A few newbie questions

[blazingserpents]

Hey guys! Bought my first house a couple of months ago! So now I'm venturing into everything I've ever wanted to do. Anyways, I bought a 6 site GH ecogrower drip system, a 150watt sun system HPS. I have this setup on a small ikea table in the corner of the laundry room in my basement. My first question is, should I section a portion of the room off/ get a grow tent or would such a large space for few plants be ok? I was just going to get Mylar and cover the area where is it. Also I have tons of sunblaster t5 h.o laying around here. Should I use these or get a 400w MH? I was thinking of running two of the 150w HPS and one 250-400w MH for both vegging and flowering. I am going to start with 3 and eventually will want to grow 6-10 at a time. Thanks for the help!

 

[Reklaw]

depends on your growing goals..

right now you are at a very MIN of what you need..... should start by searcing around the forums a little and checking other grow areas and logs...

personally just go wit with a 1 or 2 1000w MH and HPS one light instead runnin 2-4 small lamps.(gonna have to run at least 1-2 1000 w for 6-10 plants anyways.) they do have new raptor hoods that you can put 2 bulbs in one hood to save room. you also might want to just build the room for bigger better plants.. more secretive, good ventalation easyer to contain to mildew, mold, bugs, ect.

but question is.....

what kind nutes you lookin to do as well?

 

[blazingserpents]

Thanks for the reply! I'm going to use the GH flora series and use the Lucas method. I have been doing lots of research, it just seems everyone always has a dedicated room or tent I've never seen anyone use the corner of a room. Must be for a reason lol. I was thinking of buying a 5x5x6.6 tent just didn't know if it was necessary.

 

[Sand4x105]

Start with a plan... [I did]
So, that plan will be exceeded with in the first year, because growing is so damn fun...[expandable plan]
So if you plan for one room, 6' x 6' corner of laundry room...
You'll end up with two one for veg and one for bud...[happened to me]
Start with as much stuff as you have, use what you have...
Many multiple Light Types, and Styles... could work out the best for you...
Starting huge, isn't always better....
What is your end goal?
Smoke for you/woman/family?
How much do you smoke now?
Of course you'll want to become self sufficient...
Figure out what you smoke, then how you can grow that exact amount...
X two.... You're gonna love it...
Fun times ahead... !!!

 

[Sand4x105]

Thanks for the reply! I'm going to use the GH flora series and use the Lucas method. I have been doing lots of research, it just seems everyone always has a dedicated room or tent I've never seen anyone use the corner of a room. Must be for a reason lol. I was thinking of buying a 5x5x6.6 tent just didn't know if it was necessary.

Light leakage is the main reason for a tent... light proof growing...is a must, and growing in off hours to counter sun heat/night coldness are future issues....
Light proof is only needed in Bud... so, you have some time to figure that...

 

[blazingserpents]

Sweet! That's for the help guys! I ordered some God Bud and Thai Lights from VSB I'm excited to give it a whirl!

 

[prosperian]

Good luck on the grow. Sand4 has good suggestions for you. Best advice I have is to put a journal on here with pics. You will get a lot of help that way and avoid many newb mistakes.

 

[Slipon]

Start with a plan... [I did]
So, that plan will be exceeded with in the first year, because growing is so damn fun...[expandable plan]
So if you plan for one room, 6' x 6' corner of laundry room...
You'll end up with two one for veg and one for bud...[happened to me]
Start with as much stuff as you have, use what you have...
Many multiple Light Types, and Styles... could work out the best for you...
Starting huge, isn't always better....
What is your end goal?
Smoke for you/woman/family?
How much do you smoke now?
Of course you'll want to become self sufficient...
Figure out what you smoke, then how you can grow that exact amount...
X two.... You're gonna love it...
Fun times ahead... !!!

so true, tho remember, what you smoke when you grow it yourself and when you have to go for a drive and buy it is often two different things, think most Ppl. have a tendency to smoke a "bit" more when they got there own herb`s

Ooh yea Im also one of them Ppl. who ended up with a room for veg and one for Bud and started out similar to you with two plants on a table, to answer your question with the room/tent for the plant`s, well I see two main reasons, one is ventilation/odor control other is total darkness doing the night hours

 

[curious2garden]

I have a spare bathroom I use upstairs to grow in, with an NFT tube and 4 plants. If you can block all light in your room and venting you don't need a tent. My main flower room is still that spare bathroom. I use a 4x4 Secret Jardin tent for vegging and cloning I light that with T5's. You can do this in a modular manner only adding on as you learn and see the need. But buy the most flexible equipment you can.

I'd get a large T5 fixture and a 400/600/1000 ballast. I'm very happy with my Galaxy Select-A-Watt ballast but I have a friend who uses Lumatek with good results and another who won't use anything but Phantom. So shop your ballasts carefully and get a digital that can correctly fire several bulbs. I flower under 1000 in the winter and 600 in the summer.

One very important thing to remember about that ecogrower is that the roots will intertwine. It's why I switched out of NFT tubes. If a plant dies on you you are stuck with an integrated root mass. Once those roots entangle you can not move a plant. Further the plant spacing is really to close in that for optimal cannabis growth. I'd go individual waterfarms. If you are set on this method of hydro.

When I came out of NFT I went to 2 gallon pots of Sunshine Mix Advanced #4. So now I can space each plant as I see fit and it's still hydro nutrients etc... (soil is still to complex for me).
hth,
annie

 

[blazingserpents]

Thanks for all the help everyone! You guys are quick! I'm going to pick up a 600w ballast with MH bulb. That way I have T5, HPS, and MH to play around with. I'm not dead set on this system, I just did a bit of research and found people that used this system for there first grow liked it. I was thinking of getting an 8 bucket drip system that way I can space them however I want for next time. But to get my feet wet I'd like to try 3-6 plants (plus that's all I'm allowed for now.... In MY house!!!)I think I'm going to line the walls with Mylar as well and if I need to I can just make a frame to enclose the space. Also I've read mixed reviews on this matter so I will ask you guys. After my seeds are germinated I will be putting them in rockwool. Do I place the rockwool directly into the hydro balls in the net pots right away or grow them in a tray for a bit first? Also I planned on watering 30 mins 3x a day for the first couple weeks, than watering 30 mins 5x a day once the roots have expanded out of the rockwool. I have read things from running it constantly to only running it for 10 mins 2x a day. What do you guys think? Also is there any mutes I should be giving it in its first weeks after germination? I read to wait week or two to start with the GH mutes and I know to start at 1/4 strength.

Sorry for all the questions there is just so much info it's hard to know which to follow!

 

[blazingserpents]

Quick update. I ended up getting a SJ DR 150 grow tent. I'm going to get a MH and see how this setup does.

 

[TehSeclorum]

cant wait till i get my own house, good luck with the grow

 

[curious2garden]

Quick update. I ended up getting a SJ DR 150 grow tent. I'm going to get a MH and see how this setup does.

If you can only have one HID I'd start with an HPS and add a Metal Halide setup later.
Good luck, you really can't go wrong short of killing your plants. So whatever you try you can end up with pot and that's good.

 

[blazingserpents]

I currently have a 150w sun system HPS. Was thinking of adding the Lumatek 1000 watt Air Cooled Ballast Complete Light Kit Dual Voltage with a silverstar chrome 8" reflector and plant max 1000w MH. Anyone use this system? And would that be too little HPS compared to the 150w MH.