ExileOnMainStreet
Well-Known Member
So this is my first grow as well and I've been learning lots thanks to watching things progress, doing a ton of reading, and of course the wizards here at RIU: you guys rock.
I thought I'd give something back...
I have to keep a pretty close eye on how much my 'hobby' costs me until my cashflow improves so I figure I'll share what's working so far. If it helps other like-minded growers, then great. If anyone has any suggestions or improvements, that's great too.
First and foremost, I live in a small community remote enough that a day trip to 'the city' to buy gear isn't an option. Given that it's a small (and pretty conservative) community, stealth is super-important. Ordering from online hydro shops isn't really an option for me either.
Everything I use has to be fairly generic so that I can find it at a garden store or a hardware store.
I have been vegging and cloning (and growing veggies) under a four-tube flourescent fixture and things are clipping along nicely. I've got 3 clones about 3 weeks into flower, another two to go in in a week or so, and another 9 (probably 7 by then) that'll go in 4 weeks after that.
Continuous harvest, baby!!
The cabinet I built is 3X3X6'high and has (so far) 10 CFLs @ 1600 lumens each and 2700K on a 12/12 cycle.
The 'foil' is actually space blankets from a local camping store (4 @ about 3 bucks each) stapled to a frame banged together from some scrap 2X2 laying around the shop. The lights were on sale for about 9 bucks for a six-pack and the lamp holders are less than 2 bucks each. The front curtain is held shut with velcro a la the 'Mr Green' videos.
Note the cardboard tabs that the staples run through: this stops the staples from pulling through the foil.
I haven't put it in yet, but a 50 CFM bathroom fan is the priciest part of the whole thing, but it was only 25 bucks.
Mine is in a dark corner so it's ok, but it's important to point out that space blankets aren't 100% lightproof. If it's an issue, then one layer stapled to the inside of the frame and one layer stapled to the outside of the frame will do the trick.
On to the pics !
The four lights mounted to the disc in the center are on a pulley and the table is raised at the moment. I don't see myself doing fullsize plants here but, with 6' of height, at least I've got the option.
And with the curtain closed:
The most important thing...this can be recreated anywhere cheaply and would lend itself to closets, lockers, cabinets, etc. Without the fan, the cost was less than 50 bucks and it's all stuff that's available without raising eyebrows in a small town. I'm continuously adding more light to it as well - another two bulbs today and then another row of lights further down to give me a double-decker setup....
And to think this all started with ONE bagseed of five that actually germinated (grow thread in my sig) Mum is about 15 weeks old, about 4 1/2' tall, and has given me 20-odd clones so far and is still going nuts with new growth.
I love this plant...
I thought I'd give something back...
I have to keep a pretty close eye on how much my 'hobby' costs me until my cashflow improves so I figure I'll share what's working so far. If it helps other like-minded growers, then great. If anyone has any suggestions or improvements, that's great too.
First and foremost, I live in a small community remote enough that a day trip to 'the city' to buy gear isn't an option. Given that it's a small (and pretty conservative) community, stealth is super-important. Ordering from online hydro shops isn't really an option for me either.
Everything I use has to be fairly generic so that I can find it at a garden store or a hardware store.
I have been vegging and cloning (and growing veggies) under a four-tube flourescent fixture and things are clipping along nicely. I've got 3 clones about 3 weeks into flower, another two to go in in a week or so, and another 9 (probably 7 by then) that'll go in 4 weeks after that.
Continuous harvest, baby!!
The cabinet I built is 3X3X6'high and has (so far) 10 CFLs @ 1600 lumens each and 2700K on a 12/12 cycle.
The 'foil' is actually space blankets from a local camping store (4 @ about 3 bucks each) stapled to a frame banged together from some scrap 2X2 laying around the shop. The lights were on sale for about 9 bucks for a six-pack and the lamp holders are less than 2 bucks each. The front curtain is held shut with velcro a la the 'Mr Green' videos.
Note the cardboard tabs that the staples run through: this stops the staples from pulling through the foil.
I haven't put it in yet, but a 50 CFM bathroom fan is the priciest part of the whole thing, but it was only 25 bucks.
Mine is in a dark corner so it's ok, but it's important to point out that space blankets aren't 100% lightproof. If it's an issue, then one layer stapled to the inside of the frame and one layer stapled to the outside of the frame will do the trick.
On to the pics !
The four lights mounted to the disc in the center are on a pulley and the table is raised at the moment. I don't see myself doing fullsize plants here but, with 6' of height, at least I've got the option.
And with the curtain closed:
The most important thing...this can be recreated anywhere cheaply and would lend itself to closets, lockers, cabinets, etc. Without the fan, the cost was less than 50 bucks and it's all stuff that's available without raising eyebrows in a small town. I'm continuously adding more light to it as well - another two bulbs today and then another row of lights further down to give me a double-decker setup....
And to think this all started with ONE bagseed of five that actually germinated (grow thread in my sig) Mum is about 15 weeks old, about 4 1/2' tall, and has given me 20-odd clones so far and is still going nuts with new growth.
I love this plant...
