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Almost ready to germinate...... Last minute questions, advice appreciated!!!!!!

MommaBear

MommaBear

New member
Hi Everyone,
I posted some time back about the setup we were looking at and now we've got it, set it up and are almost ready to go...... Super freaking excited and surprisingly nervous, I mean it's a big investment so I really don't want to "eff" it up ( I'll save the real cursing for when you get to know me better lol). I've been doing a ton of reading, subscribed to some similar grow journals and am just in awe of the combined knowledge and support this group has! With that being said I'll give you all an idea of what we're dealing with and then I'm going to throw out my silly last minute questions :)
Tent is a Fusion Hut, 5x5x6.5
Light is a Mars II LED 900 watt with veg and bloom switches (not too sure about this, this is my weakness for sure, hoping to learn and am willing to change lights if need be later on)
4"Fusion Breath inline fan and carbon filter ( after some comments about the size from members on my earlier post I have to agree we're likely going to need the 6", unfortunately it was a package deal so I'm going to try and make it work,looking at a smaller second tent if this goes well so can upgrade then and give this one to the smaller one)
coco/perlite 70/30 mix
GH Flora Trio
Cali Magic ( last item we need - on its way)
Growtec PH Up/Down ( wanted GH but had a friend pick it up at closest place -8hrs away so I'm hoping there's no issues feel free to comment good or bad!!)
PH Pen - don't recall type but instructions and calibration info is like listening to PoppaBear talk about cross sections in roadway designs......ummmmm Huh!?!? I also have the test drops, I'll use for now till I can find the stuff to calibrate pen.
5 gallon Fabric Pots
Tap Water PH is reading at 6.0
autoflowering seeds - white widow, northern lights, candy cane (arrived today!!!!!)

Okay I think that's the general idea, here's some questions, forgive me if they are simple at this point, my brain is spinning and not from the blue dream smoke I had! ;)
1. Should I rinse the fabric pots before filling with medium?
2. Germination... Can I do the presoak just in tap water or should it be distilled?
3. Using rapid rooters in a seedling tray with a dome and CFL light, water in tray can be tap water?
4. Can move rooters to medium in pots when I see serrated leaves or when I see roots?.... I'm a little foggy on this one
5. Veg state- I've seen some growers leave their door open during this stage, does this mean the fan is not really necessary during this stage? Are people using the tent vents and an oscillating fan instead? Sorry this might be an obvious one but like I said I'm being slightly OCD about this investment :)
6. Going to have the pots resting in "boot trays" but I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of room under the pots for airflow. I've seen some growers elevate them with various racks to give even more air flow. Am I doomed if I don't have racks? I will be removing standing water.
7. Right now the filter and fan are on the floor at the front of the tent. Not ideal I know but we were hesitant to hang all that weight from the roof bars, seriously doesn't feel like it could handle it on top of the light already hanging. Thoughts??
8. Last one....for now hahahaha .. What on Gods green earth do you folks mix your water/nutes in????? I read somewhere that shaking it can throw the PH off, so do I mix a shit load in a five gallon pail and transfer to smaller jugs or? Again forgive me, ,might be silly but I just hit 40 the other day so you know things don't connect as quickly when your also trying to memorize nutrient schedules :D

sorry for the winded post, looking forward to comments and thoughts!!
 
Not so winded MommaBear , I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is exciting isn't it? Good on ya for giving it a go.
Start with, your setup sounds real good! I don't use that particular light or rapid rooters, but they're experienced growers that do that will answer those questions I'm sure.
Check the manufacturers website about how much weight the inside of your tent will hold. My 3x3x7.5 will hold 250 pounds. How heavy is your light?
Germinate with just tap water, not cold and not hot.
Growers leave their tent open during vegging probably because it gets too hot inside. Your 4 inch vent will be fine, just get a timer to turn it on every so on. I don't use a fan inside - have a 6 inch vent that exhausts just fine.
You are not doomed not having racks. Use something else to elevate them a bit.
I mix my water/nutes/organics in a 1 gallon juice jug. Sometimes having to fill it several times - but I have the mixing to that variable down.
Good to see you have autos - turn the light on 24/7 or 20/4 or 18/6 or however. How many plants are you growing at once? That size tent - I would guess 15?
Happy growing and please keep us posted.
 
Thanks Canuck147 ! A fellow Canadian eh ;) lol had to do that. Not sure about the weight it's rated for will have to look into that. The light weighs about 40 lbs ... too lazy to go downstairs and look.... now that's the blue dreams fault:)
Was thinking cooling racks to elevate, might try that .... thinking 24/7 for veg and then 12/12 for bloom. Have some notes on that... we're going with nine. We mocked in the five gallon pots and with LSTing and needing room to water I'm not sure we can fit more lol. But once we get a feel for the sizes and what we're in for during watering, LSTing we may bump it up for grow #2.
Thanks so much for confirming some things for me, much appreciated!!!! Hoping CaliMagic shows up tomorrow then it's soak the seeds night!!!!!
 
