New grower, any suggestions?

[ajninepar]

I just started growing about a month ago, I have a pretty low budget, but this is what I came up with (I plan to add two more plants):




Temperature: about 82-85 (I'm getting a thermometer/humidity reader soon)
Lights: two of these
Height top of plant to light: 8in
Space I have to work with: 55in tall, 26in length, 18in width.

any suggestions to improve this?

 

[escape11]

You need to get those lights closer! Poor things are so stretched.

 

[ajninepar]

You need to get those lights closer! Poor things are so stretched.

I just don't want them getting to hot. What do you think a safe distance is?

 

[2buds]

Start saving up for some better lighting. But hey, you gotta start some where. Just don't expect much.

 

[standsideways]

Start saving up for some better lighting.

This

 

[ajninepar]

Start saving up for some better lighting. But hey, you gotta start some where. Just don't expect much.

What lights do you recommend?

 

[ajninepar]

I thought these lights were decent. Isn't it supposed to be 50watt per square foot?

 

[iampolluted]

depending how serious you want to get doing this, you're looking @ $150+ to get set up.

cfl's are good for lighting but aren't as good as mh, or hps. t5's are good for veg. and flowering just by switching bulbs.

your budget and goals are gonna dictate how you move forward, if you decide you want to.

it's not a cheap hobby and it takes more than sticking some seeds in a pot to grow it. if ya get serious about it, you'll start in a micro grow of sorts (like yours) and eventually end up with a room full of plants. just depends on the investment and time you're willing to put in.

 

[jayjayfrank]

i would add a 150w HPS to your CFLs, atleast one fan for air circulation

i would buy several packs of seeds of a fast flowering short stature(and maybe even slow growing) known strain from a reputable breeder. i would start them 12/12, top them at maybe 3rd-5th internode. i would start 2-3 seeds every new moon and throw away males. i would not buy feminized seed but regular male/female selection. i would try for a seed run when a bumper crop is harvested.

i would use small 1liter airpots with coco and use something like gh maxi/3 part or cns trying to keep the formula simple. using the K.I.S.S method and feed between 0.5EC to 1.5EC. i would not use soil but 100% coco. i would always check ph and ec. buy a nice spray bottle and be prepared to invest in pest prevention.

 

[escape11]

I thought these lights were decent. Isn't it supposed to be 50watt per square foot?

With HIDs. 2x that with CFLs. They're much less electrically efficient in terms of lumens/watt. I germinate seeds like 3 inches from a 40W CFL. If you can stick your hand there for 30 seconds without it getting too hot, it's okay for the plants too.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Move the lights until the back of your hand (at plant level) is barely warm. With CFL's that should be within a few inches.

No matter what you decide to do... never stop reading.

Start with all the 'stickies' at the tops of the different forum sections. Even read the stickies in areas you don't think you're interested. Write down all the things you believe are related to what you're doing.... that you don't understand.

Use a real search engine to search for "icmag.com xxx" where xxx is the word you're looking for.

Read all of that... and then go back and read the stickies again. Each time you repeat this you'll have a better understanding of what's posted and a better understanding of what questions you need to have answered. Go and look for those answers and then start again.

This is a lifetime hobby... might as well start making it easier on yourself from the start.

Stay Safe!

 

[tube dude]

CFL lights are fine for both veg and flower. However, you have 3.25 square feet and only 46 watts. While you can probably get by with this in veg you will need more light for flower. Florecent light will only penetrate 10-12 inches into your canopy, so if you plan on taller plants you will need to provide some kind of side lighting. You will also need proper ventilation and a carbon scrubber.

 

[vukman]

No matter what you decide to do... never stop reading.

Read all of that... and then go back and read the stickies again. Go and look for those answers and then start again.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
BEST ADVICE ANYONE CAN GIVE ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2buds]

All the advice given is great places to start. This is indeed an expensive hobby. Stick in a jar each week what you would have spent buying some and you'll find as you go you'll spend it quick on improvements and new ideas. You'll also find that you never have enough space. And there is no substitution for buying good genetics that work well with your setup. I like to buy genetics in December so my beans are mixed in with all the other Christmas cards. Def invest in a PPM meter of some sort so you can get an idea of how strong a mix your feeding your girls. It's better to bring up the strength slow than to burn them up and kill them. And always stay alert for insects, a misdiagnosis of an insect problem will run out of control quick. Prevention is the key here. If things start turning any color other than green, always check your leaves for insects, stop at a radio shack and get yourself a mini magnifier to have on hand and use the infirmary to help yourself! I also keep spare ballasts and bulbs on hand too. Nothing worse than waiting on light parts and shit always blows up on Friday nights and no one ships till Monday. Good luck, stay safe and tell NO ONE! Loose lips sink ships my friend.

 

[Snow1]

Great stuff from everybody I think that is why this forum is great. I know you said you are low budget which should be no problem but heat is not good unless your running co2 which you might be able to run one of those co2 bags for about 28$ and then you can build a chandelier of cfl's which I think costed me a total of 8$ for parts the killer is the light bulbs. Throwing out one last idea maybe an oscillating fan. Do you have any cool air that you can push or pull into your grow area?