Complete Noobie Here.

Been talking about doing it for a while, well my buddy finally gave me some seeds he had(just some baggie seeds, nothing amazing that I know of)

I have been doing SOME reading over the last couple of days and needless to say I jumped right on it when I got the seeds from him.

I need some advice, and things that need to be changed(alot, I know)

This is just a temp setup I threw together so I can hopefully get them started while I set things up for them properly.



Light for now is a 4ft 40w florescent. I am still trying to understand the lighting math if you will.

Goals for this are atleast one successful plant, just trying to get it down good before I move to a bigger scale.

What needs to be done next? Ventilation obviously, but from here, Im kind of lost.

Thanks guys.

PS - I got another closet I will be moving these to here shortly(its also my office) but my computer is down atm and I dont spend alot of time in there like I used to so once its back up Ill be migrating them.

Not even one reply? Its that bad? lol

xsvthoughts said:

Not even one reply? Its that bad? lol

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*yea.. its that bad..

--gratz on the closet.. *thats how i popd my cherry
----uumm, so you got ur seeds.. ur light bulb.. now your just gonna need a pot (get 5gal/10gal).. and some dirt/soil (get some from osh-lowes-homedep.. look for miracle grow)
--if you got any other Qs.. just post them, and ill keep an eye out

--cheers

I figured those small pots would be OK to get em started, I can transplant later, the seeds are in the soil(miracle grow) I watered them last night, let the light on all night, woke up this morning, set them out in the sun in the backyard, ran some errands, came back when it was getting dark, moved em inside back under the light.

Whats a general time frame so I know whether or not these seeds will come up or if they are trash?

Lol its hard to be like you need this this and this when your all stoned...

You need to decide what type of light to veg/flower under (that light won't cut it for long). Then decide medium (soil/soiless) and nutrients. Also a feeding schedule.

Basic tools include ph test kit, ppm tester blah blah. Resevour to mix nutrients. Exhaust fan and ducting like you said. I could go on FOR DAYS. The best advise is to buy a grow bible of some sort to learn the basics. Maybe browse some already existing forum chats here that adress the same problem. Ther are tons of them.

Something like this will work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Hydroponics-pH-Test-Control-Kit-Up-and-Down-/260828358284?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cba94e68c

xsvthoughts said:

I figured those small pots would be OK to get em started, I can transplant later, the seeds are in the soil(miracle grow) I watered them last night, let the light on all night, woke up this morning, set them out in the sun in the backyard, ran some errands, came back when it was getting dark, moved em inside back under the light.

Whats a general time frame so I know whether or not these seeds will come up or if they are trash?

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I always germinate my seeds in a paper towel its the easiest way to tell wether your seeds are good or not.also DONT take your plants outside then inside your bringing bugs in your house that later will DESTROY them.as for what you need you need information.look around and find out your next move because as peyote said we could go on for days.get some soil ,pots and some GOOD nutrients (not freakn miracle grow) hit a hydro store and they will have everything you need and also will help you if there cool.tell them your growing vegetables(he will know what you mean) and good luck

xsvthoughts said:

Something like this will work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Hydroponics-pH-Test-Control-Kit-Up-and-Down-/260828358284?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cba94e68c

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yes perfect its what i use.now get some nutrients and your golden.that 4 foot floro will do for a while (all the way till flower) then id suggest getting a 400 watt hps light.also get some lamps and cfl bulbs(big as you can) and then place them all around your plants for maximum light.

johnman2880 said:

I always germinate my seeds in a paper towel its the easiest way to tell wether your seeds are good or not.also DONT take your plants outside then inside your bringing bugs in your house that later will DESTROY them.as for what you need you need information.look around and find out your next move because as peyote said we could go on for days.get some soil ,pots and some GOOD nutrients (not freakn miracle grow) hit a hydro store and they will have everything you need and also will help you if there cool.tell them your growing vegetables(he will know what you mean) and good luck

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Gotcha. All of the stores around here are in the not so good parts of town, but on the flip side, I guess thats why I got a carry permit.

I ordered that ph tester.

Im going to get some new bulbs for this floro because I just noticed they are "kitchen and bath".

I got some buddys who work at an electrial supply house and can get me anything I need.

The only reason I placed them outside because I felt like the pots were still a little to wet, so I was trying to get them from wet to moist if they makes any sense.

I moved everything around earlier today I will get some pics when later on once my roommate leaves.

Read the guide in my signature for growing with nuted soil. Also You should start looking at CFL bulbs. They are those twisty ones. I wouldn't jump right out and get an hps/mh $200 lighting system til you know you wanna grow. Go to walmart, get a couple of "Daylight" cfl's to start with, and hook them up to whatever you please, and keep them on your sprouts.

Isnt a floroscent the same as a CFL?

CFL = compact floroscent light?

Unless I am mistaken?

You're going to need that light a lot closer than that, probably within 6 inches of the top of the sprouts....when they sprout of course.

Motorbuds said:

You're going to need that light a lot closer than that, probably within 6 inches of the top of the sprouts....when they sprout of course.

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Actually you'll want it even closer than that. at least an inch or 2 at most. that one bulb will not put off enough heat to hurt your baby, all though you still don't want her touching the bulb. Stay high.

xsvthoughts said:

Isnt a floroscent the same as a CFL?

CFL = compact floroscent light?

Unless I am mistaken?

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yes but their compact.not big tubes your gonna need a few of them and the highest + to wattage you can get /I used 150 watt equivelents and they work great.thats why i said to get lamps so you can place tham all around your plants once they get bigger.you will see what i mean when they get bushy

shrxhky420 said:

Actually you'll want it even closer than that. at least an inch or 2 at most. that one bulb will not put off enough heat to hurt your baby, all though you still don't want her touching the bulb. Stay high.

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all my plants have touched my bulbs and not 1 burn.but as a rule i go at least an inch away

shrxhky420 said:

Actually you'll want it even closer than that. at least an inch or 2 at most. that one bulb will not put off enough heat to hurt your baby, all though you still don't want her touching the bulb. Stay high.

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Well, I was erring on the cautious side with him since he said that he's a complete noob. I would personally go about 2-3 inches away but with a light that weak I doubt it will mean a whole lot.

Motorbuds said:

Well, I was erring on the cautious side with him since he said that he's a complete noob. I would personally go about 2-3 inches away but with a light that weak I doubt it will mean a whole lot.

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I hear ya, my veg station is really weak, I have 4 32 watt floro tubes. Like jonman said, they won't burn, or at least shouldn't. Mine touch sometimes as well with no damage. stay high

I moved em up about 14in or so, they are still about 6in from the light.

Some people are saying the light is to weak, others are saying its fine for now. Would it be worth my time to grab another 4ft housing and throw 2 more bulbs in there for a total of 4 40w bulbs?

I mean that can be accomplished for under 20 bucks, so thats cake.

xsvthoughts said:

I moved em up about 14in or so, they are still about 6in from the light.

Some people are saying the light is to weak, others are saying its fine for now. Would it be worth my time to grab another 4ft housing and throw 2 more bulbs in there for a total of 4 40w bulbs?

I mean that can be accomplished for under 20 bucks, so thats cake.

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that's pretty much what i have 4 bulbs on top of a 55 gal fish tank, I say my veg setup is weak, but it works, and that is key, and like you said it's cheap. stay high.

edit: oh and get that light closer... 2 inches away at most!