Please help me get started

[JSB99]

the aquarium heater in a bucket of water was a test to see if it would raise temps to an acceptable level. i am testing out the lights prior to germinating the seeds because i want to see how the temps are fluctuating. the heater has not arrived yet so i am just trying something different.

No harm in trying stuff out, but yeah, the aquarium heater wouldn't have any impact. How warm are you able to get your tent temps using just the light, during the day? Shoot for 75 to 80. It's okay to run your exhaust fan super slow, or even on a 15 minute incremental timer, if that's what it takes to warm up the tent.

 

[JSB99]

Also, since I will be growing an indica strain, I was under the impression that I could get by with slightly lower temps. Not saying 61, but wouldn’t low to mid 70s be ok? thanks

I don't think there's a difference in temperature favorability between indicas and sativa's.

 

[JSB99]

Yes, the temps got down to 62 F this morning with the lights on. It was below freezing outside. I am not growing anything yet, just trying to figure out the temperature swings.

i have a heater and inkbird arriving tomorrow.

If you haven't done so already, you should insulate your grow space. If it's just a shell, you might want to build an outer shell, and insulate the gap.

 

[G Bear]

the daytime temps with lights on was 75. i tried the aquarium heater thing because i saw it suggested in an article. didn’t seem to work. i did read in several places about indicas being much more tolerant of lower temps because they originate from mountainous regions.

the heater arrives today and the inkbird arrives tomorrow. so i should have a system in place to maintain steady temps and humidity levels. i will think about insulating the tent. definitely something i will want for the middle of winter and dog days of summer.

 

[G Bear]

after fooling with the thermostat on the new heater, i’ve got it to where it hangs between 82-84 now with the lights off. inkbird arrives tomorrow; it’s two units, one for heat one for humidity. currently the humidity is at 35% but i do have a humidifier. will set that up on the inkbird later this weekend. seeds arrived today. getting close to starting this grow. very excited.

 

[JSB99]

after fooling with the thermostat on the new heater, i’ve got it to where it hangs between 82-84 now with the lights off. inkbird arrives tomorrow; it’s two units, one for heat one for humidity. currently the humidity is at 35% but i do have a humidifier. will set that up on the inkbird later this weekend. seeds arrived today. getting close to starting this grow. very excited.

No, no, no...you need temps in the 80's DURING LIGHTS ON. With the lights out, you should be within 15 degrees of the daytime temps. Shoot for 80 during lights on, and 65 degrees with the lights out.

80's during lights out is way too warm.

 

[G Bear]

ok i’ll adjust it and try and get it close. if i set lights off time at the warmest 6 hours of daylight, i probably wont need the heater at all during lights out. the room warms up during the day because it has a lot of windows.

i’ll get it dialed in before i get started. inkbirds arrive later today.

thanks again

 

[JSB99]

ok i’ll adjust it and try and get it close. if i set lights off time at the warmest 6 hours of daylight, i probably wont need the heater at all during lights out. the room warms up during the day because it has a lot of windows.

i’ll get it dialed in before i get started. inkbirds arrive later today.

thanks again

Just make sure you're controlling the external light. If you have any light leaks, the plants will have all sorts of issues, including possibly turning into hermaphrodites. Your plants need Total darkness during lights out.

 

[G Bear]

i got the heater figured out to where it stays between 64-70 F with lights out. prepped the black gold seedling soil and got 4 seeds in small containers. turned the heater up a click and temps are staying around 78 with lights out. gonna mist the walls to bump up humidity. will set the humidifier up on the inkbird tomorrow.

 

[G Bear]

i went ahead and put the humidifier in the tent. ive got temps ranging from 73-81 F and 74% humidity, lights off. the 4 Dakini Kush seeds are in paper seed starter cups. the soil is black gold seedling mix saturated with water adjusted to pH between 5 and 6.

 

[Zephyrs]

Thanks for the advice. Best way to learn is by doing. I’ve been reading up like crazy, watching videos, reading posts, etc. Definitely some conflicting opinions on absolutely everything.

I ended up purchasing a 4x2x6 tent and the mars hydro sp250 LED light.

I will be using a mix of happy frog soil mixed with perlite. Bought the fox farm trio and will not start any nutrients until a few weeks into the grow. The grow is probably still a couple weeks away while I continue researching.

I purchased 14 seeds of Dakini Kush.

Grabbed a couple of oscillating clip on fans to move air. Now Im looking into which fan/filter combo to purchase. Not sure whether to go with the 4” or 6”, and also which brand. Right now looking at vivosun and ipower. Seems like the 4” would be good for this small tent...but others say buy larger and just run at lower speeds.

I am also thinking about temps in the tent. It’s going to be set up indoors in a 3 season porch, uninsulated. Outside temps still getting down below freezing. Temps in the room probably down to high 40s F overnight. I can raise that by leaving a door open.

