Advice on Ikea grow cabinets?

[BuddingGrower]

Hi,

I am looking to build a stealth grow cabinet that is small, quiet, and enough for 1-2 plants. I've searched the forums and found a lot of build journals for various grow cabinets but most of them are a lot larger than what I require, or it's hard to tell exactly what size they are.

I am looking at starting with something from Ikea: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S89843870 but I have no idea whether this would be large enough.



Assembled size:
Width: 60 cm (23.62 inches)
Depth: 60 cm (23.62 inches)
Height: 86 cm (33.85 inches)

Really I only want to grow one plant but for my first grow I want to produce seeds so it needs to house a male and female plant. I don't mind it not being ideal for two plants as I would only do that once or twice to get a stock of seeds.

I would first move the topmost shelf up to create the roof of the cabinet, then add two 12 cm computer case fans for intake, and either a hole for exhaust or a single 12 cm fan. Would this be a good setup? Which is better, an exhaust hole or a fan? My concern here is noise.

I would be using CFL lighting, but I'm not sure how many lights I should use. My plan would be to install standard light sockets so that the bulbs can be switched out for different colour temperatures during different stages of growth.

I read that it is best to have lighting all-over the plant, not just at the top (otherwise it will grow tall) so perhaps one light socket on the roof and two on each wall?

I am completely new to the world of growing and I'm just throwing my ideas out there. Any comments and suggestions are much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[BuddingGrower]

I forgot to mention that I want the end result to be a medical/body-stoned effect, so the plants would either be Sativa/Indica or Indica strains. I am looking at White Widow and Northern Lights #1 (mostly Indica as far as I know.)

 

[monkeybones]

That cabinet would be perfect for an autoflower or two, especially if you trained the plant to be a little shorter.

Northern lights is what you're looking for for a stone. Aurora Indica from Nirvana is a fantastic medical indica stone. White widow is a very social high/stone as it is a hybrid.

 

[BuddingGrower]

monkeybones, thanks for the advice! I think I will go for Northern Lights #1.

Would it be okay for a non-auto flowering strain though? I ask because Nirvana's auto flowering seeds are all feminized and I want my first grow to include a male so that I can put some seeds into storage.

You never know when you might have to tear down the grow for safety reasons, and having seeds stored somewhere means you can start up again. Seeds are the hardest thing for me to obtain.

I don't mind spending a bit more for different light spectrum CFL bulbs and timer(s)

 

[BuddingGrower]

I would also be eating the final product, rather than smoking or vaporizing because I believe this increases the body feeling and smoking tends to give me strong paranoia. I've eaten space cakes in Amsterdam previously and that was a wonderful experience. Very mellow and relaxing and helpful for anxiety and pain (for example muscle tension.)

I'm kicking myself now for not asking which strain was used in the space cakes. Anyone know whether there is a de facto standard strain used, or does it vary between the coffee shops?

 

[BuddingGrower]

Do you think it would be possible to grow non-auto flowering plants there too? I checked the height of Northern Lights and it's about 100 cm but I think you can train the plant to grow a bit lower by topping it right?

Also what about the fans? Is it better to have both intake and exhaust fans or would two intake fans and an exhaust hole be enough for a cabinet this size? Would I only need a single 12 cm fan? I need to research airflow requirements further.

I'm still reading around this forum and waiting for my grow books to arrive.

 

[Arrid]

Do you think it would be possible to grow non-auto flowering plants there too? I checked the height of Northern Lights and it's about 100 cm but I think you can train the plant to grow a bit lower by topping it right?

Also what about the fans? Is it better to have both intake and exhaust fans or would two intake fans and an exhaust hole be enough for a cabinet this size? Would I only need a single 12 cm fan? I need to research airflow requirements further.

I'm still reading around this forum and waiting for my grow books to arrive.

Low stress training also helps, by bending the plants over slowly and gently you can lower their height considerably.

For intake and out take you could take a look at bathroom extractor fans, they're usually stronger than pc fans.

I'd recommend buying a small RVK extractor fan for extraction as these are simply better than anything else.
If you had an RVK extractor fan you wouldn't need any intake fans, just some smallish holes. (passive intake)

 

[guptaman]

Hi,

I am looking to build a stealth grow cabinet that is small, quiet, and enough for 1-2 plants. I've searched the forums and found a lot of build journals for various grow cabinets but most of them are a lot larger than what I require, or it's hard to tell exactly what size they are.

I am looking at starting with something from Ikea: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S89843870 but I have no idea whether this would be large enough.

View attachment 972010

Assembled size:
Width: 60 cm (23.62 inches)
Depth: 60 cm (23.62 inches)
Height: 86 cm (33.85 inches)

Really I only want to grow one plant but for my first grow I want to produce seeds so it needs to house a male and female plant. I don't mind it not being ideal for two plants as I would only do that once or twice to get a stock of seeds.

I would first move the topmost shelf up to create the roof of the cabinet, then add two 12 cm computer case fans for intake, and either a hole for exhaust or a single 12 cm fan. Would this be a good setup? Which is better, an exhaust hole or a fan? My concern here is noise.

I would be using CFL lighting, but I'm not sure how many lights I should use. My plan would be to install standard light sockets so that the bulbs can be switched out for different colour temperatures during different stages of growth.

I read that it is best to have lighting all-over the plant, not just at the top (otherwise it will grow tall) so perhaps one light socket on the roof and two on each wall?

I am completely new to the world of growing and I'm just throwing my ideas out there. Any comments and suggestions are much appreciated.

Thank you!

Hey Dude, I would suggest this shed

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07169295000P?vName=Lawn+&+Garden&cName=Sheds+&+Outdoor+Storage&keyword=suncast+shed&prdNo=3

It's only $99 and it seems like its bigger. Probably stronger as well. Less flamable as well.

