Pretty beginner - realistic "goals" / advice?

[Poker22]

I had done one grow before, small closet grow with 6 cfl's and two girls. Ended up with a whopping 14grams dry... yeah not much at all although it was a fun experience. *this was a natural grow, no nutes*

I am considering trying this again for numerous reasons (chronic PAINNNNN, don't want to buy off the streets ..). But I don't want to "cheap" out as much as I did with the cfl's.

What I'm looking at:
600w HPS AND MH
Grow Tent OR Build One??? -probably build one because of my space
I have about 5feet(60") x 3feet(40") x 6feet(70") of space (WxLxH)
nutes? I'm not too sure
seeds/soil/pots/other misc items..
This will cost approx. $400-600.

Although it depends on MANY factors will I be able to yield AT LEAST 2 ounces per girl?
Reason being I do NOT want to spend MORE money on supplies and end up with a yield worth less than what I spend to start up! I remember "researching" and people were getting multiple ounces per girl with CFL'S! And I was quite disappointed by my yield. At least the quality cheered me up!​

 

[polyarcturus]

how many girls where you trying to grow at a time?

perpetual?

rent or own you home? relevant to building or buying a grow tent, buy a tent if you rent is my slogan, unless of course you in with the landlord and no problems there.

 

[polyarcturus]

500-600$ budget is a good plaace to start, as for you flower area do you have anther area to veg or set up a veg tent. closets are good for veg.

also if your planning on keeping you plant count down i would do hydro, it will yeild more and hempy style is pretty cool has caught my eye recently.

 

[irishsmoker89]

I agree with polyarcturus about the tent vs. building. As far as soil I would go with fox farms happy frog, its around $15.00. Depending on room you can use 3 or 5 gallon pots. I prefer fabric grow bags but they cost a bit more. General Hydroponics Flora Series is a great way to start and is one of the most cost effective base lines on the market. As for yield, I'd say it is possible to get two zips a plant but, that depends a lot on genetics and veg time amongst the 1 million other factors. If I were in your position I would get some high yielding highbred feminized seeds from the Attitude, veg them to two or so feet high and then send them to flower. I brought in good yields in my dorm room with a 600W HPS for flower and a 100W 2' T-5 for veg. Um...I hope I didnt miss any questions or get too off topic. Good luck!

 

[Poker22]

For nutes, maybe the foxfarm or flora bloom series? Would a 32oz bottle be enough for one grow?
Flora.. grow/micro/bloom 32oz bottles.

I figured soil would be easier than hydro..?

how many girls where you trying to grow at a time?

perpetual?

rent or own you home? relevant to building or buying a grow tent, buy a tent if you rent is my slogan, unless of course you in with the landlord and no problems there.

Around 3 OR 5.
not an issue, I plan on building as it would probably be cheaper than a $175 tent

500-600$ budget is a good plaace to start, as for you flower area do you have anther area to veg or set up a veg tent. closets are good for veg.

also if your planning on keeping you plant count down i would do hydro, it will yeild more and hempy style is pretty cool has caught my eye recently.

I plan on just veg'ing in one room, then turning that into a flower room - for the time being. Just want to see if/how things work out with the results.

I agree with polyarcturus about the tent vs. building. As far as soil I would go with fox farms happy frog, its around $15.00. Depending on room you can use 3 or 5 gallon pots. I prefer fabric grow bags but they cost a bit more. General Hydroponics Flora Series is a great way to start and is one of the most cost effective base lines on the market. As for yield, I'd say it is possible to get two zips a plant but, that depends a lot on genetics and veg time amongst the 1 million other factors. If I were in your position I would get some high yielding highbred feminized seeds from the Attitude, veg them to two or so feet high and then send them to flower. I brought in good yields in my dorm room with a 600W HPS for flower and a 100W 2' T-5 for veg. Um...I hope I didnt miss any questions or get too off topic. Good luck!

I can't get fox farm over here. I'll just have to find some "good quality" soil. I plan on using 5 gal's. Thanks for your input, I would go sativa because of the larger yield but I need a heavy indica for my pain. How about trainwreck? Northern lights? ak-47?

 

[Brokeoldbloke]

Don't forget about ventilation. A bigger light means bigger plants/yields but it will create more heat. Bigger plants will need more air flow to supply enough CO2. Maybe an air-cooled tube/hood and centrifugal fan w/ducting unless you plan to leave the door open. I'd go with a tent placed out in the room but if you have to use the closet then just paint or put up some reflective material. I'd also suggest using 3 gal pots with the best potting-soil you can find locally. I'm finding Hempy is a cheap easy method but soil is pretty forgiving. You can always try it later. Two ounces is realistic but I'd would just recommend trying to keep them healthy start to finish. If you can do that then the yield will follow.

Good Luck!

 

[Endur0xX]

regarding the tent or building, I strongly recommend building if you own the place... tent will onlly last so many grows before you start getting light leaks.

 

[irishsmoker89]

All are solid strains! You may also want to look at MK Ultra by TH Seeds. It's G13xOG Kush. I have had a great cutting since I started growing and will never not run it. The smoke is great and it's yield is really good. The plant can take a beating too and, it comes in femanized. If your using just regular off he shelf soil be sure to mix some perlite in so that it drains well.

