Best products from r/microgrowery

Yes, if you needed to cover a larger area/footprint, then 2 x 600ws would make more sense, but in a single tent it would be overly complex, crowded and expensive. The small gain in light and yield (if any) wouldn't really justify doubling the expense and hassle IMO. A 600w will make plenty potent product ;) Again, it's 90% in the genetics. So long as the plants gets sufficient light, food and water the genes will do the rest. The key is to not get in its way.

All lights, including HPS, have an ideal range from the plants at which they work best. Generally, it's within 18-24" of the tops. As a result, if you have a 4 foot tall plant the top will get good light, but bottom will suffer. For this reason, various training methods (SOG, SCROG, FIM, LST, etc...) have been used to even out the canopy and put all/many of the tops close to the light source in a single, uniform layer. As long as the bulk of your tops receive light within this ideal range they'll be fine. Any closer and they may get damaged by the intense light and heat and farther and they may loose density and take longer to ripen. Many fellow microgrowers actually use nothing but CFL/Fluorescent lights and get very good results.

There is no magic formula or way to guarantee yield. Never let anyone tell you differently. However, there are some rules of thumb. If you can get between 1/2 -1 gram of cured bud per 1 watt of HPS light that's good, but there's A LOT of variation in there, and much of it depends on matching just the right strain with just the right growing method in just the right environment. So, when they say a 1000w "can" make a "pound" (16 oz), that is an idealized figure. Sure, it "can" be done by the pros using various whiz-bang hydroponic set ups and lots of fancy fertilizers, etc...,but not always easily or very reliably due to all the many variables involved. They aren't "lying" per se, but there's always fine print. If you have the time, money and patience to invest into it, almost anything is "possible", if not probable.

In terms of harvesting, remember, plants are 70-80% water, just like us. As they dry and cure, they're going to shrink considerably and loose the vast majority of their weight, just like tobacco, dried herbs and mummified pharaohs. If you've ever cooked fresh spinach, you'll know what I mean. You can watch an entire bag of leaves wilt into a pile the size of your palm in just seconds as the moisture evaporates in the pan. Of course, we need this to happen so the buds can burn, but we also want it to happen to concentrate the aroma and flavor too (ie "cure"). For these reasons and more, you start to see why good weed costs as much as it does, especially considering it takes months per cycle and you have to grow at an almost 10:1 ratio! If you want a single dry, well trimmed and cured ounce you'll need to grow about 8-9 "wet" pre-trimmed, ounces (that includes the fan leaves, stems, other bits, etc....) :/ It's kind of depressing the first few times you harvest, but you learn to anticipate it eventually and plan accordingly. It's also why folks can't/don't stay "micro" for very long.

The good news is that if you're legal you can grow presumably grow outdoors in which case you can literally grow "trees" that will produce 10-15 POUNDS each and still only count a "1 plant" !!!! They would be 20 feet tall and would take almost a month to harvest, but it can and is done all the time (r/trees). Of course, outdoor come with its own challenges, but the rewards can be HUGE.

As for nutes, there are gozillions of brands, but they all do the same thing. The main difference is in hydroponic vs. organic systems. Hydroponics are like sci-fi steroids and the results can be AMAZING, but there's lots more equipment and noodling around involved and when things go bad, they go bad hard and fast. Soil/organic grows are generally easier and more forgiving, but usually don't yield as much. You'll have to decide which you prefer. The "benefits" nute manufactureres espouse are again, mostly marketing. While there are some very expensive nutes (ex: Advanced Nutrients) they're not really necessary and seem to work as well as any other. I run an organic set up, so for small set ups like ours, I use GeneralOrganics GoBox. It only costs about $40 and has everything you need for veg and flower. I can usually get 2-3 cycles (veg and flower) per box. Considering it lasts for +6 months, $40 is pretty cheap. Other companies make their own kits too, but the GoBox is probably the most common/popular. Just follow the directions on the side and you'll be good to go. It's basically all I use and I have no plans on changing.

http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Box-Starter-Kit/dp/B004PS4B08

I'm not sure about the mechanics of becoming "legit"in Oregon, but my state will hopefully be following suit soon too (hopefully), so let's hope we both figure it out. One key is finding a robust, fast growing, large producing strain and the growing method it prefers (hydro v. organic). Every grower has their favorites, so I would ask around in your area, but Blue Dream, Girl Scout Cookies and just about any Kush variety perform well indoors and seem to be very popular and readily available on the West coast.

