Help! First real grow

Well, basically I have $2200 to spend on anything related to growing.
The only problem, is that after I have everything setup, I will only be able to visit the grow site 1-3 times a week. So I'm not sure if I should go with a ebb & flow or DWC system, or soil? I've been looking into hydroponics, and it seems the plants could die with hydro if I didn't get to maintain them for 7 straight days. If I went with soil, how could I go about automating the watering process? something similar to a drip feed system with hydro but using soil instead? I'm still a bit lost, but I have 2 weeks to plan everything and assemble a list of materials needed. I would prefer to buy everything either from craigslist, or http://www.aquaserene.com (they are located near me)
This is what I was thinking:

2x 4x4 grow tents (flower & veg room) OR 1x 4x8 & 1x 4x4
1x 1000w hps/mh light
1x 600w hps/mh light
Which should I use for which room? I'd assume 600w for veg, but I could be wrong
Fox Farms, Any advice on soil mixes??
Some t5's, OR cfl's for young'ns
nutes (any advice? Would like if someone could link me to a good simple 101 guide on using nutes for soil cannabis, been googling around but haven't found much solid info
Temps: The room I'm growing in has an advanced thermostat system already built in with timers and such, I'm sure I won't have much to worry about. Also will be buying inline fans and all that
pots: What size pots should I use if I'm growing 6 at a time in a 4x4 room? 3, 5, 7, 10gl??
PH meter
timers

If theres anything else missing in that list please let me know

I'd consider buying a whole ebb & flow system or any other type of system, as long as it will work with me sometimes not being able to be around for 7-10 days.

I'd start 6 seeds in rockwool under the t5/cfl, then plant in smart pots in soil mix under the 600w or 1000w, and veg them on 20/4 schedule for 1.5 months. I'd pick the best one or two for mothers, cut clones to re-fill the veg room, and switch them over to flower till they're done.

Easy on the flaming as well, I know this is possible one way or another.

First off, I'd suggest doing a soil grow for sure since you are limited to grow visits. And yes, you can automate the watering with a drip feed system...

it can be done, but it will not be easy if you can not commit to regular maintenance.
a "I'll get to them tomorrow because I'm tired now" mind set is not going to work for long.

I am sure you may have a busy schedule but if you can not get there but 1 x week your grow will
suffer and your time and money wasted.

lokie said:

it can be done, but it will not be easy if you can not commit to regular maintenance.
a "I'll get to them tomorrow because I'm tired now" mind set is not going to work for long.

I am sure you may have a busy schedule but if you can not get there but 1 x week your grow will
suffer and your time and money wasted.

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I can assure you that's not my mindset at all. The area I'm growing is like 20 miles out of town, and I will only be able to get a a ride out there a few times a week. I am just trying to work with what I have available

Still worth doing. All it needs is a bit more forward thinking...

sworth said:

First off, I'd suggest doing a soil grow for sure since you are limited to grow visits. And yes, you can automate the watering with a drip feed system...

Click to expand...

Thats good to hear I wish I had a way to figure out how often to set the misters and whatnot. Would appreciate some advice, been up all night googling

Pirax said:

I can assure you that's not my mindset at all. The area I'm growing is like 20 miles out of town, and I will only be able to get a a ride out there a few times a week. I am just trying to work with what I have available

Click to expand...

I do understand working with what you have.

Getting a ride? that may be bigger problem. how many people know about this grow op?
how many will know your schedule of site visits? "SNITCHES"? "not so friendly friends"?

lokie said:

I do understand working with what you have.

Getting a ride? that may be bigger problem. how many people know about this endever?
how many will know your schedule of site visits? "SNITCHES"? "not so friendly friends"?

Click to expand...

Basically, I have a rich friend who doesn't know much about growing but trusts me with his funds, and wants me to setup and maintain a grow op in his guest house way out of town. He goes to college out of town, but will be able to visit a few times a week, which is when we will be working on the plants. We don't want Anybody to know about this but his parents, who's names are already registered to grow legally just aren't growing.

You just need to figure which drip/mist system you are going to use, before setting timings, which can be a bitch; it's as easy to over water as it is to under water.
Big pots, and buy in a soil mix if you're unsure/pressed for time etc.
As long as you don't have any disasters in your absence (which, in all honesty, is a distinct possibility, if not this grow then the next, or next...) you'll get a harvest, and definitely more than if you didn't bother at all...

Pirax said:

Basically, I have a rich friend who doesn't know much about growing but trusts me with his funds, and wants me to setup and maintain a grow op in his guest house way out of town.

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On face value that sounds like a reasonable risk.

I would consider soil for you only because of materials. fewer moving parts to break.
and I have had to let my plants go a day or 2 longer for water than i wanted and they pulled thru.

have a h2o pump fail and plants are unrecoverable after a few hours.

sworth said:

You just need to figure which drip/mist system you are going to use, before setting timings, which can be a bitch; it's as easy to over water as it is to under water.
Big pots, and buy in a soil mix if you're unsure/pressed for time etc.
As long as you don't have any disasters in your absence (which, in all honesty, is a distinct possibility, if not this grow then the next, or next...) you'll get a harvest, and definitely more than if you didn't bother at all...

Click to expand...

I was thinking of doing something similar to this, http://www.aquaserene.com/store/products.php?1578&cPath=4
Without the hydroponic aspect. Hell I'd even buy that exact system if it could work without me around too much

That's the kind of system I was thinking of as well

Better figure out where your mate will be hiding if, and when, he rips you off.

Rules for growing weed.....

1)Don't tell anyone.

2)Don't tell anyone.

Okay, so barring disasters botanical or human, what further advice do we have for the grow?...