I’m making this for new growers, this is my method.
There are many others and probably better.
I have noticed some folks struggle and I though
I share my Budget method that imo achieves
Good results at least for my needs.
Don’t OVER think it, Don’t over love them
Hover but don’t pester your plants.
SOIL:
Foxfarm Happy frog, Ocean is good to.
Absolute must is this step, in your fabric pots
I hope your using fabric pots on racks because
Even if ya newb out and over water itwill drain out
So hard to over water like that.
Ok after you fill pots with soil them to bathroom
Or whatever stealth place you can , I use my tub
And I pour boiling hot water over them.
I mean soak them, they look like 5 gallon
Tea bags steaming.
It’s a pain in the ass but your sterizing your soil
You can add what I use, Alaska fish emulsions
When they cool to build the bacteria up again or another
Bacto product.
Doing this heads off potential pests and molds etc
Ok so we KNOW our soil is clear of pests,molds etc.
For 13 bucks you can get 10 5 gallon fabric pots
Not that you have to use all of them.
2 bags, 30 bucks worth of soil will fill 8
5 gallon pots nice.
So you spent 43 bucks so far.
Any ph water test kit, I use a fish tank one from pet.smart another 12 bucks.
YOU have to know the correct ph of your water
If acidic I use ph down, if your water is alkaline
Us ph up.
If neutral bump it down to 6.5ish
Always keep it there or close.
Ok so your soil is done, Got your water covered
We ready to Grow
Lights I will just say tons of options and choices
I use affordable lol Asian leds
I grow in a 6x2 closet or 2 of them.
Any decent 600 watt led will cover 2x2 of
and you can get a half foot more imo.
I spent approx 240.00 per closet on my Lights
You may need more or less , in fact at times i use a 300 and a 600 and a 300 and a 600, thats another killler aspect of LEDs is versatility not to.mention some of them.have lasted 4 years and compared to HID i would have spent anlot more on HID bulbs alone…Go led lol
If ya just getting your feet wet 1 600bwill cover
4 plants in 5 gallon pots for 80.00
Until you seem if growing is your thing,
Or just a once in while endeavor
Or ya hate it and at least you didn’t sink a ton
Into it because if your not a gardener
Doing this all the time will wear you out
Folks like me, plant folks it’s just natural
To us but the responsibility is there
You have to do your part anyway
A total of around 300 bucks approximately is what I invested and it was gradually done.
Fans and scrubber and all that’s fine and dandy if ya want, I use none.
That will add to your budget and seems optional
To me if your in legal land, don’t do what I do
I’m not in legal land but my shits together.
As i said i use Fox Farm so I have no need for veg nutes, you won’t either for Most strains.
I use a 3 tier feed system by FF
Open sesame for early flower
Beastie bloomz for mid flower
Cha Ching for late flower
40 bucks more on nutes approx.
That’s it unless I forgot something, again many many methods, many right ways to do this.
Anyone wants to add Budget methods of any kind or stage feel free to add.
Just remember don’t cross garden, from.outside
If you do pick up spider mites etc
Pre.mixed neam oil at Lowes 14 bucks, I remember
A few years ago it was 6 but I swear by it for most
Pests except Broad mites.
Over and over and over for years my method has worked for me on the Cheapo lol
But once your not new you can get your feet wet
With other methods that are excellent but a little
More skill dependent.
Good luck
Oh and seeds…you can buy them but if you hang around here you have more than you can grow for
Free especially if you KEEP your word when and if
You agree to grow them for someone and some folks don’t even care they are like Johnny pot seeds folks who bless anyone.
I use the simple paper towel method for germination
But chunking a few in GOOD seed starter works fine
Temps -SEEDS like warm Temps
Several methods to choose from.
In winter use a seed mat.
Happy gardens, perhaps there are some useful
Tid bits here I hope, forgive my stonedness.
One last important edit
I top at 3rd node
Opps Edit edit: Don’t over feed!!!
When I say feed during last week’s of flower i.mean
2 weeks before finish so all they get is water last 2
Weeks, FF directions say up until harvest, I choose to quit 2 weeks before but that’s a growers opinion.