Hope that helps.

Cost Analysis

Tent Setup

$70 2' x 4' x 5' Mylar tent

• Holding up well, easy build. Is not 100% dark, light leaks outwards from spots along the zipper and pinholes but no light leak into the tent during dark. Perfect size for my light.
  
  
  $325 Lights: Horticulture Lighting Group 260 QB LED Kit
  
  
• I cannot say enough about these lights. I had to run them anywhere from 50-75% during veg to prevent light burn. Great coverage for a 2x4 tent. Nothing but praise 10/10 would buy again.
  
  
  Climate Control
  
  $100 ($90 + $10)4" Inline duct fan and Carbon Filter + Ducting/clamps from ACE
  
  
• This puppy can SUCK, I have to keep it on the lowest setting to prevent the pressure inside the tent from dropping (need to work on my passive intake next grow). Carbon filter works great. Lowers humidity in a pinch. It keeps my humidity at or below 50%, which is what it maxes out at after a watering.
  
  
  $21 Osculating Fan Purchased on a flash deal
  
  
• I have it elevated about 3-4 inches on a box. Running and osculating 24/7. It pushes air, not a jet engine though.
  
  Already on hand: Box Fan
  
  
• Had one from years ago. Sometimes I open the tent and blast this on high right on level with the buds just go shake out the leaves, gets a bit crowded in the scrog and I'd like to eliminate any humidity caught between leaves sticking together. Think you can scoop one from Walmart for like $15 bucks, $20 max. I also have room at the right edge of my tent where I normally keep the oscilating fan to drop this in and use it in a humidity pinch.
  
  $25 [Humidifier] (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-SWM6000-BWM/32664862)
  
  
• This puppy does well. I use the first setting, usually can run 16+ hours on a full reservoir of H20. No filter which keeps cost down, just need to clean it one or twice a week with a brush for the hard water deposits. 5-10 minute process.
  
  $45 Dehumidifier
  
  
• This was a bit of a mistake purchase. I wanted to test and see if a small model offered on amazon (this looked to be one of the best for sub $50, and has the biggest holding tank out of them all) could put in any kind of noticeable work in a tent. What I noticed is that it will be able to roughly maintain humidity at times, after I run the exhaust fan to lower the levels. When the lights are out and the temperature drops, this thing has no chance. Go with a full size dehumidifier or rely on the dry Colorado air + passive intake + duct fan. I was struggling with humidity issues during the cold of the winter, now that I can have my windows open my ambient room humidity is usually 40% or below.
  
  $18 4" inline duct booster fan
  
  
• Also a mistake purchase. Does not move a lot of air. Had plans to use this for an airflow/passive (not) intake system but it's not worth the electricity cost to run this thing. I'd stay away.
  
  
  Meters (Ph, PPM, Soil, Temp and Humidity)
  
  $18 Hygrometer for Temp/Humidity
  
  
• Worth it to get the wireless monitor so you're not opening the tent all the time)
  
  $13 Ph Meter
  
  
• Great little Meter. Calibrated nicely and seems to be holding true. Details about storage below under the calibration Solution
  
  $12 TDS PPM meter
  
  
• Quick measurements, came with a little leather storage pouch. Can't recommend against it.
  
  $9 Soil Moisture, Light, Ph meter
  
  
• Does it's job well, reads soil Ph and moisture well and pretty instantaneously. I wouldn't recommend it for getting detailed light readings but it responds correctly.
  
  
  Ph Control and Calibration
  
  $9 Ph Control Kit
  
  $14 Ph Calibration solution
  
  
• For calibration/life of the tip:I store the tip in a bit of 7.0 solution that I pour into the cap. Good to have on hand for calibration.
  
  
  
  Plants / Growing Medium
  
  $80 Clones - $20 from dispensary. here's a link to the strain page and the clone page. Don't believe seeds are available.
  
  $8 for 6ct 5 gal Smart Pot knockoff
  
  
• Do their job, hold up well. I cut the handles off to make watering under the scrog easier.
  
  $40 - Soil: Two bags of Happy Frog purchased from the local grow store. Ocean forest was sitting around.
  