 

[Poker22]

Don't forget about ventilation. A bigger light means bigger plants/yields but it will create more heat. Bigger plants will need more air flow to supply enough CO2. Maybe an air-cooled tube/hood and centrifugal fan w/ducting unless you plan to leave the door open. I'd go with a tent placed out in the room but if you have to use the closet then just paint or put up some reflective material. I'd also suggest using 3 gal pots with the best potting-soil you can find locally. I'm finding Hempy is a cheap easy method but soil is pretty forgiving. You can always try it later. Two ounces is realistic but I'd would just recommend trying to keep them healthy start to finish. If you can do that then the yield will follow.

Good Luck!

The HPS/MH kit i'm looking (at $250) has a aircooled tube. I'm planning on building the box and just leaving it in the middle of my room. (NOT a closet, a full size room). Using flatboard on the 2x4's and painting it white. If I left a "screen vent" at the top would that be okay? And then close it at night for a "Light tight seal", during the day t stays open? I have a oscillating fan inside but no inline fans(they're so expensive!)

regarding the tent or building, I strongly recommend building if you own the place... tent will onlly last so many grows before you start getting light leaks.

Oh, that's good to know! I would rather have something that will last.

All are solid strains! You may also want to look at MK Ultra by TH Seeds. It's G13xOG Kush. I have had a great cutting since I started growing and will never not run it. The smoke is great and it's yield is really good. The plant can take a beating too and, it comes in femanized. If your using just regular off he shelf soil be sure to mix some perlite in so that it drains well.

I'll take a look at that strain too, I think I've heard of it .
Here's the soil I'm looking at:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/nature-mix-vegetable-gardens-and-herb-mix-30-litres/916868
OR
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/natural-premium-potting-soil-10-litre/917861
It contains -

A premium mix containing peat moss, enhanced humus, compost, perlite and vermiculite, specially formulated for flowering plants.​

 

[polyarcturus]

i would fuck around with whats on sale since your new, you just need good genetics. wait till the month ends for the promo you could get a killer deal and walk away with sativas and indicas possibly.

also cause your keeping your pplant count down you should look into SCROG and HEMPY STYLE hydroponics.

aslo there are good tents on EBAY from the seller peaktop, wont hold CO2 but are good tents that dont leak light, cheap and sturdy.


if you do go soil from homedepot just get the regular professionals potting mix, mostly peot moss, dol lime and perlite. you have to feed pretty consistently though, or use organics fertilizer.

remember you need

HOOD
bulb
Ballast
FAN
Carbon filter first and foremost. that right there is the majority of the budget.

 

[polyarcturus]

as far as strains stick with the classics and you will always be safe buy from people that have been selling for longer than ive been alive.

Barneys farm, Dutch Passion, Sensi Seeds, and world of seeds. stay away from thier new strains and crosses from thier original strains to outside strains.

for example barney farm blue cheese is awesome(they have some of the original skunk/cheese from big Buddha and blueberry) but stay away from their strains crossed from strains they have no claim to. g13, Kashmir, mazar, thai, jamacan ect they have no claim to these strains and have not bred them to proper standards yet. pick from the stuff they have been breeding for years.(strains that make this list tangerine dream, LSD, laughing Buddha, ect., sweet tooth although "unknown hybrid" is a legit strain from them)

 

[irishsmoker89]

I picked up a similar product this spring for planting a regular tropical house plant. I didn't use my "growing" soil because its not actually soil per say and doesn't hold water for more than 72 hours or so. Any how, I figured I'd try some of the dirt I used for my house plant on an auto flower just for shits and gigs. The auto flower was stunted after the second week because its roots couldn't get enough air. After 4 weeks I ended up just chopping the little girl because she was so tiny and I was afraid she would herm out. Long story short, do as Mr. (Or ms.) polyarctus suggested and get something heavy with peot moss and perlite. Also, waiting until the sale's is brilliant advise! I always try to buy during that time as you generally get some great genetics for free.

 

[Brokeoldbloke]

TheHPS/MH kit i'm looking (at $250) has a aircooled tube. I'm planning on building the box and just leaving it in the middle of my room. (NOT a closet, a fullsize room). Using flatboard on the 2x4's and painting it white. If I left a"screen vent" at the top would that be okay? And then close it at night for a "Light tight seal", during the day t stays open? I have a oscillating fan inside but no inline fans(they're so expensive!)

Here's the soil I'm looking at:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/natural-premium-potting-soil-10-litre/917861
It contains -
A premium mix containing peat moss,enhanced humus, compost, perlite and vermiculite, specially formulated forflowering plants.

You need an inline fan w/ducting for the air-cooled tube. A couple of bends in the duct run will keep the light out. If you are using a passive intake without ducting then you can build a light block fairly easily if needed. A cheap black 90deg plumbing elbow makes a good light block. I also recommend you think about odor control unless you want your house to smell like your plants. The soil you linked sounds fine to me just do a little research for other grows using a peat based soil.