Help me blow through some money.

ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
I got a few hundred dollars ($200-300) coming my way and I was wondering what would be my best upgrade to optimize my room. My veg box is fine but I guess my flowering room could use some help.

My flowering area is ca 2 feet wide by 4 feet long and my ceiling is about 7 ft high. I use 2 150w HPS lights in a single reflector and I have a bathroom fan to vent the room out. I think my lighting is ok, but i am no expert.

My pots are a bit too wide, so I was thinking of using some square pots so I could have 2 pots side by side rather than having to stagger them. That should give me about 1/4 - 1/3 more floor space. You guys think my room could support 8 plants in these square containers? how big should I let plants get in those containers before forcing them to flower? I would need to make some sort of tray to catch the runoff water too. I didn't see any square saucers for these pots.

Then I was looking at the WaterFarm 8 pack systems and they looked pretty cool, but I am not sure if I am ready to change my whole room over to hydro, any thoughts?

I have been using Miracle Gro Organic Choice medium with pretty good results so far, but was thinking of maybe taking a ride to the hydro store and seeing what they got, any recommendations on that and maybe some good fertilizers to get?
 
greensister

greensister

Well-Known Member
If you want to waste your money take a girl out and expect sex.

Its hard to go wrong with new/more lights when you upgrade. You might want to stick a few CFLs on clamp lights for the lower nodes to get some light.

I personally dont go for height when i grow, i go for nodes. I LST and FIM from the get go so my plants are bushy, low, and have colas popping up in the oddest places. Since your largest dimension is height, grow you plants till they are about 3 feet, including planter, then flower them. Again, side lighting may be an option to consider.

For square pots, buy 2x as many as you need. Take 2 plastic shopping bags or a heavy duty garbage bag, and put it in an empty one. Take a pot that has pot planted it in and put that into the planter with the garbage bag in it. There is your run off plate. Your roots may grow into it and depending on the condtions, it may cause some stunting of your growth. You could always buy cheap ass square plastic containers from the dollar store that your new planters would fit it.
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
greensister said:
If you want to waste your money take a girl out and expect sex.

Its hard to go wrong with new/more lights when you upgrade. You might want to stick a few CFLs on clamp lights for the lower nodes to get some light.

I personally dont go for height when i grow, i go for nodes. I LST and FIM from the get go so my plants are bushy, low, and have colas popping up in the oddest places. Since your largest dimension is height, grow you plants till they are about 3 feet, including planter, then flower them. Again, side lighting may be an option to consider.

For square pots, buy 2x as many as you need. Take 2 plastic shopping bags or a heavy duty garbage bag, and put it in an empty one. Take a pot that has pot planted it in and put that into the planter with the garbage bag in it. There is your run off plate. Your roots may grow into it and depending on the condtions, it may cause some stunting of your growth. You could always buy cheap ass square plastic containers from the dollar store that your new planters would fit it.
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I am married man.. and luckily I got one that still puts out.. most of the time anyway LOL I am not necessarily trying to waste my money but rather use it to improve my space.

I was looking at a Lumatek 400W digital switchable unit and was thinking I could use my 150's for side lighting, but I am not sure if i really need it in my small space. I am gonna try to goo with 8 shorter plants next time around, so my 300W might suffice.

WTF is LST and FIM? I usually prune for four leads and flower around 2 feet or so. Not too different from what you said.

I think I would prefer something that I could control the runoff so that I don't have stagnant water sitting around. Inside plastic bags anything can happen like you said, sounds a bit too risky for me.
 
1foryou

1foryou

Active Member
ReelFiles said:
I am married man.. and luckily I got one that still puts out.. most of the time anyway LOL I am not necessarily trying to waste my money but rather use it to improve my space.

I was looking at a Lumatek 400W digital switchable unit and was thinking I could use my 150's for side lighting, but I am not sure if i really need it in my small space. I am gonna try to goo with 8 shorter plants next time around, so my 300W might suffice.

WTF is LST and FIM? I usually prune for four leads and flower around 2 feet or so. Not too different from what you said.

