First Time Plan and Setup

This is the first time I have ever attempted to grow pot. I'm starting out with one seed (bag seed) to keep it simple. Right now I have the seed inbetween six moist paper towels in a drawer, hopefully beginning to germinate. Once it's sprouted I plan to transplant it into a 12 inch high pot with Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil with slow release fertilizer that should last three months. I have a lame setup in my closest (missing a door), with a loose plug-in light fixture, for screw-in bulbs, hanging from my clothing rod and I have a compact screw-in flourecent 75w bulb in it. After I move the sprout into the soil I plan to keep it lighted 24/7 until it reaches about 60cm. Once it's yay high I'll have it lighted on a 18/6 hour schedule until I think it's mature enough (I'll play it by ear) and then finally move it to a 12/12 hour schedule until I feel it's time to harvest (again play it by ear). To keep my closet totally dark during my plants "sleep" I figured I'd just pin up a thick sheet to keep light out. An hour or two before harvest I plan to water it with a mixture of water/orange extract to add scent and flavor. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[tolhas]

i would get raid of that "Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil with slow release fertilizer" i heard many bad things about it...just the slow release fert

[ConceptX9]

ok first, go to lowes and pick up a $2 pot that holds 1.5 gals, while your there pick up 3 27W 2700 Lumens CFLs because 1 75W Fluro is going to cause severe stretching

also your soil, do not use miracle grow soil, leave that to the experts, i recommend just picking up some sta-green potting mix from lowes, also pick up some bloom and veg nutes

consider mylar as well, this is available at hardware stores, once you got all this shit down you'll have a nice setup for a simple grow for cheap

[Anony]

Welcome to GC.

Once it's sprouted I plan to transplant it into a 12 inch high pot with Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil with slow release fertilizer that should last three months.

I would stay away from soil that feeds. This will lead to burning within 2 weeks, youll see posts all over this site that say stay away from MG soil.

with a loose plug-in light fixture

Dont like the sound of that, make sure all your electric is squared away to avoid serious problems.

plan to water it with a mixture of water/orange extract to add scent and flavor. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Not sure about the orange, havnt heard of that, I would be more concerned with using the proper water, IE PH, what type of water.
Good luck.

[laDymaRyjaNe420]

Yeah just say no to Miracle Grow! When we first started we put 7 germinated seeds in some cheap soil from walmart and 5 germinated seeds in some miracle grow. Lets just say we have none of the plants we started in the miracle grow. It killed them! I think it is just way to strong for starting them off. It's like feeding a newborn baby 2% milk. It's gonna make em sick! It will be a much smarter idea to pick up some soil that doesn't have any nutrients in the beginning. Then once your plants have aged about 3-4 weeks you can pick up a fertalizer and feed them 1/4 of the dossage that it tells ya on the bottle. Good luck with everything!

[Nirvanas_Papaya]

Originally Posted by GabbaGabbaDane

This is the first time I have ever attempted to grow pot. I'm starting out with one seed (bag seed) to keep it simple. Right now I have the seed inbetween six moist paper towels in a drawer, hopefully beginning to germinate. Once it's sprouted I plan to transplant it into a 12 inch high pot with Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil with slow release fertilizer that should last three months. I have a lame setup in my closest (missing a door), with a loose plug-in light fixture, for screw-in bulbs, hanging from my clothing rod and I have a compact screw-in flourecent 75w bulb in it. After I move the sprout into the soil I plan to keep it lighted 24/7 until it reaches about 60cm. Once it's yay high I'll have it lighted on a 18/6 hour schedule until I think it's mature enough (I'll play it by ear) and then finally move it to a 12/12 hour schedule until I feel it's time to harvest (again play it by ear). To keep my closet totally dark during my plants "sleep" I figured I'd just pin up a thick sheet to keep light out. An hour or two before harvest I plan to water it with a mixture of water/orange extract to add scent and flavor. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Seems like everyone has provided some great advice, just want to put in my two cents. Ventilation is extremely important, looks like it hasn't been mentioned (use a small fan and timer). Also, make sure that your closet is "light tight", a simple sheet of any kind won't be good enough. You will realize that when your plant takes a long time to flower or mature properly. A 75W CFL is perfect, make sure that you have good light reflection everywhere, on top and all around the plant(s) but never cover the soil. Keep in mind that you will have to get more of those bulbs in both 6500k and 2700k temps. The more light the plant receives, the bigger and better the yield will be. Keep the CFL's close to the plants (2" to 6"). Regarding the juice mix that you intend to make, I don't think that it's a good idea. Plus 1 or 2 hours prior wouldn't be enough time to get the effect that you desire IMPO.

Good luck, everything should work out well, post some picts of those cronic buds when ya get a chance!

Oh man, thank you guys so much for all your advice. I don't think I'll have too much of a problem getting those buds grown. Papaya mentioned that my light seal may pose a problem. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could use to keep light out of my closet? And also on the topic of ventilation......if I just pointed a smaller fan blowing air out of my closet do you think that would do the trick?

[Nirvanas_Papaya]

I'm assuming that you have the lights, PC or TV turned on in this room where the closet is...?

If I was in your position, I would probably buy some thick (black) plastic sheeting at Home Depot (or similar). I would make sure that I had enough material for 3-4 layers which would overlap the actual door opening (by 6"-10"). I would nail a piece of wood to the top and bottom (of the plastic) then nail the top piece to the upper door frame. This would definitely block out light, especially with the overlap. This is just a very quick idea though.

On the topic of ventilation, how would you blow the air out of your closet at night? fresh air must circulate around the plant, remember that you are trying to imitate nature (the outdoors). If you blow air out, you must have an opening elsewhere to allow fresh air to enter the enclosure.

Hopefully someone who has grown in those circumstances (closet) will help you out.