Should I wait until Winter to grow? Venting help, other noob questions

[ambition]

I've been reading like crazy, but I'm hung up on a few things before I get my feet wet:

1)why are people suggesting I wait till winter to grow due to outside humidity? I fail to see how 400 watts in a tent will be effected significantly by the humidity outdoors w/ 6 inch vortex swirling. Where am I going wrong?


2) What do people mean when they ask "where will you vent your tent in a small apartment?" Can't I vent from the tent exhausting into...the apartment? Should I crack a window or something?

3) I want to grow hydroponically. I was told by knowledgeable growers that with my science background this would be easier for me than organic or soil (i've never grown anything in my life.) Got any recommended nutes for beginners?

4) Is a lil 10 dollar PH test kit from general hydroponics good enough, or do I need an expensive digital meter?

5)It appears that vertical growers get better numbers en masse. Having not purchased equipment yet, if vertical is the future, it seems unwise for me to spend 120 bucks on a hood. Is vertical too ambitious for a first-timer?


Thanks a bunch for anyone willing to field these nooob questions!

 

[oldtree]

1) People grow year round. As long as you have adequate ventilation humidity should not be an issue. If it were neccessary you could always purchase a small dehumidifier.
2) If you grow in an apartment there are two things you will have to address. Smell. Light.
If you outfit your exhaust fan with a carbon scrubber to remove the smell and attach that to a darkroom vent; it takes care of both problems. Vents can be purchased for about 20 dollars a piece on amazon or ebay. :smile:
3) There are many ways to grow hydroponically. If you feel cofortable enough with it go for it. Soil can be easier due to the fact there should be less to worry about. No checking ph daily, no airstones, pumps, emitters to worry about.
4) If you are going to do hydro longterm I would reccomend getting a hanna or something similar that measures ph and ppm.
5) The vertical option could be daunting for the beginner, especially for hydro. You will have a larger plant count as well.
You can buy a 400 watt light with air cooled hood, hps, mh light, And a digital/switchable ballast for about 350 bucks.

 

[dubwise]

Hydro can be very easy or it can be way complicated for a beginner. Personally, I like hydro, but I like ease as well. I use hempy buckets and the method is very easy. I use a ph testing kit and everything is well.
Another thing to worry about in the apartment is if the landlord does random check ups or if you have a maintenance issue with the apartment, the handyman could spot the op and rat you out. I'd be very leary of an apartment grow unless you can secure the room.

 

[Justin_Credible]

I'll give it a shot

I'll give it a shot

I've been reading like crazy, but I'm hung up on a few things before I get my feet wet:

1)why are people suggesting I wait till winter to grow due to outside humidity? I fail to see how 400 watts in a tent will be effected significantly by the humidity outdoors w/ 6 inch vortex swirling. Where am I going wrong?


2) What do people mean when they ask "where will you vent your tent in a small apartment?" Can't I vent from the tent exhausting into...the apartment? Should I crack a window or something?

3) I want to grow hydroponically. I was told by knowledgeable growers that with my science background this would be easier for me than organic or soil (i've never grown anything in my life.) Got any recommended nutes for beginners?

4) Is a lil 10 dollar PH test kit from general hydroponics good enough, or do I need an expensive digital meter?

5)It appears that vertical growers get better numbers en masse. Having not purchased equipment yet, if vertical is the future, it seems unwise for me to spend 120 bucks on a hood. Is vertical too ambitious for a first-timer?


Thanks a bunch for anyone willing to field these nooob questions!

Ambition

1)Winter growing:
Peeps on here have most likely suggested this to you to eliminate one of the problems that you could have...which is a new grower in a tent trying to combat heat/humidity problems during summer months. If you have never grown anything in your life U must understand that you are the one controlling what your plants will look like, and give you in return for the amount of work you put into them. Believe it or not, 400 watts in a tent when it is 90 out, is prob not the easiest thing to control. You stated you have a 6inch vortex swirling? Do you mean this is a vortex fan hooked up to ducting with a carbon scrubber to filter the skunk smelling air? In an appt YOU WILL NEED THAT.

2) This is all preference and more so SECURITY. If you vent to a window, (IMO) make sure that you are using some sort of carbon scrubber to filter the air. I use and always have used, incoming air from outside, and outgoing through a scrubber. So yes, you can vent through a window, but you prob want that low key where no one can see/smell it.

3) HYDRO 1ST TIME???????????
IMO that is a mistake. It is totally up to you what you do...but someone who has never grown ANYTHING before and wants to start up with hydro? The benefits of hydro are 1st and foremost...it is fast. A friend and I tried it and failed miserably. It is not easy and one mistake, plants, gone. Soil is tuff to learn unless you have someone holding your hand; again IMO. I just made the switch to coco. I think that if you are thinking hydro, you might want to look in Bone Carver OG's hand watering coco thread....read lots in there. I think that coco is the best medium-less grow material. You are still hand watering and if a mistake is made not all is lost. I have tried other nutes in the past, but B-Cuzz is the one for me. The directions on the bottle are a bit heavy for ppms so do not follow directions. The Reservoir Dog seeds Gen Hydro 9/6 formula might be easy for you while starting out. It from what I understand is great for beginners because you just feed on that ml everyday....

4)
A 10 dollar ph kit is what I started out with. Worked fine for me. Use it 1st then when you know what you are doing you will appreciate a hanna grow check (or whatever you chose) that much more.

5)
Never did vertical....
If you are thinking of spending 120 dollars on a hood then that means you are going for the big glass encased metal hood? I use the aluminum wings, cost about 40 bucks. Cheaper, more light canopy....win win situation.

Hope this helps.

 

[potluvr1]

Hey ambition, I am a closet grower in an apartment, be sure you understand the noise issues from running your set up. You need to think about who can hear your grow tent, with all the fans, etc.! Knowing if and when you'll get inspected, also important.

I have a walk-in closet, and I have a large tent in there, with insulated ducting hooked up to my attic ceiling opening. I use a speed controller, to help minimize fan noise, and when I turn it down to 70% of maximum strength, the noise drops dramatically. Hope this is helpful, be careful. Getting busted would cost way more than the cost of really making your grow as stealthy as possible. potluvr

 

[ambition]

You guys are great. Thanks for all this.