How to maximize yield in a 16x16 (1.5 sq ft)?

First off, I'm working with a 16x16x48 tent in the closet right now - will eventually have more space to work with, but for now this is what I have.

I've completed 2 grows in this space, and while the quality has been excellent, my yields have been lacking, so I'm looking for some advice.

For my last grow, I used a 65w Quantum Board for the entire grow. The strain was Northern Lights Auto from ILGM. I used a 2 gallon pot. Like I said, the quality was top-notch, but I yielded only 20g. To keep up with my consumption, I'm looking for 50g+ per grow.

Any recommendations from the pros here would be greatly appreciated!

I realize 50g+ from 1.5 sq ft and only a 65w QB is pushing the limits, but from what I understand it is doable.

For my next grow, here is my setup:

-65w QB (same light)
-3 gal pot (1 gallon larger than before)
-Strain will be Nirvana Northern Lights (first non-auto grow)
-Going to try a longer veg period (other grows were autos) and topping

From what I've read, I feel like I should be yielding much more than just 20g per grow with my set up.

I'm open to upgrading certain equipment if need be, although I'd prefer to stick with my set up if there's a way I can get 50g+ with it. The only thing I can't change for now is the tent size (16x16, 1.5 sq ft).

Any advice?

ScroG it and try adding some extra light like some LED strips especially during flower tho extra light will veg them faster too.

If you plan to veg longer then a proper ScroG would be the way to go. Top or better yet FIM your plant around node 4 then try to FIM the new tops as soon as they have their 2nd node so you have 8 or more grow tips. Once it's all about a foot high position a screen about a foot over the soil level and have the plant in your biggest pot by then as that will be it's final home.

As the tips start growing above the screen bend them over and use pieces of twist tie to lash them to the screen and keep doing that as they grow horizontally along the screen. As side branches start growing out from them lash them down as well until the screen is almost covered in grow tips then flip to flower. You should be able to pull at least 3oz off a rig like that with 1.77 sq ft of space. I like 4gal pots for larger plants myself.

OldMedUser said:

If you plan to veg longer then a proper ScroG would be the way to go. Top or better yet FIM your plant around node 4 then try to FIM the new tops as soon as they have their 2nd node so you have 8 or more grow tips. Once it's all about a foot high position a screen about a foot over the soil level and have the plant in your biggest pot by then as that will be it's final home.

As the tips start growing above the screen bend them over and use pieces of twist tie to lash them to the screen and keep doing that as they grow horizontally along the screen. As side branches start growing out from them lash them down as well until the screen is almost covered in grow tips then flip to flower. You should be able to pull at least 3oz off a rig like that with 1.77 sq ft of space. I like 4gal pots for larger plants myself.

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Thanks for the tips. It sounds like FIM'ing is definitely the way to go.

If I got 3oz, that'd be amazing. I thought that might be a little much for my 65w QB and looked at upgrading, but I figured I'd try to optimize everything else first.

qfog said:

Thanks for the tips. It sounds like FIM'ing is definitely the way to go.

If I got 3oz, that'd be amazing. I thought that might be a little much for my 65w QB and looked at upgrading, but I figured I'd try to optimize everything else first.

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You'll likely need more light to hit 3oz but it doesn't have to cost a lot. Even a bunch of 9W 2700K LED bulbs hung around the plants will add to the usable light to boost growth and bud development. A few of those LED T-5 tubes would work well too.

I cook mine with Super HPS bulbs up to 1000w so I got the light thing covered.

In that space, and that setup i'm sure you can get a consistent 2 ounces. At least 1 and a half...

OldMedUser said:

You'll likely need more light to hit 3oz but it doesn't have to cost a lot. Even a bunch of 9W 2700K LED bulbs hung around the plants will add to the usable light to boost growth and bud development. A few of those LED T-5 tubes would work well too.

I cook mine with Super HPS bulbs up to 1000w so I got the light thing covered.

Click to expand...

I’ll have to look around at supplemental light options. Any specific recommendations here?