  $7 for 30ct Starter grow bags
  
  
• Do not recommend, breathe terribly, water stagnates even with modifications. Had to feed lightly and often, and really monitor dampness. Needed these for the outdoor garden anyways)
  
  $14 - Scrog net: I believe it was a 25 or a 50ft roll of 1"x1" plastic garden fencing from Home Depot.
  
  
• Unfortunately I can't find a link but it's pretty common. I cut out the middles to make them 2"x2" openings, 1x1 seems very difficult to work with and would block a lot of light.
  
  
  Nutrients
  
  $100: Cyco 1 Litre Bottles
  
  
• I have a local grow shop that I purchased a lot of these from. The 1 litre Cyco nutrient bottles ranged from $10-$18 and I have 7 different nutrients, call it $100
  
  
• Vegetative State: Grow A & B + Dr. Repair + Silica
  
  
• Flowering State: Bloom A & B + Potash Plus (+ Dr Repair and Silica every other feeding)
  
  $20: Key To Life - Uptake
  
  
• Great for calcium uptake. Was told that this could basically replace calmag.
  
  $45 Cyco Grow XL Super Phosphoric Acid
  
  
• Definitely an 'extra', not cheap for 100ml but I think the potential yield improvement from this phosphorous bomb will cover that cost, especially over 3-4 grows which I expect to get out of the bottle. Also states it helps with Fe, N and K uptake.
  
  
  
  Miscelaneous Stuff:
  
  $15 - random stuff from Walmart, etc.
  
• Eyedroppers, duct tape, zip ties
  
  $6 Spray Bottles
  
  
• Did not use these much, only very early during transplanting
  
  
  
  So to total that all out we're looking just over $1000 that I spent.
  
  
• Could have kept it under $950 if I had not purchased the small duct fan or dehumidifier.
  
• Also: Soil and nutrients for $205. Could work that down to under $150 by dropping a couple unnecessary yet desirable nutrients.
  
  
  

VIVOSUN 48"x24"x60" Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent with Observation Window and Floor Tray for Indoor Plant Growing 2'x4' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DXYMQ9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dx13BbGGT8164

VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Hz13BbPVVN2TK

This light is good for 2 plants but you’ll eventually want to add a second for your tent. You definitely can’t fill the tent with just this light, but it’ll get you started.

iPower 2-Pack 1/8 Inch 8-Feet Long Adjustable Heavy Duty Rope Clip Hanger, Reinforced Metal Internal Gears,150lb Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WIOEDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wA13Bb58ZJ5GD

Century 7 Day Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer - Dual Outlet (Indoor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVF16JG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XA13Bb9NQJDG1

Comfort Zone CZ6C 6-Inch 2-Speed Clip-On Fan (White, 2 Fans) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLUZSPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.E13Bb05JK7B1

247Garden 5-Pack 3 Gallon Grow Bags/Aeration Fabric Pots w/Handles (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013JM3JAI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VG13Bb7MGJS2R

https://www.oregonsonly.com/samples/

These are great nutrients and basically foolproof. This free sample kit will get you through 4 plants full grows. I love these nutrients and even now use them in a reservoir (which people claim you can’t do but works great).

Dr.meter 0.1pH PH002 High Accuracy pH Meter/pH Pen Tester with ATC LCD 0-14 pH Measurement Range (PH002 pH Meter for Water) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PU0W35K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fI13BbNRES1BK

That will get you started on your first grow or two. I recommend auto blue mystic from nirvana for your first run. They are very low smell while growing so you can get by without a carbon filter. They’re autos so you can leave the light on 24/7, and they finish fast. Also turns out a great finished product.

https://www.nirvanashop.com/marijuana-seeds/815-blue-mystic-autoflower.html

Less than $40 for 5 seeds and very discrete shipping.

When you have a bit more $ you can add on additional items. Eventually you’ll want to upgrade to PFD sun boards or quantum boards, but you’ll probably want to get a fan and filter first:

6" Inline Fan - 395 CFM Exhaust Duct Fan, Built-In Speed Controller, ETL Listed, Pre-Wired 6 FT Grounded Cord - Great Use In Grow Tent With Carbon Filters, Light Fixtures, Intake. Fits 6 Inch Ducts. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L0D0UEQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TM13Bb5170NC1

Activated Charcoal Carbon Filter 6" x 16", Up to 400 CFM, Premium Grow Tent Odor Scrubber, 1.8" Extra Thick Layer of Top Grade Activated Australian Virgin Charcoal-Great for Hydroponics and Growing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0VN4I5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qN13BbEH9AG9W

Maybe you can upgrade to a 2x4 tray with reservoir so you can automate feeding.

