Decisions decisions... stealth cab hydro

So I'm really tired of paying for overpriced herb in my area, so I'm thinking about a stealth grow cab. This seems to be my best option at this point, small and personal and no one but me will ever know about it (or smoke my stuff) for that matter.

Because of the small size I'm thinking about going with some form of hydroponics. I'm obviously trying to maximize every square inch of space possible. I think if I went with soil, it would take up more space. Plus, a hydroponics system leaves itself to be automated easier I think. So I'm trying to figure out the best method to go with, DWC, aeroponics, or bubbleponics. It seems like there is a million different options I could choose.

How does hydroponics leaves itself to be automated easier?

I would say dwc my man, can pretty much do it in any size container to fit your small spaces.. I wouldnt say its automated but once you have a reliable setup you can leave it worry free for a few days but it stills needs to be tended too so dont get the wrong idea. Hydro also is less forgiving, dramatic changes you make can effect your girls in minutes

I did dwc my first grow and switched to soil for those reasons lol. Soil is way less work and takes up less space.

I've never done a serious grow in soil. Soil is way less work, but you get out of a grow what you put into it. With the yields I've seen with hydro in an 8 square foot space, soil is not an option for me.

First of all, less is more.

If its your first time growing, I'd recommend soil. Its less complicated than hydroponics, less expensive, and more forgiving of errors.

You can make up for lack of vertical space by growing in a wide shallow pot and using training to keep your plant low.

The "automation" of hydroponics is helpful when you're running 20 plants and don't want to water each one individually.
With only 1-2 plants its not much of an advantage since you'll still have to check on the plants and train them regularly no matter what system you use.

here is a pretty simple little cab i built in 3 days using 5 gal bubble buckets, this cab was built out of bordem and i wanted to try a scrog for once. it has a digi ballast with a 400w cool tube being cooled with a 97 cfm squirrel cage fan, for intake i am using 3 pc fans one large one pulling cold air in the lower part of the cab cooling the water then 2 smaller pc fans to distribute that cold air up under the canopy. im currently 4 weeks into veg the plant on the left was vegged in a flood and drain table and was put in the system less than a week ago hints the smaller root mass, these will be flipped in a week or so. the entire rig cast me about 800 including the cab itself which run about 300 on there own. DWC is the easiest system imo and turns out great results in my cab the entire shelf lifts up with plants, screen and all for easy water changes, i add 1 gal of ph'd tap water back every 2 days and change res's completely after 14 days very simple.

Jogro said:

First of all, less is more.

If its your first time growing, I'd recommend soil. Its less complicated than hydroponics, less expensive, and more forgiving of errors.

You can make up for lack of vertical space by growing in a wide shallow pot and using training to keep your plant low.

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I agree with the first statement less can be more in the end product especially with a scrog.. the wide shallow pots not so much tho they tend to dry out faster, and the roots want to go down away from the light (thats just nature) otherwise you wont get the full potential out of your girl.. compensate for height mayb lst its a little more work than a scrog but might work for your setup..

dr green thats a dope clean setup, if you dont mind me askin how you light proofing those cracks for the door I have the same kinda thing and my 400w has been creepin thru whats your method?

John Jacob said:

dr green thats a dope clean setup, if you dont mind me askin how you light proofing those cracks for the door I have the same kinda thing and my 400w has been creepin thru whats your method?

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thanks, i used foam weather stripping from wally world and just put it on all the edges, it works well in the last pic you can kinda see it on the edges of the open door. i believe it was 1/8" thick stripping i didnt want anything to thick or the doors wouldnt shut right.