My only problem is a lack of space for the supplemental lights. I’m thinking I could zip tie some t5 tubes to the corner poles, and as long as I can keep the leaves far enough from them, that should work.

eyderbuddy said:

In that space, and that setup i'm sure you can get a consistent 2 ounces. At least 1 and a half...

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That’s what I’m shooting for. At least 2.

This’ll be my first non-auto so I think this next grow will give me a much better idea. It really is a great, very discrete setup. I just need to get the yield up to par.

qfog said:

I’ll have to look around at supplemental light options. Any specific recommendations here?

My only problem is a lack of space for the supplemental lights. I’m thinking I could zip tie some t5 tubes to the corner poles, and as long as I can keep the leaves far enough from them, that should work.

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Or just stand some up in the corners vertically unless you ScroG of course. Almost anything will work.

With the money you save not buying pot you can upgrade to a better grow light too. I didn't get all my stuff at once and have kept myself in pot for decades adding bit by bit to my grow gear whenever I had some extra cash.

Now I have a 12g/day med permit so if I get my grow permit I could run 60 plants legally. Got to fill out that damn paperwork!

Get away from autos and learn to fill your space to its potential. You could hit 3oz in there easy enough.
Autos are the devils work.

coreywebster said:

Get away from autos and learn to fill your space to its potential. You could hit 3oz in there easy enough.
Autos are the devils work.

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Lol. Waiting on my new seeds to come, then I’ll try FIM’ing and a ScroG. Probably won’t go back to autos, but they worked for my first couple grows.


Between doing a FIM/ScroG, having a larger pot, and it not being an auto, I think I’ll get a much better yield.

If I don’t get what I want out of the next grow, I’ll buy a stronger QB and that should do the trick.

qfog said:

Lol. Waiting on my new seeds to come, then I’ll try FIM’ing and a ScroG. Probably won’t go back to autos, but they worked for my first couple grows.


Between doing a FIM/ScroG, having a larger pot, and it not being an auto, I think I’ll get a much better yield.

If I don’t get what I want out of the next grow, I’ll buy a stronger QB and that should do the trick.

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Your space is around 1.7 square feet so the QB65 should be fine, if you do a well trained scrog and fill the net properly you could hit over 1.5gram per watt. which would be more than 3oz.
Go for a nice big cloth pot but roll it down and only half fill it, that way you have a low profile pot and lose less height.

Problem with autos is you get what your given.

Perfect your growing and training skill before buying different lights.

A screen with enough veg time to fill it and only flip when each 'square' of the screen has a node or few.
Keep everything horizontal (weave it like basket) up to the flip and then let it go vertical at the onset of flip. The longer the veg will pay off.
The nodes will shoot vertical and you'll have a fairly even completely packed canopy. You might defoliate or not depending on how you like to do things. This method will allow you to strip EVERYthing under the screen and make full use of your light footprint. There is incentive to keep screen lower to the soil level.

coreywebster said:

Your space is around 1.7 square feet so the QB65 should be fine, if you do a well trained scrog and fill the net properly you could hit over 1.5gram per watt. which would be more than 3oz.
Go for a nice big cloth pot but roll it down and only half fill it, that way you have a low profile pot and lose less height.

Problem with autos is you get what your given.

Perfect your growing and training skill before buying different lights.

Click to expand...

CannaBruh said:

A screen with enough veg time to fill it and only flip when each 'square' of the screen has a node or few.
Keep everything horizontal (weave it like basket) up to the flip and then let it go vertical at the onset of flip. The longer the veg will pay off.
The nodes will shoot vertical and you'll have a fairly even completely packed canopy. You might defoliate or not depending on how you like to do things. This method will allow you to strip EVERYthing under the screen and make full use of your light footprint. There is incentive to keep screen lower to the soil level.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I definitely have a lot of things to work on first before upgrading lights.

How long are you guys talking about veg’ing? I was thinking 4-5 weeks. That’d put the total grow around 11-13 weeks. I know that’s more a game time decision but I was just wondering what’s typical to fill out a ScroG?