Im pretty sure I had and still have many of the same questions and im two weeks in! For what its worth having no experience, to elevate the pots i actually used broken plastic hangers and Im just mixing nutes in the gallon jug from the distilled water.

Im very nervous and excited for this adventure....
 
MommaBear Welcome to the forum!!! For germination and watering seedlings, make sure your water is pH-balanced--which you already have. You can always let your water sit for 24 hours to get rid of chlorine.

I use Root Riots for germination; they are the same as Rapid Rooters, but made by a different company: I love them and get very good germination results with them. I turn them upside down and insert the seed in the small end, because they stand up well when the wide side is down. If you can open your dome, you want air circulation rather than the accumulation of a great deal of humidity for the germination stage. I don't even pre-soak my seeds anymore; just stick em in the Root Riot, in tray, dome lets air circulate, on heating pad in winter... I saw my seedlings popping up in about 4 days.

You know not to feed the germinated seedlings right away, right? Let them feed off the cotlydon leaves until you see roots emerging out the bottom of the RRs. When you see roots, that's when you insert RRs into your first pot. And start with a weak solution of nutes in your water.

I personally would not pre-mix up a bunch of nutes and water just for the freshness factor; if you have a large plastic bucket (3 or 5gallon painter's bucket, available at any kind of Home Depot store), that's ideal for stirring in nutes, filling something smaller and watering the babies.

Can't wait to see your pics!!!
 
Start with 2 maybe 3 plants if it's your first grow. You will learn the ins and outs on first couple grows. I started with just 2 plants, then bumped it up to germinate 3 seeds at a time. I got autos in all stages. My tent is 2x4x5 with 400 hps. I got a 4 bulb t8 6500k from lowes. I use it to get the babies through veg for first 30 days, once they out grow it they slide under the hps. But they don't fit in tent so I have it wide open with light hanging half out.
20170317_192501.jpg
this was about 3.5 wks back,
20170317_192508.jpg
2 wks back,. Today it's even more outa control.
20170328_071727.jpg
all are autos, only 2 plants at 7.5 wks are in the tent, 3 more sitting right outside tent with my ghetto reflector. Plants can get out of control fast.I use LST training heavily.
 

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Thanks alltatup ! Was wondering about the dome, I think it has holes in it - but will check that out. Wasn't sure exactly when to plant them, figured when see roots so thanks for confirming! :) will not feed nute water until moved to final pots. I'm digging your nute mixing strategy, have quite a few 5 gallon pails and wasn't sure if I should do a giant batch in there but I guess just because I'm using a 5 gallon pail doesn't mean I need to make 5 gallons hahahaha hoping to have pics soon and most certainly once I'm germinating :D
 
Thanks @JibblerJoe!!!! You need a bigger tent ;) We're going with 9 plants in the hopes that we get a decent yield. We both smoke on a daily basis recreationally and for medical reasons I debated only doing a couple to start but PoppaBear is a "go big or go home" kinda guy lol He's also a "do it right the first time" kinda guy so as he quizzes me I find holes in my knowledge hahaha
 
Welcome, MommaBear, it sure sounds like you done a lot of homework! Everyone has shared great tips.

Here are 2: each stage of growth takes a week or more-germination/seedling, early veg and training, etc. You have time to focus on the tutorial that addresses the phase you're in and the one coming up. Skim over stuff that is a month out.

"Go big or go home" is great. "Getting it right the first time" is also great. In my experience, I can only do one at a time. If I insist on both, it goes badly. I know you spent a chunk on your set up. Getting one or two plants to harvest is much more fun than killing a little forest. Smokes better better too.

But it's all still fun!
 
Welcome MammaBear! I'm excited along with you and your new journey! There is some great advise given already so, I'm not going to repeat what has been said already. I will say, however, is with the size of tent you have, you may be fine with the 4" exhaust fan using the LED light. Give it a go first to see how it effect things. Also, in the future you may be better off with two LED lights instead of one. The last thing I will add is DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES FOR THE FIRST YEAR. You will make some along the way. Don't beat yourself up over them. You'll learn A LOT from them : )
 
You can use tap water IF you let it sit overnight . Ive used presoak before but I have better luck using 1/2 dozen paper towels folded flat and wet enough that water runs off but not a puddle. I put this on a small plate and put the whole thing on my cable box . new seeds usually pop overnight older seed take a little longer also make sure its moist at all times I check mine 3 or 4 times a day. hope that helps
 
Thanks @DingusKgan !!! Good advice re: not getting too ahead :) I may still scale it back, working out my trays today and hoping to get coco bricks soaking and medium ready so I can mock it all in and get a feel for space.
 
Hi MommaBear and welcome --

So here is my $.02 At the en of a first grow with auto Northern Lights in kind soil, started 2nd grow - chocolate skunk and bubbleicious.

Let me try to go in order --

1. Should I rinse the fabric pots before filling with medium?
My first grow was in Plastic Pots -- Second in Fabric pots -- Good point about rinsing, I did not.