If you don’t want autoflowers you can just do 12/12 from seed for faster harvest. https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-how-to-grow-cannabis-from-seed-under-12-12-lighting-n330

But I really recommend doing the auto blue mystic for your first round or two.

Hey, I JUST came off building a setup and it cost me $750 total. We have 3 plants in there right now. I have the entire list with amazon links or store suggestions.

Item| Price | Where To Buy
---|---|----
Tent| $95| We bought this one, I don't know if it's worth spending a lot on anything more expensive. For a smaller option I just got a second with good reviews but can't vouch for it yet.
Lights/Hood/Ballast| $140| I got the 600W set, but 400W would make cooling MUCH easier and still get a big yield. For LEDs at similar price, Viparspectra 300W x2 or a single 600W eliminates need for extra cooling potentially (not included here, we used fans from around the house)
ph Test+Control Kit | $25| GET THIS. The water must be pH'd properly for your babies' health.
Cloth Pots| $20 | These are better for aeration, water flow, training, etc. Cheap and reusable too.
Nutrients | $50 | I got the Fox Farms Trio, but there are many good options out there.
Fan + Filter | $150 | This is huge and might be overkill for you. Make sure whatever you get fits your tent vents (This one fits the Apollo tent above with 6" vents).
Ducting | $20 | Connect fan to filter, to tent, to wherever. Might want multiple sizes, check tent vent sizes.
Foil Tape, Metallic | $10 | Here. Metal Duct tape is best duct tape.
Fan Speed Controller | $20 | Useful for if you do get a fan that is slightly overkill!
Fox Farms Ocean Forest | $15 - $40 | You can buy it online and I did for my first 3 bags....then I found it in a local store for $15. There is some controversy with FF lately, it's not organic FYI. There are tutorials on making your own soil if you care, but I like this because I didn't have to use nutes for 3-4 weeks.
Humidifier | $30 | This is the exact one I have. We're in winter so I need it to keep humidity up, you may not.
Dehumidifier | $40 | There are plenty for this much. You may not need this either.
Cal-Mag | $20 | I haven't needed it yet but it's best to have on hand if you do!
Seeds | $75 | I bought from Attitude, chose stealth, and bought like 15 seeds?, so it was expensive. You can get seeds for less.
Jiffy Pellets | $10 | Used to start seeds. There are other options.
Total | $745 | If you buy all this stuff, you have potentially even more than you need to get started, with room for 3-4x more plants than these boxes, and with nutrients to last you for a long long time!

Hope this helps! I'd hate to see you drop so much on it when you don't need to at all.

CFL's are not great but i've heard of people doing full cycle grows on 100-150 true watts

she wouldn't get massive but you could def veg her long enough to put her outside.

don't look at the equivalent wattage, you need draw wattage atleast 35w per square foot. Those are probably 13 or 23 watt bulbs. If you really want to go CFL do your research, I'd suggest 6-8 23W 5000-6500k CFL bulbs for veg.

again though it might be worth it to buy a proper light and ditch the CFL, the only time CFL is really viable is if you already have the bulbs/sockets and can DIY rig everything together into a frame/box if your time is worth minimum wage you'd probably best buying a light like this

89.99 USD https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Spectrum-Function-Generation-Flowering/dp/B01I4NY8KW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538516694&sr=8-1&keywords=Roleadro+LED+Grow+Light+Full+Spectrum+400W+COB+Lamp+with+ON%2FOFF+Switch+and+Daisy+Chain+Function%2C+2nd+Generation+Plant+Light+for+Flowering+and+Veg

I bought this light first go around, its not great. its not very efficient and really only pulls 165 watts for the cobbs since rest is used for active cooling, its actually a shit chinese LED but itll outperform those CFLs you got by a lot and will suit your needs just fine, I think they have a 2-3 year warranty, you could prob veg 4 plants under this thing if you want to get them like 24" before putting them outside. I did 2 bushed under it and they're doing pretty good.

