before i start growing.. organic AF in aerogarden questions!

[topofthetrees]

So, basically I'm new to posting here(been reading through everything for the past few weeks though) and new to growing. As you can imagine, I have quite a few questions that I'm hoping those of you with some experience and knowledge can help me with.

First, I need a super stealth, indoor operation. For this, I've come to the conclusion that autoflowering plants in an aerogarden(the tall "deluxe" model with 3 bulbs) is probably my best option. Is this correct? What would you advise? Will I have to worry about odor if I grow 2-3 plants? If so, what should I do about it? Ionizer?

I'm also toying with the idea of using CFL's and lining my cab with a reflective surface to maximize the 20/4 light. Is this a good idea? Are there better ideas?

As far as hydroponics go, what is the best way to grow organically? I figure if I try to make most of what I eat organic, might as well apply that to my extracurricular activities.

I think that's about it for now.. Oh, and what strains would you recommend for this setup? I've had my eyes on Russian Rocket Fuel, SnowRyder, and EasyRyder, but am still unsure.

Any and all help/advise is greatly appreciated!
I'm so stoked!

 

[topofthetrees]

Anyone?

 

[skotty]

you ever thought about hempy buckets??

i heard they are good way of growing organicaly and you would be better off using cfl lights if you chose that method, its also classed as hydro

hope this helps

peace

 

[topofthetrees]

you ever thought about hempy buckets??

i heard they are good way of growing organicaly and you would be better off using cfl lights if you chose that method, its also classed as hydro

hope this helps

peace

Thanks!

My initial thought was to grow in soil since I have a lot of experience growing fruits and vegetables in soil, however I'm currently in a second floor apartment and will be for the next couple of months, so soil for my situation doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

This grow is meant to be a practice grow and to kind of hold me over until I move when I will likely switch to soil and compost(unless the aerogarden is too amazing).

 

[WasntMe]

if you only have a couple of month before you move, honestly, I would wait and use that time to learn, save, plan and gather supplies for your new space.

What is your total budget for the setup?

 

[topofthetrees]

if you only have a couple of month before you move, honestly, I would wait and use that time to learn, save, plan and gather supplies for your new space.

What is your total budget for the setup?

Yea, I thought a lot about just using this time to educate myself in preparation for when I move.. but I really think I've just been bitten by the 'Grow Bug.' Plus, I'm self-employed now so I have a lot of free time on my hands

My total budget.. I'm not too sure. The Aerogarden itself I was hoping to buy used on Craigslist, which I've seen go for $75-100. The CFL's and nutes probably wont be more than $75. So, everything plus seeds(haven't decided on a strain yet..) I'm thinking will come in right around $250. If I have a few successful or successful-ish grows, the system will have paid for itself in the second harvest.

 

[WasntMe]

I can totally understand the bug.


other people like the Aerogarden and have had ok results from using it, ... thats cool.
Personally I'm not a fan cuz I can be more of a DIY guy ... especially with a small budget like your situation is for now (moving gets expensive and you probably need to save most of your $$ for that).

What I found that works for me, and I suggest you at least look into it for yourself, is an old school NIMBY Tub (PS I really do miss brain storming with him on micro construction ideas back on OG). A Nimby Tub can be made for alot cheaper then an aerogarden.

if you search Nimby Tub your should find some pics of one or two (i even still use one for clones). And it's easy to transport fairly stealth since it is just a Rubermaid tub .... but like the aerogarden, no effective solution for filtering the smell of a near harvest plant.

Go get a nice sized Rubbermaid-style tub. Go to the hardware section, and look for a compact fluorescent floodlight made by Lights Of America (called a Fluorex, it's a 65w compact fluorescent). Now go grab one of those mylar emergency blankets or some flat white spray paint made to go on plastic (the Krylon plastic one works best IMO)

Measure around the lens of the light fixture, cut a hole the same size in the lid of your tub and drop the light into the hole- it should fit nicely. Line the tub AND the lid with the mylar OR spray with the paint (obviously don't paint your light lens). Cut a slot or two on the side for ventilation. Put your plants/seedlings in, plug in the light (optional: install a timer to control lighting) and you're ready to rock and roll.

Hope that helps.

GL with the education, grow and your move.

 

[WasntMe]

as far as odor... look towards lower odor plants like Northen Lights.
There are many Odor controls available but the best IMO is always a carbon filter

 

[topofthetrees]

I can totally understand the bug.


other people like the Aerogarden and have had ok results from using it, ... thats cool.
Personally I'm not a fan cuz I can be more of a DIY guy ... especially with a small budget like your situation is for now (moving gets expensive and you probably need to save most of your $$ for that).

What I found that works for me, and I suggest you at least look into it for yourself, is an old school NIMBY Tub (PS I really do miss brain storming with him on micro construction ideas back on OG). A Nimby Tub can be made for alot cheaper then an aerogarden.

if you search Nimby Tub your should find some pics of one or two (i even still use one for clones). And it's easy to transport fairly stealth since it is just a Rubermaid tub .... but like the aerogarden, no effective solution for filtering the smell of a near harvest plant.

