Cheap starter set-up for first couple weeks of grow

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

Here are a few of my first essential purchases. $50 bucks total on Amazon. Sign up for a free 30 day PRIME memebership and the shipping will be free and 2 day delivery! All in Amazon boxes so no HYDRPOPONICS labels on shit when they come like from Ebay. Amazon purchases show up on bank statement as Amazon purchase, where as my lights from ebay showed up as HPS GROWLIGHT. WTF!!! I found it cheaper on Amazon later too. Bummer.
HYGROMETER
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325-Comfort-Monitor-Black/dp/B004K8RF10/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1361873015&sr=8-5&keywords=hygrometer
PH METER
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Digital...words=ph+meter
TDS METER
http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-TDS...words=ph+meter
SOIL TESTER KIT
http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-16...oil+tester+kit
PH adjustment
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydrop...down+nutrients

Tin foil def heats shit up, and looks Trailer Park Boys. I guess if that's how you want to present yourself. But people don't forget.

Here's what i do. I was going to order a $140 tent to put in my walkin closet. I just used two walls of the existing, 2 left over sheets of baslam and 1/2 plywood from my mother-in laws house...and BAM! 140 bucks saved. I even used some free big ass cardboard box and screwed it to my 2x4 frame. worked great. Cut a small peek hole so I don t have to open the door when lights are on to check on the hygrometer. My box cost me next to nothing with left over stuff from under people's houses...lol

http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Myla...gency+blankets

^^^^^My first purchase for growing. and some HVAC tape from walmart for 8 bucks. I find duct tape sucks for things with humidity and temp change. HVAC tape really does the job to seal light in corners and chit too.Edges etc... And although I had more room to veg( I used 3-4 bendable desk lamps and 2 18 inch fluorescent plug ins in a small towel closet for seedlings..but in a small space or box, you could mount 3-4 into the ceiling of the under cabinet lights...walmart has a huge selection in lengths...and they're 7 bucks..here is a an 8 inch one on amazon that would work for pc's, stealths and small spaces. I had ll that in a 2x2 mylar coated cardboard box..ut it was such a pain in the ass fumbling in such a small area. Im about as graceful as Chris Farley.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lights-of-...ndingMethod=rr

Hope this helps
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kill the Miracle Grow..caused me all sorts of problems...Walmart has a bag called Jiffy Organic starter mix for 4.55...perlite 5 bucks as well..75% mix, 25% perlite, rinse it once, let it dry, put ph 7 water in it, and the soil is 6.5 with no need for adjustment. This is WAY better than MG. Id id tests on MG, MG Organic(friggin ph was EXACT same for both..over 8-8.5 after a couple waterings. I ran a test on all with the same variables..phed 7 water, rinsed perlite and soil and let dry...checked runoff and soil..6.5 was soil for Jiffy organic seed starting mix and perlite. Very nice.

Here are my 5 fem seeds from ATTITUDE 4 days after popping through the soil under my bathroom sink with the old ladies heating pad for cramps underneath them. 25 buck Heating mat my ass. They'll sit in the closet for about 2 weeks total until I throw them under the 600 MH at about 6 ft high for another week.

I would think the cfl t-5 and t12s are like 4 feet long..why not mount 4 of the 18 or even 8 inch ones from amzon under cabinet lights to a board and screw it to your ceiling of your box?
first pic is seedlings at 5 days old, 2nd is the desk lamps pulled up so you can see whats going on, and the 3rd is how close I have them normally, checking on them as they grow. I usually throw some wet clothes hanging on the inside door knob and a nail for some added humidity. That 18 inch cfl was 7.99 at Wallymart..along with the desk lamps for 8, and the 100 watt bulbs for 3 . : ) Jiffy soil and perlite 10 bucks..Start-up grow...PRICELESS

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

Oh and I burn a holes in the bottom of my planter cup along the outside edges for drainage, about 8 with a cigarette(real pain in the ass doing a bunch) put a inch of perlite on the bottom then my soil mix, and then stick it in another cup for darkness to keep the roots covered, and for drainage. I like to keep them about 1.5 to 2 inches below cup line so I can dd some soil when they stretch that inch or two the first couple weeks and their stems are all weak. ; )
HAPPY GROWING NEWBIES! STOP CONTRIBUTING TO THE BLACK MARKET AND ANOTHER MAN"S FORTUNE..GROW YOUR OWN!

