xtrabiggg
Active Member
This is my first Grow, unless you count the 10 or so plants I grew in the woods as a teen! I am a MM Patient in Michigan, and decided to try to grow my own. I am an avid outdoor gardener, but have never grown indoors. I would appreciate any advice, encouragement or STOP THAT IMMEDIATELY warnings in order to help further grow my crop.
I started out with a 60x60x72 Diamond Mylar-lined grow tent. To comply with the MMM Law, it is in a basement room that is locked, with the MiMM Statute posted outside. For ventilation I used 4 dryer vent ductwork with a 240cfm inline fan. I vented to the outside using a dryer vent with a flue damper and screen through the nearest basement window (all fabricated myself). For lighting, I started out with one 48 T-8 CFL fixture using Four 32w bulbs (Daylight 5000K) and one 48 CFL T-8/T12 fixture using Two 32w Bulbs (Daylight 5000K). I switched to Warm White for Flower, and changed to Two 40w bulbs in the smaller fixture. Midway through Veg, I added a DIY LED light. I bought a floor lamp ($14.95 on sale @ Menards) with five flexible sockets, each with a 60-watt capacity. I removed two of the three metal support tubes in order to shorten it for Fill Lighting, and added five 4-way photographers light socket splitters each rated at 300w capacity. I used only Cree and Epistar 2w and 3w chip LED E27 lights, with primarily Red/Blue spectrum, with some Pure White and Warm White lights mixed in. After Flower began, I switched to warm white, with more Red and Orange. I also added two 54w downlights (18x3w CREE chips, 12R 6B) using IKEA hanging light fixtures. For Flower, I also bought two 300w capacity shop light fixtures and (using splitters) put two 68w WW (2700K) and two 42w WW CFL bulbs in one, and two 55w WW CFLs in the other, suspending all from the ceiling rails. All lights are split evenly between two circuits, with the timers plugged into Uninterruptible Power Supplies. All electrical was kept around 50% or less of rated capacity.
I germinated 22 seeds obtained from a friend who grows outdoors, anticipating (or hoping for) at least a 50% germination of Female plants (and to stay under the State legal limit of 12 adult plants!). I used Peat Plugs in a 48-space germination tray, using two 14-watt LED Blue/Red panels. I transferred the seedlings into 3 large pots (3 plants each), four medium pots (2 each), and five small pots (one each). I wanted to experiment and see how they would grow in various sizes. I used about a 2-inch layer of river stones on the bottom, with Organic Glacial potting soil from Canada mixed with Pearlite.
Throughout Veg, I used a 4-part Nutrient schedule: 1/2 strength Miracle Grow for vegetables (I know, hit me now, MG Haters); next plain, de-chlorinated Dee-Troit tap water (Best quality in the nation- low particulates and trace!); third watering I used BuffaloLoam Tea, for Mycorrhizal bacteria root growth promotion; finally, plain ol' water again. Lather, rinse and repeat through 18/6 lighting right up to flower.
I'll spare you the stretch photos, and go right into the good stuff during Flower...
I started out with a 60x60x72 Diamond Mylar-lined grow tent. To comply with the MMM Law, it is in a basement room that is locked, with the MiMM Statute posted outside. For ventilation I used 4 dryer vent ductwork with a 240cfm inline fan. I vented to the outside using a dryer vent with a flue damper and screen through the nearest basement window (all fabricated myself). For lighting, I started out with one 48 T-8 CFL fixture using Four 32w bulbs (Daylight 5000K) and one 48 CFL T-8/T12 fixture using Two 32w Bulbs (Daylight 5000K). I switched to Warm White for Flower, and changed to Two 40w bulbs in the smaller fixture. Midway through Veg, I added a DIY LED light. I bought a floor lamp ($14.95 on sale @ Menards) with five flexible sockets, each with a 60-watt capacity. I removed two of the three metal support tubes in order to shorten it for Fill Lighting, and added five 4-way photographers light socket splitters each rated at 300w capacity. I used only Cree and Epistar 2w and 3w chip LED E27 lights, with primarily Red/Blue spectrum, with some Pure White and Warm White lights mixed in. After Flower began, I switched to warm white, with more Red and Orange. I also added two 54w downlights (18x3w CREE chips, 12R 6B) using IKEA hanging light fixtures. For Flower, I also bought two 300w capacity shop light fixtures and (using splitters) put two 68w WW (2700K) and two 42w WW CFL bulbs in one, and two 55w WW CFLs in the other, suspending all from the ceiling rails. All lights are split evenly between two circuits, with the timers plugged into Uninterruptible Power Supplies. All electrical was kept around 50% or less of rated capacity.
I germinated 22 seeds obtained from a friend who grows outdoors, anticipating (or hoping for) at least a 50% germination of Female plants (and to stay under the State legal limit of 12 adult plants!). I used Peat Plugs in a 48-space germination tray, using two 14-watt LED Blue/Red panels. I transferred the seedlings into 3 large pots (3 plants each), four medium pots (2 each), and five small pots (one each). I wanted to experiment and see how they would grow in various sizes. I used about a 2-inch layer of river stones on the bottom, with Organic Glacial potting soil from Canada mixed with Pearlite.
Throughout Veg, I used a 4-part Nutrient schedule: 1/2 strength Miracle Grow for vegetables (I know, hit me now, MG Haters); next plain, de-chlorinated Dee-Troit tap water (Best quality in the nation- low particulates and trace!); third watering I used BuffaloLoam Tea, for Mycorrhizal bacteria root growth promotion; finally, plain ol' water again. Lather, rinse and repeat through 18/6 lighting right up to flower.
I'll spare you the stretch photos, and go right into the good stuff during Flower...
