JackyD's First Grow - AG Setup

So I have decided that i no longer want to pay ass loads of cash for something that could grow on it's own in my backyard. I purchased an AeroGarden Pro series that should be shipping tomorrow and I have a small group of commercial grade seeds from a friend of a friend who used to grow.

If anyone out there is planning on getting their own AG, first, go with the Pro200. It is made to grow pot. It has twice the lighting as the old, twice the hood clearance, and has a 24 hour veg setting. Second, call and order it direct over the phone. I got a crap load of free stuff, around $80 retail, (including empty seed pods and shipping) by just asking for it (and by calling them up a few more times after the order was in and saying i was going to cancel). Its worth it.

I have read up on both growing and growing w/ the AG quite a bit. Here is what I have come up with for a process so far...



[FONT=&quot]Materials Needed[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]AeroGarden Pro 200[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]AeroGarden Herb Nutes (for first grow)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Seeds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]D.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Mylar[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cardboard Box[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]F.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Ona Gel[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]G.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Rooting Powder[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]H.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Clone Supplies ??? – Not sure how I am going to handle clones yet[/FONT]

---------------------------------------------------------------

[FONT=&quot]Process[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I. Germinate Seeds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Soak in bottled water in a solo cup overnight[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Transfer to wet paper towels in a Ziploc bag for 2-3 days[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Plant sprouted seeds in AG medium[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]II. Veg Stage[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Line cardboard box w/ mylar and cut off top and bottom for surrounding AG[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Veg on 24 hour light[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]No nutes till week 2 (then a tablet every 2 weeks)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]III. Clones[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Once plants are large enough (4-5 weeks?), take 2 cuttings from each and label[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Add rooting powder/gel and plant in clone setup (need to make one)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Veg clones for 2 weeks to root[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]D.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Start Clones on flowering cycle[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cull all Males from clones and real AG once they show sex[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]F.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Revert to VEG lighting for clones to be transplanted in next AG grow[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]IV. Flowering Stage[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Set lighting on 12 hour cycle[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Flower for 5-6 weeks and then stop Nutes (depending on flowering progress)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Once fully flowered, harvest[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]D.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Ona Gel will probably be placed in box w/ plants during flowering stage (I assume 1 jar can handle 2-3 smaller plants)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]V. Harvest[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cut plants[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Hang plants[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Dry plants[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]D.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cure plants[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Smoke plants[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]If anyone would like to add/comment on this plan, or give me a good idea for a how to setup a cloning box that is transferrable to the AG, feel free to post. Ill post my first pics once I get the supplies.[/FONT]

materials B = NO WAY the ag nutes are unstable for YOUR lettuce and will kill it.

you need ventilation especially with mylar, in flow and out flow, you should determine sex then clone, grow until you know, then veg the mamas, then clone.
flower for like 8 weeks. don't forget to add more light, you will have to re assemble the ag. Remember plants triple in size during flowering, grow until 4 nodes high switch to 12/12 determine sex cull males. Re veg ladies, clone, then go. clones don't go male from female. (clones are carbon copies) But they will go hermaphrodite if you stress them out too much. the ag can support 3 plants max!!! i have had 3 great crops of more than an oz per plant, but i added light, airstones, and the full array of fox farms.

In my opinion you should just try growing first, and harvesting... then go clone crazy with the next batch. I got to the point where it only takes me 90 days from seed to harvest.

Thank you
Which nutes do you personally recommend ? also, i know the PH was buffered w/ the AG nutes, what will i need to to do buffer the water if i dont use them?

i also already grabbed an airstone and pump for after the seeds take root

fox farms!! it is also correctly ph'd but you can use baking soda (alkaline) or vinegar (acid) to raise and lower your ph get a ph meter and keep your water slightly acidic 6.0-6.5 the problem is that every tenth of a point is 100times the acidity or alkalinity. get it as close to 6.2 and try to keep it there.

that is one of the hardest parts... GOOD LUCK!!!

Everyone says Fox Farms, but fox farms sells a few types.
Do i get...

Big Bloom?
Grow Big?
Tiger Bloom?
or do i get their Trio Hydro Formula that seems to have all three?
thanks!

you need 3 liquids, grow big hydro, tiger bloom, and big blooms, also the supplementals
open sesame(buds on demand), and cha ching (for essential oils) there are others but my experience has shown me that beastie blooms isn't really necessary, you only use it for a week and you use the others for the whole time. other than the supplements.
go search fox farms and look at their hydroponic feeding schedule




white wine and shrimp

thanks

Im just asking as i have found a hydroponics store within an hour's drive. I was going to head down there possibly today.

Also, i saw on their schedule that you start using nutes in week 1.
Most people here say to not use anything till week 2 at least as you can give your little seedlings nute burn.
(it also says to start open sesame on week 4, i assume we wouldnt do that?) Suggestions ?

the sesame is good- follow the schedule, just use 1/4 the amount, then 1/2, then 3/4 then the whole. also make sure to clean your res. every week with rubbing alcohol, then rinse really well with good water. bacteria and other nasties thrive in water. also make sure no light hits the res. or the roots.

remember fox farms isn't producing a product for the farming of wild indian ivy

It has arrived......

I started germinating yesterday. I got 5 seeds to pop in 24 hours. Ill give the rest a few more days to try, but they are mostly small or green. The ones that popped were perfect. Ill probably throw anything that doesnt fit or doesnt pop in a pot of soil i have just cuz.

For a reflector, i think im going to grab one of those science fair project boards and either paint it w/ flat white or line it with mylar. 3 sides should be more than fine with the flat white wall behind it.

9 out of my 15 seeds germinated! The others were either too small or too green. I have 7 in the aerogarden now and 2 in a pot of soil in the window that ill just water. I just didnt want to waste em