First Sneaky Grow Box. Input?

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

I had a budget of about $40, So I really couldn't afford much more than the lights, Soil, Cheap nutes, Etc. I'll upload a series of photos so you can get an idea of what I'm working with. Let me know what you guys think.

Now I'm betting just about everybody is saying I don't have enough light. Please note I'm only aiming to grow one plant just to see how I do. This is obviously my first attempt at making any kind of small grow room. Also, A picture of how much light is emanating from the box with my room light off.

Edit: The problem I'm having is heat issues within the box. After leaving the lights on for a few minutes, It's already getting pretty toasty in there. Maybe some input on how to get some cheap ventilation? I'm trying to avoid having a huge hose running from my closet out my window. It would defeat the purpose of a sneaky box I think.

ValiD · May 6, 2011

I think that thing's gonna catch fire pretty soon and I sure as hell wouldn't leave it out of my sight with all lights on. I have something similar for one of my plants (still a cardboard box), because it's still in vegging, and I have a flowering plant in the main tent, but I only put 2 cfls in it, and the box is pretty much double than that. With "doors" closed, the temps don't exceed 28 degrees (C). Ventilation is done "by hand", once or maybe twice a day max, by opening the doors to check it.

Here's a better and safer idea. This is what I did for my main "site" because of space considerents: pick a corner and create a tent there. That way, you won't need ventilation, assumming the place you pick it's bigger than that box. Ideally, you would have 2 walls (left/right), then a closet or something to one side, which you can cover in white paper, works great. For the roof you can use parts of that box, and tape them to the closet and walls so they don't come off. For the door you can find a bigger cardboard and use that. The bulbs can be attached to the "roof" of the box with something you can easily adjust (I just used pieces of hard wire). This way, you can easily move the roof if you need to (if the plants grow high), and still control the amount of light in the room.

I attached a plan you can follow, this is exactly how I did it, maybe it helps you. Ask if you don't understand anything. And remember: safety before anything. You don't want to wake up at night in the middle of a burning oven. Really, think hard before playing with heat, paper and electricity.

Bobby Fuse · May 6, 2011

I always fear fire when working with cardboard, and soggy cardboard if it gets wet... and it will probobly get wet.. as far as ventilation. and old cpu fan will work just fine... but if someone walked into your closet I bet they would see the box as being very suspect anyways... you can get a free cpu tower, mini fridge, even maybe a chest of drawers. why $40, plus with $40 bucks i could build about 3 mini stealth boxes.

a budget of $40 is kinda unrealistic, for a complete grow, for a stealth "build" fine yea, but your not going to grow anything massive out of that box. But I have not seen anyone use that fertilizer, whats in it? normally use something more for flowering plants not just a house hold plant fertilizer.

and by the size of things it looks like youd need to lst or scrog.. kida hard with that light in the way, I rather would have a door on the side of the box as well.

is your grow going to grow? maybe, itll work. but remember the effort you put into your grow is what youll get out of it..

Bobby Fuse · May 6, 2011

i forgot to mention, your sneaky grow has a power strip pluged into a power strip going un sneakaly into your grow closet, into a cardboard box... and chains hanging from the celing

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

Bobby Fuse said:
i forgot to mention, your sneaky grow has a power strip pluged into a power strip going un sneakaly into your grow closet, into a cardboard box... and chains hanging from the celing

The power strip into the power strip is temporary til I grab an extension cord. I'm out of them right now. The idea is to have my closet door closed, So you'd have no idea something is going on the inside. But yeah if anybody opened it, It would be pretty obvious. Sounds like it's going to catch fire anyway, Looks like I'll need to switch it up. I'll just try to light proof the closet and grow a plant right on the ground...

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

ValiD said:
I think that thing's gonna catch fire pretty soon and I sure as hell wouldn't leave it out of my sight with all lights on. I have something similar for one of my plants (still a cardboard box), because it's still in vegging, and I have a flowering plant in the main tent, but I only put 2 cfls in it, and the box is pretty much double than that. With "doors" closed, the temps don't exceed 28 degrees (C). Ventilation is done "by hand", once or maybe twice a day max, by opening the doors to check it.

Here's a better and safer idea. This is what I did for my main "site" because of space considerents: pick a corner and create a tent there. That way, you won't need ventilation, assumming the place you pick it's bigger than that box. Ideally, you would have 2 walls (left/right), then a closet or something to one side, which you can cover in white paper, works great. For the roof you can use parts of that box, and tape them to the closet and walls so they don't come off. For the door you can find a bigger cardboard and use that. The bulbs can be attached to the "roof" of the box with something you can easily adjust (I just used pieces of hard wire). This way, you can easily move the roof if you need to (if the plants grow high), and still control the amount of light in the room.

