[Logan Draconia]

Ragnarok's Prices:

Tree Cuttings = 20,000 a stack
Tree Saplings = 49,800 a stack
Elemental Ores = 80,000 average per ore


Right to the point, with these prices, I'm not sure if it's worth it or not to go for ores. However, at the same time, I don't know if it's worth it to go for saplings. Out of 10 pots, I'd get a hell of a lot more gil from ores. Even if I only grow one ore, thats 30k profit...but out of 10 pots, I hear people are lucky to get 2/10.

However, I hear that its too difficult to grow ores because they hardly ever yield. If thats the case, maybe I should just grow saplings and sell them instead. However.... would I even get enough saplings to make more than just 30,000 a yield? If thats the case, I know an easy Ladybug quest in Sandy that gives 9,000 gil per 12 wings...

So I ask you, the garden experts, what exactly is my best choice of action here? Is there really a chance to make some profit from gardening anymore? It seems like a lot of hard work over the course of several weeks just for a small payout. I want to garden! What path should I take?

[Tsunanko]

I have never successfully grown ores. Other folk on my LS have, but usually with a yield of 1 ore to 5 failures. And considering half the failures I've received result in rock salt, it's a huge loss of money. I am not an expert however, so others may have better news. (Used all types of pots except arcane, last attempt was with porcelain.)

[Aark]

10 mules
10 pots each
20 crystals (2 each mule)
Patience
1 ore each mule (0 if you're unlucky, 2 if you're very lucky)
I managed to make lots of gil when ores were at their best price, and I would've still use the same gil if I weren't hacked w..

[Ravanmad]

i got 2 dark ores from my arcane pot, hit lucky as i was well slack about checking on darks day etc I was hoping for one, near fainted when my moogle harvested me two lol

[Invictusx]

you need lots of mules

[tarucat]

i have 10 characters with pots, I averaged about 5 ores out of 100 plants. But I suck at ore growing.

[Everclear-shiva]

what do you guys find to be the best way to turn cuttings into saplings?

[Arcadiusthejust]

Cuttings into saplings = check them everyday, feed them nothing.

I have 5 mules 10 pots each and just grow saplings from Auction House cuttings, all of mules have some gardening enhancement. One mule has an arcane pot which has popped 3 saplings a couple of times but normal pots seem to grow 1 or 2 or the usual crap.

I would say i average a stack of saplings out of each mule every 17 days or whatever the growth period is.

[chewbar]

Someone once made a website on ore growing years ago. Back then I followed it and got on average 4-5 ores per mule (10 pots a mule). The only drawback to the method on that website is it is highly specific to what you had to do, like planting on a specific day, checking on certain vanadiel days and moon phases, harvesting when the plants are at a certain animation and at new moon, etc [note: this is just an example of the level of detail, i don't remember the specifics from the site]. As such, you really couldn't commit to anything if you didn't want to screw up your yields. However, I don't know if it really worked or if I had been lucky 20 times over.
For something realistic, I think cuttings to saplings is decent based on what you listed. Something else to consider however, is growing ice ores. The "bad" yield on them is platinum leaves, like 10+ of them. One NPCs for 1.7k so its like 17k per "bad yield" which will significantly cut down your costs and risks. However, because of that it tends to be popular so ice ores are harder to sell and sells for much less.

[chibbi]

I remember that post site as well. Did you get 4-5 ores multiple times consistently, or just a few times.

[Duhkha]

Gardening is still for major profit. In fact, it can keep you very wealthy compared to the average player. Added to farming and or BCNM/KSNM fights, you can really pull in the loot and be that blinged out guy! OK that being said, here is my take.

1. Ore does NOT become unprofitable until it hits sub 20k. That is only true because the "Failure" or "Normal quality" yield simply out values the ore on average.

2. The normal Quality yeild IS very valuable because they often NPC well. (not in a couple cases, but generally)

3. You may adjust feeding and checking to encourage one result or the other.


First, do a little research. The Pot you choose to grow in may have different effects on different crops. For instance, Porceline Flower pots offer better results for Ice ORe and Plat leaves than others (arcane aside). However, BRass will give more saplings than Proceline when growing cuttings to saplings. I'm not going to spoon feed this to you. Search Pikko's Pots for more on this topic.

Second, Learn about furnishings. You will need Overwhelming earth energy and Gardening as a mog enhancment. 15 maple tables is about the minimum. However, I notice improoved results esp on cuttings > Saplings with Oak tables.

Third, Understand your elements! there are three days that matter. The element STRONG to the ore you are targeting. The element WEAK to the ore you are targeting. Finally the element that is the same as the ore you are targeting.

I tend to plant on the same day as my target ore. (EXCEPTING LIGHT/DARK ORE) I do the following:

For most leaves or NQ results and less clusters: Feed and check Mostly on the day that is WEAK to your element. This makes you "fertilize" more and encourages maximum normal results. HOwever, I recomend checking occasionally on the "Same AS" day. (RESULT) Maximizes leaves and very few ore MAYBE 1/20 pots.

For More ORe and more chance of clusters: Feed on half the Day Strong against you're Ore's element and half on the day that is weak. Further, try to spred your checks evenly beween the two occasionally using the same day as the ore. (Often produces 2-3 Ore but expect variation)

For "SAFE" results, do everything on the same day as your target ORe. (varied results)

NOW! The Moon.... YES IT MATTERS!

A Full Moon harvest is Ideal for Elemental and Light ORe. Only Dark benefits from a new moon harvest. HOWEVER, New moon IS preferable for any ore to a moon phase other than Full.

You will recieve inferior results from OFF MOON HARVESTING!

With Elemental ORe, you must do two thingsto achieve a FULL MOON HARVEST!
1. Plant on a NEW MOON ONLY
2. Be sure to feed you're crystal ASAP when the plant begins asking. This will cut 2-5 days off the total growth time AND put you in line to harvest on the full moon end. Being late to feed WILL push you to the NEw moon harvest

NOTE: You will have 72 hours to harvest your ORE. DO NOT BE IMPATIENT

NOTE: since you DO NOT FEED CRYSTALS for Lights ORE, you must plant on a full to harvest on the same. THis shouldnt vary.


Personally, I stick with ICe ore and focus on the NQ items (PLAT LEAVES) THey vendor for over 20k a stack! That is about 150-200k per 10 pots dependant on results. ICE ORE is 19k on my server atm


Pesonal Stats:

9 Mules totalling 90 pots.
I've gardened for nearly two years now. When I started large harvests of 3-5 ore happend nearly every time i harvested all 90 pots. I'd often bring in 30 Ore per harvest. WHEN chocobo digging opened, that changed. Now 1-2 ore is normal and Very Rarely (once maybe twice a year on 90 pots)you will see a 3-5 ORe harvest.

I hope this info is helpful

[jaregue]

i used to grow ore. had 10 mules 10 pots each
my best harvest was 5/10 ore on 1 mule. and 6 ore total from the other 9

don't really grow ore anymore :\