My very first grow room

[Sassyfemme]

Thank you Stu, and if I can, I'll try and find some better lighting system though for now, I've kinda spent what small budget I had and will need to sell some paintings, heheh.

 

[Brokeoldbloke]

I think you have enough light atm but will need more as they grow. CFLs are a cheap way to add light if you can find cheap sockets or fixtures. You can try a few things to maximize what you have. Lower lights or raise the plants so their about 2" from the tubes once their leaves come out. As long as you're covering the plants footprint, place both fixtures next to each other as close as possible. If you have extra reflective material then you could make a mini area within your current space. Use cardboard or something to build moveable walls so the material is only inches away from the sides of the plants. Material on the bottom will also help reflect the light back up.

Good Luck with your grow!

 

[Sassyfemme]

Been looking at getting a 400W HPS light system for indoor growing, they sounds great, but I won't be able to get it till near the end of the veg cycle ( the system is on the costly side ).

 

[Sassyfemme]

This morning, I added a 75 watt flood light to the existing 4 tubes of Daylight I already had in place, this will give much needed light power, more lumens ( 530 ) and heat. This will have to do for now.

 

[AnonBongRip]

Sounds good like your catching onto things fast! Check out the organic section super soil threads tea's etc makes really great smoke unless your about Size & Speed then go nutes "if" you would want but organic is was better flower IMO.

 

[Sassyfemme]

Hi Anon,

Been reading a lot and processing as much as I can and I'm beginning to see that some of the lighting considerations as well as the way to grow in terms of chemicals vs organics is, dependent of factors such as financial means, reason why one is growing in the first place and what is expected out of any crop. For me, it boils down to obtaining a potent bud for pain and that is enjoyable to boot.

I've decided, for now, to go the way of fluorescents as this is what I am able to afford, I put together a grow room that I will be expanding over the next week. I'm also going organic though trying to stick to what is already bagged and available. I shall go take a look at the thread you suggest with pleasure.

 

[Sassyfemme]

Update: My seedlings died. I am about to start over again, today, I'm making the grow space larger ( 8' L x 6' W x 6' H). I will also add a fan and I'm hoping this will be enough.

 

[ChiefofKief]

Love the idea. Would love to see how this turns out in the long run.

 

[Sassyfemme]

Hi ChiefoKief,

I have begun looking into what type of lighting I will be able to afford and it doesn't look like it will be anything of the order of 400 HPS though I am hoping to buy a couple of T5 ballasts & the tubes to go with it, that will be the best I can do for now. I will try and use an ordinary fan kept at a distance so that's it's not blowing too strongly and cover all of the inside of the grow space with mylar. I have 4 remaining feminized Headband seeds ( some sort of OG Kush ) waiting to be used.

I will continue work on the structure today and I'm not very good at that sort of thing, so my partner will be helping me. I don't want it to be too heavy so I'm going to be using cardboard as walls and place the mylar over that so only the structure is made of wood. Should I make a hole in it, maybe at the top somewhere for the heat to escape and help with air circulation ?

 

[Sassyfemme]

I'm getting close to completing the grow space, it measures 8'ft L x 6' ft H x 6ft W

Now, I'm looking at buying a 400 HPS lighting system w/ fan and outtake plus carbon filter, will this be any good for the size room and should I use this light for one 3ft x 3 ft area within the room, maybe for flowering when it's time or do everything from seedling / veg and flowering under it ?

Mind, I will probably reserve another section in the same grow space only for seedlings and or veg state or cloning. The actual room in which I put up the grow space is about 11ft x 10ft. I live in Ontario and the weather is now much cooler outdoors, that means I cannot open any windows for fresh air. I need help and please, no expensive suggestions as this Lady isn't rolling in mullah.

 

[SteezyDee]

Yes, a 400W HID light will be more than suffice for the space you have. Look into a 'Cool Tube' which will essentially allow you to cool your lights/space by sucking air through the tube with the inline fan you'd have for your carbon filter.

For vegetative growth it's better to use MH. Some people grow HPS all through out though. Most digital ballast support switching between MH and HPS bulbs I believe.

Here's an affordable 400W set-up that includes a Cooltube w/ reflector, Light hangers, 24-hr timer, and both MH & HPS bulbs:
http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLSETX400DHMCT6-400-Watt-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B005GYRB9S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351456692&sr=8-3&keywords=400w+ipower

 

[SteezyDee]

Sad to here about your seedlings too. It must've been your temperatures that did 'em in! Get an indoor thermometer with the humidity readings as well.. This would've helped you know that it was too hot for your plants in your space. Get an oscillating fan for inside your space as well.

 

[Sassyfemme]

Woohoooo, in the next couple of weeks, I'll have a very well equipped grow space with both veg area and flowering space, with the bells and whistles that are called for. Yes to the fan and thermometer, etc,.

 

[AnonBongRip]

Woohoooo, in the next couple of weeks, I'll have a very well equipped grow space with both veg area and flowering space, with the bells and whistles that are called for. Yes to the fan and thermometer, etc,.

Glad to hear that your girls will love you for it. Unfortunately ATM one of my girls is droopy hopefully can get her better soon she's a good trichy RoyalPurpleKush would hate to lose her would totally suck. Other then that still learning daily, hope to get my light's upgraded soon myself Can't wait to see the updated pad!

 

[Sassyfemme]

Would a 600 watt HPS light system be preferable or should I go with the 400 watt HPS ( I can get the 600watt one for $250. and it includes both the HPS and MH lights ). Will also buy a T5 - 4 tube set up for veg cycle.

 

[bigrake]

You can get a 400 for 150 on amazon that has both mh/hps.

 

[cues]

600s are more efficient, watt for watt. They are ideal for a 4x4 space. They also need more cooling though.

 

[Sassyfemme]

So going with a 600 HPS is more efficient and I will have the inline fan and necessary to keep the space from over heating, I wonder what that is going to look like in number of plants I can grow under it ( 4, 6, more ? ). @Bigrake - I'll take another look at Amazon to see how much the 600 watts HPS systems go for. I'd love to eventually have that space set up for clones as well as a small variety of strains.

 

[bazookajoe]

And I thought I was anxious to upgrade so quickly lol.. love the enthusiasm sassy! Sorry u lost the first batch, better luck to u this round! With the hps/mh setup you'll have to share the same flower and veg space to utilize that feature. You could get just the 600 hps kit, keep use of the t5's and seperate space and perpetualize ur grow.. just my .02

 

[Sassyfemme]

Sounds brilliant bazookajoe I think I just might do that, it would ensure constant growing year round. Still debating where to buy the light systems.