First Time Grower, Could I Get A Check Of My Setup?

[Zeltar]

This is going to be my first ever attempt at growing so please bear with me if im doing anything drastically wrong, Im also on a small budget so that limits things slightly.


I have got 5 feminised greenhouse thai seeds, Going to be using a 125watt maxibrite CFL bulb. (Blue to start with then a few weeks down the line ill be buying a red bulb to use when flowering)

Using a basic soil mix with a NPK of 17-12-12 and it'll be growing in a space 2ftx3ftx5ft with a matt painted walls and foil on top and bottom to reflect light back in.

Does this sound ok for a basic setup?? anyone have any advice etc??

Also wondering how much i will be able to harvest off these plants with this setup (roughly)

Thanks Guys

Z

 

[old toby]

with cfl, you figure watts used. not what there rated. at least 100 watts first plant, and 50 or more for others. mj likes lots of light.

 

[DevilWeed]

I agree, you will need a lot more light to grow out 5 plants. If I was in your position and wanted to stay with just that light, I'd only germ 2 seeds, and even if both looked good I might only keep the strongest. You will get some decent bud as you won't have to spread that small amount of light over a larger area. Don't get me wrong, you can grow 5 MJ plants with that light. I grew 4 under a flourescent shop light long ago. The bud produced will likely be VERY fluffy though.

I'd also skip any foil on the floor. Some believe it can affect the stomata on the bottom of the leaves. I have no idea if that's true, but I do know the sun never shines up from the earth and dirt don't reflect much.

Harvest is anyones guess.

 

[Zeltar]

I was planning on only doing 3 and keeping the strongest 2 plants. Then i can grow a second batch aswell once i get my feet wet.

Would the setup be ok for 2 plants??

im just trying to get a decent start for the best bud.

Apart from that any other suggestions?? ive taken the foil from the floor already

 

[DevilWeed]

Good idea on the keeping two. Again, that light will work but it's not optimal. I'd suggest a short veg period with some training to keep the plants as short and tight as possible. If you can add some cork-screw CFL's go for it.

I didn't notice your soil question. I'm new to soil myself so I can't offer much. I will recommend you hit the Organic Soil and Indoor Soil forums and read the stickies. There's great info there that helped me understand the biological processes going on in soil. If at all possible, I'd start with a nuteless soil and feed as needed. Or follow one of the recipes in the forums I mentioned. If you can't, you'll just have to hope it's not too hot for the girls.

 

[Zeltar]

How short a veg period do you think before i should start flowering??

ill post pics of progress anyway so i can get updates

 

[Sleepy]

you may want to start them off in a medium or soil with less ferts in it...what you are describing sounds a bit 'hot' for sprouts/seedlings.

 

[old toby]

veg for 6-8 weeks if you have room. seeds take longer to mature than a clone. then flower till done!

 

[ibjamming]

Why are you starting with a Sativa? Why not something shorter? Are you SURE you want the hassle of something stretchy?

Good luck...

 

[Bulldog11]

Soil is way to hot. Get better soil. Roots organic is expensive soil, but for 12 bucks you can grow your plants much easier and better.

Also, you want to use a very light potting soil when starting the seeds. So you will most likely need two different types of soil.

 

[someotherguy]

you might want to consider a light set-up something
like this to spread the light and heat more evenly over
the canopy.


it's cheap to do too as the 23 and 26 watt bulbs can be
found in 4 packs for under $10.00 and often with a rebate
that makes the actual cost about $1.00 per bulb.

i used one of these over a 7 gallon DWC with 8, unvegged
clones and yielded almost a 1/4lb, your mileage may vary, lol.

have fun man, and don't get discouraged if things don't
go as you'd like, consider it a learning experience.

myself, i popped 30 beans my first try and killed them all! lol

peace, SOG

 

[♥Mo♥]

This is going to be my first ever attempt at growing so please bear with me if im doing anything drastically wrong, Im also on a small budget so that limits things slightly.


I have got 5 feminised greenhouse thai seeds, Going to be using a 125watt maxibrite CFL bulb. (Blue to start with then a few weeks down the line ill be buying a red bulb to use when flowering)

Using a basic soil mix with a NPK of 17-12-12 and it'll be growing in a space 2ftx3ftx5ft with a matt painted walls and foil on top and bottom to reflect light back in.

Does this sound ok for a basic setup?? anyone have any advice etc??

Also wondering how much i will be able to harvest off these plants with this setup (roughly)

Thanks Guys

Z

Wow, Thai for a first start. That could be a big bite. I would read up heavy about LST and the art of training. I could not imagine using that light, vegging "properly" for more than two weeks. Your light may veg. that Thai nicely but the light you plan on buying, in my opinion, will not grow much of anything bud wise. Those Thai plants need lots of light to even think about really producing bud.

