Using what i have to reduce start up costs.

Hey all, thanks in advance for your time, tried to do what i can to research before reaching out for questions, there is just a lot of info out there and i'm trying to process it all.

Anyway. I just sent out all the needed records to get my grow license in MO, should come back clear after 2-3 days. I'm anxious to prep and get started though. The one thing I've learned pretty quickly is that growing requires quite a bit in start up costs and since I really don't have any intention of selling to make up for that, I'm trying to be as frugal as I can without taking too much of a hit on harvest.

Goal is grow 2-3 plants, as I'd like to try a few different breeds. State allows me to grow up to 6 flowering at the same time and while I'd love to grow that much i suspect it significantly increases my cost.

What i have is a 1000w Giixer LED with a blue to red light switch that i currently use for my veggie garden starters.

I also have a 120v hydrofarm light (430w sodium light bulb) with metal light reflector. (inherited from a co-worker who knew i was into gardening but i've never used it and know little about it)

Which (if any) would you use? To my understanding the need for light is significantly higher when budding, will either of these care for that?

I believe I've decided I'm going to plant in soil. What i have on hand is pretty basic/cheap potting soil but i have worm bins so i have pretty steady access to quality worm castings whenever i need them. The bedding is often made from peat moss so the PH might be a little high, but i'd invest in a testing kit. Is that sufficient or should i spring for something else. I love the idea of hydroponic set up but seems like its more costly and more opportunities for a newbie to mess up.

I'm growing indoors in a basement that is usually around 60 degrees, so i figure I'll need a tent and to buy supplies to care for airflow, as well as temp. info around these setups seems pretty prevalent but if anyone has a suggestion for exactly what i should get considering the goals above, the direction is appreciated.

Well, with the 1000w Giixer LED , you will not be happy with your results, yeah it will grow a plant, but seriously probably 80% of that plant would end up in my trim bin! And that isn't me simply talking trash because I actually had a patient of mine buy (2) of those, to grow (2) plants, and they were a total dud! Yeah, they are okay for vegging, but you truly need more intense light to pump the buds up during flowering! Now as for hydrofarm light, it will grow (1) plant nicely, but not more than (1) at a time! Seriously you are better off buying a cheap 600, or 1k hps.mh kit, or a 315 or 630 CMH kit where you could easily grow (4) plants as those lights have the ability to do that. Or if you want to really save money, grow after grow, currently samsung tech, is the only way to go. And as for growing in cheap soil, there nothing wrong with that, just make sure to add perlite, or something else so you create lots of areas in the soil where air pockets can form, because the more oxygen the roots get, makes for bigger roots, which always grows bigger plants. And as for meters, pH/tds, if you don't want to spend to much, you can buy both of those off fleabay in a kit for like 10 bucks! Yeah they ain't a hanna, but they work just as well as long as you calibrate them before each usage! And a old 20oz bottle of Coke kept in the refrigerator can easily do that for you, as all around the world, wherever you buy your Coke, it always comes in at pH 2.5! And as for the tent, if you can ultimately grow (6) plants, I would get a 5 x 5, as that would always give you all the room you need to grow up to your limit!

piratebug said:

Well, with the 1000w Giixer LED , you will not be happy with your results, yeah it will grow a plant, but seriously probably 80% of that plant would end up in my trim bin! And that isn't me simply talking trash because I actually had a patient of mine buy (2) of those, to grow (2) plants, and they were a total dud! Yeah, they are okay for vegging, but you truly need more intense light to pump the buds up during flowering! Now as for hydrofarm light, it will grow (1) plant nicely, but not more than (1) at a time! Seriously you are better off buying a cheap 600, or 1k hps.mh kit, or a 315 or 630 CMH kit where you could easily grow (4) plants as those lights have the ability to do that. Or if you want to really save money, grow after grow, currently samsung tech, is the only way to go. And as for growing in cheap soil, there nothing wrong with that, just make sure to add perlite, or something else so you create lots of areas in the soil where air pockets can form, because the more oxygen the roots get, makes for bigger roots, which always grows bigger plants. And as for meters, pH/tds, if you don't want to spend to much, you can buy both of those off fleabay in a kit for like 10 bucks! Yeah they ain't a hanna, but they work just as well as long as you calibrate them before each usage! And a old 20oz bottle of Coke kept in the refrigerator can easily do that for you, as all around the world, wherever you buy your Coke, it always comes in at pH 2.5! And as for the tent, if you can ultimately grow (6) plants, I would get a 5 x 5, as that would always give you all the room you need to grow up to your limit!

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The more I read the more I'm inclined to agree that neither of my existing lights are a good viable and efficient option. I suppose I see it as a one time investment so after much debate. I think I've landed on getting a kingbrite. Specifically the model below. Any thoughts on it? The guy who recommended it was running a 4x8 so maybe a bit overkill?

