First-Time Indoor Growing - Starting at the Beginning - Advice Welcome!

[AnonIdent]

I'm trying to set up a pro, albeit small operation.

I'm moving into a new apartment in a few weeks and I'd like to set up one or two plants to grow. I've just started this process and have been trying to read a bunch online and now I finally have enough information to start asking somewhat coherent questions.

I will be posting my trials and tribulations throughout this whole process.

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Grow-tent: I want to be able to grow one or two plants in my bedroom Dark Room II? (2'x2'x4' --- maybe?). There are just so many options and I'm not quite sure what to do. I want to ensure I have a high quality set-up and don't want to cut any corners

Light: Not quite sure what to get, but it seems that a strong LED light would be effective here. A similar user here is using a 400 Wt HPS bulb, but I'm not quite sure what the pro's con's are here---only that a bright cool light is required

Heating/Ventilation: Fan draws air in from the outside puts it through a carbon filter (remove odor). This keeps CO2 levels low, humidity low, and temp low. Right? Anything specific that needs to be considered for a fan

Watering/Soil: I'm probably going to use pre-made soil. Haven't quite gotten this far yet.

Seeds: Probably buy these online, no medical card, so again not quite sure.

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When I'm trying to start out what else do I need to consider, what's the best way to go about actually starting? Cost isn't a huge concern, but I'd like to be efficient ---- eg Buy the wrong grow-tent/light/etc.


I'm really just looking for some help and a guiding hand.

 

[Mrblowalot]

UR only growing two plants so why not start off by Mylar the closet walls an use it unless u just want a tent. U could spend thousands of dollars an end result may b shit don't get wrapped up n that. If you stay with jut two I think a 150 or 250 is perfect make it a mh/hps system as u grow promise that will change. Nutes r trial an error. Attitude seeds an have patients they will do the rest

 

[Mrblowalot]

Carbon filter u can get a 4in combo an will need to bring in fresh air. Fans for instance follow a temp of not more that 80 an nothing less than 70 UR plants r like u as for comfort if u hot as hell they r to same as cold. An just do it don't make it hard it's not

 

[Mono]

I'd say your choice of tent is perfect for what you are looking to do.

A 400 watt hps is reliable and perfect for vegging and flowering 2 - 3 plants, they get hot, but with a good extractor and carbon filter you will be fine.

I would recommend canna products for soil and nutes if you get them in your area. In my opinion they are good value for money.

 

[AnonIdent]

Here is what I've chosen so far for my grow tent


Tent: Secret Jardin Dark Room II Pro 60 - 24 x 24 x 64 Inches ----135$
Light: iPower 400 Wt MH/HPS Kit (includes ballast,timer,dimmer) --- 185$
Ventilation:4'' inline fan w/ carbon scrubber (exhaust) --- 90$

What else would I need to construct the grow-tent itself? I think I would need a thermometer,humidity probe as well? Also what tubing is typically used? Do I need an intake fan as well?

----After I square away what grow tent I'm buying I'll be posting more about actually growing!

 

[TaylorMade420]

i would recomend a ph pen, good luck

 

[AnonIdent]

A few people have said that the 400 Wt light would be too hot. Recommendations for a cooler light? Should I go for a smaller MH/HPS or change or to CFL?

 

[TaylorMade420]

buy a cool tube, then run it like this [filter]- [cooltube]- ectractor fan pulling air out through cooltube and fiter should keep tems down a bit or buy another inline and set up filter sperately

 

[Mrblowalot]

Taylormade I'm wit cha

 

[GreatLife4All]

Here is what I've chosen so far for my grow tent


Tent: Secret Jardin Dark Room II Pro 60 - 24 x 24 x 64 Inches ----135$
Light: iPower 400 Wt MH/HPS Kit (includes ballast,timer,dimmer) --- 185$
Ventilation:4'' inline fan w/ carbon scrubber (exhaust) --- 90$

What else would I need to construct the grow-tent itself? I think I would need a thermometer,humidity probe as well? Also what tubing is typically used? Do I need an intake fan as well?

----After I square away what grow tent I'm buying I'll be posting more about actually growing!

I bought the IPower Ballast and light set and it quit working within 5 months. I would look for a better ballast. (I don't want to sound negative. The ballast died when the circuit breaker popped. But a lot of ballasts have built in protection against this... Unless you can guarantee a clean power supply, I would get a better ballast. There, I feel better with this edit).

The Secret Jardin grow tents are pretty awesome - would be hard to beat that one for your purposes.

A 4" fan should be sufficient for your grow and tent size. And if you set the ventilation up properly, you shouldn't need anything more than passive intakes.

 

[KingJohnC]

i use a lumatek 400 watt digital ballast that can also be dimmed down to 250 watts for vegetative growth, it also has a super lumen function that can over power the lamp by 10%. you want a metal halide lamp for vegetative growth and a high pressure sodium lamp for flowering. i think a temperature/humidity gauge, ph meter, ppm meter, 30x jewellers loop should be part of any grow. subscribed

https://www.google.com search 30x jewellers loop

https://www.google.com search temperature humidity gauge

https://www.google.com search ph meter


https://www.google.com search ppm meter

 

[GreatLife4All]

https://www.google.com search temperature humidity gauge

I really like this one here:

Meade TS33C-M Temperature and Humidity Sensor with LCD, White

and this is the base:

Meade TM005X-M Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermo Hygrometer

You purchase the base, and then up to 3 additional sensors - and all can be viewed from the same base station. Very convenient for a grow operation.

I agree - the lumatek is a great ballast. That is what I purchased to replace the IPower. Much better quality and construction

 

[Mono]

Could always just go for a cheap light and ballast kit on amazon to start out...

 

[GreatLife4All]

Could always just go for a cheap light and ballast kit on amazon to start out...

That is the IPower.

And yes, I did go down that road...

 

[Truth Seeker]

Is this grow still alive?

If so, please update us with some pictures and info.

How about posting a 420 Strain Review?

If you need any help with posting photos, please read the photo gallery tutorial:
Photo Gallery Guide - How to Resize, Upload & Post Photos

I am moving this to Abandoned Journals until we get updates.

Thanks and hope all is well in your world.

Love and respect from all of us here at 420 Magazine.