I topped mine so many times and made them into a bush and right now they're about 3-4 ft one has 8 tops other has like 26 tops, its crazy. pretty tall bushes with a good canopy, mostly grown under 1 of these lights and I later added 2 better brand higher quality component LED's when going into flowering, Right now I am about to enter week 6 flower tomorrow and they are doing great.

Normally I'd be yelling at you to get a proper QB or cree cob setup but since you just wanna grow 1 plant in veg until outdoor flower I think it'd work fine and not break your bank. I think they useCxa3070 cobs, which are not the greatest but they'll work.

be aware it can run a little hot compared to a proper cob kit, ventilation will be a must.


if your budget is a bit more I'd get a 100w kit like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFNXLBK/ref=twister_B07D368BM3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


these are plug and play use top quality components meanwell drivers and cree cob cxb3590 used amongst most DIY builds and I know for a fact 1 of these 100 watt will veg 8 plants to 24" no prob.


I'd really suggest investing in the quality stuff and avoiding the cheap chinese shit.

you’re right. the superiority complex is definitely the internet in general. i have met a couple super nice people. someone even sent me the break down of how to DIY my own light system. my girlfriend bought me this light for christmas. (only fair since i’m growing for her, ha. i can’t even smoke because of work.) the way my closet is set up there’s a shelf so, it’ll be perfect and easy to hang the right distance away. the PPFD graphic is which? the circular one? wait those say PAR value.

i have seen the posts and also on amazon while i was looking at lights. a lot of them said “newer model available” and just had 2 larger white bulbs. they were also two and three times the price. i figured one light should be okay for 2-3 plants. this way i can use the smaller 75W CFL for tiny clones/seedlings. i was reading reviews to see how it works for other plants, too. obviously since it’s nearly winter i had to bring in all my catnip. plus, i have a garden in the spring so it’ll also be great for my veggies, too.

marijuana is one of the few things that’s fun to learn about because in the end you have a pretty decent reward. well, growing anything in general is. it’s a lot of fun. i also had no idea growweedeasy was put together by a woman. that’s awesome. that’s my go-to site right now. that and this. i’ve spent hours upon hours just reading. with legalization and technology it’s constantly changing and there’s always something new to learn.

I just bought this light and it is the best light I have owned but it's more expensive and not what I started out with.

For someone starting out I would get something like this which is 300 true watts or this which is around 260 true watts. Both are going to make your closet hotter so you may have to get an intake/exhaust fan but they will give you 10x better yield. I have grown with both of them.

I also have a few of these which will still be way better than what you have currently however these blurple lights get a lot of flack from people and weren't my personal favorite. But for $59 right now on Amazon that's a pretty good deal for 165 true watts.

Here's my first grow doing what you are doing

Here's my second grow using the lights I suggested

Edit: If you think you are going to get into growing and take it serious in the future get the light I linked first. It was around $150 after shipping and it takes some diy to put together but it will run way cooler than the other lights and is 15x better than any of the Amazon lights for $50-$100 more. If I could go back and do it again I would get rid of all the Amazon lights and spend the money on some nice quantum boards.

Absolutely! You can get as crazy as you want with it, but there are some basics you need to figure out before you really start.

Where are you growing this plant? Do you have a space you're going to use? A closet, an unused bathroom, the basement? Are you going to be purchasing a tent, or maybe emptying out a dresser like this?

The light choice is one you can spend many (too many) hours on. LEDS have their benefits and drawbacks, as do CMH. Heat is more of an issue with CMH, but LEDs can also pump out serious heat. CMH is easy to know what to buy, no real dialing in the height, no worry you're not getting the right spectrum, etc. I'll probablu go LED at some point, but for now CMH is easier (for me). This is the CMH kit I started with. Ballast, bulb, reflector all included. if you have an option for the light, you'll want to get one that is 3100K and NOT the 4000K. 3100K is not as good for veg, but is great for flower. You can detatch the ballast from the reflector - helps keep temps in the tent down, since you can place the ballast outside.

How are you going to deal with heat? Lights run hot, and you WILL need to manage it at some point. Check my previous posts to see my light tube setup.

