Tips/Suggestions?

A

amateurgrower16

New Member
I smoke weed regularly. I decided i would try and start growing it, just for shits. But have come to find that it's more complicated, and theres a lot of tricks.

Now understand, I'm 15, and i don't have a lot of money. I do with what i can.

My set up ;
In my closet (It's a decent-sized closet).
Two (60 Watt) Fluorescent bulbs (Not the tubes) hanging.
Two giant mirrors, the rest covered in aluminum foil.
Thermometer (Getting a better one with humidity on it here soon)
Double fan (that has intake and exhaust, it doesn't run much, an hour a day?)

- 3 small plants in probably week 4? (Starting to look like an actual ganga plant, they're just plain 'ole reg)
- 10 seeds in week 1 (Sprouting, they're dank reg)

Both of those are in probably 6 inch diameter pots for right now?


But....The temperature is always around 70-75. The humidity is never too bad, i check it, not with any readings, but just by the feel?.
So i didn't think the air circulation matter was that bad. If you think it is, i could always take off the door handle and let it circulate?
- I live in a house, my mom never comes up.

But are there any cheap alterations i could do that could help?
Or any advice?
And for the light, will i need to be getting a new one when it flowers?

-Thanks, (:.
Captain Hermy ; )
 
Hayduke

Hayduke

Well-Known Member
I have a suggestion: Keep in mind I am sympathetic of your age and the inherent obstacles that come with it. However, by posting on here, you endanger the very resource that you are seeking. I admire your dumb honesty of your age (though you lied when you set up your account)...assuming that you are who you say, and not trying to build a case for this site encouraging minors to use illegal narcotics, LURK! LISTEN! READ! You can answer all the questions you have by reading of others mistakes and successes. Don't ruin it for yourself and literally thousands of others around the world. Do not post anything else. Do not burn down moms house or have the local pigs steal it. Find a spot outside...keep your mom out of it!

Stay in school, do your homework, and stay out of trouble.

:leaf::peace::leaf:
 
Furthur

Furthur

Active Member
Are they actually 60w CFL's or is that the equivalency rating? Either way if you're going to use CFL's, you might want to add a few more, they're cheap and more light won't hurt. For flowering you really should consider a HID light. There are DIY projects all over the web on how to turn cheap security lights and industrial high/low bay lighting into a legit grow light. If you still can't afford a HID, Try to get lower temperature rating bulbs, plants respond better to different spectrums of light for veg and flower.

Do as much research as you can, that's a cheap and useful way to improve your grow room.

Mirrors will actually absorb some light before reflecting it. A better way to go might be flat white painted walls.

70-75 is a good temperature but air flow is still important, plants immediately use all CO2 around them and that needs to be replaced.

Living with your mom, I'd worry the most about odor control / noise level / light leaks.
 
A

amateurgrower16

New Member
....
?
I'm looking for help. And i have been reading everybody's questions, etc. I'm asking for my situation.

And reading your reply, isn't possession, smoking, and everything illegal in the U.S.?
People lie. It's what goes on. My age is my age.
I'm in school, with a 4.0. I do my studies, and smoke.
I find a balance.

-----------------

Thats the equiv rating. And I was meaning to check out the hydroponics store that was around here, but do you think they have HID lights? And how much would they run me? For a cheap one, that is.

I'll add a couple more, i hang the lamp from a metal hanger that is unwrapped. They're about 10 inches above the plants atm.
My walls are plain white and flat. Should i take the aluminum foil/mirrors down and just keep it bare wall?
Noise/odor won't be a problem right now. If odor does become one, i'm sure i can go to the hydroponics store and get something.
Light leaks are a smallll problem, if we're talking about light escaping (Not to get caught, but just escaping from getting to plants).

I've been cracking the door, and putting the fans on for an hour? Should i just take off the handle, and put the fan on constantly? Or...?
 
Hayduke

Hayduke

Well-Known Member
amateurgrower16 said:
....
?
I'm looking for help. And i have been reading everybody's questions, etc. I'm asking for my situation.