I think I would prefer something that I could control the runoff so that I don't have stagnant water sitting around. Inside plastic bags anything can happen like you said, sounds a bit too risky for me.
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lst is low stress training.basicly just tying the plant down.I would use sum of that money n buy sum autoflowers n a small stealth grow box.there cool n fun as hell.
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
I've had auto's before and I don't care for them, thanks though. i don't need a stealth box, I got a room. I am thinking I might just go buy some new pots, grow medium and some good nutes. Maybe another light, not really sure yet.. I could also use a PPM/EC/TDS/PH meter, but they seem kinda pricey.
 
God's Balls

God's Balls

Active Member
ReelFiles said:
I've had auto's before and I don't care for them, thanks though. i don't need a stealth box, I got a room. I am thinking I might just go buy some new pots, grow medium and some good nutes. Maybe another light, not really sure yet.. I could also use a PPM/EC/TDS/PH meter, but they seem kinda pricey.
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Sounds like you value that $$$, so invest into something worthy, either the lights or the meter.

The 400w will allow you to run eight larger medicinal plants effectively. You may even want a 600 for that.

The multimeter helps assure the quality of everything you pour on your plants. That's worth a ton. ;-)
 
waz666

waz666

Active Member
How bout ordering some new beans, since your stuck with your wife, I mean happily married my first idea of using it to get laid is out the window like the other guys... Try some new strains as variety is the spice of life!
 
J

JoeCa1i

Well-Known Member
I'd Use clones for that space,SOG,or main cola strains would work good.600watt air cooled would be the max for that space.Get some beans first and a good pottingmix,I like roots organics coco,and canna coco combo.I like the 10" square pots,they hold 3gal.
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
Right now I am growing Sour Diesel from clones but I also have some Lemon Skunk that's germinating. I don't think i wanna get more seeds yet as I don't have the room to grow more than one or two varieties at a time.
600W is out of the question, because of heat but 400W is doable. Is this a good ballast? I would probably get this bulb with the unit but I don't think I can afford an aircooled reflector like this yet. Is there maybe another place that would sell this stuff cheaper so i can fit an aircooled reflector into my budget?

Back in the day I had a 400W MH ballast with a 430W conversion bulb (I think it was called SunAgro or something), it seemed better than a regular 400W MH or HPS. Would I be able to get a switchable digital ballast and pop a 430W like that in?
 
smokintreez

smokintreez

Well-Known Member
get some ff soil, ff nutes and some good genetics........... 2 x 150 watt lights wont penetrate low growth on tall plants, so upgrade lighting or try sog or scrog
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
Thanks, I checked ou that site, prices seem comparable to where I was looking but with less selection and info. Not knocking your suggestion but the site just seems kinda half-assed, as in some of the pictures are not available and the product info is real sparse.
 
crackerboy

crackerboy

Active Member
It sounds to me like you have a good idea. If I were you I would buy a 400w switchable and use those other two for side light just like you said. I think you will see a considerable improvement in growth that way. You can never go wrong with more light. Just make sure that you can cool all of those lights.
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
I am sure that the room can handle 430W but I am not sure about the 2x 150W for side lighting, that might be overkill. I am in a basement, but I still think the summer will be too hot for all that light. It's a shame, I'd hate to waste those 150's but I guess 400W or 430W would be more efficient anyways.

I was also checking out that discount-hydro site and that site is whacked too. It won't let me add anything to my cart in IE and Firefox.

So I guess it's unanimous that I should get better lights. Then I guess I could use help finding a deal on a 400W digital switchable ballast with bulb and aircooled reflector for as cheap as possible. Are all digital ballasts switchable nowadays? And what about my question about how they work with conversion bulbs?

Thanks for all your help so far everybody :)
 
crackerboy

crackerboy

Active Member
People always look for new. Try craigs list. I have found some good deals. There are always those people that think they want to grow until they see that it is actual work. Then they sell all their equipment cheap. Just look around. You don't have to get a digital ballast either. They are more expensive, but they do use less energy. But if your on a budget you could get a ducted hood if you go with a traditional ballast.
 
ReelFiles

ReelFiles

Well-Known Member
crackerboy, I was actually browsing ebay as you posted that lol

Does this look like a decent deal or a ripoff? Don't really need the timer, but whatever. Would that cool tube just attach to my 4 inch ducting with a standard reducer?
I don't wanna switch my whole exhaust system over to 6 inch ducting.

Good point TCurtiss, I need to either get some paint or mylar, the walls of my room are still a yellowish paint from when it was part of my old office.
 
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