Using the Right Equipment the First Time
I’ve been of this Board for several years and have watched as many of the same topics about saving money and taking short cuts on equipment have come up over and over. There was another thread in the past few days that brought up the question of bottom heat and taking short cuts. I wanted to start this new thread because sometimes good points get buried in other threads.
Saving money and increasing your profit margin is something that everybody here is trying to do. In the business scheme, we are not unlike any other business. What I think happens with many of us (and I’m one of the top offenders) is that we believe since we are working from our own homes and property we can and should take short cuts, even at the risk of safety and common sense. Nothing is further from the truth in my opinion.
Since I’ve been raising plants I’ve found a million ways to do things. Some work, most don’t. Some products out there claim to be able to force plants to grow beyond what they are capable of doing. There are magic formulas to grow roots in 30 minutes while you watch and then there are the home spun creations for heating, cooling, buildings, greenhouses, etc. I will be the first to admit that I have tried many of those ideas and they have resulted in costly failure. Some of the cost was money and there was a lot of humiliation.
With that said, Mike has laid out a great system for successfully growing plants. The successful BYGers have followed that program and have offered free information. They have not tried to sell “new inventions.” They have based their advice on tried and tested industry practices. I encourage every new person here to learn from this board and stay away from miracle solutions found all over the internet. Go back and look at the simplicity of the DVD’s and books Mike sold you.
The process here is pretty simple and cost effective. For me it involves a good sand bed, a professional mist system, rooting hormone, lots of potting soil of your choice and pots. I can’t begin to tell you how much money I’ve spent on gadgets and gizmo to make this system faster and easier, but the reality is that most don’t work.
My advice, save and buy a mist system that is actually intend for misting. For $200 and your own labor, you have a reliable and efficient product that WORKS! Buy sand, buy pots, buy quality non-patented plants, buy potting soil. You can actually get everything you need to start a quality, professional, producing and profitable nursery for less than $500 if you follow Mike’s system and reliable advice from the board. Don’t waste money in the beginning with a greenhouse and bottom heat. You simply don’t need it. If you find a niche market later on in your nursery career, then you may need to purchase specialized professional grade equipment. When you do buy, then get professional, quality equipment for the purpose it was designed. But learn the basics of this business and industry first.
If you go beyond that I really believe you are wasting time and money. Just simply follow the system.
Jeff Stover
Leaburg, Oregon Zone 7b
Wet in winter, dry in the summer
Member Since April 2007 (maybe 2006)
jeff@istover.com
