First time grow, setting up small time apartment microgrow. Tips, anyone?

I recently moved out to East Texas for school and brought with me some bag seed that I really had no intention on using up until now. I've been on this site before (as an onlooker, not a member) just to see and collect some ideas and knowledge on growing. It wasn't until recent that I decided I would try my hand at growing.
I live in a complex with a majority of old people who don't really suspect much in the first place. management comes by once every other month to replace filters, and they leave notices on doors when pest control is supposed to come. I have a relatively good rep with the people here, although I still am weary of being somehow compromised seeing as how I signed a TAA lease.
I would like to do a very small microgrow with a quick harvest time. Yield amount doesn't mean much to me at the moment because I'm just trying my hand. I don't have much closet space, and I'm thinking under the bed or between my dresser and the wall (that space is stacked with crap already. easy hide?) my closet light for some reason is a fucking porch lightbulb. Puts out a lot of heat and a lot of light.
First post, first grow, so if I'm missing any key details to get some decent tips and advice, please ask away as I will be asking all sorts of questions as well.

Welcome to RIU!

What size space do you have to use (LxWxH), and what's your budget?

-spek

spek9 said:

Welcome to RIU!

What size space do you have to use (LxWxH), and what's your budget?

-spek

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Yeah, sorry about that, I accidentally hit the submit button before I was even done typing the OP. My bed is a foot and a half off the ground, and the dresser is 4ft tall with a foot gap between it, and the wall (where all the shit is stacked). The closet is a different scenario. I have a tough-box in there that takes up the majority of the space (the box is already being used) and I have a top shelf in the closet that is pretty close to the light. Although, I'm concerned about stealth if I were to grow in the closet. Budget is between 100-200. overall LxWxH for the wall/dresser is 2ftx1.5ftx3ft. With the bed, if it's at all possible to utilize horizontal space, we're looking at 6.5ftx4.5ftx1.5ft.

first thought, Texas dosent like cannabis growers. IMO it isnt worth it

jesus of Cannabis said:

first thought, Texas dosent like cannabis growers. IMO it isnt worth it

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Yeah man, the risk is definitely real. While in the long run it might not be worth it, I'd at least like to see how far i can get before paranoia gets the best of me. I know a few people that grow without any problems (although they're all in a much more liberal part of Texas).

Honestly bro, it is not worth the risk being that you have management come in the house. Remember even the slightest smell might catch their nose and your done. My plant is only a couple weeks old and is already able to be smelled faintly but need to be close. But if you are that determined, here is my recommendations, mind you I'm still a noob but have a countless hours of reading and forum stalking under my belt.

Look in to a PC case or maybe like a dresser or some other stealthy diy idea. Check around at forums for ideas and maybe spin your own idea off of one

Get LED lights or something that keeps temps rather cool HPS or anything like that probly is not a good idea.

You absolutely will require a carbon filter and an inline fan with speed control or if done in PC case a custom fan and carbon filter for the smell, otherwise for get it. I made my own carbon filter with mesh pencil cups panty hoes and activated carbon and it works great.

Mylar for the inside of whatever you choose

Get Fox Farm soil, stay away from miracle grow!

Get Fox Farm nutes or something equivalent

Temp and humidity reader there cheap and is worth it only paid $8 at Walmart

Make sure PH is good if using city water look into ways to rid chemicals I picked up a PH reader at Lowes for $10

That's all I can think off the dome. Let me know if you have any questions

I lived in central Texas and just getting a joint was quite and ordeal, even in Austin. I cannot imagine it being better in east Texas. The key to stealth grow is to never even have suspicion. That means noise, info, smell, light, and heat discipline. If you're in a small space, the noise and smell will probably be your best opportunities to become very innovative. Since you're in Texas, heat will be an issue constantly. More heat means more cooling needed. More cooling means more noise. More noise means suspicion. Unless you're going to school to learn how to silence carbon scrubbing fans, you might want to finish up school and get yourself to a state that is a little more rational about plants and prison.
If you're gonna do it anyways, build a small tent enclosure, throw a few cfls in there and have a couple of fans for ventilation, get a carbon filter for your exhaust and camouflage or conceal that grow. Get some solo cups, fill them w/ coco and perlite. Pop those seeds. Ask your buddies that grow, how they are configured, and see if you can adapt some of their methods. Have you scouted out some secluded outdoor areas that you could get to twice a week. That might be another option. Be careful the rabbits or deer, don't eat your grow.

