Also, don’t be confused, it really is a lot easier as long as you keep it simple and follow the basics and DO NOT try to get too fancy on the first grow! Keep it simple. Here are some of my biggest mistakes that you should AVOID:
• Soil – Right up front, for the first grow, I’d recommend just buying Fox Farms soul and nutrients and following their feeding schedule. It eliminates all guesswork and 99% of your soil/nutrient problems. For soil, get FF Ocean Forest, and if you want to conserve soil/money, cut it in a 1:1 mix with perlite (but not necessary). If you do decide to go generic, I’ve had success with just plain old store bought topsoil and perlite in a 1:1 mix, or just regular potting soil in a 1:1 mix (definitely need perlite if it’s NOT FF!).
• Pots – At least 3-gallon grow bags (what I use), or 5-gallon buckets with plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Be sure and leave 1-2" between the top of the pot and the top of the soil, I filled one too full once and it spilled over every time I watered it.
• Nutrients – Fox Farms has a trio with a feeding schedule that makes nutes super easy! You just need the “Big 3” though, they sell all sorts of additional supplements and nutrients, but that’s for more advanced stuff, and I don’t think most people mess with those much. Or if you are getting your own brand of fertilizer, NO NUTES for the first 2 weeks, then phase in (start at half recommended strength) the “N” fertilizer (heavy nitrogen, big number in the “N” part of the “N-P-K”) for the vegetative period, take a week’s break when you switch to the flower/bloom period, then switch over to phasing in the “P” fertilizer (heavy phosphorous, big number in the “P” part of the “N-P-K”). FEED ONLY ONCE A WEEK!! And just water in between feedings as necessary (don’t overwater, twice a week is plenty, and don’t drown them!).
• Lights – Whatever you use (besides sunlight), watch the height very carefully, especially early on when the plant can grow 1-2" overnight! I always add an inch, I use LEDs, 18" is recommended distance from plants, I go 19-20". This is to avoid light burn.
Watch the tips of the leaves, if you’re using too much fertilizer, they’ll be the first parts to turn brown with nutrient burn. Make small adjustments when you see a problem and allow 3-5 for signs of any changes you make (you can’t fix nutrient burn overnight, but it doesn’t have to kill your grow if you treat it).
I’m sure there’s a lot Im leaving out, but those are the big ones, soil, nutes, and light. If you get some ILGM White Widow autos and follow that basic setup, I’m sure you’ll have a fine supply of Kind in about 3-4 months!
Oh yeah, last big tip. Do NOT try and smoke your weed early!! I know, it’s EXTREMELY tempting to want to cut-and-smoke, but weed is like wine, it needs to “ferment” (cure) to get all the THC fully matured. It takes at LEAST 10-14 days of drying curing before you get to full potency. I’ve read a 30-day cure is best for max potency.
GOOD LUCK!!