First ever grow - Autos outdoors UK

[Misiek1313]

Hi guys,
I'm posting this to ask for some expert opinions on whether I'm doing the right thing - there's a massive amount of info out there and a lot contradicts each other so I'm a bit confused.

I've purchased Auto BubbleGum from 00 seeds and also got Photoperiod Northern Lights. I've planted 1 seed of each in pellets and few days after germination I plan to transplant them into 8L fabric pots - these will consist a mixture medium I've made myself: bottom half is a mix of mostly compost (westlake gro-sure vegetable growing compost), some fish, blood & bone, perlite, some standard soil and the top half is a mix of coco coir and perlite. I plan to keep them on a South facing window sill until maybe 2-4 weeks old, then slowly take them outside (hopefully weather permitting). With the Auto BubbleGum I'm planning to keep it in the same pot to avoid transplant shock but with the Northern Lights I plan to transplant it after a few weeks outside to a bigger fabric pot.

I'm only growing 1 of each as I am going for holiday for a week at the start of June and in case something happens I won't lose my entire grow. I want to plant 2 or 3 of the Auto BubbleGum mid-June and potentially grow them straight outdoors in larger pots (16L).

Will I need to feed and how? Currently I have fish, blood & bone and want to purchase worm castings this week. Ideally I want to feed organically.
From what I read the Autoflower shouldn't really need much nutriets however I want to maximise my yields as I'm growing outside.

I only want to grow recreationally and for personal use but I want to give the best treatment and get the best yields I can, realistically what can I expect with this plan and what can I improve?

Thanks very much!

[Herbitual]

Love an outdoor grow - good luck with it.

Not sure I'd do that soil/coco split - what's yer thinking there?

[Wags]

Was just about to ask the same. I'd go all soil if it were me mate. Sounds like u have the rest covered tho.

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[Valentina]

That half-half coco at top, soil at bottom thing is loosely listed in Mephisto's grow instruction sheet, I saw it on their US site and happened to read it last night. I am mostly neutral about it though am not in a rush to try.

Fish Blood and Bone works fine for me and I am sure people on allotments up and down the country would agree.

I am a bit unsure about worm castings but as you're growing outdoors, that changes the game a bit.

Just bear in mind the plant is called "weed" for good reasons. More problems arise from over feeding and over watering than letting nature be herself.

Just IMO but I would look at snail/slug prevention, as well as wild critters like rabbits and what not.

Good luck with it!!

[Misiek1313]

Thanks for the replies! I've read about the great conditions of coco for young plants hence the coco/perlite top soil and compost below. Reading from your advice I might just try 1 plant in the coco/soil mix and another one in standard compost + soil and compare the results.
Following up on the feeding how often will I need to sprinkle some fish, blood and bone on the top soil ?
Thanks again

[Valentina]

Following up on the feeding how often will I need to sprinkle some fish, blood and bone on the top soil ?

Somewhere between whatever the box says, and whatever the plant says.

I used to use Fish Blood and Bone, liquid seaweed during veg, then this stuff for bloom:



The veggie feed has low Nitrogen, and going by the label, totally safe for stuff grown for consumption.

[Misiek1313]

Thank you very much.
Looking forward to this grow.

Also does anyone have any ideas of how to stop a domestic cat from eating the plant whilst indoor?
I've tried growing once before with a seed from a bag of 100 from AliExpress - the seedling looked great on the window sill but was unfortunately eaten by my cat ?? I'm planning to keep the door to the room shut but unfortunately sometimes it's impossible with kids in the house ??

Cheers!

[Valentina]

Look up "cat proofing christmas trees".

[Mac]

Thank you very much.
Looking forward to this grow.

Also does anyone have any ideas of how to stop a domestic cat from eating the plant whilst indoor?
I've tried growing once before with a seed from a bag of 100 from AliExpress - the seedling looked great on the window sill but was unfortunately eaten by my cat ?? I'm planning to keep the door to the room shut but unfortunately sometimes it's impossible with kids in the house ??

Cheers!

wrap some chicken wire around the pot and up, should keep em out

[Mr_Motion]

Can definitely agree with the slug comment above being a big threat in our lovely wet uk (pic was ealier this year, little f*cker chewed it and carried it out of the soil) so keep an eye on them!

But yeah i wouldnt stress too much as you cant control much of the outside conditions, also check some grow diaries etc of your strain as some autos do like more nutes than others...

Sent from space with lasers!