As a "newb" at the whole green thumb thing. I was wondering for a few pointers to put me in the right direction. I have read much on here and other sites of methods and systems. As a new grower i have chosen to go with a basic soil grow. I have 2 13watt 2700k cfl's and 2 26watt 6500k cfl's(putting out 200watt , without 2 13watts) with a hung reflector and v-split. Base soil is Expert Grower from wonderful wal-mart and no nutes as of yet. Since i am on a budget i was thinking of just going with MG Tomato Feed for veg. and MG Flower Bloom for flowering. My grow space is a small closet bought at local furniture store nothing fancy. Will get specs later for anyone interested. I am attempting to grow 2 plants successfully before really investing in anything. I will be purchasing 2 computer fans for circulation once things get started.
Any advice or help or pointers would be appreciated with my DIY
Thanks for looking Stay up

So went ahead and planted one of the germinated seeds and from bagseed time to wait i guess

more light! and don't let the 200 watts confuse you. watts are merely a measure of the rate of energy conversion. or electricity to heat. you should be worrying about lumens. you want a minimum of 5,000 per square foot.

my guess is that your 26 watters put 1600 lumens each. the 13 watters about 800 or so.
that's where i would start.

also know your temps, 78F is ideal. so get a thermometer/hygrometer.

and pH. for soil 6.3-6.8. get, at the least a freshwater aquarium pH test kit. ~$6 at petco etc. you'll also need some pH up or down. ~$3 at the same pet stores etc.

the MG nutes will work. just be sparing with them. start at 1/4 to 1/2 strength and work your way up.

there is your crash course. good growing!


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Thanks for Replying headshake. The lighting i was worried about from the start didnt think the lumens would be enough but it was what i had grabbed. Like i said its a real budget diy till i have a decent success rate. Was planning on getting bathroom fixture like i hear so much about on here since CFL's put out best sideways. Thermometer is a check hydrometer not so much lol. Water from tap is running at about 6.5 ph. MG nutes too i was worried about cause i have heard they tend to burn plants if followed by box instructions. As also mentions growing space is limited until move in a few months. Its all for a first time go around experiment i guess till i get my bearings. Which from reading all the threads on here is going to take me time. Sorry for the rambling hah. Petsmart here i come.
Thanks for Reading Stay Up

just keep at it. do what you can with what you have and your limited budget. at the least it will be a learning experience, which is invaluble!

as you learn and gain knowledge, share the wealth!


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Already read up much on several different intense Lighting threads and think im getting the lighting thing down i will be purchasing more CFL's and pH up and down soon as you mentioned. Will get pics soon and thanks again
Thanks for Reading Stay Up

you should only need pH up OR down. i would guess down, but either way you can return the unopend one.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Ok thanks for the clearification on that HeadShake. Its been a long morning ()

If you want some helpful information for anything you might have questions on, check out the link in my signature. There is a lot of good stuff in there

Good Luck,

SMG

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thanks SMG hadnt read that thread yet.. looks like fun. time to get reading after a short break of course

Day 2 since seed has been planted. Still no signs of life but my DIY growbox is coming together slowly but surely. Made a check list of items i think i need.
1.Therm/Hydrometer 2.pH test and Up or Down 3. 2 CPU fans both for intake (will use holes for exhaust)(plus 12v power) 4.Molasses(and various other nutes) 5. MORE LIGHTS ! any other things you think would help would be appreciated

Will post pics at sign of life

P.S. if this one is successful at all i plan on doing the rubbermaid idea for next grow

maybe some flat white spray paint, depending on where/how your cab is set up.

also, you want to use the fans for exhaust. if they are rated for the same CFM then you can use one for intake and one for exhaust. you want to use the fans to pull hot, o2 filled, stale air out and to create a negative pressure in the cab to pull fresh, cool, co2 filled air into the cab.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Headshake thanks for the quick response. the inside of the box is pretty much all aluminum foil. And with the CPU fans i have a question on where to place them... i have heard some people say exhaust top since heat rises. but then ive read posts with exhaust towards the bottom and forcing colder air through top for cooling lights. But since i will be using CFL's and theres not much heat ...would i be better putting exhaust at top and intake lower ?

ditch the aluminum foil! it can cause hot spots. hence the flat white.

as far as the fans, exhaust goes up top. if hot air rises, then cool air must fall. and if the fans are exhausting air out of the top, in turn creating a neagative pressure in our box, then that negative pressure must be filled. so cool air is pulled in via our inakes.

if we exhausted out the bottom then the air coming in the top wouldn't be as cool as air lower to the bottom of the box. not to mention, this way would be pulling your lights hot air over the plants and then out the bottom.

also, depending on the size of your box and how many CFL you are using you will get pretty hot temps. i've read that CFLs actually run hotter than HID, it's just that the heat is dissepated from many more sources.

good growing!


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Thanks again Headshake. Aluminum foil will be replaced with a flat white asap lol. Can you tell me why gloss white will not work instead ? Always wondered never found out. and the intake and exhaust makes sense thanks for the tip muchly appreciated.
Thanks for the Help Stay Up

P.S. went ahead and germinated 2 more seeds one of which is a pre seed i doubt will even sprout.. gotta love daily bagseed

Also with the Flat White ..i see alot of people using the reflective duct tape. Would this be sufficient or not ?
Thanks Again Stay Up

i'm not sure about the duct tape. never seen it. but you could use it to tape together flat white poster board or something.

the flat white scatters the light (and heat radiation) while the gloss doesn't. (no hotspots.)


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

By white poster board are you talkin about any ol' poster board or the kind like you see with science projects lol.
Yet again Headshake to my rescue Stay Up

yes. you can even find it with styrofoam in the middle for rigidity.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Do you think the styrofoam one would work as a grow box instead of the Cardboard ? as in not as fire friendly ?

not sure exaclty what you mean. i grow in cardboard and don't have any problems.

-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Several threads i have read have said that cardboard (being a paper material) is a risky material due to heat. But im using 2 CFL's in a grow space of 18"x10"x2' with no real steady airflow as of yet. Keep putting off store due to relationship problems , bigger things to worry about i guess.

well i've got 16 CFLs in a ~2 x 2 box. i've had no problems. i wouldn't use a HID or anything, don't get me wrong.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

Ok for the lighting i have the 26 watt 6500k and the 13 watts at 2700k. More lights coming so dont worry. But will that be sufficient enough to get through 1st few weeks ? IMO HPS and MH are the way to go but out of my budget at the moment. Next time i post hopefully there will be life hah.
Thanks for Reading Stay Up