New, Buying supplies tonight. Suggestions

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taliwacker

Member
Hey guys. This is my first time growing. I have read many many posts on this site and I think I am ready to get started. I'm going to be building a grow box 3.8'x2x2. For Veg light I would like to use 2x EcoSmart Compact Florescent 30watt (120watt) Bright White Lights 2100 Lumens. These should be fine for just one plant correct? For Flowering I am going to use 2x EcoSmart Compact Florescent 68watt (300watt) Spring Light White 4200 Lumens. Im using bad seed. Im lining the box with flat white material. The box will have two ventilation holes for intake and one for outtake. For soil i was going to use regular bacteria free soil mixed with miracle grow perlite. Any suggestions on soil brands? I don't want to buy anything over the internet so only local stores for me. I'm going to keep them on a 24hr light cycle until I am ready to flower. I'm a little lost on nutrients and am not sure where to purchase the right kind. Guess I'll figure that out when its time. For water I will be using distilled. After I water I will ph test the run off. Seems to be it for now. Suggestions?? Thanks Guys!!
 
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irieie

Well-Known Member
get a 150w hps and chuck the floros. you can buy one light that you can use throughout the entire life of the plants that is the most efficient and grows the best buds. if you dont wanna buy online search for a local grow shop and buy it there with cash. the incremental extra effort and money spent will go a long way come harvest.
 
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taliwacker

Member
They're CFLs if that matters? This is my first grow and I'm keeping everything as cheep as possible. Thanks for the input.
 
biffchicken

biffchicken

Well-Known Member
If you're going cheap than CFL's are the way to go. They aren't super powerful, so you need to have more of them, close to the plant. I agree with the investment for the HID lights in future for sure though. I started with HID lights though, I went and got myself a 400w digital ballast, and one MH and one HPS bulb. It was totally worth it, that's all I have to say.
 
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irieie

Well-Known Member
cfl = compact fluorescent= floros. i understand your insistence on frugality but think of the hps as an investment. for less than a quad of good bud, you can get a grow light that can produce buds for years. spend a little bit more up front and it will pay dividends in the long run, skimp on the essentials, and feel the repercussions down the line
 
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NewClosetGrower

Well-Known Member
hey bro, your going to need atleast 3 cfl's for the one plant...one on top and one on each side. i use the daylight cfl's instead of bright white but thats just my opinion. for the light cycle i personally like using an 18/6 cycle because i think the plants do better when they have a dark period. for soil you should use Fox farm ocean forrest. it works great, and for nutes you should use fox farm grow big and big bloom. there a little on the pricey side but well worth it. you get what you pay for...i just mixed miracle grow perlite into my soil and put it in a container with a lid on it (the left overs) and then i looked at the perlite bag and it says its enriched with MG nutrients, so im praying those arnt time release because you obviously cant control when the plant gets the nutes that way and you should give them nutes for the first 3 weeks IMO. and i use distilled water to bro so you should be good. good luck and keep us posted bro
 
obijohn

obijohn

Well-Known Member
I second the Fox farms suggestion. Just be aware Ocean Forest is full of good nutrients, so you shouldn't have to feed until the plant has pretty much rooted thru the soil. When you do, I suggest starting at half strength, the schedule on all the ferts are way too much, especially when you start with a rich soil to begin with. Tiger Bloom is very strong and very acidic, you'll have to monitor and adjust the PH. I didn't and started with the suggested amount and got burn. Flushed and used with Big Bloom (both at half strength with adjusted PH) about every 5 days.
 
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taliwacker

Member
Thanks everyone, switching my soil to fox farm as suggested and picking up the nutrients as well. Will post and start a grow log in the next week. Thanks again :)
 
obijohn

obijohn

Well-Known Member
By the way, I've heard mixed things about testing the runoff for PH. I've heard it really matters, and I've heard if the soil is balanced (Ocean Forest is) you only have to be concerned with the PH in the water/feedings going in.
 
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taliwacker

Member
Now you got me thinking about the HPS light. Is this all I would need? http://www.growwurks.com/sun-system-hps-150-grow-light-fixture.aspx Do I need different bulbs for the grow cycles or can I use the same bulb throughout? I've only researched CFL lighting I know nothing about HPS. Thanks.

Going to read up now.

Edit

Alright. So im going to need to following....correct me if i'm wrong-

Light fixture http://www.growwurks.com/sun-system-2-250-watt-switchable-fixture-mh-and-hps.aspx

Mh Bulb http://www.amazon.com/TCP-PS-150-Watt-Pulse-Halide/dp/B001JEPKHO

HPS bulb http://www.amazon.com/TCP-PS-150-Watt-Pulse-Halide/dp/B001JEPKHO

Is this overkill for two plants? I changed my mind about the one.........

Also, do any of you order products like this including dirt and nutri over the internet?
 
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irieie

Well-Known Member
thats all you need start to finish for a nice small grow. if you want to grow more get more watts.
 
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taliwacker

Member
Thanks for the info on the lights irieie, I think you did me a big favor. Can I use a 150watt HPS ballast and MH bulb in conjunction with each other?
 
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irieie

Well-Known Member
no you need a special switchable ballast to use mh and hps bulbs in the same fixture. the smallest switchable ballast i have seen is 250w. a mh bulb is preferred for vegetative growth but an hps will do just fine.
 
greenoutlaw

greenoutlaw

Member
T5's for veg. Bought some for the first time last month, over eletricity concerns. Nice lights and cheap like 150CDN for ballast and four bulbs...

Green Outlaw

CANADA
 
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Spoc

Active Member
You can use hps for both veg and flower BUT a mh bulb would be a better option for veg. I don't know if they make a switchable ballast for such low wattage though. If not, check into a conversion bulb (hps to mh).
 
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