420Captain first grow. How are they doing ?

ChairmanFester · Apr 21, 2026

Most people water out the last week, I do. I'll tell you when you get shots, so I'm not talking about old pictures. But preference too, I go for enough of a middle ground that I don't lose all the white tips and the "interestingly stoned" side. I already don't want to do a lot so couch lock is not my goal.

420Captain · Apr 21, 2026

Close up pic's, day 43
Edit : sherbert queen close ups

Tent 2 day 26

trygrowup · Apr 21, 2026

Looking good Captain.

Don't know about those drying racks but i suppose they're good enough.
There are lots of ways to dry so just pick one that fits the size of your harvest.
I have 4 plants so i just hang the trimmed the branches somewhere and i should get better at it. They always dry too fast.

And don't you think it looks a bit better leaf vise in tent 2 than first tent did at that point? I think but maybe it's just me.

420Captain · Apr 21, 2026

trygrowup said:
Looking good Captain.

Don't know about those drying racks but i suppose they're good enough.
There are lots of ways to dry so just pick one that fits the size of your harvest.
I have 4 plants so i just hang the trimmed the branches somewhere and i should get better at it. They always dry too fast.

And don't you think it looks a bit better leaf vise in tent 2 than first tent did at that point? I think but maybe it's just me.

I completely agree with you!
I hope the next round goes better.

I had hoped to hang the plants to dry, but they won't fit in the small drying tent

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

Captain i've been thinking

or at least i think i did.
Can i make one or two suggestions for your setup?
It's nothing that hasn't been mentioned before i think, but i think it would make your work less with your setup.

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

Let me start by comparing your pots and mine.

In a way how i do, make my soil act different than yours.
I got evaporation from the bottom and the top but i have a lid on my big pots to restrict the top evaporation. That helps to keep the soil more even moist.

Now you got fabric pots that have even evaporations all around.
On the sides and the top, but not the bottom, where it tends to be most wet and longest time to dry out.
And you feel that especially in the start when the plant is small and hasn't started drinking much.
I think by putting the pot on a grill or something as someone suggested, would make it more easy for you. At least to start with.
I'm pretty sure that will make your soil more even moist, meaning it can use more of the soil, and i think also make it more fast to water them.

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

trygrowup said:
Can i make one or two suggestions for your setup?

Sir, this is a forum, you just shout your suggestion, even when no one has asked for it.

I could make some covers for the soil. i have some of that radiator reflector stuff.
I actually did this with my grow long time ago, but just with paper.

Edit ;
Sorry, I thought you meant to cover the top, but you meant to put the pots on something. I get it now, sorry!

Now we talking about soil. There is a big difference between my 2 tents that annoys me..

Tent 1 the soil is real hard/compact. When i water them, it takes a bit of time before they absorb it.
While tent 2 the soil feels fine, airy, and when watering the aborb it, no problem.
I'm wondering if my watert till runoff in the beginning fucked it up ?

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

Without getting in too deep i think the topcover could help too on your pots. To keep the most of the soil in the optimal moist range.
By that way, if you're lucky you can water when the very top of the soil is dry and rest is only moist.
Only thing maybe the gnats like it too much? But then again my 11 day dryback the gnats had a party anyway.

About the soil in tent 1 and 2.
I feel there is a connection to a hard start and the condition of the soil later. It tends to compact the soil as you say. Although the compact soil can get better as the plant and roots grows. It's just not optimal and makes watering harder.
What i changed this time was i added around 25 % clay peppeles and it seems to help but it's still early to say, but watering is a bit different, but deffo much faster.
But i'm in plastic pots so there's that too.

Edit: and the runoff is not needed if you're not using salts i think and i don't remember if you do.
Other vice the runoff is more to know how much water i give them and i only need some drops

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

I definitely had a difficult start with watering tent 1.
The runoff was to measure its EC and pH at the time, following advice from here.

I keep hoping that watering goes better in the next round. But I will definitely look for something under the pots in the next round. And possibly auto-water pots.

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

Yeah that's the difference. The way we feed. I don't need much monitoring and with time i think you also get better at guessing the needs and then need less monitoring.

And i don't remember but you are growing in the basement, right?

Edit.: maybe look at your soil and see if it looks like it needs more drainage. It helps but only as much as needed other vice the water runs through.

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

i agree, need to get used to it, and feel it out. But i'm a stoner, and always find a way to fuck it up

Yes, i have a room in the basement for the tents. But it's half underground.

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

What i meant. At a point you don't bother monitor because you already knows circa the result. Then you start automatic monitor less and only when in doubt in the end.
There's nothing you can do about about it. Stoner or not. In fact to be stoner can be an advantage.

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

I hope that moment comes soon

At the moment i'm trying to figure out whats the best way to keep temps and humidity under control.
When it's to hot in the grow room, i have to open a door, but not for to long, because then it's to cold

So right it's a bit scary to go away from home, but like my name says, i have a boat (someone says its not a boat but a ship) so i wanna go out soon and enjoy it and not stuck at home trying to everything under control. But i'ts a learning lesson now :-)

ChairmanFester · Apr 22, 2026

Automate is your option unless you have a friend willing to plant-sit. You can get fans to respond to humid and hot too, it will trigger them per the conditions you set.

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

Yeah, that would be awesome. Let me first financially recover from the last purchases

ChairmanFester · Apr 22, 2026

HA!
This isn't a hobby, it's a way to talk yourself out of money.
Although, that Vivosun total automation seed thing - $180 now, $500 later. Early investing can get you discounts but I wouldn't do the crowdfunding just as a donation. Plus I'm sure there is shop points bonuses.

420Captain · Apr 22, 2026

Sounds like a deal to me! I would click buy. But my wife is really going to murder me!

I already gave it a try with Spider farmer for a sponsorship, but they say they don't do sponsorships

trygrowup · Apr 22, 2026

420Captain said:
Sounds like a deal to me! I would click buy. But my wife is really going to murder me!
I already gave it a try with Spider farmer for a sponsorship, but they say they don't do sponsorships

Let AI make up some reasons for investment and present them to your wife.
Then when things go sideways and wife gets angry, you just get angry too and start blaming shitty AI.
Problem solved.