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upgrade through redesign i aim at a grow space that will:
1. allow for my HPS 250-watter with no heat issues (which means it would not be micro anymore) - last time i used it i had mold
2. require minimum maintenance as rabbit is currently much more busy
therefore it must include:
-> automatic feeding / watering to reduce maintenance (will start with coco hempy buckets that proved to be a wonderful technique for me)
-> decent ventilation to prevent mold
-> decent scrubber (believe it or not but so far i managed to get along with only scarce active carbon sheets; at times it got quite stinky in the burrow
-> low number of (bigger) plants to reduce trim time
-> scrog is ruled out as it is a bitch to trim
i need a grow space that will work in automatic cycles and require only minor adjustments over the grow.
i don't need perpetual, probably will run 2 or 3 grows per annum as this is enough for my needs.
this project will take a little while to complete, a few weeks i believe, because it's spring and there are so many fresh shoots to nibble
If you can swing it, try to aim for a space that is about 3' x 3' if possible. You can go smaller, of course (hell, I've got a 400 crammed into a 2x2 space!), but then you run into issues with the size of most air-cooled hoods (unless you go the mini cooltube route like I did with my 400).
Definitely stick with hempy buckets for minimal maintenance!
Don't skimp on the ventilation. Get a full-on filter/fan combo and do it right. You can do a single-stage filtration with a small 250w grow. Just go for a 4" centrifugal fan and carbon filter combo. You won't need a speed controller with that. But if you want a quieter setup, go for a 6" setup, and dial it back with a controller. Carbon filters are a bit bigger though.
For reducing trim time, try not to think too much about number of plants. I know what you are thinking, but it doesn't pan out that way... on harvest day, it ultimately doesn't matter whether you had 25 plants or 5 plants, if the entire square footage is filled with plant tops. What this means is, you will end up with the same amount of trimming, essentially. If trimming is a pain in the ass (and it certainly IS!!!!!!), I recommend seeking genetics with a good calyx-to-leaf ratio. Let other factors (size of plants, flowering times, etc) determine how many plants you will be working with at any given time... not how much of a bitch it is to trim.
trimming is my least favourate part, but i try streched it out over 2-3 nights. sit in my room with a foldout table, put on some music, enjoy a cup of tea, or a beer, with a slice of cake and a vape, and just try and make it as comfortable as possible! you may even grow to enjoy it! though it does feel like work sometimes!
I managed to save 3 hot mix clones outsode that never hermied. They went from a 2 inch clone taken in 12/12 to a foot or so now but tons of nodes. They all revegged and im going to toss a couple back indoors tonight. Woop woop!!
Sorry to clutter. Good luck this round, can't wait to see cab pics.
thanks for your interest and please excuse my absence... i know i've been a naughty naughty rabbit who abandoned his burrow for quite a long while... life is just so intense these days, not much time for growing :[
indoor project is on freeze for some time now, hopefully i will be able to get back to cab rebuild in fall... or winter... we shall see.
meanwhile i have not been a completely lazy rabbit.
been spending some time on the meadows around here, and here is the result.
not a super duper result, just some result.
in fact it is far from a result yet, lol, but getting there. one nod at a time
rabbit hopes to be able to share the fruits of these outdoor adventures at the end of the season.
there are so many pitfalls though... snails, dears, all other critters and then draught... pink paws are crossed for some yield though!