How to get started for your home grow? Once you have the seeds for the strain you want, what do you do next? First choice is to determine which growing medium is going to be used. The main choice is between soil or hydroponics.
How to decide Soil or Hydroponics
The best way to decide between soil or hydroponics comes to personal choice. Each medium has their pros and cons. Hydroponics Pros and Cons include, lots of equipment, needs constant maintenance, testing, testing equipment and testing supplies. But, once system set up, nothing to do but watch plants grow. Must check and maintain system daily. All plants are connected to the same water system, so if system
becomes contaminated or compromised (too much fertilizer, pumps break,
etc.), all plants effected. May be devastating to grow. Check out this article about the pros and cons of soil and hydro.
Soil Pros and Cons include, dirty, lots of equipment, testing, testing equipment and testing supplies. Buckets, shovels, mixing area for soil, smelly compost. But, if one plant goes down all other plants remain ok.
Use Soil
Many considerations when you use soil. Soil should have health drainage, proper nutrients and ease of use. The necessary nutrients include, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The amounts of each nutrient depends on the stage of the growth. Sometimes, additives and supplements are used that include the chemicals magnesium and silica. The next consideration is the pot or bucket, hard or soft fabric pots are available.
Use Hydroponics
Many considerations when you use hydroponic as your grow medium. Hydro is soil-less and can be made from several types of materials, including, coco coir, Rockwool, and other soil-less materials.
What other grow Equipment is necessary
Whether you grow indoors or outdoors, other equipment is necessary. What else will you need? You will need a space. If indoors there are grow tents which are quite popular. The tents are reflective, light-proof and temperature controlled.
These spaces will need to blinged out in lights.LED grow lights are the most energy efficient and produce less heat. Heat can be a problem of environment if not controlled. LED grow light can be found in any configuration and wattage, any price range and made great. You get what you pay for in this category.
Oscillating fans help create proper ventilation and air exchange. Good, frequent air flow is necessary. Testing devices and measurement tools are necessary. Air thermometers, humidity gauges, ph testers, timers for lights, CO2 set up, stakes and mesh for tall plants. Your particular space will have its own requirements that you will learn wiht experience.
What is left to do
Finally, make sure your grow space remains clean and bug free. Use a broom and sweep often. Defoliate your plants to create air flow and better growth. Check your grow daily. Check out the research on medical cannabis.