enigmaphoenix
Member
Hello all! Let me preface this post by saying that I myself am new to growing. My experience is limited to just over a year. I've had my share of trials and tribulations and have learned much along the way. I also have much to learn and always will, for me that is a good thing! 
Tips:
I hope you find joy in growing your own as I have!
Many thanks,
Enigma
Tips:
- Start with less variables, especially if you are impatient! Soil is a great way to go to start as it is MUCH more forgiving than hydro or aero! I see a lot of people jumping into the deep end of DWC for example and being turned off after they fail the first time.
- Read up a little. Having the basics down as to over watering, under watering, and nutrient levels, environmental control will go a long way.
- Organic vs synthetic, know the difference! If you are growing organically you will do best to encourage beneficial bacteria growth! Sterilizing your tools and environment is always a good idea, but introducing H2O2 actively into an organic grow I think you will find rather counter productive! While H2O2 in a synthetic grow can be rather beneficial. For soil, it is my opinion that nature is your friend, keep it organic and let nature help you!
- If you are going to go Hydro, DWC, Aero. Make sure you have the equipment to do so! You will have to deal with many more variables than in a soil grow! The rewards are greater, but so is the risk! You must have patience here and hopefully you enjoy the experience and the knowledge you will gain along the way. You likely will fail. My first grow was DWC and it was a success, but not without a lot of trials along the way. My second DWC grow was an epic failure! Epic as in dragging out for 4 months dealing with issue after issue. Much of this was because I thought I had something down only to find that I misunderstood and took things in the wrong direction. Regardless, I enjoyed the experience and took a lot from it.
- If you are on a budget, I'd also recommend soil. Again due to it being more forgiving and the cost of aux equipment that you will need such as water chillers, pumps, etc.
- Watch your PH!!! Check it daily if not twice a day. This is one of the most important factors in any grow and one I see many people simply take for granted.
- Water quality! My tap water registers at 240 PPM. Starting with RO (reverse osmosis water) with at the lowest PPM possible is highly recommended. Think about it, you don't know what minerals etc make up that 240. Start clean and you will have confidence in what and how much your plants are being fed. This is a great investment.
- Complete grow kits. Up for debate, I bought one for my first grow and quickly found that I needed more equipment and that it was not very well thought through. With just a little research you can put together your own grow for much less money, and that fits your individual needs.
- Grow shops. If you are in a grow friendly state, search around for a good grow shop. There are so many here that are just in it for the money that I find they are run by individuals that just don't know what they are talking about. The grow shop I spend most of my time and dollars at now is small, family run with people that grow themselves! They offer great advice and often give me ideas on a solution that I can put together myself with parts I can find else ware. A sign of a good shop indeed! They know I'll continue to purchase from them (especially items I can’t find at a hardware store), they have a customer for life.
I hope you find joy in growing your own as I have!
Many thanks,
Enigma