Also, I’ve been removing my plants from the tent to water them since the tent is so small. I obviously won’t be able to do that with a ScroG, so I’ve been looking for a metal rack to elevate my smart pot with, have it drain into a plastic tray, and then just remove the tray and drain it occasionally. Any recommendations here? Is there an easier way that I’m not thinking of?

qfog said:

Yeah, I definitely have a lot of things to work on first before upgrading lights.

How long are you guys talking about veg’ing? I was thinking 4-5 weeks. That’d put the total grow around 11-13 weeks. I know that’s more a game time decision but I was just wondering what’s typical to fill out a ScroG?

Also, I’ve been removing my plants from the tent to water them since the tent is so small. I obviously won’t be able to do that with a ScroG, so I’ve been looking for a metal rack to elevate my smart pot with, have it drain into a plastic tray, and then just remove the tray and drain it occasionally. Any recommendations here? Is there an easier way that I’m not thinking of?

Click to expand...

You will likely need to veg longer than 4 or 5 weeks to fill the screen adequately then around 9 weeks to flower.

A rack out of a fridge or stove would probably work. I just grab one at the dump when we make a run. Then a catch pan under that but you gotta watch as when you water a lot of the time it goes straight thru unless you add it really slow so it can soak in gradually. I just dump 3.5L into my 4gal pots and let the pan fill and slowly soak back in. Something I need to do right now.

I have been doing this for a while and there is one thing I am sure of. You win some and you lose some. 20g is not great but its worth the effort in my opinion. Once you have all of the do's and don't's covered, luck still plays a big part. The seeds you end up with may or may not be what you ordered. The electricity might go out for 5 or 6 hours and get the plant's schedule all out of wack. Having a perfect, event free grow is not that easy even with a of planning and effort. My advice is to make a few adjustment, keep going and the grows will average out.

I have never gotten good seeds from Nirvana.

OldMedUser said:

You will likely need to veg longer than 4 or 5 weeks to fill the screen adequately then around 9 weeks to flower.

A rack out of a fridge or stove would probably work. I just grab one at the dump when we make a run. Then a catch pan under that but you gotta watch as when you water a lot of the time it goes straight thru unless you add it really slow so it can soak in gradually. I just dump 3.5L into my 4gal pots and let the pan fill and slowly soak back in. Something I need to do right now.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I’m preparing for 3.5 months for the next grow and my current stash being empty for a couple months.

I just ordered an under the shelf rack from amazon to try. I’ll try flipping it upside down and putting the water tray underneath it. I’ll just have to cut off the “hooks“. If it works, it’ll be perfect since it’s 3-sided and I can easily take the water tray in and out.

bartow said:

I have been doing this for a while and there is one thing I am sure of. You win some and you lose some. 20g is not great but its worth the effort in my opinion. Once you have all of the do's and don't's covered, luck still plays a big part. The seeds you end up with may or may not be what you ordered. The electricity might go out for 5 or 6 hours and get the plant's schedule all out of wack. Having a perfect, event free grow is not that easy even with a of planning and effort. My advice is to make a few adjustment, keep going and the grows will average out.

I have never gotten good seeds from Nirvana.

Click to expand...

From what I’ve read, Northern Lights is one of the safest strains to go with from Nirvana. Hopefully the genetics will be pretty consistent and stable with this one.

Any seed banks or strains you’d recommend? My problem is I’m pretty limited on height with a 4 ft tent and a Quantum Board. NL just happens to work perfect with that setup so far. I’m sure several other strains would do great too.

Here’s a picture of my massive 20g yield from my last grow

I just ordered some seeds from DC Exchange, Flaming Alien and Midnight Fantasy. It will be four months before I harvest anything from either of those.

For the longest time I have been using seeds originally from Nirvana that have been sort of o.k. but definitely not what I ordered. I grow a lot I so make a supply of seeds about once every 3 years.
I am not in business. It takes a lot of buds to make medicine.
Now that there is so much competition in the U.S. I do think seed dealers are going to have to clean up their acts.

My wife and I have a rule. Nothing ever leaves our property. No one knows and no one cares.