Hello all. I've been doing some reading, and like most here I've been smoking for years. I've always wanted to grow my own but I know I don't have a green thumb. Widowmaker, I've read your starter manual and it does seem somewhat technical, and some terms I don't understand, so I'm hoping that you will guide me through this. I have a few pics of some ideas on where to start my grow room, but need to know what else I need to make this really work. I know I have a few things to start off with, and I don't want to make this an expensive hobby then it already is. So here go my pics. One is under my stairs which I thought would be great, and the other is my unfinished vocal booth. I don't want to use my booth but if it will make a difference, then I will do. Another pic is a fluorecent fixure that I have black lights in, I was wondering what I could replace the black lights with and what other bulbs would work in the light fixure in the booth. Thanks in advance
Yes, I know I'm New
- Thread starter DaMyth
- Start date
Widow Maker
Well-Known Member
I like the room in the first picture. Growing cost a lot of money to get started. Mainly the most expensive item is the light. The light determines everything in my opinion. You can start your plants off with that shoplight but After a month or less you will need more light to bud. I would suggest a 400w or 1000w hps light. $150-$400. These lights make heat so you will need some ventalation. An exhaust fan should help control the heat. You are going to want to keep the temps below 85*f. To get started you can get some cool white or warm white bulbs for your light or both. I have about 12 of these 4' lights. The more the better. But like I said these florescent bulbs are only good for growing the plant and suck for budding.
I can go on and on but it will prolly be easier if I know what you are looking to get out of it. If not I will end up telling you to fill the whole room, knock down a few walls and go big. Shit I will have you sleeping in the closet and growing in your bedroom. lol. So how many plants do you want to grow? What terms do you not uderstand? What kind of budget do you have to spend? I just need some more info so I can help some more.
I can go on and on but it will prolly be easier if I know what you are looking to get out of it. If not I will end up telling you to fill the whole room, knock down a few walls and go big. Shit I will have you sleeping in the closet and growing in your bedroom. lol. So how many plants do you want to grow? What terms do you not uderstand? What kind of budget do you have to spend? I just need some more info so I can help some more.
it's gonna be for personal use, nothing else. I just want to grow enough plants so when it comes time to harvest, I have enough to rotate on. I would say 10 plants at the most, maybe 5 at the least. Put it like this, I don't want to have to call the weedman to get some when I can go down stairs and pick the biggest bud. My budget is pretty low, considering that my weed money is still in play, but that shouldn't stop me. I'm not looking to grow the latest and greatest of buds. I'm starting off with some schwag, just to see how the whole growing and harvest process works, and then maybe work my way up to something a little more potent. That first pic, is a pic of under my stairs, while it looks nice, the only problem I see with that, is that it would get exposed to light from the windows in the laundry room, and it's easy for anyone to see. with the booth, there's no windows, and I can put a pad lock on the door. So for now let's say we're using the booth.
For someone like myself that's budget minded, would these bulbs work to get me by.
Halogen Bulbs, Hid Lights, Halogen Light Bulbs, Flourescent Lights, Flourescent Bulbs
when all is said in done Widow Maker, I want to be able to grow something that's a little more potent than commercial weed.
For someone like myself that's budget minded, would these bulbs work to get me by.
Halogen Bulbs, Hid Lights, Halogen Light Bulbs, Flourescent Lights, Flourescent Bulbs
when all is said in done Widow Maker, I want to be able to grow something that's a little more potent than commercial weed.
Shotgunrab
Active Member
Thouse bulbs are fine but you have to remember they require a ballast you cant just screw them into thouse sockets you have
shotty
shotty
m420
Well-Known Member
If you want go grow 5-10 plants, spend some money and get a 600-1000watt H.P.S light. That would take care of all your lighting needs and you can still start them under fluoro's if you want. Also, your "vocal" room sounds like it would get hot quickly, just cover your windows and grow under the stairs. That area should be easier to vent. My last recommendation would be that you get some real seeds, preferably feminized. You don't have to spend a whole lot but it really helps to know what your growing. Schwag is spindly ditch weed that probably will not give to buds that much better than the sack you picked the seeds from. Also remember that there are males plants too so always plant more than you need to start. Good luck.
vervejunkie
Well-Known Member
I'm on my first grow and I spent the $20 to get some nice "brand name" seeds. Turns out that was the cheapest thing I've had to buy.
