Help me plan my closet

[l3ored]

I have a half-empty closet (2.5' x 2' x 5') that I would love to see filled with green. I'd like to get something set up quickly and cheaply, and add to it over time. I've seen a few cabinets made from two rubbermaid tubs that looks relatively simple and easy. I'll work with soil first, and try other methods when I'm satisfied with the lighting.

I've been looking at doing a single 150w hps, for simplicity and reasonable power draw. Can I pick up any 150w hps lamp in a hardware store, or is there anything in particular to look for?

What will the connector look like? Should I mount the bulb vertically or horizontal? What should I do for reflection? I was thinking about using a metal hood about the dimensions of the tub, but I'm not sure what shape the bulb whould be. Should I paint the tub white, or use tin foil or aluminum tape?

I was thinking of having a 120mm fan blowing straight onto the bulb with another 120 as exhaust directly on the other site. I'll have one more 120mm intake at the bottom to get air moving.

Should I go for 2-3 plants, or a SOG? SOG seems good for veg, but I'll probably space them out for flowering. Maybe I need a small space for veg, and a bigger one for grow?

How should I water them? With the light mounted in the top tub, it seems like it would be a hassle to take it off and replace it every day. Anyone have an easy, low maintenence system?

Whats the minimum I should use for nutrients?

Anything else I need to consider?

 

[earlymorninstonepeomp]

Depends on strain and the size you go to flower with. this a 60/40 Indica from clone and 2 week veg after it rooted. Its at appx 3 week flower there and will top out at 2-1/2 3 feet.

 

[l3ored]

I have 3 seeds from a bag I was going to use. I can probably get more from my guy. I just wanted to see what I can get from these and pick a nice strain later. I figured that would save me the complication of looking into seeds so I can focus on lighting and my system. How would I get seeds anyway? Is it safe to order them online to the US?

 

[l3ored]

I went to the hardware store to check out lighting. All I saw were halogen, cfl, and incandescent. Any insight on where to look would be extremely helpful, maybe a good website if they have deals or better products compared to a local shop. Thanks.

 

[clowdy]

aint nothing wrong with cfl's
just get enough of them and make sure they have high lumens
plus they are great cuase u could put them real close to the plant too
and save alot more energy and u dont have to do any wireing.
but if u dont care u could use hps or mh
u could go to rockeys hardware store or even home depo

 

[earlymorninstonepeomp]

Yeah I hear ALOT of people grow with cfl's. I know they work damn well for vegging and newly rooted clones. And heat is nevvvvvvver an issue. Small space thats the way I'd go. Also hear you can get cheap 250 hps now.

 

[clowdy]

thats always good

 

[earlymorninstonepeomp]

I have a half-empty closet (2.5' x 2' x 5') that I would love to see filled with green. I'd like to get something set up quickly and cheaply, and add to it over time. I've seen a few cabinets made from two rubbermaid tubs that looks relatively simple and easy. I'll work with soil first, and try other methods when I'm satisfied with the lighting.

I've been looking at doing a single 150w hps, for simplicity and reasonable power draw. Can I pick up any 150w hps lamp in a hardware store, or is there anything in particular to look for?

What will the connector look like? Should I mount the bulb vertically or horizontal? What should I do for reflection? I was thinking about using a metal hood about the dimensions of the tub, but I'm not sure what shape the bulb whould be. Should I paint the tub white, or use tin foil or aluminum tape?

I was thinking of having a 120mm fan blowing straight onto the bulb with another 120 as exhaust directly on the other site. I'll have one more 120mm intake at the bottom to get air moving.

Should I go for 2-3 plants, or a SOG? SOG seems good for veg, but I'll probably space them out for flowering. Maybe I need a small space for veg, and a bigger one for grow?

How should I water them? With the light mounted in the top tub, it seems like it would be a hassle to take it off and replace it every day. Anyone have an easy, low maintenence system?

Whats the minimum I should use for nutrients?

Anything else I need to consider?

Lots of threads in here that will answer your questions much better than i can. I grow a a handful at a time and do it in 3-5 g bags with plenty of room. There are threads in here that will break it all down for you with pics and explanations. Just search tags for "closet grows" or "sog".....good luck

 

[Roseman]

Bro, the best advise I can give ya is spray some HOMEGUARD or odorless pesticide spray around the perimeter of the rooim, and 6 inches up the wall.
(some here will argue with me about this, but then they never had mites)
And add some blended up cyrysansemums to your soil.

If you do, you'll be glad you did, and if you do not, you'll regret it later.

 

[earlymorninstonepeomp]

I have 3 seeds from a bag I was going to use. I can probably get more from my guy. I just wanted to see what I can get from these and pick a nice strain later. I figured that would save me the complication of looking into seeds so I can focus on lighting and my system. How would I get seeds anyway? Is it safe to order them online to the US?

