Got seeds. Now what?

3 Things You Need To Get Started Growing Once You Have Seeds

Congratulations on making the decision to grow your own!

You've gotten seeds, and committed to the grow (or backed into a purchase and now you're considering it more seriously).

Now what?

What do you need to go from holding a pack of seeds to harvesting a bunch of weed?

When I popped my first seeds, I had a tiny clay pot and some "organic" soil, both purchased at Home Depot. I was far from "invested" in the grow. But, a few weeks later, I faced the same question you face:

What do I need to start growing?

Your Next 3 Steps After Buying Seeds:

1. Pick a Space

2. Plan Your Usage

3. Get Your Supplies

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Step 1: Pick a space:

• Won't need to be moved

• Stable ambient environment

• Easy access

• Good place to start: 2x4 or 4x4

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Step 2: How will you use the space?

• You're growing from seed, so you need at least one grow "space"

• To keep it simple, I'd start with one tent and one light

• But you could also split your space in 2 for 2 controlled areas (2x 2x2s or 2x 2x4s)

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Step 3: Get Your Supplies

Things you'll need:

• Seeds: For beginners, I suggest feminized autoflowers (unless you’re committed to some extra learning). I’m currently running ETHOS Genetics, Terp Fountain Genetics, Archive Seed Bank, Lovin In Her Eyes, CSI Humboldt, and Dominion Seed Co.

• Tent: 2x4’ and 4x4’ are great tents to start out with. You can always go bigger, but the work scales with the size of the space. I love Gorilla Grow Tents, but AC Infinity has some promising option, and Amazon tents do great for starting out.

• Light: Get a light designed for your space. LED’s are great for tent growers. Find something with the same footprint as your tent. I recommend a 200-300W for 2x4’s and 500-750W for 4x4’s. You’ll also want an outlet timer so that you don’t have to manually turn the lights on and off. I use HLG LED’s but AC Infinity is a solid second option, and there are plenty of others as well. Just make sure it’s ok to use in a tent (and not going generate too much heat for a small confined space).

• Inline Fan: This will be pulling air out of your tent (and in a big system, you’ll also have a second fan intaking fresh air). For a 2x4, a 4” fan would do, but for a 4x4, you’ll need a 6”. I use AC Infinity for most of my HVAC needs (the quiet operation and ability to control fan speeds are a big plus).

• Internal Fan(s): This helps with circulation inside the tent. A 6” Desktop fan is a great place to start for a small tent. Add 2-3 for a 4x4. These can be any brand, just avoid ones with LED lights on them (indicating they are plugged in, for example, as these can affect your plants).

• Ducting: This is what carries your air in and out of your tent. You want the same size as your inline fan (4” or 6” for a 2x4 or 4x4). Any old ducting brand will work.

• Carbon Filter: This is your odor control. You want the size to match the ducting (4” or 6”). You also want to make sure the filter is big enough to handle the smell of your grow. I like Can-Tech for my big carbon filter. But I also have some no-name 4” ones off amazon that have held their own.

• Container: This is what you grow in. I recommend 5-gallon fabric pots for flowering if you have the space. If you’re starting with autos, start in your final container (vs transplanting from a smaller pot). I like Smart Pots.

• Saucers: Get a size that corresponds with the diameter of your pot. (12-16” should work, but double-check your pot’s dimensions). Again, doesn’t really matter. I believe mine are Hydrofarm, but as long as its the right size and durable, you’ll get more than your fair share of use out of it.

• Risers: (Optional but recommended) This is a small plastic piece that lifts your container out of the saucer. Risers avoid stagnant water sitting at the bottom of your pot, and allow proper drainage. No name risers are totally ok.

• Soil: For beginners, I suggest starting with soil for a variety of reasons (buffers moisture, more room for error). I like using an organic soil with low nutrient content if I’m adding nutrients with my feeds so that I don’t over feed. I use Roots 707 soil blend.

• Nutrients: For beginners, I suggest something easy. A single application soil amendment is a great option (once it’s in the soil, just add water). You can also find recipes online for amending your soil for more natural “just add water” approaches. Or, if you prefer, bottled nutrients work well, too. I currently use GrowDots for my Autos and New Millenium for my Photos.

Note: You’ll probably want a surge protector. Not required, but never a bad idea.

Now, you've got a space to pop those seeds, a plan for growing them, and you've got a list of everything you need to get started.

What're you waiting for?