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

Oh and I burn a holes in the bottom of my planter cup along the outside edges for drainage, about 8 with a cigarette(real pain in the ass doing a bunch) put a inch of perlite on the bottom then my soil mix, and then stick it in another cup for darkness to keep the roots covered, and for drainage. I like to keep them about 1.5 to 2 inches below cup line so I can dd some soil when they stretch that inch or two the first couple weeks and their stems are all weak. ; )
HAPPY GROWING NEWBIES! STOP CONTRIBUTING TO THE BLACK MARKET AND ANOTHER MAN"S FORTUNE..GROW YOUR OWN!

If you put those lights about 2 inches (on top) from your sprouts they won't stretch and put a fan from the get go (on low) it makes for a thick strong stem...here's mine at 21 to 25 days from sprout...



and this is my setup before transplant..



And I'm using tinfoil..!! It may be trailer park but if you don't get it too close it's cheap & fine...and my babies look good...lol

And about burning holes in the bottom of your cups...why not just set your cups on a towel and use a phillips head screwdriver to pop holes in the bottom???

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

those are about a inch away from the top of the sprouts actually. Tin foil creates hot spots and burns shit. Mylar blankets are 4 bucks todoa room 4x4x8..tinfoilis 4 bucks and does a shoebox. Actually just busted out a drill and did like 20cups in no time..lol.
Your plants are coming along great, but after I switched over tomy 600 metal halide , my week old sprout grew bigger than what your ladies did in a week. HPS or MHis the way to go..even a small 150 watt or 200watt would be comaprable in power cost and def produce better results quicker. Just what Ive seen since switching from cfl. Plus by the time you buy all the electrical shit to rig everything up its like a cardboard-box-tin foil-fire hazard waiting to burn your house down. The t5 nicer 4 ft set ups are a dif story. I hate using my desk lamps..about to buy a 2 ft t5 four bulb just for sprouting and mommas that I want to clone.

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

yup..the set up you have is exacty what Im goingto buy for like 75 bucks with one switch, complete unit etc..great for vegging! Let me know how they flower!

 

[althor]

those are about a inch away from the top of the sprouts actually. Tin foil creates hot spots and burns shit. Mylar blankets are 4 bucks todoa room 4x4x8..tinfoilis 4 bucks and does a shoebox. Actually just busted out a drill and did like 20cups in no time..lol.
Your plants are coming along great, but after I switched over tomy 600 metal halide , my week old sprout grew bigger than what your ladies did in a week. HPS or MHis the way to go..even a small 150 watt or 200watt would be comaprable in power cost and def produce better results quicker. Just what Ive seen since switching from cfl. Plus by the time you buy all the electrical shit to rig everything up its like a cardboard-box-tin foil-fire hazard waiting to burn your house down. The t5 nicer 4 ft set ups are a dif story. I hate using my desk lamps..about to buy a 2 ft t5 four bulb just for sprouting and mommas that I want to clone.

Yep anyone who switches from CFL to HPS/MH say "why the hell was I screwing around with that bullshit CFL", yet people who never used MH/HPS will swear up and down their CFL is just as good.

They have no clue what they are saying. CFL is just bullshit and people using them are half-assing the hell out of their grow and fooling themselves into thinking it is worth it.

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

yup..the set up you have is exacty what Im goingto buy for like 75 bucks with one switch, complete unit etc..great for vegging! Let me know how they flower!

this is my switch..

 

[althor]

While I appreciate your input, we could really do without the attitude "bullshit"....and the reason I'm using CFLs is 1)They're cheap to buy and to run. 2) I'm a noob and don't need to be wasting my money like that if I can't grow. (which I seem to be doing fine so far) and last but not least 3) I believe I've already agreed with you on that very same point on another thread, and I believe you were putting my system down there also, so therefore why don't you keep "that" opinion to your fucking self and let us n00bs learn, cuz you sound like bmeat with your "I'm better than you kindergarten bullshit".

I actually wasnt refering to you, I was talking about growers who swear by CFL even though they have never tried anything else.

I would say sorry you took it personal and got offended but with your "kindergarten" reply I am actually glad you got upset...

