First time grow NEED HELP(lights/dimensions)

Ok so I was going to grow outside but im really paranoid about my neighbors finding out so im going to grow inside my shed outback in a month or so when it gets warmer. I have two questions.

1) The area I will have my plants is about 4ft wide and 6ft long and about 9ft high. Will 400w hps be suffice? Or should I use a 1000w hps?

2) Is it necessary to put mylar on the floor aswell as the walls?

3) Where can I buy my lights? Whats a trusted place/brand to buy?

4)Will standard(im in the US) wall outlets be enough to power the lights or do I need some sort of power converter?

Thank you so much for you help. Cheers!

a 400 watt is good for about a 3'x3' area. a 600 watt is good for about 4'x4' area.
i would get either 2 600's or a couple of 400's. unless you just going to use half the the shed than 1 light is good.
if cost is an issue for a light try e-bay for an industrial fixture that you can make remote. check my link in my sig.
here is a brand new 400 watt HPS on e-bay for under 50 bucks including shipping. same exact fixture that is in my link. when this fixture ends on thurs. morning another should be listed at buy it now for 20 bucks. last thursdays light sold for $14.25 plus shipping.

search for CRESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE or item # 200319488863.

smoke and coke said:

a 400 watt is good for about a 3'x3' area. a 600 watt is good for about 4'x4' area.
i would get either 2 600's or a couple of 400's. unless you just going to use half the the shed than 1 light is good.
if cost is an issue for a light try e-bay for an industrial fixture that you can make remote. check my link in my sig.
here is a brand new 400 watt HPS on e-bay for under 50 bucks including shipping. same exact fixture that is in my link. when this fixture ends on thurs. morning another should be listed at buy it now for 20 bucks. last thursdays light sold for $14.25 plus shipping.

search for CRESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE or item # 200319488863.

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Thank you for your response. Im looking at something like this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-watt-SWITCHABLE-GROW-LIGHT-w-HPS-Sodium-MH-Halide_W0QQitemZ180136927343QQihZ008QQcategoryZ42225QQcmdZViewItem

What is a ballast? Why do I need it? I really like the timer. How long before I can tell if they are females? Im thinking about starting them outside and then when I find out which ones are female, move them inside.

What about ventilation? Do I need to have fresh air coming in, or a fan suffice? Im thinking about putting hooking up two computer fans having one sucking air in and the other blowing air out, and then having a fan inside.

that light you are looking at is nice, just not in my budget. if the heat is going to be an issue, then pay a little more and get a light with an air cooled reflector. the remote ballast on that light will help if you put the ballast outside the grow room.

a ballast is needed to power a MH bulb or an HPS bulb. it consist of a transformer, capacitor, and ignitor. depending on if it HPS or MH. these types of lamps will not work with just regular power.

experienced growers can tell male or female during veg. when the plants get pre-flowers. or once you turn to 12/12, the males usually show sex first then females. usually start seeing females within 2 weeks or so after turning to 12/12.

if you start them outside, they wont start to flower until the average day length and night time is around 12/12, so depends on your location. you can also put a dark light proof bag over one branch of each plant and secure it to the base of the branch so it gets no light. put the bag on and off the same time every day so that the branch gets 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. within a couple weeks it should show sex. the problem with doing them outside then bringing them inside will almost definately brings pests into you inside room, so beware.

you should have a circ fan on inside the room, an exhaust fan blowing out and a passive intake for fresh air to come in.

sounds like you have alot of reading to do, so start here in the growfaqs and read it through. then come back and start asking questions. this should answer alot of your questions.

https://www.rollitup.org/view.php?pg=faq

Shed in back causes a few problems... you can overcome them, but 1? how are you going to explain the light shining out of the shed everytime you open it?

ok,.... why can't you start in your house? spare room? closet? Alot easier to conceal in house,.. and if you have company, box up your plants and put them in the shed.

justhav2p said:

Shed in back causes a few problems... you can overcome them, but 1? how are you going to explain the light shining out of the shed everytime you open it?

ok,.... why can't you start in your house? spare room? closet? Alot easier to conceal in house,.. and if you have company, box up your plants and put them in the shed.

Click to expand...

if the shed is big enough, you can install a light proof curtain inside the shed near the door. so you open the door step in and close the door. then open the curtain and go in.