Please don't rip my head off

E

electricslide

Well-Known Member
Okay guys, and ladies. For the last couple months I've been really interested in setting up a smaller sized grow for autos, maybe 6 to 8 plants at a time. Now I've looked and searched for information dumbed down to help me get everything I need in a CHEAPISH manner. I'm not willing to spend 1000 on a grow tent

So I wanted to know if anyone has any links or advice that would help me get all the materials I would need to start a successfull grow. I don't want anything to complicated and I don't want to spend outrages amounts of money until late I get a few grows under my belt and have an idea what I'm doing.

I know people are going to bitch and say use search engine blah blah. I've used it and looked and I can't find a basic dumbed down list of materials. I don't want anything complicated just basic to start with. If it helps, I will have to purchase a tent or something to keep smell and light from getting out as I have neighbors. Hope you guys can help me out im tired of spending so much on buds everymonth when I could grow my own and have my desired flavors of the day, and not just what's available. Don't get me wrong the stuff I can get is great buds, gorilla glue 4 , God's gift, lemon haze, just to name a few, so I definitely want to make sure what I'm growing is up to participate with the stuff I can buy on a daily basis. So if anyone can help a fella out it would be much appreciated
 
Nugachino

Nugachino

Well-Known Member
Your best best is to start with fewer plants if it's your first run.

You can grow with a minimum of about 30w of light per square feet. Better still if it's between 50 to 80 watts a square foot.

CFL is the cheapest option. Runs cool. And won't need a dedicated cooling fan.

HPS and MH aren't good for compact areas unless you can vent their heat effectively. But they're reasonably priced and yield far better than cfl.

LED (COB) lights are far more expensive. But have great efficiency. And don't generate all that much heat. However. Their light can be rather intense due to the directional nature of LED lighting.

If you're a first timer. Soil is an easy option. Or if you're more game to try something a little more tricky. Soil less is the way to go.

Soil is easy because it offers a buffer to noobish mistakes like over feeding. Or watering too much. The down side is that it takes longer to grow in the vegetative stage than in soil less.

Soil less (hydro- effectively) offers faster growth in vegging. But you need to supply all the nutrients. And it can flip flop really quickly from being ok to having problems.

There's just a couple of things for you to consider.
 
E

electricslide

Well-Known Member
Nugachino said:
Your best best is to start with fewer plants if it's your first run.

You can grow with a minimum of about 30w of light per square feet. Better still if it's between 50 to 80 watts a square foot.

CFL is the cheapest option. Runs cool. And won't need a dedicated cooling fan.

HPS and MH aren't good for compact areas unless you can vent their heat effectively. But they're reasonably priced and yield far better than cfl.

LED (COB) lights are far more expensive. But have great efficiency. And don't generate all that much heat. However. Their light can be rather intense due to the directional nature of LED lighting.

If you're a first timer. Soil is an easy option. Or if you're more game to try something a little more tricky. Soil less is the way to go.

Soil is easy because it offers a buffer to noobish mistakes like over feeding. Or watering too much. The down side is that it takes longer to grow in the vegetative stage than in soil less.

Soil less (hydro- effectively) offers faster growth in vegging. But you need to supply all the nutrients. And it can flip flop really quickly from being ok to having problems.

There's just a couple of things for you to consider.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, IL look more into it this afternoon, I'm sure I'll have questions lol
 
Seedlin

Seedlin

Well-Known Member
The dude is on to something with the 400.watter. it aint rocket science buddy. Just act like you are growing tomatoes.:weed:
 
phaquetoo

phaquetoo

Well-Known Member
electricslide said:
Okay guys, and ladies. For the last couple months I've been really interested in setting up a smaller sized grow for autos, maybe 6 to 8 plants at a time. Now I've looked and searched for information dumbed down to help me get everything I need in a CHEAPISH manner. I'm not willing to spend 1000 on a grow tent

So I wanted to know if anyone has any links or advice that would help me get all the materials I would need to start a successfull grow. I don't want anything to complicated and I don't want to spend outrages amounts of money until late I get a few grows under my belt and have an idea what I'm doing.

I know people are going to bitch and say use search engine blah blah. I've used it and looked and I can't find a basic dumbed down list of materials. I don't want anything complicated just basic to start with. If it helps, I will have to purchase a tent or something to keep smell and light from getting out as I have neighbors. Hope you guys can help me out im tired of spending so much on buds everymonth when I could grow my own and have my desired flavors of the day, and not just what's available. Don't get me wrong the stuff I can get is great buds, gorilla glue 4 , God's gift, lemon haze, just to name a few, so I definitely want to make sure what I'm growing is up to participate with the stuff I can buy on a daily basis. So if anyone can help a fella out it would be much appreciated
Click to expand...
www.htgsupply.com They have stores in lansing, taylor and I believe rosevill MI now, also CO. PA. NC , MA. FL, ME, I ordered all of mine online, They have complete tent kits with 600 watt hps bulb and ballst, fans, medium, nutes, timers, etc, for $569.95, they have several complete grow tent starter kits, check them out,

http://www.htgsupply.com/products/htg-600w-medium-4x4-organic-soil-grow-tent-kit

I have no affiliation with this company, I just bought most of my kits from this company!

I hope this helps you!

