Trying to become self sufficent. (No more dealing with dealers)

[coolguymcgee]

Hey guys, I've been reading up on the forums and I've decided I want to grow my own. Not to sell, I just want to grow enough so that I don't have to buy any more.

I'm going to build a grow box with 2 compartments, 1 for cloning and veging, 1 for flowering. I want to be able to grow approximately 1 ounce per month (I understand that I won't be cropping this frequently but I smoke about a gram a day).

Is anyone able to help me out in regards to how much volume my box should have and how many watts for my lights I will need in each section of my grow box in order to achieve approximately this amount of weed?

Are there any tutorials already existing for a set-up like this? I intend to use a screen of green method.

Will I have problems with timing the end of my veg cycle and the end of my flower cycle? (I assume I can just keep pruning my veging plants until the flowering ones are finished)

Any help is appreciated thanks guys.

 

[SableZen]

Instead of trying to do veg and flower in one bigger box, I'd plan on having two completely separate grow areas. Unless you can come up with a surefire way to keep the flower side from experiencing light leaks from the veg side (harder to do then one might think in my experience). A separate tent/closet/cabinet solely for flowering, and then an entirely separate box divided up for cuttings/propagation, small mothers, and 2-4 weeks of veg sections would probably be more realistic.

You really can go as small-scale or large-scale as you want, desire, or need and there's so many ways to skin these cats. Hard to say how much any one person may use for personal use; but I just downgraded to a 36" wide x 20"deep x 60" height flower tent (doing DWC/SCROG/300-600w MH/HPS) and have a little cabinet to start veg/keep mothers that's about 20" wide x 16" deep x 32" high (w/ CFLs). I just do 2-3 small plants in 3.5 gallon buckets a time and root cuttings a little before half way through the flowering cycle in preparation for the next round.

 

[coolguymcgee]

Thanks SableZen. I'll keep all that in mind. I forgot to mention however that I am living with people (who don't mind so long as it doesn't smell) so I need to keep the grow as stealth as possible. That's why I was thinking one big box sectioned off into 2 or 3 sections with 2 different sets of lights. I'll be setting up carbon filters etc to reduce the smell and possibly some odor neutralising agent in the room with the box also if needed.

What I really need to know is how much volume I will need in my flowering area to get around an ounce a month. (3 ounces for a 3 month flowering period etc.)

 

[Merlin34]

Seperate your boxes. Trust me on this. Bugs, light, everything migrates.

 

[coolguymcgee]

Seperate your boxes. Trust me on this. Bugs, light, everything migrates.

OK, two boxes it is.

 

[SableZen]

What I really need to know is how much volume I will need in my flowering area to get around an ounce a month. (3 ounces for a 3 month flowering period etc.)

Are you going to be able to run a portable or window A/C unit in the same room (I'm assuming that running ducting to vent outside the grow area is out of the question if it's low profile)? You can get away with a lot of lighting watts in a small area if so... and your lighting/cooling is going to be the biggest factor you can plan with in how much you can produce in any given space. Lighting also determines the amount of space you'll want to use (something like 7-13 sq. ft. for 600w, and 4-10 sq. ft. for 400w, depending on cooling). So, just ballparking here (hope my math is right but I went step-by-step so you can double-check): but I'd look towards maybe a 400w dimmable HPS in something like a 2' x 4' area for flowering. Should be able to exceed your goal of 90 grams per 3 month cycle with a lot of leeway (the better your cooling situation and skill/luck, the more leeway).

 

[coolguymcgee]

Are you going to be able to run a portable or window A/C unit in the same room (I'm assuming that running ducting to vent outside the grow area is out of the question if it's low profile)? You can get away with a lot of lighting watts in a small area if so... and your lighting/cooling is going to be the biggest factor you can plan with in how much you can produce in any given space. Lighting also determines the amount of space you'll want to use (something like 7-13 sq. ft. for 600w, and 4-10 sq. ft. for 400w, depending on cooling). So, just ballparking here (hope my math is right but I went step-by-step so you can double-check): but I'd look towards maybe a 400w dimmable HPS in something like a 2' x 4' area for flowering. Should be able to exceed your goal of 90 grams per 3 month cycle with a lot of leeway (the better your cooling situation and skill/luck, the more leeway).

Thanks SableZen, exactly the info I was after.

