1 sq. ft. Mirco Grow Box - Total Cost < $300 (including grow supplies)

This will be for my first grow and the goal of this project is to be cheap, safe, stealthy, and productive. Additionally, I tried to buy as much as possible from "big-box" stores.

Initially I'll be using the 12/12 from seed method and in the future may try several weeks of vegetative growth with aggressive low stress training, FIMing, and trimming/pruning before switching to the flower stage.

Below is the shopping list:

Walmart
$4.67 - Gorilla Tape
$6.47 - 4" Dryer Duct
$2.00 - Lawn and Garden organic soil mix
$8.94 - Environment Sensor; Temperature and Humidity
$0.94 - 3 pack of 9" Pie Trays; for drain tray
$11.88 - 3 pack of 23 watt, 6500K CFL bulbs
$3.94 - Bulb socket extensions (2); $1.97 each
$17.54 - 42 watt, 2700L CFL bulb (2); $8.77 each
$3.97 - Light Timer
$2.88 - Black foam board
$63.23 - Total

Lowes
$27.44 - ClosetMaid Single Door Cabinet
$4.88 - 4" Dryer Vent
$2.42 - Foam seal; 3/8" x 17'
$11.63 - Clamp Light
$46.37 - Total

Amazon
$12.99 - 4 socket adapter
$26.95 - General Hydroponics 3 pack; Micro, Gro, Bloom
$14.49 - General Hydroponics pH control
$5.23 - 2 Gallon Smartpot
$25.00 - 4" 100cfm Inline Duct Fan
$38.98 - Carbon Filter, 4" 210cfm
$5.09 - USB adapter
$15.98 - USB fan (2)
$144.71 - Total

$254.31 - Grand Total

*Note* Prices are estimates as they always change and I couldn't find the exact bulbs I got on the Walmart website. Additionally, the Inline Fan I got is quiet and "works" but doesn't move a lot of air. It's designed as a booster fan rather and a stand alone fan. Knowing this going in, I got it because it was cheap and does what I need. Also, I already had a power strip and extension cord, so those aren't reflected in the cost.

I chose this cabinet because it's cheap, already white, the back is cardboard so it can be cut with a knife, and the light height can be easily adjusted using the predrilled shelf height holes. I put the 3/8" foam around the edge of the door to act as a light seal.


The back was attached with the gorilla tape to ensure a good seal and is way better than the nails it came with. Also kept me from needing a hammer or making hammering noise.


The carbon filter will live in a cardboard box stacked on top of the cabinet. *nothing to see here*


The work light is rated for 600 watts (the one linked is 300 watts I think) so it's safe for 4 of any bulbs I could fit.


All said and done, it just looks like a uninteresting closet full of s#it.


Any thoughts or questions?

This is my first post and I'm totally new at this, so go easy.

Damn.. Looks fucking nice.. expensive though.

Looks good! I often wondered why someone would want such a small grow? The risk being the same, if you took that $300 bucks or so and bought one hid you would have triple your return in one crop. Even if you stuck it in a closet with little air flow! Lots of work for sure mate...Good Luck JAS

JonnyAppleSeed420 said:

Looks good! I often wondered why someone would want such a small grow? The risk being the same, if you took that $300 bucks or so and bought one hid you would have triple your return in one crop. Even if you stuck it in a closet with little air flow! Lots of work for sure mate...Good Luck JAS

Click to expand...

What can we say? Some people just like it small & simple..

[video=youtube;sf15C--15YY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf15C--15YY[/video]

JonnyAppleSeed420 said:

Looks good! I often wondered why someone would want such a small grow? The risk being the same, if you took that $300 bucks or so and bought one hid you would have triple your return in one crop. Even if you stuck it in a closet with little air flow! Lots of work for sure mate...Good Luck JAS

Click to expand...

Thanks!

I heavily debated back and forth on what to do but being in a small apartment I needed to be mindful of not only space, but the potential smell of a large crop.

I definitely could of bought a HID for $300, but then all I would have is the light. I'd still need a grow tent; $100, adequate ventilation $150, space, etc, etc. the price then goes up for everything else too. Keep in mind ~$50 dollars of that is nutrients, pH control, soil, and the pot... it's turn key except for the plants.

Also, I don't plan on staying here very long so I was looking for something that could be moved easily and inconspicuously.

All in all, this is more of a learning experiment and something to do rather than high yield grow-op and I'd be happy if I yield only an ounce out of one grow. And I don't even smoke ha.

Looks interesting! How "light tight" was that cabinet? Does it leak alot?

Flumpster said:

Looks interesting! How "light tight" was that cabinet? Does it leak alot?

Click to expand...

Thanks

The foam weather strip worked well but not as well as I would have liked so I used the tape to make a flap around the door and that reduced light leaks around the door to almost nothing.


Around back, the dryer vent didn't stop as much light as I had hoped and I didn't want to try painting it black because that would absorb heat and reduce reflectivity so I made a light trap out of black foam board. I forgot to take a picture of the finished light trap but just imagine you folded it up on all the lines and taped the edges. Then I stuck that on the vent and taped it and it keeps all the light in. As for the small amount of light getting out around the dryer duct hole, I just left it. It's so little and in the back of the closet and has so much stuff around it that you can't see the light on the outside and it's too dark back there during lights out time to cause problems on the inside. I could easily put tape around it and it would be entirely sealed though.


And like I said, it's intended for 12/12 from seed with lights on during the day, so at night time I don't have to worry about any strange glowing anywhere.

Hey I really appreciate the quick detailed response!

Have you done a dry run to check temps?

Anyway I'm subbed. Will follow this project as long as you keep posting!

Flumpster said:

Hey I really appreciate the quick detailed response!

Have you done a dry run to check temps?

Anyway I'm subbed. Will follow this project as long as you keep posting!

Click to expand...

No problem! Thanks for the questions.

The room temperature is in the low 70's normally so when the lights are off it's around there and when the lights are on it's anywhere between 79 and 91 depending on the height of the lights and the humidity. Generally it's in the low to mid 80's though which is a little high and would likely be remedied by a better exhaust fan.

I'm debating whether to do a journal as I go or all at once at the end. Thoughts?

Hmmm. As far as the journal, it would be cool to see your struggles/successes along the way. A down and dirty recap at the end would be cool too.

Obviously doing a journal along the way takes a fair amount of dedication and consumes a lot of time. but it would probably be easier to convey more details doing it as you go rather then as a recap. So it all comes down to what level of commitment you want to put into the project

Either way, good luck on your grow and have fun with it!

Well Done M8
Considering the environment (apt), looks like a sweet ass setup. Looking forward to some plant porn soon

Thanx for the share.

Peace and Great Grows

Asmallvoice

I started a grow diary over on icmag... check it out

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=5968049#post5968049