything. I tried to follow the setup for the 2x4 Spider Farmer 200W LED tutorial and hoping I can get at least 5 ounce (10 ounces would be killer). I got the "kit" version on Amazon for about $460, which has almost everything except soil, nutrient, and seeds. It weirdly had plant pots but no saucers, luckily a neighbor had some extras. I went with Cultivation Nation 70/30 coco soil, Dyna-Gro/Superthrive nutrients, and various seeds I got over the Thanksgiving deals from Seedsman late last year.

I'm going to germinate seeds from Blue Dream, Purple Ghost Candy, and Cherry Punch F1. From my research online, it seems like those 3 strains should "play well" together, since they all grow big and fast. Should I germinate 2 seeds of each strain? Or just do one of each and hope for the best? Do you plant your cannabis seeds right in the pots, or germinate them separately then add them?

I was thinking to put one seed per each pot, and wait 3 days and add a second seed if those haven't popped yet. Then if somehow I end up with 2 plants in a pot, I'll have to carefully remove one.

When I turn on the LED and the fan, it consistently stays under 80F, which I understand is good. I have 5-gallon pots so I'm going to use this seedling watering schedule.

I think I'm ready... Am I missing anything important? Or just turn everything on and plant seeds?

[Allenpro]

I have found that 2 plants in a 2 X 4 tent is about max and the 2 X 4 Spider Farmer light wont cover the full 2 x 4 area. The outer edges of the 2 x 4 area wont get more than 300 pps in light. So your first lesson is LED lights exeregrate the actuat coverage. Coco coir is hydro and needs to be wet all the time with nutrients, and it is perfect for an autofeed type setup use it in 2 x 4 ebb & flow tables and it works great but its rare to get more than 7 ounces from a table but I grow Sativas and highbreds.

[golfnrl]

Hi growingisfun Sounds like you have put some thought into your 1st grow. That's good. I would start one seed each and see what happens. Germination is one of those things that is unique to each pharmer. Seems like I've used every method there is with mixed results. I've settled on soaking seeds for 24-36 hours then they go into a starter pot to sprout.
Do you have a PH pen? Nebula prolly stressed PH in that article, she reinforces that a lot and she's def spot on.

I agree with Allenpro. Two plants is max for a 2x4 tent. You might/maaaybe do three but it would be very crowded. Are your seeds autos or photos? With photos I think you could expect 3 - 6oz each from 2 plants. If you dial in the environment your harvest will be better. Quality over quantity.

[Orggrwr]

Sounds like you have a plan well thought out. Main thing i would change is to wait longer than 3 days before giving up on a seed, especially when planting directly in soil. They can take over a week to break ground sometimes. 3 plants will fit in a 2×4 but you have to stay on top of lst and canopy management. I usually grow 3 plants in 10gall pots of living soil. It also helps to fabricate extra support poles if you run negative pressure to keep the sides from sucking in and crowding your plants. I use metal emt but whatever you have laying around will work. Good luck pic of my current 2×4 grow , blackberry moonrocks day 63 of flowering

[Allenpro]

Same here, that is why I prefer to pop seeds with a method I can see the progress, glass of water, paper towel method then rapid rooters usually

[growingisfun]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. So far mostly so good.

Of the 3 plants, two of them look good and healthy, with just one or two marks on the lowest leaves.

But one plant has yellow edges on its middle leaves, and brown spots and kind of burnt tips/edges on a few leaves.

It also looks darker green than the others, and twice as tall as the other two as well.

Could these symptoms be nutrient burn? Especially since the leaves are dark too.

I think maybe I need to pull back a little on the nutrients?

Two healthy ones ( just a spot here and there)






Here's the unhealthy tall one






Is this nutrient burn, or a nutrient deficiency, or something else?

I appreciate any help or advice. I think it's hopefully not too bad yet.

[growingisfun]

From looking around online, I feel pretty sure my leaf symptoms are caused from the pH being too high or low at the roots.

However, that means I have a problem.

In order to test the ph of the runoff water, I need to give enough water to get runoff.

But these are small plants in 5-gallon pots. I don't think they're big enough to give that much water at a time to get runoff.

My nutrient water starts at the right pH (6.0 pH for coco). I calibrated the pen and test right after mixing.

But if it is pH, and I can't test runoff water yet because plants are too small, how can I tell whether my pH is too high or too low?

What would you do?

Should I just keep giving at the right pH and wait until they're older to try to correct the deficiency? Or risk overwatering them and giving a flush now?

[Allenpro]

If thats coco coir its way too dry. Coco is hydro and should be wet or damp at all times, i have been growing in coco for years and i have never once checked run off, if I want to know if the plants are getting enough or too much of anything I check the ph of the sap. Once i got that dialed in I keep the mix the same and check it peroidcally but it stays constant

[growingisfun]

Thanks for the tip. I think they're doing a bit better. I tried to give just enough water to get a tiny bit of runoff. The pH was too high. I was putting it in at 6 and it was coming out at 7.5 pH.

Since it's supposed to be 5.5-6.5 for coco, I watered with plain water at 5.5 pH and they seemed to be doing better.

They looked so good at first. I may have gone too far in the other direction and started watering a bit too much. They look droopy now. I think I watered too often in the last week..

I topped them after my last post, and they're growing a lot every day even though they're droopy. I think I'm slowly figuring it out.

I didn't notice in the tent but in the pictures I can see the plants are different colors, and actually the left plant seems kind of yellow. I'm not sure if that is from over watering and pH, or just natural variation. Or maybe they need more nutrients.

I've been trying to spread the branches out as they grow.

I feel like they've mostly filled up the space. I'm trying to decide whether to initiate 12/12 now, or wait until they're not droopy.

They're under a 200W Spider Farmer LED grow light. Temp around 80-82F, and 60% RH. Dyna-Grow nutrients but I think I might switch to General Hydroponics.