Fast Buds | Amnesia Zkittlez & Gorilla Cookies | First time growing Autoflowers

My First Steps into Growing: A Beginner's Journey As I embarked on the adventure of growing my first plants, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The thought of nurturing life from seed to harvest was exhilarating, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had zero experience. To guide me through the initial stages, I turned to a resource that seemed both trustworthy and approachable: the YouTube channel Home Grow TV. The first critical step in the process was germination. This is where everything begins—the moment when potential is unlocked, and a seed starts its journey to becoming a plant. Knowing how vital this stage is, I decided to follow the instructions as closely as possible. For my first grow, I chose to cultivate three Amnesia Zkittlez plants and one Gorilla Cookies plant, all from Fast Buds. The seeds, small and full of potential, needed careful handling to ensure successful germination. As advised, I began by soaking the seeds in a glass of water for 18 to 24 hours. This initial soak was meant to kickstart the germination process by softening the seed shell, making it easier for the taproot to emerge. Mindful of the recommendations from various growers, I wore gloves throughout the process. This was something I noticed several experienced cultivators recommended to avoid contaminating the seeds with oils or bacteria from my hands. After soaking, I moved on to the next step: the cotton pad method. I prepared two cotton pads, lightly spraying each with a maximum of three mists from a spray bottle to ensure they were damp but not overly wet. Following the guidance I’d gathered, I carefully placed the Fast Buds seeds on one pad, leaving enough space between them. Once positioned, I covered the seeds with the second pad, effectively sandwiching them between the two layers of moist cotton. To create the ideal environment for germination, I placed the cotton pad sandwich inside a Ziplock bag. Here’s where the process required a bit of nuance: the bag needed to be no more than 75% closed. This allowed for slight air exchange, which is crucial for the seeds to breathe. Before sealing the bag, I gave it two final sprays of water, ensuring the interior stayed humid without becoming waterlogged. With everything set up, I placed the bag in a warm, dark location, eager to see the results. The instructions suggested that I could expect to see the first signs of life within a few days, but the anticipation made those hours feel much longer. Despite my lack of experience, I felt a growing connection to these tiny seeds. They represented a new beginning, not just for them, but for me as well. This was the start of a journey filled with learning, patience, and, hopefully, a rewarding harvest. Conclusion: The Beginning of a Green Journey As I waited for those first tiny roots to emerge, I realized that this journey was just beginning. Every step, every new leaf, would bring its own challenges and rewards. The thrill of seeing these seeds sprout would soon give way to the excitement of watching them grow, week by week, into robust plants. This first chapter in my grow diary has been a lesson in patience and preparation, but the real adventure is only just beginning. I’m eager to share each phase of this process, from seedling to harvest, and all the highs and lows in between. Stay tuned as we move from these early stages into the critical weeks ahead, where the real work—and the real growth—begins. The journey of these Amnesia Zkittlez and Gorilla Cookies plants is just starting, and I invite you to follow along as we see what kind of green wonders we can cultivate together. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Update: [Date: 30.08.2024] Quick update: After 24 hours in the cotton pads, all the seeds successfully germinated! The roots were still quite short, so I decided to give them another 24 hours. After a total of 48 hours in the pads, kept in complete darkness, the roots really took off, growing to an impressive 2-3 centimeters. Once they reached that length, I carefully planted the seeds in their respective pots. I made sure to wear gloves again, as recommended by many growers, to avoid any contamination. I took extra care to create shallow holes, ensuring the seeds weren’t planted too deep. I then loosely covered them with the surrounding soil, making sure not to pack it down too tightly, so the seedlings wouldn’t be hindered in their growth. After all the seeds were in place, I lightly misted the soil directly around the seeds using a pump spray bottle, making sure to avoid overwatering while keeping the area gently moist. Next, I set up the CLOUDFORGE T3 from AC Infinity, a humidifier system that I placed directly inside the grow tent. This system will help maintain the ideal environment for the young plants. As a complete beginner, I decided to use the automated settings provided by the AC Infinity app, which made things much easier. The only adjustments I made were to reduce the exhaust and circulation fans, since they don’t provide much benefit at this early stage and could lower the humidity too much. Currently, the planted seeds are kept at a temperature of around 24°C (+/- 1°C) with a humidity level of approximately 80%. They are under a light schedule of 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness, giving them the perfect conditions to continue growing strong. I’ve heard from various other growers that autoflowers can also thrive under a full 24 hours of light during the early stages, or even a 20/4 light schedule. However, I’m still a bit unsure and have decided to stick with the settings provided by AC Infinity for now. Now, it's just a matter of time before the first signs of these plants breaking through the soil. I’m looking forward to seeing how they progress in the coming days!