'Growing Virgin' seeks 'Experienced Advice'...

Hey folks, just wondered how many plants i could get into my new grow room. I've build a 4'x4'x4' box from Conti Board (white faced hardboard) and fitted a 100mm Ruck fan with a carbon filter to help with heat and smells. I've also chucked in a 6" fan to help with circulation. I've read that a plant should get 1ft sq. minimum space. Is this right? Can i really get 16 plants into my grow room? What i need to know is how many plants can a 400W HPS deal with or is it just a matter of time (ie 600W X 16 plants = less growing time than 400W X 16 plants)

I've made a door for access and sealed all the gaps with white silicone sealant and white electrical tape so i think i'm ready for germination. I'm going to try 5 'White Widow' and 5 of this weird seed i found in my local head shop called 'Mazar'. Apparently it's a short growing 'Christmas Tree' like plant so should suit a 4' height space. I've been told i may have to top the White Widow to fit but not sure.

I bought a 400W HPS Dutch lightbox (Philips Industria) from eBay and managed to wire it up OK. (It was second hand from a Dutch weed greenhouse and when i opened the box it stank!) It came delivered with a Veg Bulb (Growlux) and a Flowering Bulb (Philips Son-T Plus) for £49 (less than $100). I think thats got to be the bargain of the century! Check it out here...http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/400w-INDUSTRIA-HPS-Grow-light-hydroponic-lamp-sodium_W0QQitemZ310060175963QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310060175963&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1308

I really just want to know if i've missed anything. I've been reading the site and doing my homework and hopefully i've all bases covered. I'm totally new to this and just thought one day that i'm tired of paying stupid money to asswipes for crap weed. Bring on the homegrown!! Thanks to anyone in advance for help and advice.

Castleview

hey welcome bud..

sound like u got yourself sorted if i was u id go with the 400hps cause u dont have loads of height space to play with when u take away the distance u need to keep light from plants and the pot size your down to 2ft u can grow your plants, but u can always flower early or LST or tie them down..

Do u have any pics??

any questions??

oh and ya u could fit 16 plants with one cola into ur box..

Cheers for the advice, what height do i need to keep the plants from the light and should i lower the lamp to start with? I've read a bit here about plants 'stetching' towards the lamp and growing thin and spindly. I'll post pics tomorrow as the family are milling around. Again any 'helpful' adivce is greatly appreciated.

If ya have a top on the box i would take it off so your light can be raised up. The way it sounds your plants are going to be too close to the light. 16 plants is too many. 9 in a 4x4 area max. A 1000 watter would do better in a area that size.

well when they are bout 2-3 weeks old u would have a 400hps bout 7 - 12 inches from plants with osicilating fan blowing between tops of plants and lights..

Ya he is right u could fit in 16, but u have more of a chance of getting mold and other problems.. my grow box is the same as yours but i have its 6ft H, and i just grow 7 or 8 plants at a time... 16 would be a lot of bother trying to feed all of them etc........ 7 plants is enough work!! but well worth it and i enjoy the work/hobby of doing it 2 as u will.......

Ya as he said get more height to your box and you will be able to grow proper plants..
do your family live with u? are u planing on growing under their roof without their permisson??

Thanks guys, i kind of knew from reading the posts that too many plants will give you mould etc. I guess i'm just being greedy! I'm going to post some pics tomorrow of the actual room.

I'm mixing peat-free compost with some Perlite for the soil and i've bought some Bio-Buzz Veg and Bloom nutes. I read somewhere that if you can use rainwater to feed the plants it's better for them. I understand that 'shocking' them with ice cold tap water is bad enough but can anyone confirm the rainwater theory? I have one of those rainwater tanks/butts already for the garden which feeds from the guttering. Again any advice folks is greatly appreciated.

Dirtyboy said:

If ya have a top on the box i would take it off so your light can be raised up. The way it sounds your plants are going to be too close to the light. 16 plants is too many. 9 in a 4x4 area max. A 1000 watter would do better in a area that size.

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I agree your height is also going to be a limitation you may want to do some LST or try SCOG the problem with SCROG would be the fact that the different strains and seed grown plants will not grow uniformly so if you pack too many plants in the room some may be stunted.

Castleview said:

Thanks guys, i kind of knew from reading the posts that too many plants will give you mould etc. I guess i'm just being greedy! I'm going to post some pics tomorrow of the actual room.

I'm mixing peat-free compost with some Perlite for the soil and i've bought some Bio-Buzz Veg and Bloom nutes. I read somewhere that if you can use rainwater to feed the plants it's better for them. I understand that 'shocking' them with ice cold tap water is bad enough but can anyone confirm the rainwater theory? I have one of those rainwater tanks/butts already for the garden which feeds from the guttering. Again any advice folks is greatly appreciated.

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Rainwater is fine depending on where you live. In some areas the rainwater has a low PH and may drop your soils ph causing problems. Check your rainwater's PH before you start.

rain water is the best type of water for them.. its natural ..and right ph..

If using tap water let it sit in open air for 24hrs to let clorine evaporate and, get a cheap ph tester kit and make sure ph is from 6.3 - 6.8

i must go now so good luck if i dont talk again