Rubbermaid grow boxes - Yield?

zwh02

Well-Known Member
For all those who have home-brew rubbermaid (plastic storage tubs) grow boxes, what are you yielding in dry weight per plant? Approximate/average...
CFL's or HPS? What strain or type of plants?

Thanks...
 

Cr8z13

Well-Known Member
There's nothing special about growing using storage bins. Put something together where you'll be able to grow 2-3 plants about 3ft tall. Depending on strain and quality of care you give as a grower, you can yield 1-3 ounces per plant. If you ask me, you're better off growing in an inverted trash can.
 

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
There's nothing special about growing using storage bins. Put something together where you'll be able to grow 2-3 plants about 3ft tall. Depending on strain and quality of care you give as a grower, you can yield 1-3 ounces per plant. If you ask me, you're better off growing in an inverted trash can.
Agreed!

I started in a large rubbermaid storage container. I even debated making it into a flowering chamber, but decided against it. With all the work involved in turning it into what I needed was too much.

If you are looking to save $ an inverted trash can would work better.

I still recommend trying to put together a cabinet, or making use of an old cabinet or something.

Depending on where you are check craigslist for free stuff liek furniture, etc.

I'm sure you can make something work.

Might I ask why you would want to use a storage container?
 

zwh02

Well-Known Member
Agreed!

I started in a large rubbermaid storage container. I even debated making it into a flowering chamber, but decided against it. With all the work involved in turning it into what I needed was too much.

If you are looking to save $ an inverted trash can would work better.

I still recommend trying to put together a cabinet, or making use of an old cabinet or something.

Depending on where you are check craigslist for free stuff liek furniture, etc.

I'm sure you can make something work.

Might I ask why you would want to use a storage container?
Good points and interesting idea on the trash can. Forgive me, I'm stoned, but do you guys mean a metal/aluminum trash can or like on of the tough duty plastic/hard rubber ones? Can you elaborate on why you think this would be a better grow "box" .. ? Has anyone done this?

My reason for the storage container is stealth, cheap, and lack of room. I certainly know they far from ideal for grow spaces... I was initially constructing a wood grow box, 3 ft long, 1.5 ft wide, and unfortunately only a little bit over 2 ft tall due to the space I was storing it under only allowed that much height. I figured I only wanted to grow lowryders but have now long since decided against that. Oh, I could also have my grow box in my bedroom closet if it were a rubbermaid deal. The wood box idea would have to be out in the separate small insulated room inside my garage.
 

Cr8z13

Well-Known Member
I was referring to the large plastic garbage cans, not metal. The reason why I think they're a better idea than a storage bin is because it clears the height issue and gives you full access to your plant from top to bottom. The taller your plant grows in a space without bottom access, the harder it's going to be to maintain. I'm not saying you shouldn't grow in a storage bin, just saying that it has it's downsides.

You ought to try and find an old double vertical door file cabinet or some kind of storage cabinet. One of those will look a little less conspicuous in a closet than a 2-3 rubbermaid storage bin monstrosity.
 

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
I had a hard time trying to find a storage bin that was black. And I never did! And I think if i did it still wouldnt keep enough light out for the dark cycle. Lot of work will go into setting up a storage container to be a grow room.

The rubber garbage cans are thicker and dark inside. Like he said you can access the plant from the bottom as well.

I'd imagine a pc intake fan at the bottom, a pc exhaust fan at the top and either cfl on y sockets, or some other type of low heat lighting in there.

Id rather invest the time in using a piece of furniture like a cabinet or something though.

I'm glad i invested the time & money in building my box =]
 

zwh02

Well-Known Member
I had a hard time trying to find a storage bin that was black. And I never did! And I think if i did it still wouldnt keep enough light out for the dark cycle. Lot of work will go into setting up a storage container to be a grow room.

The rubber garbage cans are thicker and dark inside. Like he said you can access the plant from the bottom as well.

I'd imagine a pc intake fan at the bottom, a pc exhaust fan at the top and either cfl on y sockets, or some other type of low heat lighting in there.

Id rather invest the time in using a piece of furniture like a cabinet or something though.

I'm glad i invested the time & money in building my box =]
Yeah maybe I should look for a cheap or free cabinet that I can stick in my closet. I want to go the 150 watt HPS method so a wood box might be a must.
 

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
Yeah maybe I should look for a cheap or free cabinet that I can stick in my closet. I want to go the 150 watt HPS method so a wood box might be a must.

150w hps is going to generate some heat..you will either need that thing in a cool tube, or a hell of intake/exhaust fan

you said stealth so im wondering how your going to deal with the sound generated by that stuff =O

I would have preferred a 400w hps for my grow, but decided against for first time around...down the road i will upgrade my intake/exhaust, and add a 400w hps in a cooltube, but im happy for now. ive seen some nice bud on here from cfls and look forward to trying my own in another month or so =]
 

zwh02

Well-Known Member
150w hps is going to generate some heat..you will either need that thing in a cool tube, or a hell of intake/exhaust fan

you said stealth so im wondering how your going to deal with the sound generated by that stuff =O

I would have preferred a 400w hps for my grow, but decided against for first time around...down the road i will upgrade my intake/exhaust, and add a 400w hps in a cooltube, but im happy for now. ive seen some nice bud on here from cfls and look forward to trying my own in another month or so =]

Yeah, I would need to engineer quite a ventilation system to kill that heat. Most of my hope comes from the fact that most folks seem to say that a 150w HPS generates the same amount of heat 150w of CFLs do. And I've seen some rubbermaid grows with a bunch of CFLs in 'em.


By sound, do you mean from the intake/exhaust fans? Or sound generated from the lamp itself? Sound would be less of an issue inside my room, believe it or not. I always have at least one fan on in my room anyways (my window fan, heater or computer), so the fan buzz from the grow box would be unnoticed.
 

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I would need to engineer quite a ventilation system to kill that heat. Most of my hope comes from the fact that most folks seem to say that a 150w HPS generates the same amount of heat 150w of CFLs do. And I've seen some rubbermaid grows with a bunch of CFLs in 'em.


By sound, do you mean from the intake/exhaust fans? Or sound generated from the lamp itself? Sound would be less of an issue inside my room, believe it or not. I always have at least one fan on in my room anyways (my window fan, heater or computer), so the fan buzz from the grow box would be unnoticed.
I meant the sound of the intake/exhaust fans.

I have 2 110w t5's...they produce very little heat! i havent seen a 150w hps in person yet, but i have seen a 250w hps and it produced a lot of heat =O.

I think when i upgrade my box Ill go with a 250w hps and put it in a cool tube....ill also upgrade the intake/exhaust on my box to get some nice airflow around my plants as well =]
 

skunknumeraluno

New Member
my set up is a 3 foot trash can that i bought from wal mart its heavy duty black kind. i started with a 70 watt hps mounted to the bottom of the lid and the cords running out the top, then i switched the light for a 150 watt hps about a week ago.. the hole time ive used a 8 inch fan on the side of it with a few holes on each side of the trash can to let air in an out... it has never gotten over 80 inside the box during the day, i am 19 days into flowering i have 2 ice cream clones inside set up as a mini scrog... must say it is doing fairly well:weed:
 
For all those who have home-brew rubbermaid (plastic storage tubs) grow boxes, what are you yielding in dry weight per plant? Approximate/average...
CFL's or HPS? What strain or type of plants?

Thanks...

Hey I'm wanting to do the same thing right now for the same reasons as you.
did you ever wind up using the storage bin and if you did please gimme all of the advice you can!!!!! :)
 
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