I can use some advice for my next grow.

WickedMichelle · Jul 3, 2025

So here is my plan.......

As mentioned in another post or two, I need to use up some seeds. So I am going to do a grow with 1 gal pots instead of the 5 gal I have been using.

I was planning on all autos as I need them to finish at the same time..... but I was wondering if I can mix this grow with autos and photos. I have some photos I would like to grow and some of the autos are extremely fast so unless I grow the same auto strain on all pots, my time is going to vary anyway. One seed is an F1 from Royal Queen that boasts a 60 day harvest.

The grow stage is not so much of a concern. The autos will be fine on an 18/6 schedule until the photos are ready for a 12/12. My issue is the drying stage of the grow. I have only the one tent. So far I have been growing 4 plants.... all different strains but I use the grow times provided by the seed company to time my harvest. Then I hang to dry in the tent.

I need to find a different method of drying that will not ruin the quality of the buds other than hanging in my tent. Or find a way to make a space in the tent to place the harvested plant where I can isolate them from the grow light.

Any suggestions that work are greatly appreciated.

Also..... thoughts on reusing soil? I was thinking I am spending a lot on new soil every grow. I was going to sift out and reuse the soil from this last grow and just water with nutrients from the get go. Is this a bad idea?

NairnM16 · Jul 3, 2025

I wouldn’t dry in the same tent your growing in

The light will degrade the terpenes of the flower

Best trying to set up a wee area somewhere completely darkness

Nd try to keep the humidity about 60/62%
Nd the temp around 60/65f

The slower the dry the better,

As the plant is still photosynthesising even after the chop the slower dry is better for evaporation any gasses nd tht trapped in the flower,

I dry for around 10/14 days chops them when the stems are dry but still sticky buds

Then I’ll go on to cute for atleast 2 weeks the longer the better as your just getting the rest of the gasses out,

Keeping the humidy in my tubs around 50/62 stops the flower from fully drying out nd keeps the smell and taste fresh for months

You will be able to dry in the same tent but you’ll only degrade the taste nd smell of the plants tht are drying, nd the increased heat in the tent will dry them to quick in my opinion,

LoveGrowingIt · Jul 3, 2025

WickedMichelle said:
I was wondering if I can mix this grow with autos and photos.

I've noticed that the flowering time for autos and photos is similar unless there are sativa phenotypes in the mix. So, it's the vegetation time that needs to be considered, and that's not manageable with autos. Thus, coordinating finish time would require flipping the photos to flower when the autos decide it's time. I've never tried it, but I've read that autos can flower with the same light/dark durations as photos.

WickedMichelle said:
I need to find a different method of drying

That's the answer if coordinating harvests isn't feasible, and it wouldn't be easy. We've dried plants in a closet. I once thought about using one of those tall wardrobe boxes used for moving. The options depend on how much space you have. Darkness is important for drying because it deactivates chlorophyl, which is a flavor reducer.

WickedMichelle said:
Also..... thoughts on reusing soil?

I've been reusing soil for years. It's doable, but not without some challenges. I figure, however, that if ordinary gardeners and farmers can reuse soil, so can we. Getting the nutrients right from one grow to the next involves some guesswork but is easier when using organic nutrients. A problem I encountered recently was the slow acidification of the soil that gradually slowed growth and reduced yield. Adding a pH buffer fixed it. The consistency and water retention of soil changes over time as organic matter in the soil decomposes and becomes compost, so routinely adding perlite helps.

Galgrows · Jul 3, 2025

I hang them in a closet and also string twine corner to corner in a bedroom. Don't over complicate your abilities it's your personel home grow not a commerical grow. I keep close tabs on the drying and i cure longer if needed in brown paper bags. I've reused my indoor soil i keep it sealed in a big tote. And i amended it with more worm castings an perilite.

WickedMichelle · Jul 3, 2025

NairnM16 said:
The slower the dry the better,

This last harvest was a long dry time. 16 days for one plant.

LoveGrowingIt said:
but I've read that autos can flower with the same light/dark durations as photos.

