Stages of Growth

          Before you start growing our Legacy Seeds, you must obtain the right tools and equipment to do so. There are many options when it comes down to it, but here are the basics.

          As Midwest Legacy Seeds is located in the Minnesota, we do not have a long outdoor growing season.  If your state does have more stable, warm, sunny weather, growing outdoors may be a much more cost-effective alternative.

          There are many aftermarket grow-tent options, and plenty of DIY guides to creating your own tents. 

In short, what you need out of your tent is the following:

• Ability to retain/dissipate heat (depending on climate, tent size, and grow light)
• Ability to retain moisture (must be constructed of an outer non-permeable material
• Must have an access location to water, trim, and perform other maintenance tasks
• Must be tall enough to grow your desired cannabis (watch out autoflower growers!)
• Must have a hole for an exhaust and intake vent to intake oxygen and dispose of CO2
• Must have holes for any necessary electronic needs
• Must be light-impermeable (Must for photoperiod strains)

In addition to the tent, here are other necessary pieces of equipment you will need to start your grow:

• Humidity monitoring device (Automatic or manual)
• Grow Light
• Pots/Grow Bags/ Seedling Grow Cups
• Soil/Soilless Mixture/Coco Coir (Growing Substrate)
• Ph neutral water (Never use softened water. Use ph balancing kits as necessary)
• Growing nutrients 
• Ventilation fans (Interior circulatory fan as well as an exhaust fan)
• Straps for mounting equipment

Some optional growing equipment based on your setup and environment can include:

• Humidifier/Dehumidifier
• Growing Computer
• Automatic watering (Reservoirs, pumps, water basins)
• Intake fan
• Exhaust fan filter (to contain smell)

          The right choice of grow light isn't always the most expensive, or the strongest. What is important about your choice in grow light is that it delivers the right type of light, at the right strength.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) Grow Lights:

Pros-

• Energy efficient (lower electricity bill)
• Runs cooler than other lighting types
• Full-spectrum adjustability (Model dependent)
• Light intensity adjustability

Cons-

• Higher cost
• Poor quality/reliability issues (there are many low quality LED manufacturers, always do your research)

HPS (High-Pressure Sodium) & MH (Metal Halide) Grow Lights:

Pros-

• HPS- Great for strong intensity red & orange spectrum light
• MH- Great for strong intensity blue spectrum light
• Have been used for years in high-yield setups
• Cost-effective

Cons-

• Both lighting types produce immense heat, and require adequate cooling and ventilation
• Not energy efficient due to energy lost as heat
• Bulbs degrade overtime (12 month average lifespan)

Fluorescent Grow Lights:

Pros-

• Low heat output compared to HPS & MH
• Most cost-effective option
• Enough intensity for seedlings, clones, and smaller grow spaces

Cons-

• Low maximum intensity (poor for large plants and high yields)
• Must be placed in close proximity to plants
• Shorter lifespan than LEDs

          Growing mediums have a big impact on how you care for your plants. Here are three time-tested options loved by the growing community

Soil:

Pros-

• "Beginner Friendly"
• Contains bioavailable nutrients right off-the-bat
• Supports higher levels of microbial life which assist with nutrient uptake
• Requires less frequent watering compared to other mediums

Cons-

• Slower growth rates than other mediums
• Prone to pests, mold, and fungi growth
• Compaction over time can reduce oxygen availability
• Due to high water retention, harder to "fine tune" nutrients

Soilless Growth Medium:

Pros-

• Excellent aeration and drainage
• Lower water retention allows for more precision with nutrients
• Direct nutrient uptake leads to faster plant growth
• Lower risk of pests and disease than soil

Cons-

• Requires more frequent monitoring and watering with as no nutrients come from the growth medium itself
• Higher level of technical knowledge needed to diagnose plants and adjust nutrient balance
• Some types of soilless mediums require rinses or PH balancing
• Can be more expensive than soil

Coco Coir

Pros-

• High water retention while still providing good aeration (Best of both worlds)
• Naturally resistant to pests and disease
• Reusable & often source sustainably
• Faster growth than soil due to root aeration

Cons-

• Does not contain nutrients so requires frequent monitoring (similar to soilless)
• Can contain toxic levels of salt, requiring pre rinsing prior to use
• Less nutrient flexibility (High water retention similar to soil)

          Growing nutrients are essential for almost all types of grows. The type of nutrient, and the concentration of nutrients you need will largely depend on your growing medium. 

          Nutrients come in either a solid form which must be dissolved in water, or a concentrated aqueous form that must be diluted with water. Solid fertilizers are often more cost effective, while liquid are generally easier to use. Most at home growers should stick to liquid nutrients as the cost difference is negligible for smaller grows. 

          There are many options for liquid nutrients, so read reviews to see what brands work best with your growing medium.