So - I’m an amateur. I’m still learning everyday and in no way am I suggesting others do as I do.
To me, this is a useful hobby for a lifelong toker but I am limited in the amount of time and effort I can donate.
My needs are easily met without utilization of any arcane methods or the latest greatest way to help plants do what they desperately want to do.
Simply put, I’m not growing for profit or maximum yield. I’m learning how to grow, experiencing different strains and getting high on what I supply and that’s my primary goal.
I have a certain stubbornness when it comes to technique, still using HID in some cases, but have a Mars Hydro FC-6500 LED that I’ve been using when I’m running a secondary space for breeding or quarantine. I’ve been reconsidering using it as my main hooptie, although the Mrs. believes they are inferior and tells me that every chance she gets.
Still using standard pots, but acknowledge honeycomb or octo pots or bags work very very well. I think my preference ATM for standard 7-gallon containers is really about sunk investment, ease of re-use and durability. I’ve tried bags and to me, I just don’t like how they recycle (or don’t). They are not easy to clean, and awkward.
I may switch to octopots or start using the honeycomb one day. Just happy where I am now.
Again, I’m not saying my methods are better or even good.
But they work for me. 
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This week our babies are growing very fast under a 600-watt MH in FF coco loco. They are receiving 18-hours of light daily and need watering every 3rd day.
Fert at 1/2 strength.
When watering or fertigating, I PH to about 5.9 and am seeing runoff at about 6.9. 
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Time for “up-pot” and round one of IPM neem treatment.
Triple action Neem via one-hand pressure sprayer.
7-gallon standards
Transplanting and IPM treatment are stressful for sure. This will slow them down to be certain.
Most folks would not do them in the same day. I’m pressed for time though and hope that combining both will result in a single stress period hopefully mitigated to some extent by lowered light and recuperation.
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First step - clean em up -
Soap, water, and disinfectant spray.
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Next step is preparing the coco loco.
I’ve been using Fox Farms products and have been mostly satisfied.
This may, however be my last run with that product (Coco Loco). It just seems too inconsistent. Two out of three bags were running around 7.2PH and the third was at 5.8. 🫤
I add fine powdered dolomite lime at a rate of 1-Tbs per gallon. I try to lightly wet and thoroughly mix. I also add about 20% more perlite for drainage and volume.
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I “ghetto sterilize” with boiling water, pouring about 2-gallons through the medium.
Then we leave the steaming heap alone for 12-24 hours to cool someplace away from bugs.
To speed up things and still ensure the soil is not still painfully warm and root-aggravating, I PH a gallon or two of cold water and run it through for good measure, and measure output PH to get an idea of where the medium is at.
7-qt oil drain pans from the dollar store work great for drainage
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We then take them outside and use the one-handed pressure sprayer to apply neem.
drying out after IPM treatment
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Now time to transplant!
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Back in place in the veg room. No HID. -just overhead blue spectrum LED for the next day part.
No, the hood is not connected to an external output.
The attached in-line fan helps to keep the bulb cool though and gets the warm air away from the tops. It’s not the most effective, but it works.
I bought the hood with a cab/tent in mind, but never ended up using it in such a space. 
It works well enough in my veg room
I’ve found in veg, one doesn’t really need a heck of a lot of light. 600-watts MH HID - (I know… I know……stuck in the past) works just fine with two-sides flat white and the other two open. No need for a cab here or additional reflective materials.
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That’s all for now! 