Peace
 
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E

electricslide

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the tips and advice everyone , I like to be very thorough when I do something and don't like to do things half ass, so every bit of information I can get and learn is great!! I guess now It's time to start saving up a little bit of cash
 
phaquetoo

phaquetoo

Well-Known Member
maxamus1 said:
I would say htg supply or amazon for a complete grow kit, honestly I'd go with a t5 or 400 hps/mh set up in a 2x4 tent.
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I bought the 600 watt and the mother keeper, the mother keeper is 2 x 4 x 4' high, it comes with a complete kit also and a 4 bulb 4' t-5, I love them both, but I only grow for one pt, so it is plenty enough room for me, I realy only had to buy nutes (gh) and a good 6" 224 cfm's inline and controller, at first I purchased all dwc grow mediums, Im a failure at dwc, so I went back to dirt (pro mix) I purchased a few better fans (cheap) I have less than 1 k into it all and have had great success for a fairly reasonable price!

I also purchased the 2' 2 bulb t-5 for clones and a bit of side light when needed!

Peace
 
maxamus1

maxamus1

Well-Known Member
phaquetoo said:
I bought the 600 watt and the mother keeper, the mother keeper is 2 x 4 x 4' high, it comes with a complete kit also and a 4 bulb 4' t-5, I love them both, but I only grow for one pt, so it is plenty enough room for me, I realy only had to buy nutes (gh) and a good 6" 224 cfm's inline and controller, at first I purchased all dwc grow mediums, Im a failure at dwc, so I went back to dirt (pro mix) I purchased a few better fans (cheap) I have less than 1 k into it all and have had great success for a fairly reasonable price!

I also purchased the 2' 2 bulb t-5 for clones and a bit of side light when needed!

Peace
Click to expand...
What kind of intake are you using? Seems like a lot of air movement for such a small tent. N yeah I'm thinking of going back to hydro cause I suck at dirt lol.
 
phaquetoo

phaquetoo

Well-Known Member
I push the 6" thru both tents, I have a split intake, one that I use the most comes from the floor of cool side of my basement (other side of grow wall) and I have a closeable one that comes from out doors, I use that when the lights are on! plus I have a few cheaper 6" inlines that always pushes air from the cool side of my basement!

Thats all nothing fancy, my electric bill is maybe 100 buck more a month, it is now most def paying for itself! I always intended on building a sealed grow room, but these tents are more than meeting my expectations!

Peace
 
OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
If I was just starting off I'd go with one of those all-in-one grow kits to kick it off. Some great deals and even tho the gear isn't top notch stuff it's more than enough to last for a few years and with all the money you save not buying schwag you can upgrade as you go along and gain knowledge.

With decent soil and added perlite you should be able to grow nice plants all through veg with nothing but water then a couple small bottles of nutes to get you some decent buds. By then you will have learned a lot and have a feel for your abilities and be able to make a more informed choice about future growing.

A small place for vegging plants and a decent tent for flowering only and you can be cropping a couple nice plants every month for not a lot of money.

:peace:
 
OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
maxamus1 said:
What kind of intake are you using? Seems like a lot of air movement for such a small tent. N yeah I'm thinking of going back to hydro cause I suck at dirt lol.
Click to expand...
I too suck at dirt farming and long ago. '01, got into DWC before hardly anyone even knew what it was. Seemed to do great with that and have grown a few hundred plants in it over the last 15 years. Soilless works pretty good for me tho I seem to be gravitating to a blend of soil and soilless. Using ProMix HP with ProMix potting soil and extra perlite and got a real good grow half way thru flowering now. Feeding AN 3 - part and a few supplements seems to be almost as good as DWC.

I think it's because I've learned to read my plants and respond properly as I couldn't grow a house plant to save my life before I got into growing pot regular.

:peace:
 
maxamus1

maxamus1

Well-Known Member
OldMedUser said:
I too suck at dirt farming and long ago. '01, got into DWC before hardly anyone even knew what it was. Seemed to do great with that and have grown a few hundred plants in it over the last 15 years. Soilless works pretty good for me tho I seem to be gravitating to a blend of soil and soilless. Using ProMix HP with ProMix potting soil and extra perlite and got a real good grow half way thru flowering now. Feeding AN 3 - part and a few supplements seems to be almost as good as DWC.

I think it's because I've learned to read my plants and respond properly as I couldn't grow a house plant to save my life before I got into growing pot regular.

:peace:
Click to expand...

I'm getting back in to growing after a long hiatus and thought soil would be cheaper. So far not sure that is the case lol. I do like the results of hydro more though n may go back after a successful soil grow. Just want to know that I can grow in soil and also to see the difference between the two.
 
maxamus1

maxamus1

Well-Known Member
phaquetoo said:
I push the 6" thru both tents, I have a split intake, one that I use the most comes from the floor of cool side of my basement (other side of grow wall) and I have a closeable one that comes from out doors, I use that when the lights are on! plus I have a few cheaper 6" inlines that always pushes air from the cool side of my basement!

Thats all nothing fancy, my electric bill is maybe 100 buck more a month, it is now most def paying for itself! I always intended on building a sealed grow room, but these tents are more than meeting my expectations!

Peace
Click to expand...
OK thought you had the 6" for just the one tent.
 
Seedlin

Seedlin

Well-Known Member
You should try some Natures Choice Organic potting mix from Lowes. I add a little pot ash, a scoop or 2 of lime and then my perlite. Works as good as FF Ocean to me. I prefer coco/perlite though.:weed:
 
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