First time grower, looking for some help.

Well I have decided to start growing for my own gain and I've already started reading and doing tons of research...I literally spend more time doing more work for this grow box than I do for my homework and I'm making all A's in my classes, so that should tell you something.

Now, I have decided that it's time to get my DVD boxes and CD cases off of the floor, and figured I could just make me a large DVD case to hold them, and have the bottom counter used to grow weed.

The bottom dresser will be 4 feet long, about 2 feet wide, and about 3.5 feet tall. That will be where I'll be growing, and on top of that will be the area I make to hold the DVD's.

Now, I have planned to make a hidden way to open the box. I came up with the idea to let the front of the box look like it's not made to be open, but it will actually have a hinge on the inside so that it will open and lean up with a lock on the bottom that has to be unlocked for it to actually open. The whole box will be setting on a set of legs that are only a few inches tall, to allow air flow and so I have room to reach under to unlock the hidden lock for the door.

I will be using 2 light fixtures that hold 6 lights each, and I'll be using CFL's. The ones I'll be using are 100 Watt replacements, they only use 26 Watts each and produce 1700k lumens each. Will this be enough light for 3 plants, and will I even be able to fit 3 plants inside?

Also, I may have a problem with the light leaks. Since I plan on having the front door open up without it looking like it should, I was wondering how I'll be able to stop light from leaking. I was thinking about using some of that insulated stuff for windows, but that will catch someone's eyes and they would wonder why it is there. I'm not the best at cutting wood, so using a router is out of the question.

Any ideas for a better way to open and get inside the box?

Here is a rough picture of the plans, I hope my paint skills aren't too bad.


http://img41.imageshack.us/i/growbox1.jpg/

I'm not sure why it won't let me post the picture....

Here are a few random questions. You don't have to go into great detail answering these.
1. When planting the seeds, is a 75% Miracle-Gro potting mix and 25% perlite a good set up?
2. About how long does it usually take until you can start cloning? How long does it take the average clone to grow fully?

I am sure more questions will come, I'll be putting on a good movie and lighting up in a little while and get back to researching and trying to figure this thing out so my Cyber Crystal seeds have a home to go to when they get here.

sounds like a nice cabinet you have planed. you did not say anything about it so make sure you have a good fan setup to keep it cool.

as far is making it light tight maybe some panda film placed inside to block the door, as in you open the hidden door then pull up the panda film to get to your plants.
or maybe open from the back..

now as far a amount of cfl's with 12 bulbs at 1700Lumens..

4' X 2' = 8'
1700 x 12 =20400 Lumen
20400 divided by 8 = 2550 lumen per foot
a little bit low..

maybe change in a few 42w 2700 lumen to bring it up..

with all 42w it comes out to 4050lumen(great)

with 1/2 &1/2 42w/27w it comes out to 3300 lumen ( I consider 3000 min)

I would put as many as I could in until I hit thermal limit..lol..


soil I don't use anything but fox farms start in happy frog and transplant to ocean forest after sexing. some people use MG. and have great luck with it but, also hear horror stories, so buyer beware I guess..lol..

Scyntra said:

sounds like a nice cabinet you have planed. you did not say anything about it so make sure you have a good fan setup to keep it cool.

as far is making it light tight maybe some panda film placed inside to block the door, as in you open the hidden door then pull up the panda film to get to your plants.
or maybe open from the back..

now as far a amount of cfl's with 12 bulbs at 1700Lumens..

4' X 2' = 8'
1700 x 12 =20400 Lumen
20400 divided by 8 = 2550 lumen per foot
a little bit low..

maybe change in a few 42w 2700 lumen to bring it up..

with all 42w it comes out to 4050lumen(great)

with 1/2 &1/2 42w/27w it comes out to 3300 lumen ( I consider 3000 min)

I would put as many as I could in until I hit thermal limit..lol..


soil I don't use anything but fox farms start in happy frog and transplant to ocean forest after sexing. some people use MG. and have great luck with it but, also hear horror stories, so buyer beware I guess..lol..

Click to expand...

That is some great information. I can NOT believe I didn't think about putting some plastic to hang down and I just move it when I want to get inside.

Having them all 42W would cost me a decent price over $100 in just the bulbs alone, so that is basically out of the question. I may be able to get 2 more light fixtures and add 12 more of the 26W lights(then I'd have 2 on top, one in front, and one in the back). I just really want to use 26W bulbs because I can get them for free(If you use the Walmart brand...you can return them for a new box when the old ones go out as long as it is within 2 years and you have the receipt).

