Number of plants in box?

I'm only at the planning stage at the moment. I've searched all over the forum for the answers to the following questions but so far no luck.

So, i've decided on a box size of 60cm (2') deep, 120cm (4') wide, and 150cm (5') high. Any bigger isn't really a viable option given that i live an apartment. To begin with I plan to grow in soil and i'll consider going to hydro later on once i've developed a little experience. Now my questions are as follow:

1. How many plants will i be able to grow in a cabinet this size? I'll be growing from seed to begin with. Should I start with more plants and then reduce the number as i identify the females and reject males?

2. I've more or less decided on metal halide lighting. What size and how many do i need for the size of the cabinet?

Thanks for any input.

Welcome to the site!

Since you are starting from seed, I would recommend planting more than you plan on keeping to weed out the males. You can grow many small plants or 1-3 relatively large ones in that space so it is up to you.

Your choice of HID lighting is a tried and true one. But they do get hot, hot, hot. For that space I would use at least a 400w but you have to make sure you can keep the space cool by using proper ventilation and an air-cooled hood.

And while I have not tried CFLs or the T5 fixtures, my understanding is as long as you keep the plants short (to avoid light penetration issues) you can grow some awesome bud from start to finish using them. And you avoid the high cost of the lights, electric bill and the heat issues.

Something to consider anyway. Sorry if I introduced more questions than answers

Thank you.

Hmmmmm... so now i guess i should ask how many CFLs i would need in the space?

adekiere said:

Thank you.

Hmmmmm... so now i guess i should ask how many CFLs i would need in the space?

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I am hesitant to recommend CFLs because i have no personal experience but i've seen other growers journals and you can grow some great bud with them. I also read the seemorebuds book (Buds for less:grow 8 oz. of bud for less than $100) and it is a CFL grow from a trusted source.

But again, I hesitate because of the lack of personal experience. I can heartily recommend HID lighting provided you can keep it cool! And that means an air-cooled hood vented outside the grow room and a separate exhaust fan (also vented outside the grow room).

If space is a real concearn I would recomend doing a tub grow similar to mine there is a great thread in the DIY section, they got about 4 ozs from 6 plants using 6 42w cfl bulbs

my cabinet is going to be a little more stealthy than that. i'd like something that fits in with the furniture in my place.

As I do more research I am convinced that CFLs are more than adequate for growing. I would go with CFLs and keep the plants short to avoid light penetration issues.

If you are going to use cfls/shorter plants, then you dont really need the 5 foot tall box, Personally, having used both cfls and HID, I would build the box as you stated and use an HID light with a cool tube on it, to get the most out of a box that size. with a foot print of 2' by 4' (8sq. ft.) A 400 watt HPS, would do very nicely,(a 600w would make for awesomeness) giving you 50watts/sq ft..as for using the cfls in that box, you would need so many to equal the output of the 400hps, that it would get hotter than hell in there, ventilated or not....the way I look at it, no matter how you slice it- 1 HID is easier to control the heat from, than 15-20 or 30 42watt(150w equiv.) cfls. not to mention, to get the same amount of lumens as a 400 hps, using cfls you re going to draw alot more electrical power. Cfls work good, theyre just not practical in my mind for anything more than a couple smaller plants, or for vegging under but thats about it. If you are going to build a nice furniture grade box, why down grade the inside with dime-store lighting? If you're really bent on using flourescent lighting...look at the nice multi-bulb t-5 fixtures, those will blow away cfls

I would say just use 6-8 cfls and cover the inside of the cabinet with mylar.
I doubt you'd be able to keep the cabinet the right temperature using the HPS unless you have a lot more fans.
Check this one out https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/51417-diy-4oz-minimum-yield-grow.html

The Boy said:

I would say just use 6-8 cfls and cover the inside of the cabinet with mylar.
I doubt you'd be able to keep the cabinet the right temperature using the HPS unless you have a lot more fans.
Check this one out https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/51417-diy-4oz-minimum-yield-grow.html

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6-8 cfls in a 4ft by 2ft by 5ft box would be a waste of space imo. Thats really not enough light for that size space. Sure it would work and grow a little bud, but really if you dont wanna do it right, why bother at all? Now before you guys get all angry and say I'm hating on cfl's, I'm not. I just think for this application they would not be appropriate. the box you mention here is much smaller than the proposed dimensions earlier stated. Cfls are perfect in a smaller tighter setting (ala rubbermaid grow tub), but in a cabinet thats going to have 40 cubic feet of interior volume, theyre not gonna give you the end result you most likely lookin for.Especially since the box is to be 5 ft. tall, thats a good amount of vertical space, cfls are best suited to short plants. Now keep in mind this is just my honest opinionand Im not tryin to step on anybodies toes.

BIGSIX said:

6-8 cfls in a 4ft by 2ft by 5ft box would be a waste of space imo. Thats really not enough light for that size space. Sure it would work and grow a little bud, but really if you dont wanna do it right, why bother at all? Now before you guys get all angry and say I'm hating on cfl's, I'm not. I just think for this application they would not be appropriate. the box you mention here is much smaller than the proposed dimensions earlier stated. Cfls are perfect in a smaller tighter setting (ala rubbermaid grow tub), but in a cabinet thats going to have 40 cubic feet of interior volume, theyre not gonna give you the end result you most likely lookin for.Especially since the box is to be 5 ft. tall, thats a good amount of vertical space, cfls are best suited to short plants. Now keep in mind this is just my honest opinionand Im not tryin to step on anybodies toes.

