Help!

Hi all...

I have a small beautiful matt white cupboard I've lovingly handcrafted, big enough for two plants. I'm starting off small as a tester... and am collecting my light tomorrow... it's a 200w, 13,000 lumens self ballasted, low energy, high output, full spectrum light complete with a Growstar reflector. I've got my soil ready at ph7 and some beautiful great quality seeds.

The problem is... winter is approaching and i only have a garage in which to grow them... is this gonna cause me problems?

cheers guys

shiva

Maybe the heat of the light will off set the coldness in the garage...
Try to get a thermometer in there
Don't let it get cooler than 60 degrees

Peace
-Tek

Thing is, these lights are apparently a low-heat light so that you can get them closer to the plants (they recommend 2 inches away) and move them daily as the plants grow... do you think they'll still generate enough heat to keep my little babies warm?

Additionally, I guess I could get a dry fan heater to okeep the garage warm... any ideas?

Also, I tested some germination on some trill which worked perfectly. Once my proper seeds have sprouted though, do they go straight into soil and under light or into soil only and kept dark.

I know I'm a naive grower but I am a fast learner!

cheers

Shiva

y not keep it inside your house... itll stay warmer and you'll be able to protect it more that way too. and its not like ur not gonna grow it anyway, y not do it inside...

well, the reasons i dont wanna keep it inside is 1. i dont really have the room. 2. We have a regular visitor who lets our doggy out in the garden and i dont want them snooping. 3. I think my wife would rather I try growing it in the garage first to see how it does...

...although she will benefit from the bud at the end if i can reap the benefits!

if i can get it growin in the garage then cross fingers i'll have some pics for you... gonna start it this weekend!

Just wanted to say, beautiful pics of your plants. If only i can get mine looking half as healthy!

Thx for the comp buddy....

Is there any way you could get a heavey duty blanket and wrap it?
Although then it would be tough to get good circulation in there....

Hmmm....you should get a thermometer and see what the temp is in there with the lights on (they will still put off some heat and in a small insulated space could keep the heat in) and if its too low then you could turn on the space heater once in a while...

Try to keep ventaliation for the plants in mind too
Can't think of any other soultions except for to insulate the cabinet somehow...probobly from the outside..

Peace
-Tek

Top concerns heat and venting. If the cupboard is self contained I don't see why you couldn't put it in your bedroom. Is you garage heated or insulated at all? If not you MUST insulate your cabinet.

Use common sense. If the plants are in 20-25 degree temperatures and 40-60% humidity, then it is likely that you would feel comfortable where the plants are. By coincidence, plants tend to grow best in climates approximate to human comfort. So if you visit your plants and it feels like a blast furnace, or a freezer, it is likely they would benefit from some attention on the matter. Fresh air is absolutely essential in shade-house, tunnel-houses, glasshouses and grow-rooms, as the Carbon Dioxide the plants breathe is essential for every plant process. Poor ventilation will kill plants, as surely as poison. You will notice ventilation problems by the better growth near vents, doors, or fans. If plant growth is more sluggish away from these areas, then you should improve your fresh air, or use Carbon Dioxide enrichment systems to add CO2.

A dry fan heater would be perfect. Try and get one with a built-in thermostat so it switches itself on and off. This'll keep your grow room warm while also sucking the moisture out of the air, resulting in your plants producing more resin, and less likelyhood of mold.

well - im gonna take all your advice...

have just picked up the light which as you predicted is throwing out a fair amount of heat though not too much... i will definitely insulate it with a blanket... ive also just ripped apart both bathroom and ensuite and have disabled the extractor fans in them both at wifes request! So... may but both fans into box... one sucking out bad air... one sucking in good air...

Will invest in a thermometer tomorrow morn and will test temperature before germinating...

Guys - can you give me a quick run down on germination procedure right through to when they are subjected to the grow-room please as really nervous about the start and don't want to waste seeds as they were quite expensive... hav esuccessfully germinated some trill but whats the procedure after the seeds break open and grow about 5-10 mm?

Thanks for all the help! Feeling more reassured now!

Shiva

Well if your using dirt as soon as you see some root popping out of the seeds....poke a little hole in the dirt (I always say make sure the dirt is loose and not very compacted, to allow ease of entry for the root) so a loose hole and place the seed in the hole with common sense(root pointing down, seed shell on top.. and brush some dirt over it.... the hole shouldnt be too deep...no more than 2 inches....moisten dirt (thin layer of water on surface) and wait

Good luck
peace
-Tek

I always make sure the top of the seed is slightly visible above the top of the soil before putting a thin covering of soil over it.

how do i tell if its a mail or a femail plant?

hi guys,

well, thanks for the tips... the room is now set up and ready to go... have literally just this second started the seeds germinating so will keep you posted... i'm off out in a mo to get a thermometer, a fan heater and can you also advise, will i or can i (like the video) spray them with fizzy water to ensure they get their co2?

I haven't installed the fans yet but may do that later this afternoon...

Also, it's a blue spectrum light. Will i need to swap later on for flowering or will it do the job?

cheers ppl... ur all very helpful!

shiva

hi tek, u didnt say whether i need to expose it to light straight away or keep it dark and warm till it sprouts...

i think it's dark and warm till it sprouts right? then light?

ta and

tata

shiva

when the plants grow out of the sould how much light should i give it? so far my plant only have those four leafs and i was wonderen wut you think i should do next? i got a nice grow room with a 150w hid lamp and theres a fan with an air purifier. do u think the air purifier is a good idea too?

hit me back peac.---LEGALIZE IT----

Shiva,
I would say have the light running right away to maintain a little heat, and so as soon as the sprouts hit the surface they get light. For heat you could also use a heating pad so that the roots stay warm and are able to grow (too much heat can be bad though). Also Blue light is good for veg growth but when you go to flowering you should go to red spectrum for better yield. I personally am sticking with the same lights throughout the whole process but that's because I don't have much cash

thanks for the advice!

will get them under some light asap... cheers!

)•shiva•(

word to the wise ---> Check Craigslist. Picked up a 400w Mh w/full ballast for $65. It took some digging and phone calls to find that price, but shit, who cares? Why pay full price when a little improv and a little hustle can stretch your dollar so much farther?

mmmm i tried growing in my garage, i live in britain and it's fucking impossible, they just freeze, i had an electric heater on a timer to come on every 30 minutes for 10 minutes but still nothing they just freeze man but gl if u can pull it off