Haha, you mad bro?

Oh and just another point, get rid of the aluminum foil, nothing at all good can come from it.

You say let newbs learn yet you apparently already know not to use aluminum foil and you still are using it....

 

[grorite]

Yep anyone who switches from CFL to HPS/MH say "why the hell was I screwing around with that bullshit CFL", yet people who never used MH/HPS will swear up and down their CFL is just as good.

They have no clue what they are saying. CFL is just bullshit and people using them are half-assing the hell out of their grow and fooling themselves into thinking it is worth it.

I have switched from cfl to hid and I do like hid a lot better but cfl wasent to bad either works great if your just growing for personal I was running a lil over 400 actual watts of cfl and pulled just about 6 ozs from 2 plants with lots of lst so I would say cfl isnt shit

 

[althor]

I have switched from cfl to hid and I do like hid a lot better but cfl wasent to bad either works great if your just growing for personal I was running a lil over 400 actual watts of cfl and pulled just about 6 ozs from 2 plants with lots of lst so I would say cfl isnt shit

So you plan to switch back to CFL? Of course not.

Like you said you like hid A LOT better. Not just a little better, but a LOT better. Because, wait for it, HID is a LOT better than CFL. Sure you can do a half-assed grow with CFL. People prove that all the time, they also prove all the time once they switch to HID they don't go back. You have just improved your grow, why would you go back?

So basically you just proved my point. Someone who used CFL switches to HID and likes it A LOT better, that isn't a suprise at all to me.

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

those are about a inch away from the top of the sprouts actually. Tin foil creates hot spots and burns shit. Mylar blankets are 4 bucks todoa room 4x4x8..tinfoilis 4 bucks and does a shoebox. Actually just busted out a drill and did like 20cups in no time..lol.
Your plants are coming along great, but after I switched over tomy 600 metal halide , my week old sprout grew bigger than what your ladies did in a week. HPS or MHis the way to go..even a small 150 watt or 200watt would be comaprable in power cost and def produce better results quicker. Just what Ive seen since switching from cfl. Plus by the time you buy all the electrical shit to rig everything up its like a cardboard-box-tin foil-fire hazard waiting to burn your house down. The t5 nicer 4 ft set ups are a dif story. I hate using my desk lamps..about to buy a 2 ft t5 four bulb just for sprouting and mommas that I want to clone.

I here ya on the mylar, walyworld didn't have them E Blankets when I started, but I just got 5 gal of flat white paint and gettin ready to do that instead, and ya I'm thinkin about gettin a 250w HPS for my little flower room. I've heard good things about them (sometimes in a bad way) and BTW sorry to go off on your thread man, but some people need to remember that they didn't know it all when they started either....

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

I actually wasnt refering to you, I was talking about growers who swear by CFL even though they have never tried anything else.

I would say sorry you took it personal and got offended but with your "kindergarten" reply I am actually glad you got upset...

Haha, you mad bro?

Oh and just another point, get rid of the aluminum foil, nothing at all good can come from it.

You say let newbs learn yet you apparently already know not to use aluminum foil and you still are using it....

No I'm not mad, I don't even know you...but you just sound like your puttin people down for doing something "new" to them instead of giving them a positive outlook on what they've done so far, and "making suggestions" instead of "that half assed shit"..which is your opinion, and your right, but it could have been worded better...hell I even put up with bmeat until he started callin some lady a cunt...and by the way, I just got 5 gal of white paint, tinfoil was all I had at the time and didn't know better...now I do, thanx...

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

lol..i respect both views..cfl and mh/hps...probably for under $200 in a small area in 4 months...not expecting a huge yield or doing it in your room hiding it from someone..cfl that chit..if you have 600 bucks or more and some space, privacy and ambition..and want to yield 10+ oz per grow with 6-8 plants in 3 months...then mh/hps the chit. I did enough research to know what I want. $800 and I should yield about 10 oz is my hope. enough to last me, my girl and my brother 10 weeks..or the summer..(oz a week...q a piece a week to smoke, one to part with and all go out to dinner with the dough). Call me crazy, but I think it's going to work, and save us all a shit load of money. We spend 150-200 a week,a nd are forced to smoke schwag sometimes when it is tight around here or dry. I hope EVERYONE's grow goes well, small, med, and large!