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If the 5 ft is all canopy but if you have to subtract the height of the hydro system (mine is 2 ft high) and lights (mine hang down at least 18 inches) that doesn't leave a lot of room for plants. Even if we reduce those numbers to nearly half - that still would only be 3 feet of vertical growth before they grow INTO the lights and if you want to keep at least 6" to a foot from the lights... well you see where i'm going here.

Now 5 feet of canopy space - i say get yourself some 1000 watters!

just out of curiosity how many of you guys that keep saying "use cfl's, hid is to hot!! " actually have any experience with HID? some people seem to think its akin to putting a small nuclear reactor in your closet. I dont think it is to bad at all. I dont even use a cool tube, I just have a small fan that circulates air thru my hood(as in: my fresh air intake tube blows directly on my hood) and I am able to get my light within about 7-8 inches from my plants and have no temp. issues. (my current closet is 39"w,46"d, with a slanted ceiling 48" to 84",not a big space).

i've never used CFLs - only HIDs - a dual-spectrum 400w MH and a 600w HPS (Sun System VII) and would burn the living shit out of my plants if i got it within a foot and a half of my tops. and yes - it is air-cooled with glass and a 170CFM dedicated vortex-style fan. which is why i am so adamant about pushing CFLs in a confined vertical space.

Or maybe i should downgrade to 400w or less

email468 said:

If the 5 ft is all canopy but if you have to subtract the height of the hydro system (mine is 2 ft high) and lights (mine hang down at least 18 inches) that doesn't leave a lot of room for plants. Even if we reduce those numbers to nearly half - that still would only be 3 feet of vertical growth before they grow INTO the lights and if you want to keep at least 6" to a foot from the lights... well you see where i'm going here.

Now 5 feet of canopy space - i say get yourself some 1000 watters!

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as for the hydro system...i beleive he said he was starting with soil.so theres another foot or so of airspace back, if not more.....as for hyro...you can get pretty low profile with those too(fletches pvc pole system looks like with some creativity it could be at most a foot tall)...depends on what style of hydro..i have a feeling we could go back and forth all day...lol. you guys seem to keep forgetting the whole cool tube idea as well, done properly you can really keep it cool.cool? im cool? u cool?and not to hi-jack but dont forget its my birthday!103!

Well i don't know if your going for hydro or soil but my cab could run either one depending on what you want. $120 at lowes 4x2x6 so its close to what you want. It may not match your current stuff but it doesn't stick out like a grow tent.
Good luck

BIGSIX said:

as for the hydro system...i beleive he said he was starting with soil.so theres another foot or so of airspace back, if not more.....as for hyro...you can get pretty low profile with those too(fletches pvc pole system looks like with some creativity it could be at most a foot tall)...depends on what style of hydro..i have a feeling we could go back and forth all day...lol. you guys seem to keep forgetting the whole cool tube idea as well, done properly you can really keep it cool.cool? im cool? u cool?and not to hi-jack but dont forget its my birthday!103!

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well happy b-day gramps (again). i think i am in agreement with you that i am overstating the heat issues. and there certainly are ways around it. I think i was trying to make it clear that there could be heat issues but got carried away. time to smoke i think....

email468 said:

i've never used CFLs - only HIDs - a dual-spectrum 400w MH and a 600w HPS (Sun System VII) and would burn the living shit out of my plants if i got it within a foot and a half of my tops. and yes - it is air-cooled with glass and a 170CFM dedicated vortex-style fan. which is why i am so adamant about pushing CFLs in a confined vertical space.

Or maybe i should downgrade to 400w or less

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U makin fun of my lil 430? I see how it is now. lol. I have used CFL's and ill tell you what, to match the lumen output of a said wattage HID, I would almost garauntee that you gonna have nearly as much heat created in the same amount of space....my big cfl fixture would have fried an egg if given the chance.

BIGSIX said:

U makin fun of my lil 430? I see how it is now. lol. I have used CFL's and ill tell you what, to match the lumen output of a said wattage HID, I would almost garauntee that you gonna have nearly as much heat created in the same amount of space....my big cfl fixture would have fried an egg if given the chance.

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LOL - yes you're little girly 430 is no match for my super-duper-ultra-sonic light emitter!

email468 said:

LOL - yes you're little girly 430 is no match for my super-duper-ultra-sonic light emitter!

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well you'll quit talkin shit when I start my journal using the police helicopter
search light in combination with my 8 million LED jumbotron monitor. Its so bright itll blow the ladies clothes off.

BIGSIX said:

well you'll quit talkin shit when I start my journal using the police helicopter
search light in combination with my 8 million LED jumbotron monitor. Its so bright itll blow the ladies clothes off.

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oh man - you almost killed me on that other thread (thought i was going to have a heart attack laughing) - i see you're trying to finish the job!