2. Germination... Can I do the presoak just in tap water or should it be distilled?
I don't think it makes a difference, I used distilled water because I had to for the Kind Soil grow, I also have well water, but if you have regular tap water with chlorine and stuff, I would let it stand for a day or 2 before using.
1st Time I did not pre soak 2nd time I did, like an overnight thing, and ended up soaking for about 18 hours. The 2nd time with soaking the seeds they sprouted the next day ---- without soaking 4 days ---- but it could be just a seed thing.

3. Using rapid rooters in a seedling tray with a dome and CFL light, water in tray can be tap water?
First time I did the tray, dome, heating pad, thing --- 2nd time used Alltatup suggesting of turning the rooters upside down and poking your own hole in the other side (I like his idea and will do again) Did away with all the rest of the trays and domes and such, I put the seed in the rooter, then the rooter went into a 16oz plastic solo cup with Fox Farms Ocean soil in it. I slit the two sides of the plastic cups maybe a 1/4 inch just below the rim so I could rip the cup apart at transplant time. Then they went in the tent with the other plants.

4. Can move rooters to medium in pots when I see serrated leaves or when I see roots?.... I'm a little foggy on this one
Lack of experience on this part, but in my case when I did just the rooter, it really wasn't long after the plants popped that the roots where coming out the other end of the rooter. That's why I like to put the rooter in the cup, then the roots grow through the rooter right into the soil, and then depending on fast she grows, in a week and a half -2-3 weeks right into the 5gal pot. With the Fox Farm Soil, you should not have to worry about using any nutrients until you transplant.


5. Veg state- I've seen some growers leave their door open during this stage, does this mean the fan is not really necessary during this stage? Are people using the tent vents and an oscillating fan instead? Sorry this might be an obvious one but like I said I'm being slightly OCD about this investment.
If you are not worried about stealth --you can leave your doors open --- but the idea is to regulate the temp and humidity so keep that in mind.
Heat has been my biggest battle -- so I have a vent fan and an oscillating fan, and now a clip on fan. Remember, the fan is not just for heat control, but also to make the plant stronger and give more co2 and such, a good gentle breeze, so you'll have to figure the size out, probably as you go.

6. Going to have the pots resting in "boot trays" but I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of room under the pots for airflow. I've seen some growers elevate them with various racks to give even more air flow. Am I doomed if I don't have racks? I will be removing standing water.
I used the plastic trays from 5gal plastic pots and then I had scrap pieces of 3/4 in pvc, plastic pipe I cut up and put under the fabric bags so they are out of standing water.

7. Right now the filter and fan are on the floor at the front of the tent. Not ideal I know but we were hesitant to hang all that weight from the roof bars, seriously doesn't feel like it could handle it on top of the light already hanging. Thoughts??
Picture below is how I modified mine to hang in my very small tent.

8. Last one....for now hahahaha .. What on Gods green earth do you folks mix your water/nutes in????? I read somewhere that shaking it can throw the PH off, so do I mix a shit load in a five gallon pail and transfer to smaller jugs or? Again forgive me, ,might be silly but I just hit 40 the other day so you know things don't connect as quickly when your also trying to memorize nutrient schedules
Wait to you get over 60 - lol. Copy Paste, Print out, Make up a sheet of paper with all your mixes and schedules and keep it with your stuff you need to mix up. I kind of gently swirl my mixes, and I have checked at the time I mixed - and up to 4 hours later with no real deviation -- but everything is different.

You'll probably learn that everything varies in this this growing process, and everything is variable, so you have to learn to adjust.

Me I like easy! Hoped that helped.
filter (Mobile).jpg
 
Thanks Stony, was just thinking the same thing about adding a second light if need be :) and thank you for the reassurance on the fan and the fact it's ok to make mistakes :) Looking forward to learning!!!!!
 
Thanks oldjarhead!!! Cable box, what an ingenious way to have a heat source!!! Good call, love it! We've been looking at the paper towel method... I'm a little leary only because I've read that the taproot can break easy and it shouldn't be exposed to light. I'm tempted to try both methods just to see how they differ.
 
First take a breath, and relax.welcome to the show! This is not rocket sience,it all comes down a certen skill set.thier are a few sted fast rules tho that must be followed such as proper PH.temp.,and light,and proper watering all make up a good grow.that being said ther are some very good ways to germ.u will find yours.Just keep resurching and asking questions.Its a learning pros.We all make mistakes the trick to learn from them and improve u have fallen in with a great bunch willing to help with a great deal of no how good luck Mommabear.peace
 
6. Going to have the pots resting in "boot trays" but I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of room under the pots for airflow. I've seen some growers elevate them with various racks to give even more air flow. Am I doomed if I don't have racks? I will be removing standing water.
I used the plastic trays from 5gal plastic pots and then I had scrap pieces of 3/4 in pvc, plastic pipe I cut up and put under the fabric bags so they are out of standing water.

Check out this for under the pots...works well and cheap..

I find that this Egg Crate suspended ceiling tile is great for putting under smart pots. Keeps the bottom about 5/16" off the tray. One panel can make enough for at least 3, 5 gallon smart pots.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plaskolit...233A/202025149
 
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