I started my first grow a few days ago and things are going pretty well. I wanted to ask for a few expert opinions though because of something I noticed, so here's the story: I started to Germinate one random seed I got from a friend before my box was ready. by the time my box was ready to go into service a root had already grown almost an inch out of the seed. so I planted it, and put it in the box no problem. that same day I began germinating a second seed, which I planted the next day. when I planted the seed it was not even close to how open the first seed was, so I figured it would never catch up to the first one. but today when I checked on them its clear that the second seed to be planted has not only caught up to the first one I planted, but actually looks twice as healthy. what could be the problem? I have a exhaust and intake fan, four fluorescent bulbs I found, the walls are covered in reflective tape, the temp stays between 75 and 80 degrees, and the humidity is at about 40 percent. if someone wants to teach me how to post pics I will
Redcavy: from what they're teaching us in a hydro class your temperature is at the high end of the scale. You might want to look at that. Also you may well have to different strains of M/J. My original seeds came from the same joint and I ended up with two distinctly different strains. I grow with an Aerogarden so I don't have to worry about humidity, or I haven't had to up to now. I'd say relax and enjoy the experience. A lot of times a weak seed will give us weak plants so you might want to post some pictures for us to look at. Invariably, if you plant five different seeds they're all going to be a little different.
Okay I feel a little better now haha. but one thing id like to know is if there's a way to keep my plants as short as possible and still flower them. because they only have so much room to grow in my box.
Yeah you could LST them http://forum.grasscity.com/plant-training/122936-how-lst-low-stress-training.html, or SCroG method http://forum.grasscity.com/plant-training/48363-scrog-method.html. Edit: Would also take a look at these...or at least bookmark them like I did. http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/567829-ph-what-means-your-plants.html http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-marijuana-growing/374679-essential-plant-nutrients.html http://forum.grasscity.com/sick-plants-problems/25983-nutrients-bugs-various-problems-guide.html http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/382585-beginners-guide-get-you-started-growing-cannabis.html
Redcavy: we have a lot of the same problems. I have the same problem in an Aerogarden. I'm limited to a growing height of 23" (just one inch below the lights). At that point I tie off the buds with 4 pound nylon fishing line, gently bend the stem over redirecting their growth horizontally and weigh them down with fishing weights to keep them there. Hope that helps.
Jhanegyle: that's a tougher question than you may realize. I'm not a pharmacist and like so many of us here I too am just learning. So for what you're asking you probably came to the wrong guy. I've grown my own for close to forty years but it was always the process that intrigued me the most. I really know very little about the emerging strains that are being produced. In fact that was a question I posted to a couple of forums recently; as to what varieties, by specific names, did their contributors know were available on the market today that they thought would be best for indoor cultivation with an Aerogarden? I wanted specifics and I only got a few responses, Sadly, everyone gave me a different recommendation. There was no consensus. I can only assume that they're all growing their favorite and each is uniquely different so I'm no further ahead than I was a couple of months ago when I posed the question. I can tell you this much: from my own personal experience, I've reproduced seeds over the years that originated from a single joint and they produced healthy plants that were from two distinctly different strains of cannabis; Sativa and Indica. One is short and squat, with thick bushy growth on short reddish stems, with large buds but the other type is taller, has thinner leaves and smaller buds but more of them. If I pay attention they both grow well inside in my little Aerogarden. I haven't a clue as to which specific varieties they are or where they come from. I can only guess they came from south of the border as that was where most of our ganja originated in those days. I jokingly tell my friends that my plants speak Spanish. There's been a lot of research and development of, I believe the correct term is: 'hybridization,' of new strains over the last few years and frankly I haven't kept up. They're producing very different varieties of plants for different growing conditions with varying results. I do know what I want though, and maybe this will possibly answer part of you question. I'm soon to be seventy years old and after being treated by two orthopedic surgeons and three primary care physicians for chronic pain over the past ten years, after they replaced most of my load bearing joints due to chronic arthritis and the accompanying pain, two years ago they threw up their hands and told me I'd have to live with it. They then wanted to send me to a pain clinic where they could prescribe stronger medications for my arthritis and the pain associated with my injured neck and back. Frankly, I was ready to swallow a pistol when a friend with a similar health history suggested I try medical marijuana. It worked for me like it did for him. 900 mg of constipating codeine every four two six hours that hardly lasted for two just didn't do it for me. After I was 'legalized' and started associating with some of the guys I met who belong to our local collective I found out that I had a lot of company. I'd always grown my own and used it as a recreational aphrodisiac for my lady friends but now I need it for pain relief. You'll probably get better advice from your local dispensary staff as to what strains are best suited for which conditions. Of course you'll have to live in one of fourteen or so states that are progressive enough to have told the feds to go to hell and allowed their citizens the compassionate use of medical cannabis. That presents two more problems: one, you have to have a legitimate need for it. Doctors where I live are getting pretty particular as to who they approve now a days after being hassled by the feds and having their prescription pads audited by the DEA. Lately I've seen it harder for some folks to get a recommendation. The physician I go to has made it very clear that this is very serious business. He wants to stay out of jail and he demands to see your health history and verifying ex-rays. Finally, as my sainted father used to say, "It ain't cheap." In fact the shit's expensive. The cheap crap, that isn't s good as what I grow, starts at $55 for an eighth of an ounce. That's why on a $2,000 a month retirement pension I grow my won. If it was covered by medicare I'd be home free but the pharmaceutical companies would never stand for that. I don't grow any extra, just enough to keep my sugar bowl full. With me it's not a cottage business and I conscientiously try to stay within what are my state's legal limits. More importantly, I don't abuse it or endanger the safety or health of others. If you're asking questions like this I would strongly suggest you purchase a copy of Jorge Cervantes's book: "MARIJUANA HORTICULTURE THE INDOOR/OUTDOOR MEDICAL GROWER'S BIBLE." I think I paid about $30 for mine at Barn's and Noble. You can also get it on line, probably here at the Grasscity Store. If you're lucky enough to live in a progressive state that has legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes I suggest you investigate: getting medically approved, growing your own indoors using an Aerogarden. It's a clean, complete, compact hydroponic growing system that is user friendly and very economical to run. It's probably best suited for beginners to grow only enough for personal use. I hope this helps. Hank