First Time Indoor Grow, HELP!! PICSSS

I have always wanted to grow and finally i decided to, so my friend got 7 seeds from a random bag he bought which i was told was some sort of exotics, so i researched and researched leading me to the germination of the seeds which i did by placing a wet paper towel on a plate the seeds on top then a paper towel on the seeds, i placed them under a cushion in the top of my shed which was averaging 80 plus degrees, 36 hours later they all had popped to about a centimeter white tail. Before i germinated the seeds i messed around with grow box ideas, one that really caught me was the computer box which i had an extra one, so i tore it apart got the two fans out of it for exhaust and intake, and as i went on i changed my light idea from a work light to a 15 watt 18inch flourecent, but it didnt fit and inside the computer there wasnt alot of space so looking around i found a better idea, a large plastic box, so i ran the exhaust and intake fans, and for light i putt in 2 26 or 100 watt cfls and one 15 watt flour. i put sheet metal i had lying around on two walls, i started out with my plants inside a tin pan with water in it but i started to noticed that the soil was sucking too much water up from the bottom so i got 2 tin pans turned them upside down and put a ton of holes in them for drainage then put the five planters on top, i am using a miracle grow plant feeder, and i decided to use the 24/7 light veg methoed, please let me know any advice and if the lighting is right anything i really want these plants to work i have pictures posted thanks

Is stealth an issue for you? And take that sheet metal out of there right away!! metal absorbs heat very well and will turn that box into an oven. Also those nutes will do..for a noob like yourself, buut your gonna need some different nutes for flower. Growing good weed will cost money. consider it an investment

Young Macdonald said:

Is stealth an issue for you? And take that sheet metal out of there right away!! metal absorbs heat very well and will turn that box into an oven. Also those nutes will do..for a noob like yourself, buut your gonna need some different nutes for flower. Growing good weed will cost money. consider it an investment

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stealth is a little bit of an issue but not too much, and do you think my lighting is okay? and how often should i water the plants and how much water, and im getting better nutrients soon

That box will be an alright place to start your little plants. Have you thought about where you will take them when they are big budding females? The lighting you are using is alright. When you get farther in though you will need much more light. If all 7 of those seeds make it you will probably need to get a 400W HPS. I would also recommend finding a different fertilizer. I think you need to read a little more into nutrients. You are off to a solid start. You need to think bigger though. Two rubbermaids stacked on top of each other can hold roughly 3-4 flowering plants. That may be your best option if you need to keep it stealthy.

Hemp4Victory said:

That box will be an alright place to start your little plants. Have you thought about where you will take them when they are big budding females? The lighting you are using is alright. When you get farther in though you will need much more light. If all 7 of those seeds make it you will probably need to get a 400W HPS. I would also recommend finding a different fertilizer. I think you need to read a little more into nutrients. You are off to a solid start. You need to think bigger though. Two rubbermaids stacked on top of each other can hold roughly 3-4 flowering plants. That may be your best option if you need to keep it stealthy.

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ok well i ended up with only 5 plants and this box is only for until they are about 3-6 inches then i will move them to a larger pots in a larger box, and im still wondering if the 24 hour of light for veg state is good? and how much water to be giving the plants, thanks for the help so far

water when the soil feels a bit dry and with so little light 24 hour is probably best for you.

Those lights will do for small plants but your going to need atleast 4 more for later stages if your sticking to cfl's. I would also put those 2 pc fans at the top of the box where the lights are and get a couple more pc fans or small fan to circulate the air in the bottom.

I'd use both your fans as exhaust and just have holes as passive intakes...make the passive intakes bout 2x the size of the exhaust...like if it's a 4inch fan exhausting then have two 4inch holes for passive intakes...you'll get alot more efficiency that way.

I personally wouldn't worry about fertilizers for about a month or two, when the plants use up all the nutes in the soil.

I agree with getting that metal out of there too...you'd be much better of just painting it flat white on the inside, if you do paint it make sure to either get that plastic paint or lightly sand the inside so the paint will stick better..otherwise the humidity later will most likely cause it to flake off and get on your plants/soil...making a huge mess.

...honestly the best advice I think I could give is to do alot of reading on this site as well as others and really educate yourself on what you're doing...it will save you alot of stress later on.

just a few suggestions, but it looks like you're off to a good start, keep it safe and good luck.


also, what kind of soil are you using?

