jdub - Good luck on your first grow. 2 ozs a month ey? Damn; that's a lot kid. But since I'm stoned, I won't judge...Anyways, I have about 18 months under my belt in growing, and I've learned a lot. I had the same set up as you originally (a descent sized walk-in closet), but the problem I encountered was ventilation with the 400 watt high pressure sodium bulb. You can overcome this easily if you have a couple good vans and don't mind leaving the door open at all times. If you're able to do that, you're golden. I'll give you my step-by-step (dumbing it way down):
1. Buy a big bag of basic potting soil. This will be enough for four plants. Lowes - $5
2. Buy four 5 gallon buckets with lids. These will be the homes for all your plants. Lowes - $4 each (lid included)
3. Buy two (or three if you can) 4' flourescent light fixtures. Lowes - ~$15 each
4. Buy bulbs for light fixtures (you need two bulbs per fixture). Make sure you get the most lumens. Lowes - ~$7 per bulb
5. Buy six 1/2" eye hooks. Lowes - ~$1 each
6. Buy All-In-One plant fertilizer (I used Schwartz the first time). Lowes ~$5
7. Buy four (or six) 3' lengths of chain. Lowes ~$.50 per foot
8. Rooting compound. Lowes ~$5
Supplies:
---Power strip, box fan, oscillating fan (i.e. cheap fan that moves back and forth), water pitcher, drill, 1/4" drill bit, 1/2" drill bit, step ladder
Process (eliminating basics, search on this site for details):
#1 Get plant ready
1. Drill 8 - 12 holes in bottom of bucket with 1/4" bit
2. Place bucket in area where muddy water won't be a problem
3. Place soil in bucket - fill to top
4. Soak bucket with ~gallon of water
5. Dig hole for plant; top of plant should be slightly above the soil line
6. Set plant in hole and toss more soil on top of plant's original soil
7. Let water drain out; set bucket on lid; transport to grow room
#2 Get room ready
1. Measure holes for eye hooks where plants will be. One 4' fixture will light 2 plants. I like keeping the lights up against the back so that I can use the closet for clothes too. Hopefully your joists run parallel to the door opening (i.e. the 9' distance will be the direction the lights are hung).
2. Drill holes in ceiling joists with 1/2" drill bit; drill one hole over the area that will be the center of the plants (this will hold the HPS bulb during flowering)
3. Hang lights with chain provided; use extra chain if needed (I also like using clips like those at the gym to adjust the chain easier)
#3 Pull it all together
1. Set the plants under the lights
2. Adjust the lights so that they are 1" - 2" above the plants. I've heard of people keeping them higher, but I like the leaves nearly touching the bulbs. I like leaving a little gap in case I forget to check on them one day.
Viola, you're all set for growing these girls as big as you want.
Now you're ready to flower, this will cost you a little more money. You need to buy a HPS ballast and bulb. The ballast you can get refurbished online for ~$125 (I forget the company I used, but you can find one between now and when you're ready to flower). The bulbs you can get from Lowes for ~$25 each - they last a year.
After flowering, you will love the fact that you will never need a flowering/veg room. Leave a few buds toward the bottom of the plant after harvesting (buds will be where new leaves grow), and re-veg them. I takes about two weeks for new leaves to form, and five - six total weeks before you can reflower. I like leaving a few six inch branches (assuming you topped the girls early on); these branches help make the second/third/fourth flowerings very bushy.
Some other items you might want:
---Fungus gnat product - the stuff that is crushed seashell (white powder). All soil will have some of those darn things in it. They don't do anything to the plant, but they're really annoying. This product is awesome and takes about 10 days to fully work, but you'll get completely rid of them. The nice thing with this re-flowering method is that you never need new soil (at least I can tell you thru three flowerings the girls are still going, but I'm sure they'll eventually quit flowering)
---Fox Farms Trio (Grow Big, Tiger Bloom and Big Bloom I think are the names). I can tell I get a much bigger plant with the Fox Farms stuff, but it doesn't make the pot any stonier. If you're tight on money, spend it on the lights first, then nutrients.
---Vertical flourscent fixtures. If you can buy two more additional 48" fixtures that would run vertically/horizontally to the plants, you will get the plant to get better branches on the bottom. I also put all lights on the same timed power strip during flowering.
---Timer. During flowering it's nice to have a timer so the girls are on and off the same time. Not necessary, but convinient. Don't get worried if your time is off a few hours each day; they'll be fine.
Items I've never used:
---PH adjuster. I bought PH testing kits, and I think it's a waste. Just follow the fertilizer suggestions, and you'll do fine. If you see brown tips, add a nitrogen rich nutrient, or a drop more of the all-in-one. You could get really scientific and say that might "lock out nutes" or whatever everyone likes to quote, but from experience, that's the only issue I've had, and adding a LITTLE more clears it up.
---Hydroponics. It's taste, but hydro is much more maintenance. After you have the first batch of soil, you're done. Keep using the same plants to reflower. Hydro is also much more difficult to tear down if "something" every comes up that requires you to ditch the set up quickly.
---Fancy cloning machines. A clear plastic cup over the pete cups works just fine. Just make sure they stay wet and get light on 'em. Temperature doesn't matter much either - I've cloned in all sorts of places. I've also always put light on right after planting. My success rate is ~50%. Yep, some die, but I don't really care as long as one or two make it out of nine.
---Special chemicals. I used Schwartz all-in-one for a long time. It's cheap and it worked. I can tell my yield is up ~25% with Fox Farms, and I have fewer problems. But other than that, I have no special chemicals to bring up Ph, down Ph, adjust any specific nutrients.
Other words of advice:
---Don't overwater - it takes a while for them to come back - I've killed a couple
---Give lots of light. You can't over light a plant (at least I never have). To test if the lights are too close, hold the palm of your hand by the top of the leaves facing the light. If it's hot to touch, back off the lights. Flourescents can touch the leaves.
---A healthy plant can survive 5 - 6 days without water. I haven't left her longer than that, but she held on. If she gets underwatered (you'll know b/c she's all droopy and the pot's really light), pour two gallons of water on her (about a quart every 10 minutes). She will shed the first gallon, then slowly absorb the rest. She will come back to life in like 45 minutes.
---Don't overreact to issues. Relax, read this board, then SLOWLY try to change things. Wait a least a week to see if your plan of action worked before trying something else or increasing dosage. Weeds are very resiliant.
K, my buzz is almost gone now.
Good luck!
) thnx in advance.