And reading your reply, isn't possession, smoking, and everything illegal in the U.S.?
People lie. It's what goes on. My age is my age.
I'm in school, with a 4.0. I do my studies, and smoke.
I find a balance.
Click to expand...
No it is not. I am legally growing and my 7oz is under my limit.

Read my post again, without getting flustered. There are good reasons for you to take the advice. I am glad you are doing well in school and I am not suggesting that you change anything other than the felony you are making your mom commit without her knowledge, and posting here underage.

If you have questions about things like lighting, temps, reflective material or anything from germination though advance hydroponics...you simply have not done enough reading. It is all there, most of it in the FAQ's on this site. Other similar sites and youtube will answer ALL!!!!!!!!!!! of your questions!

I have an 8th grade daughter, a son who is a senior and I work in a public high school. I know kids, they are quick to give up and ask for help. Keep reading and quit asking for help. Read grow journals. They will often have made mistakes for you to avoid. There is a TON of info on here about the use of CFL's as well as Youtube vids...more than you will be able to absorb in several long days...that is ok...in fact needed. There are many "right" ways to grow, using various levels of sophisticated set-ups...take them all in and make them your own. If you do all this...imagine...at your age...the fine Cannabis you will be producing by the time you are 18!

Coming on here, against the rules, and asking someone to give you very basic advice, says you have not done much/enough research. I assume by your very nice GPA that you do not suffer from the same "I hate to read" disease that your contemporaries are plagued with....so follow some good kind advice, and keep reading...much like the young pothead smoking with the big kids has done for several generations now...shut up and listen!

Please understand I am not trying to be mean, and if you had done ample research I would do what little I could to help you. I believe you already understand the handicap you face with your budget...luckily there are many growers on here, including myself that deal with the budget of a personal grow. Be very careful about any DIY wiring projects...EVERY grow that goes up in smoke (on a weekly basis here) is either altering wiring or stealing power or both.

:leaf::peace::leaf:
 
Furthur

Furthur

Active Member
amateurgrower16 said:
....
?
I'm looking for help. And i have been reading everybody's questions, etc. I'm asking for my situation.

And reading your reply, isn't possession, smoking, and everything illegal in the U.S.?
People lie. It's what goes on. My age is my age.
I'm in school, with a 4.0. I do my studies, and smoke.
I find a balance.

-----------------

Thats the equiv rating. And I was meaning to check out the hydroponics store that was around here, but do you think they have HID lights? And how much would they run me? For a cheap one, that is.

I'll add a couple more, i hang the lamp from a metal hanger that is unwrapped. They're about 10 inches above the plants atm.
My walls are plain white and flat. Should i take the aluminum foil/mirrors down and just keep it bare wall?
Noise/odor won't be a problem right now. If odor does become one, i'm sure i can go to the hydroponics store and get something.
Light leaks are a smallll problem, if we're talking about light escaping (Not to get caught, but just escaping from getting to plants).

I've been cracking the door, and putting the fans on for an hour? Should i just take off the handle, and put the fan on constantly? Or...?
Click to expand...
A hydro store most def has HID but they're going to run you 150+ dollars. What I'm talking about is converting the right type of lamp to suit your needs from one that isn't specifically meant for growing but will ultimately work better than fluoros. google DIY hps or mh.

Drop those CFLs down to 2 inches above plants, your losing to much light with them that high.

Go ahead and keep the foil unless you start having problems with burnt leaves. Foil can create hot spots if not put up right.

Depending on what kinda airflow you get in your house, cracking the door / opening it every few hours might be enough but I'd run a circulating fan all the time or atleast when the lights are on. That will strengthen plant stems as well. Just be sure its more of a breeze and don't have the fan blowing too high directly on them.
 
b1izzard

b1izzard

Member
well my advice for you is to read up as much as possible on cfl growing. I could sit here and tell you all i know about cfl growing and building cfl grow boxes and ill do some of that, but i can not teach you as much as you would learn if you read grow journals and all the threads about cfls out there.

