New to the scene

Ok let me first intro myself, im darkwizard, i live in Alabama, US. I just started this as a sort of hobby, im really good with gardening outside, thought id try a more "delicate" plant and try to at least start them inside. What iv done so far:

I have 2 sprouts that are about 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall, already getting the leaves at the top (small but there) and im starting 4 more seedlings in a few minutes actually. What i have is a very simple setup atm. I might fund it further in the future but money is tight for me on a fixed budget. I have a 2ftx1ftx1ft cardboard box with a 24" grow light (under the cabinet type) from walmart. Standard bulb that comes with it, figured it test it out and see was only $12 with tax. I will be trying to grow only female plants, probably only 2 or 3 plants total. My goal is to start them in here and then plant them outside since our summer months are approaching here where i live. Now as i said im new to this and any input into what i have would be great. There are 4 major questions i have:

When do i need to consider planting them outside?

Are there any precautions i need to take about watering/fertilizing since they are inside?

How do you tell the sex of the plant and when?

and lastly

I want to keep my plants mid-size in stature, any suggestions (3ft-4 1/2 ft tall at most) or does that depend on strand?

Btw nice to be here look forward to viewing these boards on a regular basis.

welcome to the forum there are lots of info here you should start by reading
the growfaq thread I dont know how to link it but look for it its very useful

Hey DarkWizard welcome to RIU. I've done one outside grow and a good idea if it's your own garden is to start them in pots outside and that way you can move them round when they're little and vulnerable to more sheltered areas if it gets too hot/windy/rainy etc. and put them in ground properly once they're a bit stronger.

Alabama - nice!!! You guys have the best ever accents. I'm in UK and I recently had the pleasure of meeting an Alabaman(?) who was visiting for a few months and I was always asking him questions just to hear that southern voice. And he was SO polite and courteous and always called me ma'am or honey. I think my boyfriend was quite relieved when he left to return home.

lol yes ma'am we are polite and ty for the compliment. I have been to the UK once to visit a friend of mine outside of London, had a blast when we went to the pub, im all into the swing first ask what happened later thing lol. Well i finished my box today before i left for work, and from the looks of it i might be able to get away with 2 plants inside if i can keep the short in stature. I also didnt post above, but the seeds i am using are from the run of the mill buds around here. Eventually i want to make a setup to grow 1 dro plant for personal use. So far so good tho, i am wondering about fertilizing tho, when and what do i need to use to give them that extra umph



ty hellraizer i will check that out thanks for the heads up

Tide or Tigers?

RTR

ROLLLLLLL Tide

Hey Alabama with your super-sexy accent!

Am pleased to hear that you enjoyed London while you were there. No doubt you worked your southern charm on all and did much to dissipate anti-American sentiment if you were half as delightful as the Alabama native I've met!

If you are able to make your indoor grow area accomodate more than one plant I would advise doing so otherwise you could end up carefully nurturing a plant for weeks only to find out it's male and all that care and power consumption could end up being futile. Otherwise I would advise keeping on taking great care of your plants and treating them with all the respect and care that an Alabama man would extend to any female and you may well charm them all into giving you the great results that you're hoping for.

I hope your grow is worthy of "Dreamland".

lol me to. I see me starting a new strand around here and calling it "Dreamland" lol . Well im sitting in my truck on my laptop connected to my home network because i just got home from work and it is raining cats and dogs here and i dont wanna get out and get drenched. Just rolled 1 up and hit it with some hydrocodine syrup wanna see what this is gonna do. I will be posting some pictures of my grow box today sometime i would love to hear opinions on it. Now it is a little umm the word im wanting to use is Redneck in its construction but i think it will serve its purpose quite well.

Understand the sitting in the truck routine. Just checked the radar and it looks like a heck of a storm.

I won't be back to T-Town until next year (June '09). My relatives are no doubt holded up today.

My young ones seem to have slowed down this week after I moved them indoors. They still look healthy. But a bunch of new seedlings have popped up. I had given up on those seeds. One day at a time.

I may get some new pots for the new seedlings.

here are some pics of my "redneck" setup critique away

Somewhere on this web site is a recommendation against using aluminum foil as a light reflector.

hehe yea its alright now iv decided to build a aero setup from a post i seen on here link is as follows:

https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/22362-30-minute-6-plant-aero.html

just waiting on my pump now and im good to go. Im going to have to go with flourescent lights for now tho due to the fact i cant find any HPS in a 75w fixture for under $100. I think i could get away with 1 150w if i could find a fixture for the bulb to go in that will plug into 120v wall outlet. If anyone has suggestions im open to them at this point.