Alternating nodes are not an absolute in my experience. For instance, if one has the lighting set so that the sex begins to show, then one will get alternating nodes<<but then the lights can be changed (made to shine for longer periods of time) and the nodes will go back to their veg pattern.
Also I have grown many plants that do not double in heighth once budding begins. I imagine it varies depending on what lighting one is using if others have experienced the doubling that the above poster speaks of. and it may depend on strain but, like i said, I have yet to experience that phenomena.
and I agree that much leeway is available and that a personal feel can exist. like the above poster declares.
but,
I'd be happy to give you some measurements that have worked for me:
What I would like to know is where can I go to find out measurements as far as how much dirt should I put in my pot (I was going to use a four inch deep pot to start)
I like to use six inch pots; 6" x 6" actually. They max out in 3 1/2 weeks although you can bring a plant to maturity in them.
Fill the pot all the way
except leave enough room for the water you expect to be using. I like to pour one inch of water at a time. So that means for my six inch pot I will ultimately have five inches of soil medium in there.
After filling the pot with soil I drop the whole thing from a heighth of two inches or so and this helps tamp it a bit without actually having to put pressure on the soil it's self.
and then I water it good with plain water so that it is all settled in and no shifting will occur when we water it with the plant in there. after tamping you may need to put in an additional handful or two of dirt to bring it up to the level you want.
If you are trying to figure out how much soil and amendments to buy so that you will have enough to fill your pots, then you can try this conversion calculator:
http://www.compsoil.com/WHAT%20IS%20COMPSOIL.htm#How_much_will_I_need__
how much water should I use on the plants, how many times a day should they be watered
There are many schools of thought..and here is mine~ I use one inch of water at a time. That means enough water so that the entire surface of the soil would be covered one inch deep in fert water. And I do that at least twice each time I water. My plants love this because I have very porous soil.
<<<I cannot stress this enough...amendments are very important and That inch of water should drain down into the soil in less than a minute.
For babies I will water a bit different because they are barely able to stand and an inch of water can loosen all the root that they have and they may fall over. I water them slowly with a device which allows me to pour it on a tiny bit at a time. I like to use a turkey baster sometimes. And I may water
around them>>I mean that if it is a seed or a small baby, then I put the water out far enough so that it does not stand a chance of dislodging our sweetheart and at the same time the water must be close enough so that it seeps over and saturates the area where our sweetheart is.
and actually, I do not water seeds anymore, I used to but I have a better method now>>here is what I do>>I plant it after it has germinated, making sure to point the root end down and making sure to only (barely) firm the soil around it<<not the soil over it. I use little tools like a mini screwdriver or knife to help because it helps with this delicate work. After planting, I cover with a small piece of clear plastic (maybe as large as the pot or at least 4" x 4") and I put it on there very loose and I cover all the edges of the plastic with dirt so that no moisture escapes. There is plenty of moisture in there because I have watered the pot before doing this. So, then I put the light on it and when the little guy shows green, I take off the plastic<<be careful that you don't miss it, because it is a little difficult to see and besides that, sometimes the plastic can get fogged up and then it is Very difficult to see; but it should occur in 3 days or so. and care is needed when taking the plastic off too because the dirt on the edges of the plastic can slide onto our baby and squish/bend/misplace it. I usually brush the dirt from three sides of the plastic before raising it; I have gently used a small paintbrush and it works well.
so here is a schedule:
plants 1"-4" tall~ water 3x a day till soil is saturated
plants 4"-8" tall~ water 2x a day, two soakings each time
plants 8"-12" tall~ water once a day, two soakings each time
plants 12" and up~ water at least every other day
If you experiment, you will easily be able to see a difference between the ones that get enough fert water and the ones that don't<<there will be growth or there will not be. Herb plants should grow about an inch or more a day.
when can I switch from 24hr a day lighting to 12/12?
I like to let plants have darkness. I know that not all people do but I figger everyone needs rest. They also switch respiration at night and there may be value in that. I am experimenting with this but I have had success with 18 on.
Switching to 12 is one of the more variable situations you will encounter. I agree with the guy above when he said it can depend on the room that you have although I have never seen a plant double in heighth during budding. I think your decision may depend a bit on the light that you are using and the pot size and also how long you are willing to wait for bud.
light~ the plant will only grow bud on the branches/nodes that the light reaches. There is some value in letting the plant get big so that the cola and upper branches will give phat(ter) buds but there is a point when that yield will be maximized and that point will vary according to what kind of light you are using and pot size.
pot size~ The plant can only get so big if it's pot is only so big. So do not wait past the point when the pot is maxed out. And some people have had great success with adding a larger pot just as the budding starts. Active root growth during budding is highly valued now. and they have been experimenting with cutting off the bottom of medium pots and placing the pot atop the surface of the soil that fills a larger pot.
here is a basic plan that will yield well:
a 2 1/2 gallon pot and a 2' - 2' 1/2" tall plant is good to bud out
after I let them soak until the root starts to show
I have heard of people soaking but doing so for more than 24 hours is a danger I believe. They grow mold and need rinsing; they drown and it could be hard to keep warm (NOT hot). On the other hand, moist washcloths placed in a container which keeps them moist is a great medium. And if you put that whole thing on a TV then it should sprout in 24-36 hours. Some computers/DVD players are too hot and will fry your seeds. If they do not sprout in 36 hours, remove them from the heat because it is probably too hot and those seeds will probably still sprout.
A plastic bag works for this, so can a plate with an upsidedown plate on it. You could do a test run if you have few seeds. Construct your mini greenhouse with washcloth and let it sit for two to three days and see if it all stays moist.
Unheated seeds will take 7-10 days to sprout.