Before starting any seeds, I will get the tent set up and see how the temps are. Excited to get started and trying not to rush into it. I know I will make mistakes, just trying to limit them.

Hay Homie, Do Not over think the shit... It's just a plant like yet tomatoes in ya garden. Apply the K.I.S.S. method. Start slow, gain knowledge by hands on experience. Best of luck

 

[G Bear]

Hay Homie, Do Not over think the shit... It's just a plant like yet tomatoes in ya garden. Apply the K.I.S.S. method. Start slow, gain knowledge by hands on experience. Best of luck

oh i hear you. im just excited. thanks.

 

[Tannerwilliams919]

40 degrees is way too cold for them. You don't want anything more than a 15 degree difference between the warmth of day, and the cold of night.

Also, learn how to germinate your seeds before putting them in soil, using something like the "paper towel method".

You should be okay with a 4" fan/filter combo, but you also want to get a fan speed controller (about $20 on Amazon). You don't want your fan running full-on all the time. Just when needed. Yes, a 6" fan can be run more slowly (again, with a fan speed controller). It's up to you.

When would you run it? When would you not run it?

 

[Tannerwilliams919]

temp outside is 39 F. in the tent 68F in the room 57F. not bad

What app is that that you're using?

 

[G Bear]

no app, just a wifi weather reader device. you stick the sensor in the tent and there’s a unit that gives indoor/outdoor.

at that point i didn’t have the luxury of a temperature swing. it was freezing so i kept it constant 78-82. but this was early march.

 

[JSB99]

When would you run it? When would you not run it?

You would run it all times during lights on, but what i was referring to was running it at full speed all the time, which you shouldn't have to do.

 

[Doug Dawson]

I spent about what you're looking for...all on Amazon.

Vivosun 3X3 tent - $90
MarsHydro TSW2000 - $269 (I have it dimmed to about 60%)
Vivosun 4" Exhaust fan with Carbon filter - $120
6" fan - $20
5 Gal Fabric Pots - $20
FoxFarms CocoLoco - $20

That got me to $550-ish.

Then, there are a ton of little do-dads that you'll need, so plan on another $150 for that stuff, plus the price of the seeds. (Nutes, PH water pen, watering cans, scissors, temperature monitoring switches for the fan, WiFi temperature gauge...random stuff like that.) Overall, I think I'm under $750...or the cost of 2oz of weed where I live. So that was always my target for the first grow.

Buy better stuff from the get-go and you'll only need to spend the money once. I bought another light that I realized wasn't going to cut it. I like the vivosun tents because they are metal poles with metal corners that snap in. I was weary of the plastic corner kits that were a little cheaper.

Good luck!

"I think I'm under $750...or the cost of 2oz of weed where I live " Oh you poor man. $750 for 2 oz, that is criminal. I always cringe when I hear prices like that, glad you are growing and not paying those prices any more. I will leave the advice to the experts here but had to say something when I saw those prices. Did your dealer wear a ski mask? LOL

 

[Doug Dawson]

Thanks for the advice. Best way to learn is by doing. I’ve been reading up like crazy, watching videos, reading posts, etc. Definitely some conflicting opinions on absolutely everything.

I ended up purchasing a 4x2x6 tent and the mars hydro sp250 LED light.

I will be using a mix of happy frog soil mixed with perlite. Bought the fox farm trio and will not start any nutrients until a few weeks into the grow. The grow is probably still a couple weeks away while I continue researching.

I purchased 14 seeds of Dakini Kush.

Grabbed a couple of oscillating clip on fans to move air. Now Im looking into which fan/filter combo to purchase. Not sure whether to go with the 4” or 6”, and also which brand. Right now looking at vivosun and ipower. Seems like the 4” would be good for this small tent...but others say buy larger and just run at lower speeds.

I am also thinking about temps in the tent. It’s going to be set up indoors in a 3 season porch, uninsulated. Outside temps still getting down below freezing. Temps in the room probably down to high 40s F overnight. I can raise that by leaving a door open.

Before starting any seeds, I will get the tent set up and see how the temps are. Excited to get started and trying not to rush into it. I know I will make mistakes, just trying to limit them.

I would say a 4" fan would work great in that space. I set up the same size Vivosun tent and I run the 4" exhaust fan I purchased at around 1/4 speed which sucks in the walls of the tent just slightly. It can be turned way up but is more than sufficient for that size tent. There are many out there but I purchased this one and it has been working great for past 4 to 5 months. There are cheaper but I can say this one works very well, is quiet and comes with all you need out of the box.

Amazon.ca

 

[G Bear]

this thread is a little old. plant’s already been flipped. here’s the most recent pic of the bush.

 

[Doug Dawson]

this thread is a little old. plant’s already been flipped. here’s the most recent pic of the bush.
View attachment 4575243

That is a beautiful looking plant, congratulations.