Growing only ONE plant, how many lights?

So, I've been contemplating whether or not to grow my own for awhile. I just want to grow one for now. I'm working with a pretty small space here, like 2x2ish? Maybe more. I don't know how great of a space that is for growing a plant, so would it even work? It's the only space I have available.

How much lighting do ya think I would need? Is an HPS really needed for one plant? I don't want fluffy buds though from using a florescent. How should I go about this??

Thanks!

look into CFLs, tons of threads you can look up

I'd get a low wattage HPS(like 75-150W) and with that, u can also fire MH lamps for veg... U will do so much better with that than with CFL's IF u can keep your temps in check...

yea 2x2 is enough for 1 plant, but TOO small HID lamps (like hps, or MH), your best bet is to go with CFLs, they do great in small spaces and create little or no heat.

It is a bit heavy for one plant, but I suggest a MH/HPS combo light, they make ballasts that support both, but I thinkt he smallest is 400. A 250 would be ideal for only one plant but a larger light will only increase your yield. If you get the combo you can use MH for the 18/6 or 24/0 (whatever your preference) and switch to hps for 12/12, all while only using one light, that you only need to change the bulb for and flip a switch.

IF u can control temps, I dont see any space is too small for a low wattage HID... But remember to start more than one seed, lest u end up with one male, and haveta start over again for a female... "Worst case scenario"- u end up with all females, and haveta give yer buddy one or two to grow for themselves... u have about a 50/50 shot normly, with ending up with the desired sex... Kinda like goin' to the club lookin for some action... Bout 50/50...lol...

ive got a 150w hps in my 2x2 tent. like said above, with the right ventilation you could use any size light.. Im sure GanjaGod knows about this.. his plants bask in 2-3 times more lumens than required.

emarijuana said:

So, I've been contemplating whether or not to grow my own for awhile. I just want to grow one for now. I'm working with a pretty small space here, like 2x2ish? Maybe more. I don't know how great of a space that is for growing a plant, so would it even work? It's the only space I have available.

How much lighting do ya think I would need? Is an HPS really needed for one plant? I don't want fluffy buds though from using a florescent. How should I go about this??

Thanks!

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First of all, one plant could be anything from a 12" high dwarf autoflower to a 15 foot high outdoor grown sativa "tree". What "matters" isn't the number of plants per se, but how large they are. In other words, its all about your SPACE.

A 2x2' space is PLENTY big enough to grow a good amount of bud (ie several ounces per crop) assuming you have the right amount of HEIGHT to let the plant(s) grow. You can get away with less, but If you can, I'd say you'd want at least three feet tall for that. Also, if you were growing in a space as large as 2x2x3 you could definitely get in more than one plant if you liked. I'd say up to four if you grew them right.

Good rule of thumb is that optimal lighting is about 70W/sqft for fluorescent lights and 50W/sqft for HPS. You can get away with less, though you'll have less yield and less dense buds.

Not incidentally, fluorescent bulbs can yield excellent dense buds; its just a question of doing it right. You have to use the right spectrum lights, use enough watts light, use reflectors to ensure you're not wasting light, and keep the lights close the plants' canopy. For a 2x2x3 space you could try using a 8 tube 2 foot T5 fluorescent fixture. Something like this:

http://www.hydroponics.net/i/134679

If you use high output tubes, it will draw nearly 200W of power, and that while less than the optimum, it still ought to be plenty to grow a few plants.

Personally, for a space that large, yeah, I'd go HPS. Look for a 150W or (better) a 250W lamp with reflector. You can pick up a decent 250W unit for as little as $150.

Don't forget about fans for cooling, and odor control.

more light = more buds

you can use 1000w hps and yield 10 ounces if done correctly , i had on plant and used 400w hps and yielded 3.1 ounces and that was in soil, hydro could double your yield even

thats my plant in soil under 400w switchable ballast MH and hps, veg and flower, now am converting to the future the magic of hydro

As a Journeyman Wireman, I can tell u with certainty that a HPS ballast kit WILL safely fire MH lamps, of the same wattage(and lesser wattages, sometimes, but I'd suggest the same as what the ballast is rated for). I have used this method professionally and as a grower for many moons with no problems... So, no need to buy a separate MH kit, when u can just get HPS ballasts, and run MH AND HPS lamps...

JoshTheMadTitan said:

It is a bit heavy for one plant, but I suggest a MH/HPS combo light, they make ballasts that support both, but I thinkt he smallest is 400. A 250 would be ideal for only one plant but a larger light will only increase your yield. If you get the combo you can use MH for the 18/6 or 24/0 (whatever your preference) and switch to hps for 12/12, all while only using one light, that you only need to change the bulb for and flip a switch.

