Beginner advice for first grow

[premier9456]

So I am beginning to gather everything getting ready for my first grow. I want to do a really basic, low cost grow the first time, until i get the hang of it. I have a few questions. First off, here are a few pictures of the spot im using (it will be cleaned out obviously). Sorry they are rotated 90 degrees, the Dynex box is right side up.

It is in my basement underneath the stairs. My plan is to get some black plastic to run down the front and back of the stairs (there is a gap between the far side of the stairs and the wall). Then i was going to make some cardboard sheets covered in aluminum foil to reflect the light. Tomorrow I am going to pick up my light. I found an old 400w shop light on craigslist for 30$ and am going to rewire it with an extension cord, as well as detach the ballast. They I was planning on mounting the ballast to the side of the stairs. Here are a couple pictures of the lights:

-Will I need to replace that bulb that it comes with (keep in mind, im going for an inexpensive learning experience)?
-Will I need to add some sort of cooling? I am planning to have a couple of small oscillating fans in the area.

As far as plants go, I will be getting 2 or 3 clones from a local dispensary. I am planning on growing them in potting soil, and not sure what sort of plant food I will use yet (haven't looked much into that yet). I was planning on starting with 18 hours of light per day.
-Any recommendations on what strain?
-Is 3 too many for my area/light?
-for this area/light would you suggest SOG?

Any other recommendations, tips, or inexpensive upgrades would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DrKingGreen]

You can definitely do 3. I would personally replace the bulb as you do not know how old it is, what color it burns at, and they loose lumens with time. I would definitely have fans in there. A couple of oscillating and a fan out would be good. What are you looking for as far as strains go? What kind of taste, high, etc? I would skip the aluminum foil and get emergency blankets instead. It will be cheaper and easier to use. Just got a couple myself at wally world. 8x4.5 for 2.97

 

[premier9456]

You can definitely do 3. I would personally replace the bulb as you do not know how old it is, what color it burns at, and they loose lumens with time. I would definitely have fans in there. A couple of oscillating and a fan out would be good. What are you looking for as far as strains go? What kind of taste, high, etc? I would skip the aluminum foil and get emergency blankets instead. It will be cheaper and easier to use. Just got a couple myself at wally world. 8x4.5 for 2.97

Thats a great tip on the emergency blankets, thanks!

If im just going to buy one bulb, what would you suggest looking for? I know that different bulbs are optimal for veg/flowering but what would work best for both?

For the strain, obviously I would like to get some good bud from it, but I was looking more in the way of a durable strain that can endure some of the small mistakes that im sure will occur.

 

[jdhutson2006]

that's so funny cause that's where my grow area is! LOL forget the foil and get some 99cent matt white spray paint or quart can and paint the cardboard. the foil has low reflective value and can make your cubby hot. not sure what you want to spend on lights, all i can tell you is what i used, couple of 100-150w CFLs, read the box and look for words like "daylight, full spectrum, 6500 Kelvin, they run around 8-10 dollars for that wattage (when it's time to flower you'll need to replace those with 2700 Kelvin). make it so you can "open up" the cubby to ventilate/get fresh air, try to aim the fan towards the lights, they can get pretty warm in a close space, yet causing slight "wiggle" on plants (don't blast em LOL). 3 should be okay in the cubby as long as you "manage" your plants' size to conform to the space. eventually you might need more lights to accomodate your plants, but you can get reflector units for bulbs with clamps for about 5dollars at Menards or wherever.

 

[premier9456]

I may get some CFL lights if I feel like the plants aren't getting enough light, but im hoping that the 400w will be enough for 3 plants. Managing the shape of my plants is definitely something I need to read up on a little more.

I have to say, I love the community here so far.

 

[Voidling]

I have no idea about the space you're talking about but be careful not to catch anything on fire with that light.

You say it's a 400w shop light but is that high pressure sodium, metal halide, or mercury vapor?

 

[premier9456]

I have no idea about the space you're talking about but be careful not to catch anything on fire with that light.

You say it's a 400w shop light but is that high pressure sodium, metal halide, or mercury vapor?

the post just says 400 watt halide

 

[Trailingpickles]

Bro you got some work ahead of you before you start growing.

If you do something At least do it right. Please!

Good luck bro.

 

[premier9456]

Bro you got some work ahead of you before you start growing.

If you do something At least do it right. Please!

Good luck bro.

any constructive criticism? I'm working on learning thats why im here

 

[DrKingGreen]

I'm growing White Widow x G13 right now and it says it is fairly resistant to mold and pests, but susceptable to caterpillars if grown outdoors. I don't know about all POG Kush but the ond of mime has been a beast. Pushed straight through any problems, super thick stalks, and has been real resistant to heat cause I screwed up a couple times. Did have one herm but I think that was just a fluke. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/spectrum-graphics1-300x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/&usg=__wq7rc3KrLD21uWTpSaAD_Zy3tps=&h=300&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=17&zoom=1&tbnid=KHJdt5yzLp_G6M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=pWYoUYipNo7W0gGLz4GoBQ&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEsQrQMwEA Wavelength chart. I think my hps bulb is ***(Wrong I got no clue), but I don't remember. You should definitely pick up a couple of cfl's or reg fluro's for your seedlings until they can handle the hps.