Your "basic" soil mix? Is that potting soil and you added NPK? It is pretty hot and may scorch your babies right off the bat. For your "very first grow", small budget, light, etc... (hold the flames, please), keep it simple and get a bag of Miracle Grow. I don't know if you can even buy miracle grow anymore that does not contain fertilizer that last for three months, but again your "first attempt ever", this is the easiest and in my opinion cheapest route. Let your babies go to about 2 weeks and see how they are looking 5-8 inches, flip to 12/12. Give them a 1/4 tsp. feed of miracle grow "grow, green can" per gallon. Give them one more "grow" feeding as before in about 2 weeks. Next 2-4 weeks change to 1/4 tsp. feed of miracle grow "bloom, purple can" per gallon. Next 2-4 weeks 1/4 tsp. bloom as before feeding. From there you will have to start watching where they go. thai can go 16-20 weeks even longer in some strains. Don't over water. Water thoroughly when you do and then water when pot is light. In other words pick up the container after you water, then wait a few days and when the soil appears to be dryish looking start picking up the container. Water/feed when it is light. This should at least let you grow something and you can learn how the plant in general grows. Each strain is unique and beautiful in it's own way though. I would try like anything to up the wattage of your flower light, maybe try and save up for a couple weeks to get at least a 150w HPS ($35 and up) you have the room ;-). Good luck.

 

[Zeltar]

Wow, Thai for a first start. That could be a big bite. I would read up heavy about LST and the art of training. I could not imagine using that light, vegging "properly" for more than two weeks. Your light may veg. that Thai nicely but the light you plan on buying, in my opinion, will not grow much of anything bud wise. Those Thai plants need lots of light to even think about really producing bud.

Your "basic" soil mix? Is that potting soil and you added NPK? It is pretty hot and may scorch your babies right off the bat. For your "very first grow", small budget, light, etc... (hold the flames, please), keep it simple and get a bag of Miracle Grow. I don't know if you can even buy miracle grow anymore that does not contain fertilizer that last for three months, but again your "first attempt ever", this is the easiest and in my opinion cheapest route. Let your babies go to about 2 weeks and see how they are looking 5-8 inches, flip to 12/12. Give them a 1/4 tsp. feed of miracle grow "grow, green can" per gallon. Give them one more "grow" feeding as before in about 2 weeks. Next 2-4 weeks change to 1/4 tsp. feed of miracle grow "bloom, purple can" per gallon. Next 2-4 weeks 1/4 tsp. bloom as before feeding. From there you will have to start watching where they go. thai can go 16-20 weeks even longer in some strains. Don't over water. Water thoroughly when you do and then water when pot is light. In other words pick up the container after you water, then wait a few days and when the soil appears to be dryish looking start picking up the container. Water/feed when it is light. This should at least let you grow something and you can learn how the plant in general grows. Each strain is unique and beautiful in it's own way though. I would try like anything to up the wattage of your flower light, maybe try and save up for a couple weeks to get at least a 150w HPS ($35 and up) you have the room ;-). Good luck.

Hmm ive been looking into a few things, i was thinking that if i start with this light, would it last into the start of the veg where i could add a second blue bulb to help the veg n ive found a 250w red to help flower that doesnt seem to expensive. i was thinking if i buy 2 of these 250 watt bulbs (like i said im on a budget so i get one a fortnight) and when im changing into my flowering stage stick them in

 

[someotherguy]

Hmm ive been looking into a few things, i was thinking that if i start with this light, would it last into the start of the veg where i could add a second blue bulb to help the veg n ive found a 250w red to help flower that doesnt seem to expensive. i was thinking if i buy 2 of these 250 watt bulbs (like i said im on a budget so i get one a fortnight) and when im changing into my flowering stage stick them in

hey man, are you talking about CFL bulbs? ...and are
you talking actual wattage or equivalent wattage? ...it's
important for us to be talking about the same thing and
a CFL with actual wattage of 250watts is a very expensive
bulb, ...expensive and hard to find locally.

if you are on a low budget dude, check my first post
above for a cheap suggestion...basically just a vanity
light bar with Y spliters to double the bulbs and using
common, easy to find and cheap standard CFL's.

i used mostly 23watt bulbs (75watt equivalent i think)
and 26watt bulbs (100watt equivalent i think) as they
are often sold in 4 packs for under $10.00 and often with
a rebate that brings the cost down to $1.00 per bulb.

another advantage to starting out this way is that after
you gain some experience and start looking to up your
game to an HID of some sort, you can just use those
CFL's around the house.

here, take a look at what this guy is doing with CFL's,
...you'll shit your pants in awe!

Compact SOG with CFL's

once you gain some experience and you start thinking
about HID, read this thread before you buy anything.

Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

anyway, good luck, have fun and stay safe!

peace, SOG