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First timer in need of Micro Grow Advice.

M

MIpatient

New member
Hello everybody I am new to icmag, I actually stumbled upon this place while searching for information on starting to grow. I have been a medical patient for some time now and would like to start learning and perfecting the craft.

For my first set up I would like to do a small cheap 1 plant setup. I need it to be a micro grow though, and from what I've read so far it will likely be in a trash can or something comparative. Any advice would be extremely appreciated as I am a newbie and need to learn about what I'll need as far as supplies and about the actual grow process itself.

For the record I know there is a million threads here that offer the answers to my questions and I will definitely be reading them. But if you can offer me any advice while I do, I would love to hear it.
 
Dropped Cat

Dropped Cat

Six Gummi Bears and Some Scotch
Veteran
In no particular order:

Grow box/tub.
Seeds/cuttings.
Light source/ timer.
Exhaust fan and carbon scrubber.
Climate control.
Medium and pots.
Nutrient line/mixing cups/measuring spoons.
Clean water.
Electric distribution.

Paper bags/scissors/airtight jar.

Rolling papers/pipe.
Lighter/matches.
 
M

Mr_Mojo_Risin'

New member
Dropped Cat said:
In no particular order:

Grow box/tub.
Seeds/cuttings.
Light source/ timer.
Exhaust fan and carbon scrubber.
Climate control.
Medium and pots.
Nutrient line/mixing cups/measuring spoons.
Clean water.
Electric distribution.

Paper bags/scissors/airtight jar.

Rolling papers/pipe.
Lighter/matches.
Click to expand...

LMAO. Also, a sturdy chair. The first time I used medical weed, I actually fell out of my small PC chair. No joke, tipped right over. And I used to be a recreational user, so I thought I had a tolerance.
 
hush

hush

Señor Member
Veteran
Everything you need to know can be found by reading the journals in the micro growing forum. If you want inexpensive, that means keeping it simple, and that would probably mean going with CFLs to start. This way you get it going and start harvesting for yourself while you continue to perfect things. If there is any bit of advice I wish would have been given to me before I started out, it would be this: the moment you've decided you are going to grow cannabis, immediately set up some CFLs and start growing under those, while you continue to work out your more permanent garden. Now that I know how easy it is to grow small amounts under CFLs, I'm kicking myself for not having done that sooner. Now I only grow under CFLs for fun, for extra projects and things like that, not because I need to. But it is so easy and fruitful, that you should start doing so right away!

Also, I recommend just mimicking this guy's setup to get you going: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=190726

:tiphat:
 
M

Mr_Mojo_Risin'

New member
hush said:
Everything you need to know can be found by reading the journals in the micro growing forum. If you want inexpensive, that means keeping it simple, and that would probably mean going with CFLs to start. This way you get it going and start harvesting for yourself while you continue to perfect things. If there is any bit of advice I wish would have been given to me before I started out, it would be this: the moment you've decided you are going to grow cannabis, immediately set up some CFLs and start growing under those, while you continue to work out your more permanent garden. Now that I know how easy it is to grow small amounts under CFLs, I'm kicking myself for not having done that sooner. Now I only grow under CFLs for fun, for extra projects and things like that, not because I need to. But it is so easy and fruitful, that you should start doing so right away!

Also, I recommend just mimicking this guy's setup to get you going: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=190726

:tiphat:
Click to expand...

My caregiver tells me horror stories about his electric bill. Would a small grow be less expensive? I was always against growing for myself because of limited room. That and the fact I only need an 1/8 per month to keep me super supplied. Oh, and an occasional quart of quality cannabutter. : )
 
hush

hush

Señor Member
Veteran
I would say, yes, a small grow is less expensive... but understand that wattage is wattage. So 400 watts of CFL lighting uses the same amount of electricity as 400 watts of HPS light. The electrical savings would come from the fact that a small grow doesn't need 400 watts of any kind of light! Also the fact remains that the higher one goes with lighting wattage, the higher one would also have to go for the corresponding cooling wattage. Where there are watts being consumed, there is heat being produced. While a 400 watt HPS will need to have a heavy duty extraction fan cooling it, a small CFL garden can use a simple computer fan.

That guy blynx, whose link I posted up there, has perfected this concept, in my opinion. He uses something like 5 x 23w CFL screw-in bulbs and keeps his plants nice and low, with scrog and LST, and he has been doing this for years now. If all you need is an eighth a month, jeez, you could mimic his setup and a single run would harvest almost an entire year's supply!!
 
T

tokersmoke

Member
yeah only needing an eighth per month is too easy.Cfl or flouro tubes could make this super easy.And it would be fun and cheap.I like the hobby more then the buzz really.

I bet once you start growing your own your quantity needs will go up.I like to smoke alot.I can smoke an eighth a day easy.But i appreciate taking a break and getting my buzz back.It makes it all that much better.

I saw a yogurt cup thread with 6 oz of pot.If you can get some cutting flower them immediately and get going great thread!
 
M

Mr_Mojo_Risin'

New member
Good advice. But since I'm totally new to growing, I need to find a book to teach me the basics. Any ideas? Most of the posts here are over my head.

tokersmoke said:
yeah only needing an eighth per month is too easy.Cfl or flouro tubes could make this super easy.And it would be fun and cheap.I like the hobby more then the buzz really.

I bet once you start growing your own your quantity needs will go up.I like to smoke alot.I can smoke an eighth a day easy.But i appreciate taking a break and getting my buzz back.It makes it all that much better.

I saw a yogurt cup thread with 6 oz of pot.If you can get some cutting flower them immediately and get going great thread!
Click to expand...
 
Jnugg

Jnugg

Active member
Veteran
Keep your wattage per square foit no lower than 50w per square foot of canopy and no more than 65w per square foot of canopy.
 
stoned-trout

stoned-trout

if it smells like fish
Veteran
with weak bulbs use as many as possible , disreguard above IMHO...your only issue will be heat....I like my gardens 65 and up with weaker bulbs..my last garden was 75 and totally kicked ass for many years
 
N

NoSocSlic

If you want an easy way to add lights to your setup this is what I do.
picture.php

Mounted the power strip to the ceiling and got some outlet to socket adapters for 97 cents each. Very cheap setup and it will give decent results. During flowering I use 5 26w warm cfls. The power strip is plugged right into my light timer so its all automated and easy. The timers are also cheap. Mine was $4
 
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