Go get a nice sized Rubbermaid-style tub. Go to the hardware section, and look for a compact fluorescent floodlight made by Lights Of America (called a Fluorex, it's a 65w compact fluorescent). Now go grab one of those mylar emergency blankets or some flat white spray paint made to go on plastic (the Krylon plastic one works best IMO)

Measure around the lens of the light fixture, cut a hole the same size in the lid of your tub and drop the light into the hole- it should fit nicely. Line the tub AND the lid with the mylar OR spray with the paint (obviously don't paint your light lens). Cut a slot or two on the side for ventilation. Put your plants/seedlings in, plug in the light (optional: install a timer to control lighting) and you're ready to rock and roll.

Hope that helps.

GL with the education, grow and your move.

Hey man, thanks so much for your input!
I was considering making something similar to that to conceal the garden, just hadn't had the chance to make it down to the hardware store to scope out my options.

I'll keep an eye out for the Krylon plastic spray and lighting!

Thanks!

 

[WasntMe]

NP man....

there are LOTS of ways of doing this and many very inventive people around. .... try to learn from a diverse group of people ... the more the better.

but ultimately, you will have to just take all that and decide what works for YOU the best.

gl and keep us all posted on your adventures.

 

[HydroLenny]

I am new to this as well, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but check on the coffee can percolator on Youtube.

This guy put together a cheap percolating hydro unit using a plastic coffee can, piece of PVC tube, and a fishtank airpump. I have put together a couple of these in different variations to test growing strawberries (getting my feet wet with hydro and indoor growing BEFORE I jump into growing the good stuff!) and its a really cheap way to go. I originally thought about the Aerogarden myself until I saw this setup. So far after some tweaking it seems to work pretty well.

I happened to have some of the exact same coffee cans that I was using to store parts and stuff on my workbench, but really any container/bucket with a lid will work. I picked up an aquarium air pump at Walmart for $6. The PVC pieces were $3 at Lowes. So, for $10 or so you can have a descent hydro setup, although I have to admit I havent grown anything but strawberries at this point.

 

[HydroLenny]

Should have included photo. I know this is in the auto flowering forum, and that is what I will eventually grow, so please excuse the strawberries... they are just easy test subjects! The one on the left is the percolator verson; the one on the right is just a bubbler version with an air diffuser stone and the net basket about a half an inch into the reservoir.

 

[skotty]

lol ^^^

if your gonna go the dwc route then at least do it proper, you may run into problems when ya roots out grow ya coffe cans or they start drinking more water than those can hold

their cute i like em would be good for vegging plants in untill you move them into a bigger system or for sexing autos in

peace

 

[basementdweller]

got my aero garden delux with 2 plants 1st one is about a month old and about 12" tall my second is little behind a 4" tall but only 2wks old. I chose barney farms acalpoco gold =) i plan to transplant out of the ag to a 5gal bucket system and a 100wt MH and 2 cfl floods for VEG, then the MH and a 250 HPS for budding but i do think you are gonna find it hard to grow in the ag as it only holds 1gal of h20 but it does get them going great and also great for cloning =). i would recomend the 3gal bucket system and go DWC with some cfl flood lights. 40$ at lowes. As far as smell mine are starting to get smelly and had some sniffing @ my door earlier today =( lucky my dogs havent learned to tell the fiancee yet =) but smell will come with in a month

 

[HydroLenny]

That is good to know. The size was one thing I was not sure about. The biggest issue I have is I am extremely limited on space, so I was hoping that these would work for my grow. If anything, this has given me a chance to start down the hydro path without making mistakes on valuable plants. If I need to increase my reservoir size, thats the easy part.

How big does the root ball get on the autoflowers?

 

[skotty]

onyx but i didnt get the full shot of it

 

[HydroLenny]

Gotcha... yes, would be an issue in the little pots I have....

Again, this is why I didnt buy some crap, plant seeds, and have a complete failure on my hands before I knew what I was doing.

I have spent the last several weeks getting my feet wet with hydro and reading these forums. I have seeds on the way and wont probably start germinating/growing for a couple more weeks, so getting the newbie stupidity out of the way now is probably a good thing!

P.S., Sorry for semi-hijacking the thread....

 

[basementdweller]

well i did get one but after seeing a post some where the root ball was way to big to see inside the aero g. I dont have a clue about auto flowers. but clones would well in the begining or sog setup. It deos work very well for germination and root growth through. Maybe u can 1 month into veg, maybe a month and a half. But when the plant starts drinking a gal a day, its gonna run dry, but u could always remove the base or hang the light set up some where else. the wire is almost 3 ft long for the light. i think u would be better off goning dwc. maybe a small aquarimum h20 pump but people having been saying they increase heat and if ur reservoir is to small it will heat the water up to high. but a cycle timer would work, if timed right. I would also recomend adding a air pump and air stones to the ag reservoir. The ag nutes gave my plants a tad of nute burn or my hard tap water did it ?? so i went the way of distilled water and nuresery water .99c so worth it not to have to screw with ph and hardness. I have Gh nutes on the way for my next resv change and my hudroton just came in =) yea now just need some time to finish my room and get mommma transpoted to the bucket