If you plan on growing with cfls's you need 50w per square foot. Personally i like 100w for the first plant and 50 additional watts for each subsequent plant. That means 200w for the 3 plants you have. Next you need to choose whether you want only 6000k lights or a mix of 2700k lights for vegging. For vegging i would say use a 2:1 6000k:2700k lights. then switch it up when you start to flower. Make sure to buy a timer and keep those lights on a 20-4 or 18-6 cycle. Also build a reflector if possible and keep the lights withing 5 inches in not closer. One thing about cfl grows is that you dont want a lot of space between your plants and the light since they are not as strong as hps, but since they dont get as hot its not as much of a worry.

Next is ventelation. Plants need the air to be constantly circulating and replacing stale air with fresh air. This is because the plants can only use the co2 around their leaves and if thats not replaced with circulating air then you will not have a good grow. So buy a fan to get the air circulating in the room. Dont blow it directly on the plants if its to strong. Also make sure the room has access to fresh air.

But honestly look at all the grow journals on here. My own knowledge comes from a ton of reading on this site and others and then trial and error.
 
Captn

Captn

Well-Known Member
ppl veg and flower with cfl all the time, but you're going to need more than two, and you're yeilds won't be as high as with HID lights. for security purposes, you're probably going to need a filter or odor nuetralizer of somekind. and since you're growing indoors, you'll need continuous venting or C02 enrichment. These things, ventilation, more light, odor control, are not really options for you. get a partime job or do odd jobs and invest in a little equipment, maybe $100-$300.

Now on the legality of what you're doing, I'm not going to get on my soapbox. Where I live growing any amount is a major felony that carries 5-30 years. And whether we're 15 or 50, we all make our own choices, right? That said, at least know the risks you're taking...go here http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516 and look up the law in your state. Finally, and being a teenager this is going to be hard for you, DON'T TELL ANYONE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, not your girl friend, best friend, hell don't even let the dog know (ok, you can let the dog know, he probably won't talk). Good luck.
 
bricktown73

bricktown73

Well-Known Member
Hayduke said:
No it is not. I am legally growing and my 7oz is under my limit.

Read my post again, without getting flustered. There are good reasons for you to take the advice. I am glad you are doing well in school and I am not suggesting that you change anything other than the felony you are making your mom commit without her knowledge, and posting here underage.

If you have questions about things like lighting, temps, reflective material or anything from germination though advance hydroponics...you simply have not done enough reading. It is all there, most of it in the FAQ's on this site. Other similar sites and youtube will answer ALL!!!!!!!!!!! of your questions!

I have an 8th grade daughter, a son who is a senior and I work in a public high school. I know kids, they are quick to give up and ask for help. Keep reading and quit asking for help. Read grow journals. They will often have made mistakes for you to avoid. There is a TON of info on here about the use of CFL's as well as Youtube vids...more than you will be able to absorb in several long days...that is ok...in fact needed. There are many "right" ways to grow, using various levels of sophisticated set-ups...take them all in and make them your own. If you do all this...imagine...at your age...the fine Cannabis you will be producing by the time you are 18!

Coming on here, against the rules, and asking someone to give you very basic advice, says you have not done much/enough research. I assume by your very nice GPA that you do not suffer from the same "I hate to read" disease that your contemporaries are plagued with....so follow some good kind advice, and keep reading...much like the young pothead smoking with the big kids has done for several generations now...shut up and listen!

Please understand I am not trying to be mean, and if you had done ample research I would do what little I could to help you. I believe you already understand the handicap you face with your budget...luckily there are many growers on here, including myself that deal with the budget of a personal grow. Be very careful about any DIY wiring projects...EVERY grow that goes up in smoke (on a weekly basis here) is either altering wiring or stealing power or both.

:leaf::peace::leaf:
Click to expand...
I agree. You can find all the info you need by reading the posts in this forum. In this forum category, I believe there is a sub-forum on just CFL's that will asnwser everything you need to know.

If you do need to ask questions, do us a favor and delete your acct because you have allready admitted to being underage and entering this site dishonestly. Make another acct and if you do ask questions, say nothing about your age.

I understand where hayduke is coming from, but this is a legal site, anyone can come, read and post, but just do it on the down low if you are underage. Who knows what repercussions would come but we don't need to find out... Good luck youngster, and like he said...

Shut up, listen and learn.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top