I have seen videos saying that autos can go on a 24 hr light schedule.... but I wouldn't. But I would assume keeping them on an 18/6 until the photos were ready to flip would be ok.

Galgrows said:
Don't over complicate your abilities it's your personel home grow not a commerical grow.

Getting a good flavor is hit or miss atm. Some buds are absolutely awesome and some taste like they came from a well diggers ass.

The closet may be an option.... maybe a cardboard box might be a better solution. Hmmmmm,

GeorgeJ10 · Jul 3, 2025

WickedMichelle said:
So here is my plan.......

As mentioned in another post or two, I need to use up some seeds. So I am going to do a grow with 1 gal pots instead of the 5 gal I have been using.

I was planning on all autos as I need them to finish at the same time..... but I was wondering if I can mix this grow with autos and photos. I have some photos I would like to grow and some of the autos are extremely fast so unless I grow the same auto strain on all pots, my time is going to vary anyway. One seed is an F1 from Royal Queen that boasts a 60 day harvest.

The grow stage is not so much of a concern. The autos will be fine on an 18/6 schedule until the photos are ready for a 12/12. My issue is the drying stage of the grow. I have only the one tent. So far I have been growing 4 plants.... all different strains but I use the grow times provided by the seed company to time my harvest. Then I hang to dry in the tent.

I need to find a different method of drying that will not ruin the quality of the buds other than hanging in my tent. Or find a way to make a space in the tent to place the harvested plant where I can isolate them from the grow light.

Any suggestions that work are greatly appreciated.

Also..... thoughts on reusing soil? I was thinking I am spending a lot on new soil every grow. I was going to sift out and reuse the soil from this last grow and just water with nutrients from the get go. Is this a bad idea?

Mixing autos and photos can work, especially since you’re okay running 18/6 until the photos are ready to flip. Just keep in mind that timing the harvest will be trickier, but doable. For drying, you could use a small DIY drying box or repurpose a closet with a fan and carbon filter to maintain airflow and temp. As for reusing soil, it’s totally fine as long as you amend it—sift out roots, add fresh compost or coco, and supplement with nutrients early. Many growers do it to save cost. Just monitor plant health closely. You're thinking smart!

Reedster · Jul 5, 2025

WickedMichelle said:
So here is my plan.......

As mentioned in another post or two, I need to use up some seeds. So I am going to do a grow with 1 gal pots instead of the 5 gal I have been using.

I was planning on all autos as I need them to finish at the same time..... but I was wondering if I can mix this grow with autos and photos. I have some photos I would like to grow and some of the autos are extremely fast so unless I grow the same auto strain on all pots, my time is going to vary anyway. One seed is an F1 from Royal Queen that boasts a 60 day harvest.

The grow stage is not so much of a concern. The autos will be fine on an 18/6 schedule until the photos are ready for a 12/12. My issue is the drying stage of the grow. I have only the one tent. So far I have been growing 4 plants.... all different strains but I use the grow times provided by the seed company to time my harvest. Then I hang to dry in the tent.

I need to find a different method of drying that will not ruin the quality of the buds other than hanging in my tent. Or find a way to make a space in the tent to place the harvested plant where I can isolate them from the grow light.

Any suggestions that work are greatly appreciated.

Also..... thoughts on reusing soil? I was thinking I am spending a lot on new soil every grow. I was going to sift out and reuse the soil from this last grow and just water with nutrients from the get go. Is this a bad idea?

Yes, I reused my soil as well…. just be careful on adding your nutrients go light at first cause there is still going be nutrients in the soil.
i’ve just about cycled out all the soil between my three tents. And I’m switching to Coco only. As far as drying goes and curing, I use my tent. Keep it completely dark and at 60° to 65° 60% humidity for 9 to 12 days. Just depends on where you live and your environment like I’m in the desert so it only took nine days.

I can use some advice for my next grow.

I can use some advice for my next grow.

WickedMichelle

NairnM16

LoveGrowingIt

Galgrows

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