 

[premier9456]

I'm growing White Widow x G13 right now and it says it is fairly resistant to mold and pests, but susceptable to caterpillars if grown outdoors. I don't know about all POG Kush but the ond of mime has been a beast. Pushed straight through any problems, super thick stalks, and has been real resistant to heat cause I screwed up a couple times. Did have one herm but I think that was just a fluke. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/spectrum-graphics1-300x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/&usg=__wq7rc3KrLD21uWTpSaAD_Zy3tps=&h=300&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=17&zoom=1&tbnid=KHJdt5yzLp_G6M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=pWYoUYipNo7W0gGLz4GoBQ&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEsQrQMwEA Wavelength chart. I think my hps bulb is 650, but I don't remember. You should definitely pick up a couple of cfl's or reg fluro's for your seedlings until they can handle the hps.

Do you think if I buy them as clones I could start them at a further distance from the mh and then move the light closer as they grow stronger? If not I have no problem getting a couple of cfls for the early stages.

 

[Min8040]

I'm growing White Widow x G13 right now and it says it is fairly resistant to mold and pests, but susceptable to caterpillars if grown outdoors. I don't know about all POG Kush but the ond of mime has been a beast. Pushed straight through any problems, super thick stalks, and has been real resistant to heat cause I screwed up a couple times. Did have one herm but I think that was just a fluke. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/spectrum-graphics1-300x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.prosourceworldwide.com/&usg=__wq7rc3KrLD21uWTpSaAD_Zy3tps=&h=300&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=17&zoom=1&tbnid=KHJdt5yzLp_G6M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=pWYoUYipNo7W0gGLz4GoBQ&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEsQrQMwEA Wavelength chart. I think my hps bulb is ***(Wrong I got no clue), but I don't remember. You should definitely pick up a couple of cfl's or reg fluro's for your seedlings until they can handle the hps.

Ok I have a question about the section highlighted in red. When is the right time?
I have some seedlings outdoor atm and 1 under a cfl-tube and would like to know when it would be ok to place them under a 600hps.

 

[DrKingGreen]

That 650 must have been the cfl's actually. MH's are mostly for veg anyway so I would assume as long as the clones have a good root system they can go straight under it. I use HPS and once my clones are rooted well I stick them in. I've done a bunch of reading on light spectrums and why each works best when, but I can't find them right now. I'll link them tomorrow.

 

[DrKingGreen]

Ok I have a question about the section highlighted in red. When is the right time? I have some seedlings outdoor atm and 1 under a cfl-tube and would like to know when it would be ok to place them under a 600hps.

My first batch I put in the hps room way too early and they shriveled up like prunes. I actually forgot to move one of them with the others and put it in later. When I removed it from my cloner the root system was about the size of a quarter. I think it was about 10 days or a little more when I moved it under the hps. Been doing fine but I don't keep it as close to the light as my bigs.

 

[premier9456]

Thinking about doing pure CFL instead of buying this light. Any thoughts? I've been looking through many cfl journals and they are looking pretty nice.

 

[Voidling]

CFLs can work for a smallish grow. You need a good number of them. Remember to go by actual watts and not equivilant watts

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

that's so funny cause that's where my grow area is! LOL forget the foil and get some 99cent matt white spray paint or quart can and paint the cardboard. the foil has low reflective value and can make your cubby hot. not sure what you want to spend on lights, all i can tell you is what i used, couple of 100-150w CFLs, read the box and look for words like "daylight, full spectrum, 6500 Kelvin, they run around 8-10 dollars for that wattage (when it's time to flower you'll need to replace those with 2700 Kelvin). make it so you can "open up" the cubby to ventilate/get fresh air, try to aim the fan towards the lights, they can get pretty warm in a close space, yet causing slight "wiggle" on plants (don't blast em LOL). 3 should be okay in the cubby as long as you "manage" your plants' size to conform to the space. eventually you might need more lights to accomodate your plants, but you can get reflector units for bulbs with clamps for about 5dollars at Menards or wherever.

I may get some CFL lights if I feel like the plants aren't getting enough light, but im hoping that the 400w will be enough for 3 plants. Managing the shape of my plants is definitely something I need to read up on a little more.

I have to say, I love the community here so far.

I agree with jd get some flat white paint it reflects better (I use mylar & white paint) and you can control heat issues better with CFLs...here's my "grow closets", I only have around 150 in it..but lights were only about 80 of it so far..

 

[althor]

Get a real light, that shop ballast light is going to be nothing but a gigantic pain in your ass.

You get what you put into it. You go half-assed, you get half-assed.

 

[premier9456]

I agree with jd get some flat white paint it reflects better (I use mylar & white paint) and you can control heat issues better with CFLs...here's my "grow closets", I only have around 150 in it..but lights were only about 80 of it so far..

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are pictures 1-4 of the same room? I like the setup of that, I think i might go with something similar. Do you just veg in that one?

Get a real light, that shop ballast light is going to be nothing but a gigantic pain in your ass.

You get what you put into it. You go half-assed, you get half-assed.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. I will probably go with just cfl this time

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

Get a real light, that shop ballast light is going to be nothing but a gigantic pain in your ass.

You get what you put into it. You go half-assed, you get half-assed.

They're t5 ho lamps (and only my top lamps)...the big ones put out 20,000 lumens of 6500k and the little one put out almost 10,000 lumens of 3000k, and I have boxes of smaller 26w 6500ks & 23w 2700ks and accumulating hanging sockets to put them in..thanx for the input though, I am a n00b, but have gotten some really sound advice here..