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

check the camping section..they might have them in there..or even the auto section..with the emergency flashers and stuff..If not order them..4 bucks..tell someone with a credit card you need them for a science project if u dont have a debit card. geez..lol..at your door in 2 days from amazon with no shipping charge.

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

lol..i respect both views..cfl and mh/hps...probably for under $200 in a small area in 4 months...not expecting a huge yield or doing it in your room hiding it from someone..cfl that chit..if you have 600 bucks or more and some space, privacy and ambition..and want to yield 10+ oz per grow with 6-8 plants in 3 months...then mh/hps the chit. I did enough research to know what I want. $800 and I should yield about 10 oz is my hope. enough to last me, my girl and my brother 10 weeks..or the summer..(oz a week...q a piece a week to smoke, one to part with and all go out to dinner with the dough). Call me crazy, but I think it's going to work, and save us all a shit load of money. We spend 150-200 a week,a nd are forced to smoke schwag sometimes when it is tight around here or dry. I hope EVERYONE's grow goes well, small, med, and large!

I hear ya brother, and I know ur grow will go good, you seem to have it together...and I'm just growin for fun, and to give my wife & I some good smoke hopefully, as for myself, I'm just a 45 year old on a budget, but if all goes well the back room I'm using the closet in will become the back room I grow in...lol..good luck and happy growin' man

 

[Trousers]

I have had that TDS meter for 3 years and it is great.
That ph tester is junk. I have spent over $200 on cheap and not so cheap ph meters and have gone back to the drip testers I used to calibrate the ph pens with.

althor needs to try decaf along with his HID lights.

 

[althor]

lol..i respect both views..cfl and mh/hps...probably for under $200 in a small area in 4 months...not expecting a huge yield or doing it in your room hiding it from someone..cfl that chit..if you have 600 bucks or more and some space, privacy and ambition..and want to yield 10+ oz per grow with 6-8 plants in 3 months...then mh/hps the chit. I did enough research to know what I want. $800 and I should yield about 10 oz is my hope. enough to last me, my girl and my brother 10 weeks..or the summer..(oz a week...q a piece a week to smoke, one to part with and all go out to dinner with the dough). Call me crazy, but I think it's going to work, and save us all a shit load of money. We spend 150-200 a week,a nd are forced to smoke schwag sometimes when it is tight around here or dry. I hope EVERYONE's grow goes well, small, med, and large!

Be sure and factor in 4 months, not 3. You need a solid month for drying and curing. I agree completely, by the way, if you are a smoker, mature, with your own place, you are foolish to spend a lot of money buying and not grow your own.

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

That PH pen was the best thing I bought. On a Aquachem ph tester for pools, the PH UP/DOWN tester, and a PH soil tester...that little pen is accurate with my reg water(8.2) variance Filtered water (7.0)..It can tell the diffference pulled it right out of reg water and put it in my filtered water...7! Then checked some other stuff I know(nutrients),,right on. It doesn't have to be expensive to work. 200 on a ph pen...never. Ill buy one a year of the shitty ones and check them for accuracy...evenat one a year..200 bucks would last me 20 years!

 

[AllGatheredUp]

That PH pen was the best thing I bought. On a Aquachem ph tester for pools, the PH UP/DOWN tester, and a PH soil tester...that little pen is accurate with my reg water(8.2) variance Filtered water (7.0)..It can tell the diffference pulled it right out of reg water and put it in my filtered water...7! Then checked some other stuff I know(nutrients),,right on. It doesn't have to be expensive to work. 200 on a ph pen...never. Ill buy one a year of the shitty ones and check them for accuracy...evenat one a year..200 bucks would last me 20 years!

I have the same PH pen and have no complaints. Just make sure you check the calibration every so often. Mine seems to fall off calibration after a month or two of use. Not by much, maybe +/- .5 but still worth the check. better safe than sorry.

 

[DOYOUSMELLTHAT]

yeah...us old guys know what a budget is. I used tax moneyI got back that was intended to save for the summer...but then I figured what we were saving for was weed...lol..(she's a art teacher who doesnt get a check during the summer)

So, I invested 800 into the future, and hopefully never have to drive to some sketchy fucker's house and pick up a bag. That's the plan!