Hi, i am new to growing, just cpl outdoor crops in past and super new to indoor growing. I Was looking up info on my outdoors when i stumbled across some cfl growing info. I then thought it could be good to have my seedling under lights overnight to help with growing, especially since its still winter weather here. So i purchased a 28w 5000k cfl (cfl globes arent as easily accessible in Australia) and made a small grow area. I only had a small seedling and presumed the smaller the space, the brighter it would be? So i started with an empty beer box, lined it with aluminium foil and stuck the cfl through the top. I hung the globe approx 1-2 inches above the plant when the sun went down. The next morning in a rush to get ready for work, I decided to leave the lights on and see how it went. I came back after 24hrs of light and the growth was incredible. It had grown more in that 24hrs than it had for its first cpl wks of life!! So then i decided to leave lights on permanently and who knows, maybe i can even harvest before their ready to go back outside? I also had 5 other seedlings which i was awaiting to sprout so after the 1st night, I made another setup the same and put the seedlings in. Another 24hrs passed and the seedlings sprouted! Also, the plant was growing new leaves each day, so I asked for some advice about lighting. Someone told me that 75w of cfl is needed for vegetation and 100w of cfl for flowering? After much searching, and another 72hrs, i finally found somewhere to buy a 48w 5000k globe so I purchased 2 and put 1 each in both setups. Not much time has passed since adding the lights so not much to report. Today i am looking at picking up a wardrobe, 1800mm high x 1400mm wide x 500mm deep to transfer 2 plants into. I will purchase another 48w 5000k and have all 3 hanging staright down from the top. Also, i'll buy another 28w 5000k and have 2 running in from each side and 1 running in from back of wardrobe so all sides should be covered. And of course, switching all globes to 3000k for flowering. However, when using the 28w, the globe wasnt getting hot to touch for at least a min or 2? The new 48w globes though are signifcantly hotter. I do not know what temps they are running as i have never done this before. (I hope to get out today and buy some of the things i am coming to realise i will need) And considering i have never grown indoors and know nothing about it brings me to :
Question 1 - Will this be sufficient lighting for 2 plants in that sized wardrobe or will it be too much?
Question 2 - With the extra heat from the 48w globe, should i increase the distance between the globe and the plant? Or should i be looking into ventilation?
Question 3 - How do i record the temp? I am guessing just an outdoor thermometer placed by the plant? And what temp is good and what is bad?
Question 4 - Is ventilation a must? Plants need air to breathe, right? Will no air-flow kill my babies? What ventilation? Intake? Exhaust?
Question 5 - If it is getting too hot, is ventilation the answer or will turning the globes off for 6hrs a day allow things to cool?
Question 6 - As i know nothing about hydroponics, they are growing in soil. How can i go about a watering system? And how much water is enough and too much?
Question 7 - What is the indoor schedule? I thought it was 2 months veg and 1 month flower? However, i've also read somewhere that someone else does 1 month 24/0, 2 month 18/6, 1 month 12/12? Is there a standard or is it just depending on what you want out of your plants? Or is it simply just waiting til the plant is ready to develop?
Question 8 - Someone has told me to line my cupboard with emergency blankets and i've also heard that aluminum foil is no good? Aren't they the same? And does a bright white paint job or white melamine do the same job? Which one is a better option??
Question 9 - Smell, will the smell always be there when its getting close or does smell only come from an exhaust system? How do i minimise this odour? Being it in the cupboard or exhaust system?
Well, i think that should keep me informed enough to last me a few more days? Lol. Keep coming back as I am positive i will have many more questions to come about the whole indoor world. And i sincerely thankyou for the time you've spent listening to my story and questions and greatly appreciate all the advice and tips that i receive. Thankyou. Also, i'll use this as a journal for my grow. Post pics of plants and setup so far as soon as i get back on my phone.
Question 1 - Will this be sufficient lighting for 2 plants in that sized wardrobe or will it be too much?
Question 2 - With the extra heat from the 48w globe, should i increase the distance between the globe and the plant? Or should i be looking into ventilation?
Question 3 - How do i record the temp? I am guessing just an outdoor thermometer placed by the plant? And what temp is good and what is bad?
Question 4 - Is ventilation a must? Plants need air to breathe, right? Will no air-flow kill my babies? What ventilation? Intake? Exhaust?
Question 5 - If it is getting too hot, is ventilation the answer or will turning the globes off for 6hrs a day allow things to cool?
Question 6 - As i know nothing about hydroponics, they are growing in soil. How can i go about a watering system? And how much water is enough and too much?
Question 7 - What is the indoor schedule? I thought it was 2 months veg and 1 month flower? However, i've also read somewhere that someone else does 1 month 24/0, 2 month 18/6, 1 month 12/12? Is there a standard or is it just depending on what you want out of your plants? Or is it simply just waiting til the plant is ready to develop?
Question 8 - Someone has told me to line my cupboard with emergency blankets and i've also heard that aluminum foil is no good? Aren't they the same? And does a bright white paint job or white melamine do the same job? Which one is a better option??
Question 9 - Smell, will the smell always be there when its getting close or does smell only come from an exhaust system? How do i minimise this odour? Being it in the cupboard or exhaust system?
Well, i think that should keep me informed enough to last me a few more days? Lol. Keep coming back as I am positive i will have many more questions to come about the whole indoor world. And i sincerely thankyou for the time you've spent listening to my story and questions and greatly appreciate all the advice and tips that i receive. Thankyou. Also, i'll use this as a journal for my grow. Post pics of plants and setup so far as soon as i get back on my phone.