Hey, congrats on getting a little legal grow going. From what you have said I would reccomend getting a 2x4 tent and just running you're 430w hPS for flower. I ran a 315cmh in a 2x4 for a while and was happy with the results. I would also reccomend getting a second 2x4 tent and putting your led in it so you can keep mothers/veg seedlings while youre budding in the other one. You can run the lights on at night to help with temps and get a heat mat to keep seedlings warm enough. If you're set on using soil I'd check out this recipe. Good luck man

Stickyjones said:

Hey, congrats on getting a little legal grow going. From what you have said I would reccomend getting a 2x4 tent and just running you're 430w hPS for flower. I ran a 315cmh in a 2x4 for a while and was happy with the results. I would also recommend getting a second 2x4 tent and putting your led in it so you can keep mothers/veg seedlings while youre budding in the other one. You can run the lights on at night to help with temps and get a heat mat to keep seedlings warm enough. If you're set on using soil I'd check out this recipe. Good luck man

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Sweet thanks for the feedback. Was hoping the hps would work but would have bought a light if not doing so meant wasting months of time and not getting good output. If you really think the HPS can cover my flowering stage that's what I'll go with. I have the great mats already from my veggie garden starters. I think a second tent for veg stage is brilliant and should eventually allow me to consistently have something flowering. How many plants did you put in the 2x4. What size pots did you use?

I appreciate the soil recipe

Welcome to the club, realize everybody grows differently and everybody swears by the way they do things, it will take you a few tryst to get it they way you like so don't get discouraged, my set upnis cheap, the only thing I'd suggest is find the light thats fits , I have a 3x2 tent (80$amazon) and can do 3 plants (no saucer) or 2 with and use a spider farmer sf2000 (400$cad), i use air pots, really good pots (5pack 60$amazon) and use promix bx (50$a bail) at home depot and an inline fan with filter (130$local grow shop) thats like 700$ 1 time..yes the light will go..but its guaranteed for 4 years...and if odor isn't an issue you don't even need the filter, but I'd get abtter light if I were you..hope this helpsView attachment 4808826

Kyzersozay said:

Welcome to the club, realize everybody grows differently and everybody swears by the way they do things, it will take you a few tryst to get it they way you like so don't get discouraged, my set upnis cheap, the only thing I'd suggest is find the light thats fits , I have a 3x2 tent (80$amazon) and can do 3 plants (no saucer) or 2 with and use a spider farmer sf2000 (400$cad), i use air pots, really good pots (5pack 60$amazon) and use promix bx (50$a bail) at home depot and an inline fan with filter (130$local grow shop) thats like 700$ 1 time..yes the light will go..but its guaranteed for 4 years...and if odor isn't an issue you don't even need the filter, but I'd get abtter light if I were you..hope this helpsView attachment 4808826

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I've heard good things about the spider light you suggested.

Also was considering this one...


know anything about it?

No sorry I don't, the ones I see most are the spider farmer the Mars and vispectra seem to be the popular ones in that price range, and hlg are supposed to be really good but a bit pricey, also if you grow autos, you wouldn't need to run a veg tent you can get over a 200g per x 3 plants every 10 weeks

jakeallenmissed said:

Sweet thanks for the feedback. Was hoping the hps would work but would have bought a light if not doing so meant wasting months of time and not getting good output. If you really think the HPS can cover my flowering stage that's what I'll go with. I have the great mats already from my veggie garden starters. I think a second tent for veg stage is brilliant and should eventually allow me to consistently have something flowering. How many plants did you put in the 2x4. What size pots did you use?

I appreciate the soil recipe

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Your HPS is fine for flowering about 4 plants. No more. Veg with your LED. Then use the LED and the HPS together if you have the headroom.

hotrodharley said:

Your HPS is fine for flowering about 4 plants. No more. Veg with your LED. Then use the LED and the HPS together if you have the headroom.

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Want tent size do I need for 4 plants? What size pots do you recommend?

You can get 4 in a 3x3 in 5 gallon pots

jakeallenmissed said:

Want tent size do I need for 4 plants? What size pots do you recommend?

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Get a tent that’s at least 6’ tall. I use a cheap Ohuhu from Amazon. 4’X4’. $82 delivered. Going on third year and multiple crops and never a zipper failure. In a 3’X3’ you could run 4 smaller or 2 taller.

I’ve run quite a few in 3 gallon bags. Full run. Bigger is better but go with what you have.

jakeallenmissed said:

I also have a 120v hydrofarm light (430w sodium light bulb) with metal light reflector. (inherited from a co-worker who knew i was into gardening but i've never used it and know little about it)

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This light will do you great to start! Its only good for about 3x3 ish but its a great light. new bulbs are super cheap.
Cheap basic potting soil is ok but almost all mixes will need some added aeration. (perlite , sand, rocks, lava rock, chunky coco)
Start with a good soil (it does not have to be store bought) and dont even check your ph until you have more money to spend.
Peat based mixes are very LOW in ph. make sure to add lime to them before using. (most premixed bags come with lime in them already)

Your main goal is going to be a light airy mix of soil. the rest will fall into place with a good diet.

Get 2 240w kingbrites instead of a 480w. They are cheaper and you can spread them out to get a better coverage. 480w is good for a 4x4. If you only want a 2x4 tent a single 240w is fine. My kingbrites have been going for a year now with no issues.

I personally prefer a soiless medium like coco or Promix HP. They provide much more aeration and can be treated like hydro.

My advice make a list of the stuff you need and I will start going to the goodwill usually you can get your humidifier dehumidifier and fans it maybe a cheap cabinet to use for the time being you be surprised the amount of money you save by starting at the Goodwill The more money you save the more you have at the end to spend on a good light just my two cents