As I see it the goal is to grow correctly right? This isn't rocket science it's growing a plant. If you were growing outside I'd say sure, throw some shwag in the ground and see what happens.
Also for personal use I think between 4-6 plants would be enough.
As I see it the goal is to grow correctly right? This isn't rocket science it's growing a plant. If you were growing outside I'd say sure, throw some shwag in the ground and see what happens.
Also for personal use I think between 4-6 plants would be enough.
I'm not gonna grow some schwag. I got a buddy of mine sending me some northern lights/super skunk seeds. The only reason I was gonna start with some schwag, is so I didn't mess up the good stuff, but I might as well. I'd like to thank you guys for such quick responds. And Widow Makers grow guide is very helpful. And from what you guys are telling me, under the stairs would be alot better to grow my stash then in the vocal booth.
skunkushybrid
New Member
Tidy little space that.
I've decided to use my vocal booth, that way I can lock it up and I don't have to worry about someone seeing the obivious, and it will be easier to spit the room in half so I can have one side for buds and the other for clones and whatnot. Another question is, with using an HPS light for the flowering process, do I need to worry about putting off any kind of heat signatures that the po po's can pick up on, and how can I make so that it won't be a problem.
Sublime757
Well-Known Member
if youre worried about that, then buy some polyshield. it blocks all heat signatures so that their infrared equipment cant pick it up at all. and it has a reflective side to maximize your light output
skunkushybrid
New Member
Or you could work it so that it's lights out at midnight. Heat sig's aren't picked up during the day. It's only at night, if they happen to be flying about and see your place glowing.
Sublime757
Well-Known Member
thats how i have mine running 
Sublime757
Well-Known Member
grow shops carry it. or they can definitely order it. and its used for the prevention of heat detection as far as i know.
dew-b
Well-Known Member
you can get all the free lights you want if you live in a big city like dallas. just look for nocked down street lights. most use 1000w bulbs.found many that were hit by cars & knocked down. just take the top hood with the bulb & socket. then you just need to buy a ballast to run it. lot cheeper then buying every thing.
skunkushybrid
New Member
But how much are you going to spend on petrol driving around looking for fallen down street lights? I mean if you get lucky, you get lucky. Surely the drivers in Dallas aren't that bad.
I'm just now looking in to lighting, and got damn it's expensive. I'm thinking of using fluros for the mother and clones, maybe something real cheap, but do you think I could get away with a 400w HPS for budding, or maybe something even lower like a 250w. Another question, and I know it might seem dumb, but do CFL's use ballasts. Cuz it seems like that's what's gonna hurt my pockets the most. Can't find to0 many inexpensive ones, and I bet the ones that have it built in cost bundles. If anyone can suggest a cheap light kit for veg and flowering, I'd greatly appreciate. Keep in mind, I'm not trying to grow the greatest shit on earth, but I don't want to half ass it either. Thanks for the help Fellas
Sublime757
Well-Known Member
400w is great for flowering. and CFLs dont require a ballast, just a light socket. and i would suggest using fluoros for mothers and clones. clones are fragile and dont do great under HIDs.
dew-b: just go to the local metal yard. thats where the majority of those light poles and light fixtures end up anyway. so you dont have to drive around looking for them. i just went to the hydro store and bought a hydrofarm 400w hps because of the warranty and its pre-wired
dew-b: just go to the local metal yard. thats where the majority of those light poles and light fixtures end up anyway. so you dont have to drive around looking for them. i just went to the hydro store and bought a hydrofarm 400w hps because of the warranty and its pre-wired
at the moment this is how my setup is looking. Keep in mind that these seeds are just for practice, my northen lights/super skunk hasn't come in yet. I'm trying to get a hps light as soon as possible. Should I be looking for more wattage for my fluoros??? And my seedlings have been in the cups for about 3 days now, they've been watered twice, and I'm using Miracle Grow Moisture Control. When can I expect to see them sprout???