I had fans on the bottom of the set up to get cool, fresh air in. I'm still in the process of getting them, I'm hoping that they will be quiet. Would 2-3 fans on the bottom to bring in cool air and one close to the top for an exhaust be good enough for 24 26W bulbs?

So how many plants would I be able to grow in a 4x2 area?

I'm doing a 3'x3' grow area SOG in 2 gal pots...growing 4 plants @ 3' height each. 3 zips a piece usually...

Okay, I have a quick question. The lights I had planned to use, and bought, were 26W with 1,700k lumens. I then found 2 lights in my car while I was just outside smoking, and saw that they were 13W with 2,700k lumens.

Would the 13W lights actually be better? Would they not produce as much heat and still kick out more lumens? I'm hoping so, because I could get tons of these for free because I'm a display vendor for Lowe's and we get tons of them left over from their lighting department.

LoL...fuck man...load em' up in your grow box! If heat's an issue...just put a small oscillating fan in there...
never used the 13 watters though...I do the cheapo Home Depot 4' tube flourescent lights...my Hps will be here UPS tomorrow! Woot Woot!
guess free shit is worth the try...what do ya got to lose? try it with bag seed first to see what your outcome will be like. That's what I'm planning on doing when my Hps arrives. Imma gonna try 12/12 from seed to see how that goes!

BTW I bought 100 watt CFL's from Lowes really cheap...4 pack ran me like 10 bucks...still haven't put em to use though yet.

ty and what can I say Im high and it popped in my head when I read your post..lol..

well free is all ways a good price..lol.. and more 26w would work and like you said you can place them all around.. only problem is heat, 26 x 24 is 624 watts!!!! thats going to make a LOT of heat you would need a really really good fan setup to cool it with that many cfls in that small of a space..it would make some great buds if you could keep it cool.. maybe try 12 to start (all you will need for starting plants) and work your way up until you get to 80-82F or so.


my box is 5L x 2 1/2D x 5H full but not packed I can get 45 in mine there small dwarf plants in 2 liter bottles

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/186981-my-little-friends.html

Scyntra said:

ty and what can I say Im high and it popped in my head when I read your post..lol..

well free is all ways a good price..lol.. and more 26w would work and like you said you can place them all around.. only problem is heat, 26 x 24 is 624 watts!!!! thats going to make a LOT of heat you would need a really really good fan setup to cool it with that many cfls in that small of a space..it would make some great buds if you could keep it cool.. maybe try 12 to start (all you will need for starting plants) and work your way up until you get to 80-82F or so.


my box is 5L x 2 1/2D x 5H full but not packed I can get 45 in mine there small dwarf plants in 2 liter bottles

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/186981-my-little-friends.html

Click to expand...

Syntra...you're an inspiration to me...this is the ideal grow method I'm in the midst of setting up.
Now, I know that you grow that particular strain with great dwarf results...but do you think I can achieve this technique with other strains?
I've invested 100's of $$ on auto dwarf strains and I am still currently growing them into week 5 and doing well. But now, I'd like to be able to 12/12 with every strain I purchase from seed with 1-2 weeks veg.

*.* said:

Okay, I have a quick question. The lights I had planned to use, and bought, were 26W with 1,700k lumens. I then found 2 lights in my car while I was just outside smoking, and saw that they were 13W with 2,700k lumens.

Would the 13W lights actually be better? Would they not produce as much heat and still kick out more lumens? I'm hoping so, because I could get tons of these for free because I'm a display vendor for Lowe's and we get tons of them left over from their lighting department.

Click to expand...

the 2700K is the color of the light not the lumen output a 13w cfl is only like 800-900lumen. they sux not worth the waste of juice to run them..

jonboy30 said:

Syntra...you're an inspiration to me...this is the ideal grow method I'm in the midst of setting up.
Now, I know that you grow that particular strain with great dwarf results...but do you think I can achieve this technique with other strains?
I've invested 100's of $$ on auto dwarf strains and I am still currently growing them into week 5 and doing well. But now, I'd like to be able to 12/12 with every strain I purchase from seed with 1-2 weeks veg.

Click to expand...

tyvm..sure you can just takes the time and work at it there are many small strains that will work well in this kind of set up. mine started as a outdoor strain 20 odd years ago that got about 3-4' tall and I moved it indoors 10 years ago and have worked on it ever scene, making it shorter and bud bigger under lights ect. ect. I do have 4 white skunk plants
http://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/white-label-seeds/white-label-seeds-regular/white-label-white-skunk/prod_521.html
im growing the same way at the moment and there all doing great 2 are a little tall but not to bad (veged them for 2 1/2 weeks) 3 weeks into budding and allready getting white with resin. just be carefull when buying seeds to pick short height and short flowering plants and you should have NP..