Cabinet or pc grow boxes are about the only remotely safe options, and you better be able mask the noise as the smell, inline fans are not particularly quiet. Honestly, if I lived in Texas in an apartment complex with regular visits by managment I wouldn't even attempt it. Not only could you go to jail, but if you are getting any financial aid or scholarships for school you could lose those as well. If you proceed be very, very careful.

warble said:

I lived in central Texas and just getting a joint was quite and ordeal, even in Austin. I cannot imagine it being better in east Texas. The key to stealth grow is to never even have suspicion. That means noise, info, smell, light, and heat discipline. If you're in a small space, the noise and smell will probably be your best opportunities to become very innovative. Since you're in Texas, heat will be an issue constantly. More heat means more cooling needed. More cooling means more noise. More noise means suspicion. Unless you're going to school to learn how to silence carbon scrubbing fans, you might want to finish up school and get yourself to a state that is a little more rational about plants and prison.
If you're gonna do it anyways, build a small tent enclosure, throw a few cfls in there and have a couple of fans for ventilation, get a carbon filter for your exhaust and camouflage or conceal that grow. Get some solo cups, fill them w/ coco and perlite. Pop those seeds. Ask your buddies that grow, how they are configured, and see if you can adapt some of their methods. Have you scouted out some secluded outdoor areas that you could get to twice a week. That might be another option. Be careful the rabbits or deer, don't eat your grow.

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Perhaps the few of y'all are right about trying to do this indoors. I have a while to decide I would imagine. I'm also engaged and would have to keep it from the ol' gal until she loosens up on thoughts of using grass too. i figured while I'm out here on my own for a year or two, I might as well supply myself instead of getting mixed up with the folk out here.
With the tent, I'm not sure what you mean (other than obvious assumptions of a grow space). LEDs or CFLs? I've read countless threads of people arguing about which is better. So long as they can both keep a plant alive, I'll go with the cheaper of the two. Heat is pretty bad, I do a good job of keeping my place around 70-75 year round though but it's hell on the energy bill. I've got a big box fan that I have on all the time (hearing loss and ringing in my ears from deployment many years back) for comfort, assuming I could use that as an inconspicuous cooling/exhaust device. Well, bottom line it sounds like I might need to do some additional planning. And yes, there is a field that hugs the tree line that I never see anyone in.

TheProspector said:

Perhaps the few of y'all are right about trying to do this indoors. I have a while to decide I would imagine. I'm also engaged and would have to keep it from the ol' gal until she loosens up on thoughts of using grass too. i figured while I'm out here on my own for a year or two, I might as well supply myself instead of getting mixed up with the folk out here.
With the tent, I'm not sure what you mean (other than obvious assumptions of a grow space). LEDs or CFLs? I've read countless threads of people arguing about which is better. So long as they can both keep a plant alive, I'll go with the cheaper of the two. Heat is pretty bad, I do a good job of keeping my place around 70-75 year round though but it's hell on the energy bill. I've got a big box fan that I have on all the time (hearing loss and ringing in my ears from deployment many years back) for comfort, assuming I could use that as an inconspicuous cooling/exhaust device. Well, bottom line it sounds like I might need to do some additional planning. And yes, there is a field that hugs the tree line that I never see anyone in.