I don't really like 24 hour light for vegetation. There are a couple reasons I feel this way: 1. When you constantly leave your lights on the equipment never gets a chance to turn off and cool down shortening its life span. 2. Everything I have read tells me that after about 18-20 hours of light the plant no longer efficiently gathers the light and needs some dark time to let the roots really go to work. 3. Your electrical bill will be slightly smaller if you turn your lights off every so often.

Hemp4Victory said:

I don't really like 24 hour light for vegetation. There are a couple reasons I feel this way: 1. When you constantly leave your lights on the equipment never gets a chance to turn off and cool down shortening its life span. 2. Everything I have read tells me that after about 18-20 hours of light the plant no longer efficiently gathers the light and needs some dark time to let the roots really go to work. 3. Your electrical bill will be slightly smaller if you turn your lights off every so often.

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im using Miracle gro mosture control potting soil that feeds plants up to 3 months, its a brand new bag i just bought, and thanks for the lighting info i decided to change my lighting to 20 on 4 off and i plan on getting two 5 by 5 large fans one for exhuast and one for induction which will give it more than enough air, plus there is speed control, i took the metal out last night a.s.a.p but so far so good i just water all the plants a little bit then shut the lights off

dubtown109 said:

im using Miracle gro mosture control potting soil that feeds plants up to 3 months, its a brand new bag i just bought, and thanks for the lighting info i decided to change my lighting to 20 on 4 off and i plan on getting two 5 by 5 large fans one for exhuast and one for induction which will give it more than enough air, plus there is speed control, i took the metal out last night a.s.a.p but so far so good i just water all the plants a little bit then shut the lights off

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well i have another light i want an oppion on, it is a heat lamp from an old gecko cage, it currently has a 100w gecko basking light which i would like to know if you guys think it will work right or if i should just put another cfl in it, and should i put that it now so that it has another or does it not need it? and im currently building a six foot tall 3 foot deep by 4 foot wide grow box out of 2 by 4s and plywood which will have 10inch induction and exhuast fans and 10 cfls with 1 4 foot flourcent will post pics soon

dubtown109 said:

well i have another light i want an oppion on, it is a heat lamp from an old gecko cage, it currently has a 100w gecko basking light which i would like to know if you guys think it will work right or if i should just put another cfl in it, and should i put that it now so that it has another or does it not need it? and im currently building a six foot tall 3 foot deep by 4 foot wide grow box out of 2 by 4s and plywood which will have 10inch induction and exhuast fans and 10 cfls with 1 4 foot flourcent will post pics soon

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That bulb wont work and will create loootttss of heat i have the same one as a basking light. That socket and holder will hold some cfl's/ go to home depot and get 1 or 3 y splitters and some more cfls.
Or are you going to use a hps grow light for your new grow area?

Young Macdonald said:

That bulb wont work and will create loootttss of heat i have the same one as a basking light. That socket and holder will hold some cfl's/ go to home depot and get 1 or 3 y splitters and some more cfls.
Or are you going to use a hps grow light for your new grow area?

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yeah im getting the splits at lowes for when i make this a double rubber maid then in the new grow room im getting a 1000watt hps with reflector since there will be about 30+ plants

dubtown109 said:

yeah im getting the splits at lowes for when i make this a double rubber maid then in the new grow room im getting a 1000watt hps with reflector since there will be about 30+ plants

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ok well i just added another 26watt cfl in the plant light in the previous pictures, could anyone let me know how long until i should be expecting the plants to come above ground, thanks

in 3-7 days they should start popping up. And if your going to do 1000 watt dont forget a ventilation << most first time growers do and its one of the most important things.

nickbbad said:

in 3-7 days they should start popping up. And if your going to do 1000 watt dont forget a ventilation << most first time growers do and its one of the most important things.

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looking good one sprouted here's a picture of the new grow box in the process of being built

Are you sure that will be big enough for 30+ plants?

Hemp4Victory said:

Are you sure that will be big enough for 30+ plants?

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no i changed my mind on design at first it was gonna be 6' by 3' by 4' now its 4' by 45" by 33" to fit where i needed it so it will only hold about 10 flowering plants but alot more veging plants

dubtown109 said:

no i changed my mind on design at first it was gonna be 6' by 3' by 4' now its 4' by 45" by 33" to fit where i needed it so it will only hold about 10 flowering plants but alot more veging plants

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just looked at the plants three are above ground, i think my humidity is right its between 30 and 40%, but im having heat problems with the 4 cfls in the box it is above 100 degrees with 3 and some more ventiliation i got it down to 90 but i need some ideas on how to get it cooler with all 4 in there

better fans