So you’ve already read about seeds vs clones, indoor vs outdoor growing, NPK, and every other detail about growing, and now you’re ready to go for it.
If you haven't read up on all that yet, you can read about seeds and clones here, indoor vs outdoor growing here, and NPK explained here.
With so many options, choosing the best medium, nutrients, lights and other essentials can be overwhelming. Luckily, we deal with growers old and new every day at Cultivate.
First and foremost, before you walk into Cultivate asking all kinds of questions, get the important measurements. What is your room size? What is your room temperature? How high are your ceilings?
Preference, preference, preference
These kind of questions help us to know what lights, fans, filters, pots, etc. will best fit your space. Plus it definitely helps you to know your space so you can become familiar with temperature fluctuations, air flow and lack thereof.
The most important thing to remember, however, is that everything is preference. You can take a seed, throw it in some soil in a pot, water it every day, and get results. They might not be the best, but you will see yields. Our recommendations for beginners are meant to inform new growers of the absolute best way to start growing.
Ventilation
Growing smells; a lot. There’s no getting around it, but you can circumvent it or prevent it. With a carbon filter and fan, you can suck out the stench as it is absorbed through the carbon filter. There are filters big and small, so you’ll be able to find the best fit.
Temperature can also become an issue if you do not properly ventilate your grow or regulate airflow. Just having a stationary fan to keep the air in your room circulating can make a big difference. If you go for a carbon filter and fan combo, you will get the best results.
Media
For the home-grower trying to save a couple bucks, but who still wants a solid end product, soil is the way to go. It is the cheapest option, as well as the most forgiving to new growers. While it may not get the biggest yields or faster growth like hydroponics, it gives a new grower the chance to experiment with different soil mixes without worrying about instantly affecting your plants.
The most popular media in commercial agriculture is rockwool, which can be great to grow with. Although more technical and demanding of attention, rockwool can speed up the growth process exponentially. Because it doesn’t hold liquid nearly as long as soil, rockwool can be fed much more, for faster, bigger yields.
Nutrients
The simplest way to go in terms of nutrients is powders. Most are organic and just need to be sprinkled over your soil and watered in. When it comes to liquid nutrients, it’s all preference.
The reality is, most nutrients are almost exactly the same except for minute differences in how they are made, or additional chemicals added in by individual brands. We recommend to just pick a nutrient line that looks good to you, and stick with it.
You can easily just get an A and B nutrient product and grow from seed to harvest with just those. If you want to increase your flower size, smells, and flavors, using nutrient additives at certain stages can make a big difference. However, for a new grower, keeping track of feeding schedules and additives can be overwhelming, so don’t start throwing in additives unless you’re sure you can keep to the schedule.
Growing can be complex, in depth, and diverse; if you choose to make it that way. It can also be made as simple as throwing a seed or clone in some soil and watering it.
As a new grower, you need to decide how much effort, money, and time you want to put into your plants. There are multiple factors that play in to what products could be best for you. So just come into Cultivate or give us a call, and we’ll help get the setup that is perfect for you.