 

[BuddingGrower]

Low stress training also helps, by bending the plants over slowly and gently you can lower their height considerably.

I will keep this in mind. I think topping is also good for keeping a plant short and bushy.

For intake and out take you could take a look at bathroom extractor fans, they're usually stronger than pc fans.

I'd recommend buying a small RVK extractor fan for extraction as these are simply better than anything else.
If you had an RVK extractor fan you wouldn't need any intake fans, just some smallish holes. (passive intake)

I would rather use multiple PC fans though since they are inexpensive and readability available at my local computer store... I'm a complete newbie here, but I'm guessing that two 12 cm intake fans and one/two exhaust fans of the same size would give good ventilation for a cabinet this size?

I will be using CFL lighting and I realize they do generate some heat from the built-in ballast but if I find the temperatures in the cabinet are rising then I can always add more fans. There are some good PC fans which are quiet and move a good amount of air.

I want to avoid buying too much equipment that I can't source locally, or that is expensive. Discretion being the main reason, and cost secondary, but still a consideration.

Thank you for your comments.

 

[BuddingGrower]

Hey Dude, I would suggest this shed

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07169295000P?vName=Lawn+%26+Garden&cName=Sheds+%26+Outdoor+Storage&keyword=suncast+shed&prdNo=3

It's only $99 and it seems like its bigger. Probably stronger as well. Less flamable as well.

I'm within the EU (European Union) so Sears isn't really an option for me. I think the Ikea cabinets are very strong and well-built. I have a similar cabinet in my bathroom but I do not want to modify that one.

 

[guptaman]

Just be careful. Ikea's furniture is cheap. Not made from that good of material. Probably will start a fire.

 

[BuddingGrower]

Just be careful. Ikea's furniture is cheap. Not made from that good of material. Probably will start a fire.

I wouldn't necessarily agree that Ikea's products are cheap or poor quality. Of course, the cabinet is made of wood and could catch fire if there was significant heat. I plan to be using CFL lighting and three to four 12 cm fans along along with monitoring of the temperatures. I think as long as it's not running too hot everything would be fine.

When I build the cabinet I would monitor the temperatures with all the lights turned on over a 12 or 16 hour period to make sure it never gets too hot. Though first I need to obtain some seeds.

Thank you for the good advice. The last thing I want to do is burn down my building.

 

[Arrid]

I wouldn't necessarily agree that Ikea's products are cheap or poor quality. Of course, the cabinet is made of wood and could catch fire if there was significant heat. I plan to be using CFL lighting and three to four 12 cm fans along along with monitoring of the temperatures. I think as long as it's not running too hot everything would be fine.

When I build the cabinet I would monitor the temperatures with all the lights turned on over a 12 or 16 hour period to make sure it never gets too hot. Though first I need to obtain some seeds.

Thank you for the good advice. The last thing I want to do is burn down my building.

Use three for out take and two for intake if you're gonna do it that way, always have less going in than coming out.

The backs of those cabinets is usually very thin and crap, will you be replacing it?

I'd also suggest checking out this thread
Although he's using different equipment you'll see what you can do with a cab for stealth!

 

[calumcrotch]

hey man this is almost exactly the same as my situation. im also a first time grow and also have a cabinet, very similar in size but it extends al the way to the floor, i currently have two 65w fluorescent bulbs but like you am getting cfl bulbs next week (3 300w bulbs in both flowering and growing spectrums (i know i wont be able to use all three in this tiny space but i thought since the guys selling all three for £70 i may as well) i plan on growing 2 plants, maybe 3 depending on space, i have roughly a 20L tank that will sit at the bottom of the tank with a small pump pushing water to the plants, for ventilation im using a standard desk fan and a 25w extractor fan. that means with all that in i have roughly 2 feet from soil to light (i really didnt expect it to be so small). my plan was the alternate the corners the plants were in every few days teaching them to grow towards the corner with no plant in it. Or use only one plant a build a chicken wire mesh across the top of the plant and teach the plant to fan out and fill the whole box, while hopefully remaining pretty small. although this is all in theory, i haven't started growing yet so it could all go to shit haha. im trying to figure out a way of reversing the flow of water to my tank, that is to say dripping the water on to the flowers then pumping it back into the the tank (higher than the plants) this would also provide me with a valuable foot or so. il get some photos of the whole thing once my new bulbs are here.
calum

 

[BuddingGrower]

Use three for out take and two for intake if you're gonna do it that way, always have less going in than coming out.

I assume this is so that air is getting pulled through the box?

Cold air intake at bottom, hot air exhaust at the top going through a carbon filter and/or ozone generator.

The backs of those cabinets is usually very thin and crap, will you be replacing it?

Yeah I noticed the material is a bit thin but I won't be mounting anything too heavy on the back. Probably just the fans.

If necessary then I could go to a hardware store and ask them to cut a piece of plywood to size then paint it flat white as a replacement back.

 

[justforspam24]

If you are going to be looking for stealth then odor is an issue that you shouldn't overlook. Your cab can look plain as day but if you don't have a plan for the odor people are going to know whats up.

 

[BuddingGrower]

If you are going to be looking for stealth then odor is an issue that you shouldn't overlook. Your cab can look plain as day but if you don't have a plan for the odor people are going to know whats up.

I would be using either a carbon (activated charcoal) or Ozone generator on a timer, or possibly both just to be extra careful.

I am aware that high concentrations of Ozone are bad for both plants and more importantly humans so I would setup the timer so that it would be turned on for a very short time. Perhaps 1-2 minutes every hour. Perhaps even reduce the input voltage of the inverter to 5 volts instead of 12 volts. I do not expect 1-2 plants to require much ozone to remove any odors especially in combination with a carbon filter.