Onamatopeia
New Member
Hi there. Thanks for stopping by for this true undergrow story!
I have grown outdoors, in ridiculously hard to access places, in the Eastern time zone since 2000. My style was find the hardest to access places- through thickets of thorns, nettles, and tics, and grow there. While animals sometimes ate my whole crop I never got caught. I always dreamed of going indoor, but never did. In many ways I was addicted to the adventure of a guerrilla life- sneaking around, trying not to make a trail, carrying 60 pounds of water and trying to pretend it was just a regular book bag, etc.
A couple things changed my mind recently. Mostly new (for me) knowledge about LED lights and grow tents. I realized that with today's LEDs, in today's tents, a small grow could happen without an electric bill spike, detectable heat signature, and without altering my living space at all. I am now medical, even though my state has almost no infrastructure. AND I figure I can do the whole grow including all equipment, for under $500.
So that is my mission. I am a total noob in indoors. Outdoors, once you get the plant established it would be a week to a month between visits. Now I can look at them every day. In many ways I am very familiar with growing, which I expect to be a huge plus. In other ways, I am not only a noob but my eyes glaze over with technical details. Boring!
I am kicking myself, because if I started two months ago I could either a) be halfway done by now or b) have some really nice plants ready to plant outdoors to grow into monsters! Ah, dreams of next season already.
This season, I just want to have a successful grow. My first rule is, basically, don't make any major mistakes and I should pull a couple z's. Anything above two I would consider a success, but it is very possible I will do better than that! I realize that this will not be close to maximum yields- that's for future grows! But I will do everything I can to finish with top quality medicine.
Okay, some grower info.
What strain? These are outdoor strains I have been breeding for 15 years. Unfortunately, with time my nice indicas disappeared as around here they mold up so fast in later flowering. I have picked 5 of my earliest flowering plants from years past and germed a couple of each. So, I will grow out from heterosex seeds.
What medium? Soil. I figure it is probably the easiest, plus I know it already.
I have used Miracle Grow potting mix for forever. This year, since the bag says it will feed the plants for six months, I grabbed the new Miracle Grow Organic potting mix, which appears to have no time-release food.
I am trying to keep it simple and inexpensive.
So far out of my $500 I have spent $290.
2X4 tent= $90
"300 W" LED = $120
6- 5 gallon plastic pots = $30
6- deep liners under pots = $10
Miracle grow soil, 2 organic potting mix, 1 regular potting mix = $25
Transplanter trowel = $5
Water crystals= $10
My biggest worry is that my light is underpowered. If it is, I figure a) I can still grow in a smaller area and b) when I switch to flower I might get one of those "bloom" LEDs and c) if this light really doesn't power anything I'll just buy another one to add to it. So my eyes are open to how they respond in the first couple weeks.
Why water crystals? Well, I have always used them. Plus, there are two different times I may have to leave the place for a week. Between the deep liner trays and some strategic water crystals, I am hoping I can leave for a week without disaster.
Today I cleaned the space for the tent and set it up, and got the last of my immediate supplies. I have not yet bought everything. For example, at the moment I have no dedicated fan, carbon filter, thermometer, pH meter, speed controller, or even plant food.
That's okay. I sprouted 15-20 seeds. Tonight I will mix up my soil, put 'em in pots, set the beans in the pots, and turn on my brand new light in my brand new tent. Then I'll post some pics.
Thanks to everyone who has read this far. It should be a really fun journey!
I have grown outdoors, in ridiculously hard to access places, in the Eastern time zone since 2000. My style was find the hardest to access places- through thickets of thorns, nettles, and tics, and grow there. While animals sometimes ate my whole crop I never got caught. I always dreamed of going indoor, but never did. In many ways I was addicted to the adventure of a guerrilla life- sneaking around, trying not to make a trail, carrying 60 pounds of water and trying to pretend it was just a regular book bag, etc.
A couple things changed my mind recently. Mostly new (for me) knowledge about LED lights and grow tents. I realized that with today's LEDs, in today's tents, a small grow could happen without an electric bill spike, detectable heat signature, and without altering my living space at all. I am now medical, even though my state has almost no infrastructure. AND I figure I can do the whole grow including all equipment, for under $500.
So that is my mission. I am a total noob in indoors. Outdoors, once you get the plant established it would be a week to a month between visits. Now I can look at them every day. In many ways I am very familiar with growing, which I expect to be a huge plus. In other ways, I am not only a noob but my eyes glaze over with technical details. Boring!
I am kicking myself, because if I started two months ago I could either a) be halfway done by now or b) have some really nice plants ready to plant outdoors to grow into monsters! Ah, dreams of next season already.
This season, I just want to have a successful grow. My first rule is, basically, don't make any major mistakes and I should pull a couple z's. Anything above two I would consider a success, but it is very possible I will do better than that! I realize that this will not be close to maximum yields- that's for future grows! But I will do everything I can to finish with top quality medicine.
Okay, some grower info.
What strain? These are outdoor strains I have been breeding for 15 years. Unfortunately, with time my nice indicas disappeared as around here they mold up so fast in later flowering. I have picked 5 of my earliest flowering plants from years past and germed a couple of each. So, I will grow out from heterosex seeds.
What medium? Soil. I figure it is probably the easiest, plus I know it already.
I have used Miracle Grow potting mix for forever. This year, since the bag says it will feed the plants for six months, I grabbed the new Miracle Grow Organic potting mix, which appears to have no time-release food.
I am trying to keep it simple and inexpensive.
So far out of my $500 I have spent $290.
2X4 tent= $90
"300 W" LED = $120
6- 5 gallon plastic pots = $30
6- deep liners under pots = $10
Miracle grow soil, 2 organic potting mix, 1 regular potting mix = $25
Transplanter trowel = $5
Water crystals= $10
My biggest worry is that my light is underpowered. If it is, I figure a) I can still grow in a smaller area and b) when I switch to flower I might get one of those "bloom" LEDs and c) if this light really doesn't power anything I'll just buy another one to add to it. So my eyes are open to how they respond in the first couple weeks.
Why water crystals? Well, I have always used them. Plus, there are two different times I may have to leave the place for a week. Between the deep liner trays and some strategic water crystals, I am hoping I can leave for a week without disaster.
Today I cleaned the space for the tent and set it up, and got the last of my immediate supplies. I have not yet bought everything. For example, at the moment I have no dedicated fan, carbon filter, thermometer, pH meter, speed controller, or even plant food.
That's okay. I sprouted 15-20 seeds. Tonight I will mix up my soil, put 'em in pots, set the beans in the pots, and turn on my brand new light in my brand new tent. Then I'll post some pics.
Thanks to everyone who has read this far. It should be a really fun journey!