Supplies list for a beginner?

Hi guys. I've spent hours n' hours learning to grow by reading guides/journals here on rollitup, and it's helped a lot. I've never grown anything in my life, so hopefully i can start soon. I'm here in SoCal, and am actually waiting to see what the results are on Prop 19 (legalization, taxation, growing on marijuana) this November. If it passes, I will definitely start growing indoors since i wont have to worry about cops.

I've made a prep list and would like any more additions/corrections to the list. I'm a 21 year old broke college student so i'm trying to keep costs down. I only want to grow 2 plants at a time (one regular, one LST)...


Indoor closet (or garage) grow:

Seeds (AK-48 feminized from Nirvana probably):$40
250 Watt HPS/MH-conv Lighting System + timer (from HTG): $180
Mylar/whiteboard(white paint): $20
Fox Farm Soil: $20
Fox Farm tri-pack fertilizer: $50
Luster Leaf 1818 Rapitest ph tester (amazon.com): $15
Humidifier (from amazon.com): $35
Honeywell TM005X Wireless Indoor/Outdoor thermostat (amazon.com): $25
Fans (from home and computer fans): free
Pots: free
Electric bill for 3 months: Assuming about $60

Total: About $450

Does that amount sound right for someone who has no supplies? Any suggestions on cutting these costs? I'd greatly appreciate it! The product would just be for personal use.

im from Cali and im saying fuck Prop 19!! but looks like you got everything u need to start

dont know where you live but ive got a 400w hps and im just now going into flowering but my utility is almost 200.00 a month. Even with the purchase of a new ac unit. Not sure if you will need the humidifer. What is the humidity now? How big of a room you growing in?

sorry if i would of read a litlle better i would have read you was in so cal

LAX Skunky BwS said:

im from Cali and im saying fuck Prop 19!! but looks like you got everything u need to start

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haha ya i've got mixed feelings about it

coyg74 said:

dont know where you live but ive got a 400w hps and im just now going into flowering but my utility is almost 200.00 a month. Even with the purchase of a new ac unit. Not sure if you will need the humidifer. What is the humidity now? How big of a room you growing in?

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thanks, not sure on humidity right now since i dont have a thermo for it yet but i'll figure that part out. And really 200 a month?? just for the lights?? Hmm, i've read a few posts on this site and people were saying a 250 watt light would run about $15-20/month. But either way, the house i'm in has a roof full of solar panels

yeah I wouldnt have bought the humidifier either. and i would have just stuck with the cheaper miracle gro nutrients too. only downside imho is you have to stop fertilizing 2 weeks before you plan to pluck it.

also, i'd return that ph tester. nearly all ph testers under $40 are shit. i would say find a way to get this in your budget, either by spending a little more, or returning a few items (eg humidifier and expensive fertilizer).
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Instruments-Waterproof-Tester-Range/dp/B000EANWCY/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1281662868&sr=8-19

i'd say beginner mistakes are always involving ph. if you consistently give your plant the right ph'd liquid, you'll never have a problem with nutrient lock. you would only need to flush the plants once during mid flower to eliminate all the salts that accumulate and then you're golden the rest of the time

...oh and my grow room will probably be 4ft X 4ft with a 9ft ceiling.

poutineeh said:

yeah I wouldnt have bought the humidifier either. and i would have just stuck with the cheaper miracle gro nutrients too. only downside imho is you have to stop fertilizing 2 weeks before you plan to pluck it.

also, i'd return that ph tester. nearly all ph testers under $40 are shit. i would say find a way to get this in your budget, either by spending a little more, or returning a few items (eg humidifier and expensive fertilizer).
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Instruments-Waterproof-Tester-Range/dp/B000EANWCY/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1281662868&sr=8-19

i'd say beginner mistakes are always involving ph. if you consistently give your plant the right ph'd liquid, you'll never have a problem with nutrient lock. you would only need to flush the plants once during mid flower to eliminate all the salts that accumulate and then you're golden the rest of the time

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oh gotchaa. Ya i actually don't have any of the supplies yet. Just waiting to see if prop 19 will pass or not this November. (ya, i get paranoid about cops haha). Thanks for the info!

Also, do you guys think i'd need CFL's for the germination/seedling period? Or can i just start with the MH light?

