first time grow

Hi, this is my first time growing and I am an avid believer in research and asking questions if I am not sure about things. I live in a state where recreational marijuana just became legal so I bought some grade A strains from seedsman and started them 12 days ago in half-gallon pots with black magic soil. I am using a t5 8 bulb 4ft fluorescent light until the weather gets warm enough for them to go outside in my cage. I would say they are around 5in tall right now and most are starting on their 3rd/4th node if I am reading the plants right. I will add updates as things progress also comments and suggestions are appreciated.
strains:
chocolate haze -Royal Queen
gorilla zkittlez- barney's
badazz cheese- seedsman
critical purple kush- seedsman
jack herrer - seedsman
bruce banger- seedsman
little less than a week old 12 days old as of today

forgot to mention the smallest plant is a bag weed seed that my mom threw in to see if genetics really do play a difference in yields. we choose to do this when one of the critical purple kush didn't sprout.

Looking great!
If this is your first grow, I'm way impressed.
Subbed.

Big Perm said:

Looking great!
If this is your first grow, I'm way impressed.
Subbed.

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thank you, I have been babying these things since sprouting. I can't wait to start feeding nutes at the 3-4 week mark I am thinking of using the Technaflora kit. my only issue is figuring out when I should top my plants.

allanworks said:

thank you, I have been babying these things since sprouting. I can't wait to start feeding nutes at the 3-4 week mark I am thinking of using the Technaflora kit. my only issue is figuring out when I should top my plants.

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If you are going to top them, I'd top them above the 4th node, personally.

Big Perm said:

If you are going to top them, I'd top them above the 4th node, personally.

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that sounds good to me I would prefer them to be a little taller before topping them, would waiting until the 5th node cause any issues? they are going outside so I am in no rush to top.

Impressed! You are doing great on your research, I think. Congrats!

allanworks said:

that sounds good to me I would prefer them to be a little taller before topping them, would waiting until the 5th node cause any issues? they are going outside so I am in no rush to top.

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Sure, you can top them wherever you'd like, they'll split from there, and the lower nodes will gain some dominance. I have an indoor grow going where I topped above the 9th node. Outdoors you will be fine with whatever you'd like. Indoors it's more of a size thing where you top because of ceiling height, training techniques, light, stuff like that.

Any updates on how they are doing?

There about 2-3 feet tall right now Sadly they are a little rootbound. they will have to wait until the first to get transplanted into their new pots as I wont have the soil until then. They are doing good tho I am watering them with mega crop nutrients at half strength to help the nutrient deficiency that comes with being rootbound. I had to top one of the cheese plants it was growing much faster then the other plants causing me to raise the light more than I wanted to and it wasn't as bushy hopefully it bushes out more now as it grows. I took that top and I'm trying to clone it for a friend but I am not sure if I am doing it right. I trimmed the leaves, dipped it in water then root toner, and stuck it into wet soil I guess only time will tell. I am hoping the weather will change I would like to stick them outside permanently as the new pots they are going in wont allow them all to fit under the grow light. I probably will be stuck dragging them outside every morning and using the grow light as backup until the weather changes. On a side note does anybody know how cold a sativa plant can handle outside?

I just finished my cage today. the girls will be going outside permanently this Friday because Thursday will be the last night in the '30s at least that's what weather.com say's. I have been sitting them outside in the shade the last few days getting them used to the sun preparing for Friday. as you can tell they haven't been put into their new pots yet I got the soil in them I am just waiting on the weather they will be planted Friday for sure. I can't wait to see the girls thrive into giant bushy plants with humongous nugs of amber gold sublimeness.

Im getting ready to do a similar outdoor cage build- Tagging along also. Ive gotta wait till after labor day, in my climate to be safe.

You have plans on soil ammendments? Or you sticking with above ground pots?

Good luck!

Sir Patrick said:

Im getting ready to do a similar outdoor cage build- Tagging along also. I've gotta wait till after labor day, in my climate to be safe.

Do you have plans on soil amendments? Or are you sticking with above ground pots?

Good luck!

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I bought dairy doo 301 veg soil for my 25g pots it has all the amendments already mixed in. I plan on doing some composting for next year. I also plan on planting into the ground next year but I have stumps that need removing before I can amend the soil and add compost. it's good to see other people following me hopefully I can help someone along the way.

UPDATE
i think its time to top and train them tomorrow.[/ATTACH]

I think I have a little issue it has been raining off and on for the last week and will continue this week the issue is I think they are getting to much water. the others are fine but one of my jack herrer plants leaves look like this
any idea if its from over-watering due to nature, a deficiency or just a trait of that plant?

Very nice!!

Looks like they are diggin the sun.

allanworks said:

I think I have a little issue it has been raining off and on for the last week and will continue this week the issue is I think they are getting to much water. the others are fine but one of my jack herrer plants leaves look like this View attachment 4340733
any idea if its from over-watering due to nature, a deficiency or just a trait of that plant?

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I am no expert, but I do not see signs of overwatering.

it turns out that it was caused by not enough sun. after a week + of cloudy days and constant rain, the sun finally came out and the center of the leaves are turning green again. it must have not been getting enough sun for full photosynthesis due to cloud cover.

Looks killer!!

I started and finished trimming out all the center growth of the plants today. I was told its good for bud production, mold, and pest prevention we will see. we got a hard rain today and the bottom branches of one plant were beaten down pretty bad so I cut them off. I probably didn't lollipop her high enough plus she grows really bushy compared to the rest. I plan on using a torch to burn the grass and ferns down to prevent bugs from getting on the plants. regretfully we have a little of a slug issue if it doesn't clear up from the center defoliation in a few days I'm gonna buy some Sluggo pellets to kill them. here are some photos for you guys and gals