Worst case customs takes em and send you a empty case or whatever the bank puts there seed in. They all use "stealthy" packaging. Out of 6 orders from 3 different banks only 1 was intercepted. Got a package with green customs tape on it and the package inside was empty. Short explanation that the "product" was illegal to send via mail and thats it. At that time planet wax would resend and they did with no problem.

 

[clowdy]

but couldnt u get into trouble liike they put ur info in the computer and u get in trouble
or they start watching u?

 

[l3ored]

Well, like I said, I'll worry about seeds later. I'd rather grow what I can get worry free right now.

If I use cfl's, would it be possible to connect them all (say 6 26 watt) to one plug?

People say there's no worry about temps with cfl vs hps, but if you're using the same amount of wattage, and hps produces light more efficiently, shouldn't cfl be more of a heat problem?

Besides, temps aren't my concern. I come from the pc overclocking world, so I know how to manage temps in a boxed system.

The most pressing things right now are how to make a box with easy access and a good way to adjust the lights, and how to hook up a watering system.

 

[Roseman]

You can touch and hold a burning 42 to 85 watt bulb. The 105s do get hot, too hot to hold.

 

[l3ored]

Right, but what would heat a box more? a 150 hps or some cfl's of equal wattage. I understand you're saying the 150 bulb will reach a higher temperature, but I'm saying if 150 watts are used less efficiently (cfl vs hps) it will put more total heat into the box. I think with good spot cooling techniques i've learned from overclocking pcs, I can lower the bulb's temp and bring it just as close to the plants.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like I will see huge differences between cfl and hps, so long as i configure whichever i go with correctly. If you know of any guides for wiring either, please let me know. I'll go with whichever makes my life easier and a cleaner setup.

But what do I need to do for watering and nutrients? what works well in a small space?

 

[Swag]

Well, like I said, I'll worry about seeds later. I'd rather grow what I can get worry free right now.

If I use cfl's, would it be possible to connect them all (say 6 26 watt) to one plug?

People say there's no worry about temps with cfl vs hps, but if you're using the same amount of wattage, and hps produces light more efficiently, shouldn't cfl be more of a heat problem?

Besides, temps aren't my concern. I come from the pc overclocking world, so I know how to manage temps in a boxed system.

The most pressing things right now are how to make a box with easy access and a good way to adjust the lights, and how to hook up a watering system.

Not trying to be a dick here but if you wouldn't drop 25-30 bucks on some good seeds why are willing to drop $150-$200 on lighting for trying to grow some bag seeds? Just invest in 6 or more CFL's. Buy a set of cool white for the release of the blue spectrum during veg. and when you want to flower just buy the same wattage or alittle higher and have them warm white for more release of the red spectrum for flowering. If you have 3 plants you'd probably get around 2 1/2 - 3 ounces. Yeah you may not be raking in a pound a month like some OP growers but if it's your first time why drop a bunch of money?

 

[clowdy]

hey if u were going to have a hps light in the pc then get a air cool tube around the light have a fan blowing in the tube to keep temp low. but i would go with cfl's less money and works well

 

[RinceW]

You can get a 150 watt hps off ballastkit.com for like 35 bucks I think. And a bulb. Then go to your local hardware store, pick up some wire and a porcelain mogul socket, and an unwired socket plug deal.. (not over 15 bucks combined.) Take it home, wire it up. The best part is that you can wire the light as far away from the ballast as you want, so its pretty easy to avoid the heat issues. Can't say that I'd advise plastic tubs being involved though.

 

[pacman123]

Yeah I hear ALOT of people grow with cfl's. I know they work damn well for vegging and newly rooted clones. And heat is nevvvvvvver an issue. Small space thats the way I'd go. Also hear you can get cheap 250 hps now.

Wrong. In order to get enough luminoscity from a straight CFL grow, heat WILL be an issue. Plus with CFL's spread throughout the room or cabinet it's more difficult to control the heat. the entire cabinet needs to be exhausted efficiently enough to keep it cool, and so you are talking lots of airflow!

 

[earlymorninstonepeomp]

Wrong. In order to get enough luminoscity from a straight CFL grow, heat WILL be an issue. Plus with CFL's spread throughout the room or cabinet it's more difficult to control the heat. the entire cabinet needs to be exhausted efficiently enough to keep it cool, and so you are talking lots of airflow!

o.K buuuuut........nevermind just o.k.....lol

 

[pacman123]

o.K buuuuut........nevermind just o.k.....lol

What's the problem? I've tried both CFl and HPs. I still use CFL for starting seedlings but for prime results it takes a LOT of CFL light. Every usable lumen of light a CFL produces carries more heat than with an HPS. This is fact.