Indoor/outdoor 400w mh1000

So I figured I might as well share my first grow and hopefully get a lot of useful info from you guys!

I had 9 seeds all together. Don't know much about them they said lucky land on the bag. I germinated them the paper towel method.

I planted them in Dixie cups in a 48"x24"x24" home made box (I'll post pics). And that's pretty much where I'm at now. It's been about 2 weeks since the seeds hit the soil. They average about 2 inches and are starting they're 2nd leaves. (One was dropped mayb save able)

About a week into it I realized I had been watering too much. And I didn't have enough drainage out the bottom end. I turned up the heat in there and cut more drainage holes in the cups.

After they get a bit bigger I have already built a 48"x48"x72" box and a 400w mh bulb, a mh 1000 ballast. This equipment was given to me by my father who used it for one season where he had about 5 plants and yielded 10oz. So I know it'll work... But I might upgrade some things or change some things I'm not so sure yet. i figure I can put 3 maybe 4 plants inside and the rest outside(hopefully it's not too late).

So anyways there's the gist maybe next week get some fert. And get this box up and running.

This is my first post and first grow so go easy and please be patient.

If anyone has any input or any recommendations please share! I got the hood and 400w mh bulb and the old 1000w mh ballast all hooked up today. Just got to wait on my babies to grow a bit more then I will transplant and out in new grow box. Also I wanted to add, in the small box I have the space heater on fan only no heat. Small box reads about 78 degrees and 57 humidity.

I feel like I haven't had much growth out of my seedlings. They were planted the 27th of June. So 2 weeks old. .... If anyone has recommendations please share!!!

Here are the cfl's I have them under they are each 100w daylight, and I also have an old t5 style 24". Don't know much about it other than its a small grow light. I found the bulbs at Home Depot figured they'd work for now, am I right? Should I buy different ones?

What's up chasen bud! Nice setup and box u built. Good lookn seedlings. Idk your temperatures or climate but id be concerned about ventilation and heat in your 4x4. I'd get reflective mylar for the walls and maybe an Air cooled hood. U possibly have good ideas planned already. Happy growing!

sierranevadaca said:

What's up chasen bud! Nice setup and box u built. Good lookn seedlings. Idk your temperatures or climate but id be concerned about ventilation and heat in your 4x4. I'd get reflective mylar for the walls and maybe an Air cooled hood. U possibly have good ideas planned already. Happy growing!

Click to expand...

Thanks! Well the big box isn't quite finished yet.. I plan on cutting a 12" or so hole for a fan and I have a standing oscillating fan. Maybe on one side cut a square out 18"x18" or so with a free hanging flap for exhaust.

Hey guys i included some pics I just transplanted the seedlings into 1 gal pots and used some new soil I picked up at Home Depot called Black Magic. They are now under the 400w mh as you can see. I don't think they are looking too good. In fact I think they look like shit! They are losing color seem to be wilting a small bit. Anyways if anybody can help I would greatly appreciate it!

It's been a week since I last updated this, yesterday I picked up a lumitek 400w mh/hps electronic dimmable ballast. Some decent fert. And cheap ph testers and a better thermostat/ humidity reader. Note: I feel guilty even admitting this on here I did give them a very small amount of miracle gro 5 days ago. They needed it for sure. They perked right up within 48hrs. But now I have switched to a new fert I picked up from a local hydro shop called ReGen in Tacoma Wa.( I'll include a pic. It's not nearly as potient as the miracle- gro.)

They are in their 3rd week and are getting 20/4. Light was about 2.5 feet above but I lowered about 10 inches today just to see what happens lol. Nutes every other watering/ every other day. Worried about stem growth. Seems slow. Payday I will put up better reflective material throughout the whole box. My two biggest have grown just over an inch in one week. I have had some temp issues but I had expected that from the research I did before hand. My cheap $1.99 thermometer reads about 90f/ 55hduring the day. The new digital one reads about 87f/47h. I just wish I had an easier/cheaper way to get cool air in. Right now I have a 12" hole cut out towards the top left with a 12" fan blowing out hot air when light is on. I know I need to cut another hole probably on the opposite side lower towards the ground with the fan blowing the opposite direction also. But I still don't think that'll be enough as it is almost always warm in my garage during the day.

If you do happen check out my pics and notice some small white spots on the leaves, i cut the fan hole from 6" to 12" and forgot to take them out. Hopefully it's nothing to worry about.

I left the Nutes in the room and the light is off I will post pic later. But if you zoom in really far in one of the pics I already attached you can see it on the left.

Here's a couple more I forgot

Does anyone know if this is showing signs of indica or sativa?

Here's the Nutes I'm using and more recent pics

Well another week has passed. Let's spark this j and write an update.

Painted 3 of the walls today white. Left the aluminum foil on the door I ran out of paint. Been continueing to use the "ReGen" nutrients with every water every other day or when the top 1.5" is dry. Temps have been barable the past week. Mid 70's to mid 80's But forecast calls for warmer weather for the next couple weeks. Which without a doubt will heat the box up to 90+ day time. Currently on 20/4 cycle. On at 4pm off at 12pm.

they are a month old now. and about 2 weeks into veg. They are starting to get a light brown skin layer around the stem. Which is good I'm hoping lol. I'm thinking maybe a couple more weeks then flip to 12/12 with HPS. The big box is 48x48x72". I'm not so sure I want to grow all 9 of them through harvest in there as I believe I won't have enough room. So is it too late to put maybe 3 or 4 of them OUTSIDE for the duration of their life? OR , I do have another box, smaller, but is adjustable in hieght. It measures 21x42x35"when the top is adjusted all the way up. It can go down to prolly 22 ish. I will attach pics of the box. Its not being used at the moment and I can add lights to it or customize in any way although my budget it tight. I used it for my seedlings so there are a few CFL's in there now maybe I can add a few more powerful ones like a couple 100w true watters. or invest in a t5 and use cfl's as supplement lighting. Probably give a stab at topping and LSTing to keep them under 30". Maybe someone who has experience growing in boxes /tents can offer thier two cents. I will check out the micro grow section in my spare time. One thing tho..all 9 are under a 400w mh right now and in 1 gal pots.(I plan to transplant into 3 or 5 gal when I cut the lights back). So if I were to say throw 3 of them in the small box, top & lst , with say 200 true CFL watts would that be enough light to have a decent little harvest? Or I could put them outside in a couple weeks.


Just trying to plan and stay one step ahead. Thanks for looking fellas

5 weeks old now. Topped all but 2 so far. I have snipped off some of the lower foliage for more air flow in the soil. I topped about 5 days ago and they def slowed down in growth for a few days. They seem to be ok now. Thursday I will buy a couple big CFLs like 150 true watters and put 2 of the plants in the small box and LST starting Thursday. The 2nd 3rd and 4th pics are maybe signs of male/female?

More pics

Nice plants, looking healthy! I cant tell the sex yet. I'd be careful putting them outside, they'd probably start flowering quickly because they are getting 20 hrs of light. If it were me maybe veg them another month or longer, then flower them outside. Kinda the same as the normal outdoor season.
great work!