Some n00b questions concerning outdoor growing

[cybergenesis]

HI.

 

I live in Adelaide, and I don't have much money for a grow op, but I can probably afford (just) the seeds (5) and cheap pots.

 

I want to start growing outdoors in the next 2 or so weeks (hopefully it won't take longer)

 

I have absolutely zero gardening or similar experience, and I am well known for having poor hands on practical skills

 

Nonetheless I am determined, because its that or give up weed for good because the habit is too expensive (actually don't like the word habit, its not very addictive).

 

Okay so what I do is:

 

Get the seeds, put them in a glass of water, wait a few days or so until they look different, then grab them and place them 2-3 cm beneath some nice soil in a pot, put them out in the sun, and water them every day (no idea how much- maybe 1 bucket of water?)

 

If anybody can expand on the above it would be appreciated.. Any nugget of information you give is useful.

 

Generally what % of seeds would survive the above process? (they will be feminized seeds)

 

Also I have a shed, which I will make light proof, so I can put them indoors (I read from 6pm to 6am) when the time is right, though I have no idea when that time is

 

I just want a simple guide for simple growing.. The guides I have looked at are many hundreds of pages long and highly technical.

[FDL]

Indoor is probably too expensive/complex for you at the moment. Just grow outdoor its probably not too late, just get sum pots put some rocks at the bottom, make sure there are enough holes for good drainage and put some potting mix in. Germinate the seeds in a glass of water like u said for 5 days or so then when they have a good solid root (the white tail thing) put them in the soil 1-2cm deep and make sure the soil remains damp (just stick ur finger a few centimetres in) after a few days they should sprout probably wont take longer than a week. Once thats done just keep watering and keep them in a spot where they get heaps and heaps of direct sunlight. They should be fine for a month or so just with occasional water every 2 or 3 days depending on how quickly it drains (remember keep the soil damp).

 

After this you may need extra help with fertilizers or nutrients but then again you may not. Just do the above and it should be fine.

 

Note: when they are germinating/seedlings you want it to be nice and humid so put the glass in a warm spot like ontop of the fridge or somethign.

[ADLpotter]

i'd personally wait til next year

 

 

that said if you're doing an outdoor grow I live in adelaide too and could help you out

[iatd]

I've read that fem seeds herm very easily when put under stress. Due to fem seeds coming from herm's themselves. Not a good idea for an inexperienced grower as you will do something to stress your plants, as i have done many times before. Especially not when there are many things you can do to increase your chances of regular seeds being female.

 

With my current grow out of 8 bagseeds all were female, i put it down to the right conditions as they are developing.

 

Just MO.

 

td

[shroomyshroom]

I've read that fem seeds herm very easily when put under stress. Due to fem seeds coming from herm's themselves. Not a good idea for an inexperienced grower as you will do something to stress your plants, as i have done many times before. Especially not when there are many things you can do to increase your chances of regular seeds being female.

 

With my current grow out of 8 bagseeds all were female, i put it down to the right conditions as they are developing.

 

Just MO.

 

td

 

 

mate a seed is predetermined as male or female b4 you even put it in the medium no condition dictates what gender it becomes... but kudos for getting for getting %100 females

[iatd]

This is a quote from subcool of TGA subcool author of 'Dank; The Quest for the Very Best Marijuana A Breeders Tale'

 

A very experience breeder of from what i can see. Some super weed.

 

"A seed is neither Male nor female but environmental conditions can have a huge effect. If you will germinate your seeds between 70-80 degrees you will have a better ratio of females. Warmer temperatures tend to produce more male plants."

Edited January 9, 2010 by iatd

[cybergenesis]

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry about the delay getting back here...

 

A couple of other questions if anybody could be so kind...

 

Is it possible for the hot summer weather to "kill" my plants during any point in their development? Such as if its 44c or something? If its a risk, what precautions would you recommend?

 

Is there any reason why these plants won't develop reasonably normally at this time of the year?

 

Once a seed has germinated and is placed in the soil do most typically survive to emerge above the soil? Or would you often expect casualties? If so, how many typically?

 

On another note, when you find a male plant, and trim it down, are the leaves worth keeping? If they are a lot less potent than developed female leaves then its not worth it, but if they are normal strength, might keep them for cooking if their is enough.

[gothash]

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry about the delay getting back here...

 

A couple of other questions if anybody could be so kind...

 

Is it possible for the hot summer weather to "kill" my plants during any point in their development? Such as if its 44c or something? If its a risk, what precautions would you recommend?

 

Is there any reason why these plants won't develop reasonably normally at this time of the year?

 

Once a seed has germinated and is placed in the soil do most typically survive to emerge above the soil? Or would you often expect casualties? If so, how many typically?

 

On another note, when you find a male plant, and trim it down, are the leaves worth keeping? If they are a lot less potent than developed female leaves then its not worth it, but if they are normal strength, might keep them for cooking if their is enough.

 

When your outside it doesnt really matter about the heat, i live in QLD, we get some pretty hot days up here i remember a few years ago 40+ for 2 weeks in row, my plants that year had no concerns, just dont water during the heat of the day your plants wont like it, either late at night or early evening i find best, less water evaporation takes place and the more water your plants can suck up...happy growing dude..

[louise]

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry about the delay getting back here...

 

A couple of other questions if anybody could be so kind...

 

Is it possible for the hot summer weather to "kill" my plants during any point in their development? Such as if its 44c or something? If its a risk, what precautions would you recommend?

Only a problem for very young plants (seedlings) or plants sitting in black pots in the sun... that can fry roots which retards growth.

 

Is there any reason why these plants won't develop reasonably normally at this time of the year?

If you planted your seed when you originally posted, any strain should show some decent vegetative growth before flowering commences... if you are just planting now it depends on what strain is planted. An indica dominant will most likely go into flowering after it finishes the seedling stage producing very small plants, whereas a sativa will continue to gain size during flowering and present a much better harvest than an indica planted at this time of year.

 

Once a seed has germinated and is placed in the soil do most typically survive to emerge above the soil? Or would you often expect casualties? If so, how many typically?

In my experience, 99%. If you are doing this all outside then heat could reduce the survival rate of seedlings.

 

On another note, when you find a male plant, and trim it down, are the leaves worth keeping? If they are a lot less potent than developed female leaves then its not worth it, but if they are normal strength, might keep them for cooking if their is enough.

Depends on the strain, but I don't keep fan leaves for cooking of either male or female plants. Too much chlorophyll makes butter taste shitty, regardless of how often it is washed. Since I stopped smoking tobacco I've been using them as joint filler.