I attached a plan you can follow, this is exactly how I did it, maybe it helps you. Ask if you don't understand anything. And remember: safety before anything. You don't want to wake up at night in the middle of a burning oven. Really, think hard before playing with heat, paper and electricity.

View attachment 1586680

Thanks for the very thorough post. I don't quite understand the diagram, however. Are you suggesting Just hang lights from the ceiling, And grow the plant on the floor of the closet? That's not a bad idea I don't think, I would just need to light proof the closet so it doesn't look like I've got a bunch of stuff going on inside there. Would I be safe from fire by just having a plant on the ground, And lights dangling from chains up above?

Bobby Fuse · May 6, 2011

sounds like a better idea... a closet grow.. look into it there are plenty of posts on it here....but you would definately need an exaust going out of the closet if you use the whole closet... or build a false wall... maybe post pictures of the closet and dimensions so we could better help you out..

its not as simple as just "growing on the ground" you have to light proof water proof etc... id be glad to help with design it would give me something to do besides my obsessing and cumpulsing over my plants...

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

Bobby Fuse said:
I always fear fire when working with cardboard, and soggy cardboard if it gets wet... and it will probobly get wet.. as far as ventilation. and old cpu fan will work just fine... but if someone walked into your closet I bet they would see the box as being very suspect anyways... you can get a free cpu tower, mini fridge, even maybe a chest of drawers. why $40, plus with $40 bucks i could build about 3 mini stealth boxes.

a budget of $40 is kinda unrealistic, for a complete grow, for a stealth "build" fine yea, but your not going to grow anything massive out of that box. But I have not seen anyone use that fertilizer, whats in it? normally use something more for flowering plants not just a house hold plant fertilizer.

and by the size of things it looks like youd need to lst or scrog.. kida hard with that light in the way, I rather would have a door on the side of the box as well.

is your grow going to grow? maybe, itll work. but remember the effort you put into your grow is what youll get out of it..

I never considered using CPU fans. It's a good idea. I don't know how I'd get power to it, though. Maybe a power supply? I don't know how well that works, though, I've never tried it. Well, It was $40 because a lot of small things added up. The chain, 4 bulbs, 2 power socket to light bulb adapters, 2 light bulb splitter adapters, The soil, Nutes, Pot, Tray, Also state tax.

. I realize $40 isn't 1/10th of what I should be spending on a grow, But I'm just trying to test growing once before I dump $500 into something that I can't do in the end. Are you asking about the Miracle-Gro? I'm not sure what's in it to be honest. I made a thread a few days ago asking about what I should buy for a cheap bottle of general nutes, And someone recommended that, So I bought it. I have no idea what's in the soil, either. I just figured it was every day soil. I'm not looking to produce the next best bud to ever exist, I'm just trying out a plant or two just for the experience, And maybe in the end a little bit of bud. No matter how terrible it is. xD

Bobby Fuse · May 6, 2011

and next time dont double post...... just because no one got back to you in one hour after your post . be patient.... but the one in newbie central is a better location... we are here to help... so take everything as constructive criticism... before you waste time on sprouting your seeds and not having any results.. read some info... look at opther peoples grow boxes grow closets g row rooms. watch videos... then jump into it..

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

Bobby Fuse said:
and next time dont double post...... just because no one got back to you in one hour after your post . be patient.... but the one in newbie central is a better location... we are here to help... so take everything as constructive criticism... before you waste time on sprouting your seeds and not having any results.. read some info... look at opther peoples grow boxes grow closets g row rooms. watch videos... then jump into it..

I created the other thread because I figured this was for discussing more in-depth growing techniques. I went back to this one to delete it, And I couldn't figure out how to remove it.. Anyway, I'll be posting pictures and dimensions of my closet in a couple minutes.

Nightly1029 · May 6, 2011

Bobby Fuse said:
sounds like a better idea... a closet grow.. look into it there are plenty of posts on it here....but you would definately need an exaust going out of the closet if you use the whole closet... or build a false wall... maybe post pictures of the closet and dimensions so we could better help you out..

its not as simple as just "growing on the ground" you have to light proof water proof etc... id be glad to help with design it would give me something to do besides my obsessing and cumpulsing over my plants...

Dimensions are: 6 1/2 feet wide, 5 feet tall, 2 feet deep. I would love to get some help with a design for it. The only step by step tutorial I've watched a bunch is Mr. Green's. He builds it in his garage, But he has a lot more resources then I do. The picture I've got here shows basically everything I have to work with... It's basically only the necessities... Lights, Soil, Pot, Nutes.

Bobby Fuse · May 6, 2011

Is this your place or are you renting? I’m asking because it makes all the difference in how much destruction/construction you can do... whats your situation like??

how much knowledge do you have with electricity? can you run new wiring from your breaker? can you take the outlet and put it on on the other side of the wall?

First Sneaky Grow Box. Input?

Nightly1029

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Bobby Fuse

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Nightly1029

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