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CFLs will be much hotter than LED though LED costs more. If you can afford it Amazon has Apollo LED 109 Watt Grow light for $100. I just switched from CFL due to heat problems. Mind you I also keep my house cool, about 70f. Still gets hot in my grow tent. CFL I was in the high 80s to 90s with LED I'm running about 10 degrees cooler. Well worth the extra cash. Also remember to look for ACTUAL WATTS NOT EQUIVALENT WATTS

TheProspector said:

Perhaps the few of y'all are right about trying to do this indoors. I have a while to decide I would imagine. I'm also engaged and would have to keep it from the ol' gal until she loosens up on thoughts of using grass too. i figured while I'm out here on my own for a year or two, I might as well supply myself instead of getting mixed up with the folk out here.
With the tent, I'm not sure what you mean (other than obvious assumptions of a grow space). LEDs or CFLs? I've read countless threads of people arguing about which is better. So long as they can both keep a plant alive, I'll go with the cheaper of the two. Heat is pretty bad, I do a good job of keeping my place around 70-75 year round though but it's hell on the energy bill. I've got a big box fan that I have on all the time (hearing loss and ringing in my ears from deployment many years back) for comfort, assuming I could use that as an inconspicuous cooling/exhaust device. Well, bottom line it sounds like I might need to do some additional planning. And yes, there is a field that hugs the tree line that I never see anyone in.

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there be a lot of national forest around them parts ,sam houston and davy crocket,might put the old hunting clothes on do some recon you dig ,keep in mind hunting season starts first day of october so grow got to be done by then

NanoGadget said:

Cabinet or pc grow boxes are about the only remotely safe options, and you better be able mask the noise as the smell, inline fans are not particularly quiet. Honestly, if I lived in Texas in an apartment complex with regular visits by managment I wouldn't even attempt it. Not only could you go to jail, but if you are getting any financial aid or scholarships for school you could lose those as well. If you proceed be very, very careful.

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Nano called it but if you must grow the only safe way is gonna be a micro grow. like a pc box With a party cup or two. Get some ozium or some ona block. Hide it in a closet. cfls or led. I know this though if I lived in a old people's complex I would not be growing nugs. old Texans hate hippy dopers and are nosey. Be careful

Honestly, I don't see it happening.. would be better off just buying buds imo

but if you are trying it for the first time go to a closet and use CFL's, line the closet with mylar and you an get one to 2 without much problem, or smell, if you use a carbon filter

jesus of Cannabis said:

but if you are trying it for the first time go to a closet and use CFL's, line the closet with mylar and you an get one to 2 without much problem, or smell, if you use a carbon filter

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Where would he fit that? Not trying to be a smart ass just wondering if I'm missing something here..

TheProspector said:

I recently moved out to East Texas for school... I'm also engaged and would have to keep it from the ol' gal until she loosens up on thoughts of using grass too.

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This is like growing difficulty mode: HARD.
Texas is one thing, but hiding it from your fiancé? Are you going to keep her out of you bedroom?! This is so not going to happen.

Yep, I predict if you grow under those circumstances, you will be caught. Save your bucks until you can do it right.

WeekendSupervisor said:

This is like growing difficulty mode: HARD.
Texas is one thing, but hiding it from your fiancé? Are you going to keep her out of you bedroom?! This is so not going to happen.

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She doesn't live with me at the moment. What a fucking drag then. I was going to look into building pc grow cases, but it seems like it's not worth the time or effort (or jail time). Maybe I'll just throw some seeds out in the wood line and try my luck there. Can I get 15 half eaten cheese burgers, knah wut im sayinnnn?!

Hey if I was you I would look in the free section on craigslist and pick up a lil night stand.... Get a cut of ply wood and cut the front off the drawer and nail/ glue them on... Get a few cfls... And a few socket splitters.... And try your best with and fan you can get....smell ....incents...lol

Wait you hiding it from your girl....4get what I said....all of it...that's crazy....she is either with or it will not work