Does that amount sound right for someone who has no supplies? Any suggestions on cutting these costs? I'd greatly appreciate it! The product would just be for personal use.

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fuck no dude, that is way too much to start with. Everything you have on there is useful, but you're not going to really need it all unless the money isn't an issue.
The light set up is probably available for much cheaper, unless of course U have it already. The humidifier and thermostat shouldn't be necessary with such a low watt light. Personally I started my first indoor grow today, using fluorescents and the top shelf of my dresser, I'm gonna put a fan in there when it gets bigger and that's basically it. And 2 plants is nothing bro, cops aren't looking for cultivators like u and I who are growing for personal use, Not to mention none of the items you have on there would give good reason to attract cops. goood luck

A fluorescent would make it safer, but either will work

Gr33nCrack said:

fuck no dude, that is way too much to start with. Everything you have on there is useful, but you're not going to really need it all unless the money isn't an issue.
The light set up is probably available for much cheaper, unless of course U have it already. The humidifier and thermostat shouldn't be necessary with such a low watt light. Personally I started my first indoor grow today, using fluorescents and the top shelf of my dresser, I'm gonna put a fan in there when it gets bigger and that's basically it. And 2 plants is nothing bro, cops aren't looking for cultivators like u and I who are growing for personal use, Not to mention none of the items you have on there would give good reason to attract cops. goood luck

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thanks man! You're right. Are u gonna use fluros the whole grow? Mind giving me your light setup details? Like how many lights and wattage

johnsmokesalot said:

Also, do you guys think i'd need CFL's for the germination/seedling period? Or can i just start with the MH light?

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Seeds do not need light to germinate, but do need light as soon as they have popped. No reason to not start with the MH if you intend to get one.

You don't need the Conversion light,save some money, just get a HPS light, minimum 400 watts. HPS Bulbs will grow your plant just as big as MH, you will hardly notice a difference. As far as the thermostat, don't need it. Humidifier, don't need it. Cost for electricity in Cali is about 14 cents per KiloWattHour. If you use your (250 watt)bulb on a Vegetation schedule of 18 on 6 off it will cost 14 cents every 4 hours (1000watts/250watts =4). so if you veg for 4 weeks straight it will cost (4wks=28 days x 18 hours =504 hours/4=126KWH and 126 x $.14=$17.64 in additional energy usage. If you use alot of electericity in your home already you may be on a different tier rate than the baseline, in that case your electric rate may be much higher, up to 4 times as much.

johnsmokesalot said:

thanks man! You're right. Are u gonna use fluros the whole grow? Mind giving me your light setup details? Like how many lights and wattage

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yes I am, right now I'm using two 23 watt CFL's, the big ones. check it.. might add a 3rd one later. that's a blackberry seed, just sprouted today.

coyg74 said:

dont know where you live but ive got a 400w hps and im just now going into flowering but my utility is almost 200.00 a month. Even with the purchase of a new ac unit. Not sure if you will need the humidifer. What is the humidity now? How big of a room you growing in?

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Dude , you need to get a new light system . I run a 600W light, fans , pump , ect. and my electric bill went up $21 .

make sure that you keep it clean your grow area that is.

NoDrama said:

You don't need the Conversion light,save some money, just get a HPS light, minimum 400 watts. HPS Bulbs will grow your plant just as big as MH, you will hardly notice a difference. As far as the thermostat, don't need it. Humidifier, don't need it. Cost for electricity in Cali is about 14 cents per KiloWattHour. If you use your (250 watt)bulb on a Vegetation schedule of 18 on 6 off it will cost 14 cents every 4 hours (1000watts/250watts =4). so if you veg for 4 weeks straight it will cost (4wks=28 days x 18 hours =504 hours/4=126KWH and 126 x $.14=$17.64 in additional energy usage. If you use alot of electericity in your home already you may be on a different tier rate than the baseline, in that case your electric rate may be much higher, up to 4 times as much.

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Great info, thanks a lot!

Gr33nCrack said:

yes I am, right now I'm using two 23 watt CFL's, the big ones. check it.. View attachment 1096058 might add a 3rd one later. that's a blackberry seed, just sprouted today.

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cool, man. Do you have a journal for your grow on this site?