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And, yes... Thanks Jody, my lumens per sq ft in my 75 degree F, CO2 supplemented, organic garden is 15,437.5 lumens per sq ft of mixed HPS and MH lamps for an evenly distributed and mixed spectrum light source, which works amazingly well for me... Keep in mind it's a 4'X2' open-door(with a main reflector) closet grow, now... That's 123,500 lumens total of both types of HID's... HPS heavy during flowering, MH heavy during veg...

Ok, I know absolutely nothing about lighting. I live in a small town, I'm sure there's plenty of garden shops around here, but shit's $$$$$$ here and I can't fork out hundred of dollars for a ballast and lights just for one plant. I'm in an apartment also, however I'm not too worried about being "caught" since having a few plants in this state is considered legal if you are over 18. I don't know how I'd prevent smells.

What my plan was to Low Stress Train my plant in soil, we have some DANK soil here, and use Tiger Bloom kit for nutrients. If anyone has any links or advice for nutes, that'd be nice. Get the mylar and a little fan. Would I put my fan in the closet I'm using? Or outside of it and let it air out every couple of hours??

I was also thinking that since we've been getting some good sunlight to put it out on the table for some daytime light.

I'll be using a feminized seed, probably an indica dominant, Mazar? Maybe Some Northern Lights hybrid?

I'd LOVE to get an HPS, but idk how realistic that is for me right now. A florescent bar type light I could get at say, home depot? I know it's daylight (blueish) for veg and red/orange for flowering. I just wanna make some dank ass bud because here it's 20$ a gram!

I use a 400 in my 2x2 tents. If you want one plant then use atleast a 7 gallon pot for soil or a 5 gallon dwc. I run four five gallons with soil in a 2x2x5 tent and pull about 200-250 grams on average depending upon strain and veg time. You will need an aircooled Hood and sufficient inline fan.

xmax said:

HTG Supply - HTGSupply Ultimate 400w HPS & MH Grow Light

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am surprised about the light systems prices online, very expensive
i got my 400w switchable ballast + hps and mh bulbs + reflector for 70usd

irieie said:

I use a 400 in my 2x2 tents. If you want one plant then use atleast a 7 gallon pot for soil or a 5 gallon dwc. I run four five gallons with soil in a 2x2x5 tent and pull about 200-250 grams on average depending upon strain and veg time. You will need an aircooled Hood and sufficient inline fan.

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if the roots tips turn brown in hydro, what does it mean?

ArabKush said:

am surprised about the light systems prices online, very expensive
i got my 400w switchable ballast + hps and mh bulbs + reflector for 70usd







if the roots tips turn brown in hydro, what does it mean?

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You either have a problem with water temps over nuting or a disease. Or they are stained from the nutrients you are using.

irieie said:

You either have a problem with water temps over nuting or a disease. Or they are stained from the nutrients you are using.

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is tap water okay ? or does it contain some bad bacteria ?

ArabKush said:

is tap water okay ? or does it contain some bad bacteria ?

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It depends upon your area. I would not be worried about bacteria. If it is safe to drink then it is safe for your plants. I would be more worried about the amount of dissolved solids and the presence of chlorine or chloramine. You can request an analysis of your water from your supplier. I live in the desert where our tap water comes out the tap at about 650 ppm and contains chlorine and chloramine. For these reasons j only use RO or reverse osmosis water. What are your water temps? Most often this is the problem with dwc especially for beginners.

irieie said:

It depends upon your area. I would not be worried about bacteria. If it is safe to drink then it is safe for your plants. I would be more worried about the amount of dissolved solids and the presence of chlorine or chloramine. You can request an analysis of your water from your supplier. I live in the desert where our tap water comes out the tap at about 650 ppm and contains chlorine and chloramine. For these reasons j only use RO or reverse osmosis water. What are your water temps? Most often this is the problem with dwc especially for beginners.

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in here it is not recommend to drink tap water, no one does, in winter its at 1200ppm in summer up to 1500ppm, and my water temp in hydro drip system its 25c 77f to 27c 80f
but i use nestle water at 100ppm

I have a similar space, only slightly bigger for veg. I use, and would suggest a 250W magnetic ballast, with a phillips HPS retro white (AKA CMH) 250W bulb. I can say first hand that the 250W cmh would be your best bet. You would not need two different bulbs, the CMH is better than MH for veg, and better than HPS for flowering. Also, it runs about 10F cooler than a normal HPS light.

This pic was an autoflower I grew under the 250W CMH from start to finish.



also check out these links on the CMH
https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/283545-ceramic-metal-halide-cmh-thread.html
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215

Just remember, the 250W and 400W CMH will ONLY run on a magnetic HPS ballast.