closet grow suggestions.

[bosley]

Hello all, I recently moved into a 1 bedroom apartment with and adjoining atrium. I am planning on growing a few plants for person use inside of the closet in the atrium. Dimensions inside are 20" x 68" x 96". Ive got a few ideas circulating, but would like some suggestions seeing as how this will be my first attempt at growing and any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[CannabisSativa]

Hey man check out the grow diary in my signature...we have a similar setup. Followed you from the Texas thread.

 

[krustytheclown]

Hi, Bosley!

You could max out your lighting and use a 400W HPS light. Ventilation in this case may be difficult if you cannot cut a ventilation hole in the door, wall or celing- you gotta get rid of the hot air generated by the HPS. Ify ou can get away with the ventilation, I say go for it!

Or, you could grow with CFL's. I have use a 4-6 socket vanity light bar from Lowe's with a y-splitter, so you can fit 2 bulbs for each socket and use 40W CFL's (40W actual energy consumption, not equivalent output). The advantage of this is the lower temps and less need to cool the bulbs. The disadvantage is potentially lower yield per harvest vs. a 400W HPS for an equivalent power consumption (and energy cost).

 

[krustytheclown]

Hi, Bosley!

You could max out your lighting and use a 400W HPS light. Ventilation in this case may be difficult if you cannot cut a ventilation hole in the door, wall or celing- you gotta get rid of the hot air generated by the HPS. Ify ou can get away with the ventilation, I say go for it!

Or, you could grow with CFL's. I have use a 4-6 socket vanity light bar from Lowe's with a y-splitter, so you can fit 2 bulbs for each socket and use 40W CFL's (40W actual energy consumption, not equivalent output). The advantage of this is the lower temps and less need to cool the bulbs. The disadvantage is potentially lower yield per harvest vs. a 400W HPS for an equivalent power consumption (and energy cost).

 

[lysol]

First things first, take the door off the hinges, drop in some panda film and cut holes in it for ducting. I'd do an air cooled 250w, 400w tops.... A/Cs in 1 bed apts are usually only around 10k btu and if you live in the south thats barely enough to cool the house, let alone with a PC, a grow op, god forbit you want to also turn on your stove you might freeze over your AC with a 600w or something running in there.

Are you going to do hydro?

Since I also only have 1 closet to grow in I use a light proof rubbermaid tub chamber for rooting clones, and vegging ( well used to, im only on my 1st cycle in my new digs )

 

[bosley]

thanks guys for the responses. i guess i should have said this earlier but i would like to use a 400w, if possible, on a hydro setup.

krusty - that's my main concern right now is ventilation with a 400w. my friend helping me out does construction and he doesn't seem to think it would be a prob cutting a few holes to vent out of that would be easily repairable but thats something i would like to avoid.

lysol - i thought the same with the panda film. my ac unit used to cool my apt doesnt run in the atrium so the temps of the grow shouldnt affect my ac. i will most likely build a separate cab for clones/veg and have that in my bedroom or bathroom closet

 

[krustytheclown]

If you have some help available for getting some ventilation, the go for it! You'll have some great results in that space with a 400W HPS. You can either go with several smaller plants in soil or in ebb/flow setup, or 1-2 large plants in DWC or soil.


Good luck!

 

[bosley]

i think im going to do 2 5gal buckets, dwc, under a 400w hps. i went around town today and priced everything, just lacking bulb, ballast. any suggestions for either? there was a sylvania at home depot for $20. im going to visit some hydro shops tomorrow, although theres 1 im staying away from. read a review that the police followed him home from the store and kicked in his door

edit: also thanks for helping out a newbie