 

[Jbone77]

Id get a 3x3 tent, do 3 gallon hempy buckets, run the lucas formula with no additives, an air cooled 600 ducted into the attic or out the window, a 4" inline fan/carbon filter, forget the scrog and forget about being perpetual if you smoke that little. No need to complicate things, order 5 fem seeds, top UB style for 4 tops and then just let them grow til you get a nice canopy in the 3x3 and flip, 4 plants under a ducted 600 in a 3x3 will each pull 2.5-3 oz pretty easily for a new grower, more after you do it a few times, 4 2.5oz plants is 10 ozs, you say you only smoke a 1/4 a week, an oz a month, 12 ozs a year, you just grew 10-12 oz with 1 grow so break the tent down and store it at that point until next year. The longer you cure your bud the better it is anyways so a month after chop it will be good, 3 months after chop it will be great. 1 grow lessens the security risk, lessens the stress(flowering is stressful, paranoia is a bitch), and will get you better bud. You will smoke a lot more when you grow your own, trust me on that, its easy when you have a half pound jarred up in the dresser to say fuck it and smoke away so if ur buddy ever comes across some fire, buy a quarter or a half and take a break from yours for a couple weeks. Just my opinion anyways.

 

[fir3dragon]

I can't give any info without a rough idea where you want to setup. Is it just open space? In a closet? What are your current temps? Why does it have to be so stealth if the people you're living with don't mind? I understand smell and sound but to me stealth would be coverting a desser or something into a grow cab. Honestly just do what j bone said... 3x3 luca s formula or even maxi bloom and Cal mag. I use maxi and Cal mag. Journal f I r results but I'm not completely done. I use coco hemp buckets with 1k watts total. A 600w and a 400w. It's totally up to you too. What do you want to do?

 

[coolguymcgee]

Thanks Jbone77, I hadn't even thought of just doing 1 big grow and holding onto it, it sounds like a much easier option. I'll have to put some thought into it.

fir3dragon, I have two possible places to grow, in the attic (harder access, larger space could possibly do a 3x3 grow) or in my closet (walk in, has a bookshelf for a door so is already stealth but has less room). In the closet space is limited (will be under a desk about 3' high) so I was thinking of having a smaller height SCROG setup. It has to be stealth in terms of smell etc. but as I'm renting and living with others who have possibly not so 420 friendly guests I would like to own some kind of stealth cabinet to take where ever I move to in the future.

There are also legal reason why it would be better to have no more than 2 plants growing at a time (can claim personal use etc. if caught). As for temps I live in quite a dry temperate place.

Thanks for the help guys.

p.s. fir3dragon your images in your journal aren't working, or at least not for me.

 

[fir3dragon]

Thanks Jbone77, I hadn't even thought of just doing 1 big grow and holding onto it, it sounds like a much easier option. I'll have to put some thought into it.

fir3dragon, I have two possible places to grow, in the attic (harder access, larger space could possibly do a 3x3 grow) or in my closet (walk in, has a bookshelf for a door so is already stealth but has less room). In the closet space is limited (will be under a desk about 3' high) so I was thinking of having a smaller height SCROG setup. It has to be stealth in terms of smell etc. but as I'm renting and living with others who have possibly not so 420 friendly guests I would like to own some kind of stealth cabinet to take where ever I move to in the future.

There are also legal reason why it would be better to have no more than 2 plants growing at a time (can claim personal use etc. if caught). As for temps I live in quite a dry temperate place.

Thanks for the help guys.

p.s. fir3dragon your images in your journal aren't working, or at least not for me.

Will a 3x3 tent in your bedroom be do able? You could still control smell and stuff. The images In my journal aren't working? They should be.. I can see them so I'm not sure why they aren't working. I grow In a spare bedroom I was just telling u to look to see maxi bloom results. It's all I use. Since its powdered I use 7 grams per gallon and then 5 ml per gallon of Cal mag. That's it. Also about the 2 plants personal use thing in all honesty if you get busted it's too late. I Take it as your not legal? Neither am I lol. I think it don't matter how many plants u get caught with cause the uh are gonna say your selling no matter what.

 

[Dracolyes]

Good shit man what i am doing is buying some MDF from home depot and making a decent sized box around 4 ft high,2.5 ft deep and 3 foot wide. I will be scrogging,using magnets inside the door so it locks along with sealant like the one in refrigerators to lock out the light and smell, then i will just use some case fans one for exhaust attached to DIY carbon filter, and a small intake for the air to passively go through lined with some carbon sheets so smell stays in. I am also with people so hit me up man if you wanna discuss ideas, im also a new grower so im willing to share and learn anything else.