I have a dirt floor crawl space.

Hello there,

I have a dirt floor crawl space. The height is about five feet. I was wondering if it was a good place to start? Should I build a platform or can I grow with my pots right on the floor. The crawl space is heated as I have my furnace down there. I am concerned about bugs etc. Can anyone help with some ideas?

Lights will be no problem. Ventilation will be. Go here to start.

http://botanical.com/hydro/air/calculating_fan_requirements.html

I've grown in those conditions. Humidity is a bitch especially as the plants grow. I would increase my air supply over the calcs you get from the link above and I would add CO2 which I do not use normally. Drainage is another. Any water leaked to the floor tends to stay longer and foster mold growths.

Again your air supply and exchnage will be the key to using this space effectively.

I would do DWC in that space knowing what I know now. Moisture in the soils is much harder to control.

plastic,plastic,and oh yeah get some plastic and make you a lil space blocked off so you can keep some kind of control of your area. will also keep bugs away. just pick your space you want to use, lay a piece of plastic or plywood for a stable floor. then just staple some sheets of plastic or mylar or anything to close off your space. reflection walls are better. hints the mylar . just staple to the joist and let it go to the ground. staple to the plywood floor to keep secure.VENTILATION is key so u dont get mold... you get the idea.. good luck and KEEP ON GROWIN

I was only planning to put a max of 5 plants down in the crawl space, "thinking autoflowering strain?" Any good ideas on a particular starin? And Is there anything I can do to protect myself from infestation. I grow outdoors and have never had a problem, but this is all new too me!!

I was only planning to put a max of 5 plants down in the crawl space, "thinking autoflowering strain?" Any good ideas on a particular starin? And Is there anything I can do to protect myself from infestation. I grow outdoors and have never had a problem, but this is all new too me!!

i don't think you should have too much risk of a bug problem, or at least no worse than growing inside
bugs that are drawn to dry soil tend to be ones that aren't green plant devourers
maybe pill bugs, which i think i've seen in that kind of place, but they aren't dangerous to MJ, or not much if i remember rightly