How are you going to deal with smell? Smell will be an issue, no ifs ands or buts. You can DIY carbon filters, but only if you trust yourself to do it right and hope it won't fail. You will need a carbon filter and fan to manage the smell. I'm running a 6" inline fan with a CAN33 filter. There is 0 smell from the exhaust, the filter is clutch. If noise is an issue for you, fans are decently loud running at full tilt. To work around this, a speed controller on a larger diameter fan, turned down to a lower speed, will reduce noise significantly while giving you the same airflow as a smaller fan on high.

You'll need to get soil and nutrients. Myself and a lot of growers really like Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil. FF Happy Frog is another good one. Get fabric pots if you can - lets the roots breathe a bit.

The above is very, very basic starting info. An enclosed space to grow; an exhaust fan and odor control; full spectrum light; water and nutrients.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Start small. It'll save you money, let you get your feet wet, and help you learn how to grow better, and then you can buy bigger.

My "starter package" is:

• A 2' x 2' x 3' grow tent - $55.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SWGYYWO
  
  
• A grow light ($90). I prefer COB's as they're easier to fix than blurples.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I4NY8KW
  
  
• A power strip zip-tied to a pole in the tent. Makes wiring prettier and easier. ($24) I chose a nice metal one, but you can use a cheaper one.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F8ZQYHA
  
  
• Hangers to hold the light ($8)
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098R0600
  
  
• A fan and filter ($70), and variac ($90) to filter smell and move air to keep things cool. This combo is overkill for this tent, but I ended up using it on later tents so it's a good long-term investment. You can cobble something cheaper together with some work, but this "just works" out of the box.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q2ER5C/
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NGI8VS
  
  
• 5 gallon Smart Pot ($7) for growing, FoxFarm Ocean Forest Soil ($16.50), Plant saucer ($7) for growing. You can save some money here by shopping around. In particular, Amazon's price for FFOF is about double what I pay at the (very expensive) local "indoor gardening" center.
  https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pots-5-Gallon-Soft-Sided-Container/dp/B002JUOWB2
  https://www.amazon.com/FoxFarm-FX14053-12-Quart-Organic-Potting/dp/B001I49Q98
  https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Treasures-15-31-in-Rust-Plastic-Plant-Saucer/50445000
  
  
• Go Box Plant Nutrients. This should last you several grows.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PS4B08
  
  
• Seed of your choice (let's say $10).
  
  So for about $420 (heh), you can get your foot in the door and start growing. This is a nice setup too, you can probably save $100 by shopping around, buying used, or doing-it-yourself. I've left off a few odds and ends like dryer duct, Fiskers for trimming, weed fabric pins for low-stress training, pitcher for watering, Mason jars for storage, but you can likely find those or suitable replacements around the house without spending money.
  
  I also have a Raspberry Pi 3 ($43) with Sense Hat ($37) and metal case ($15) in each of my grow tents to log temperature/humidity and other things. I'm interested in eventually using the GPIO functionality to water my plants too. Not critical, but definitely a nice thing to have, especially if you're the hacker type. If you go this route, you might look at raspiviv.com too.
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C6FFNY4
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014HDG74S
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0722L338Q
  
  I'm glad I bought a good intro setup because I still use it now that I've upgraded. I now have a 3' x 3' GG Shorty tent with HLG 300 LED for flower, a 2' x 2.5' GG Shorty tent with two 400W Roleadro COB's for veg, and my "intro package" is now my germination/cloning tent (and drying tent too since several people suggested that too). Being able to have three tents (germination -> veg -> flower) working simultaneously is increasing my output quite sharply. I'm doing this to help a relative with cancer, so you may not need to go quite as crazy as I did.
  
  You mentioned using 35+ gs (~1.25 oz) a month. You probably aren't going to be able to grow that much given the constraints of tent size and light wattage (plus being a first-time grower! You'll learn a lot!). So once you get used to it, you'll probably want to buy more stuff. Marijuana isn't addictive, but growing marijuana absolutely is.
  
  Once you've got your hardware, the variable cost is seed (~$10), soil (~$5), nutrients (~$20), and electricity (~$30). From that, I'm going to estimate you can grow ~1.5 ozs (you can do more as you learn more though). So you're looking at ~$40/oz after you've made the initial hardware investment.
  
  Hope this helps. Depression, cancer, and everything else can just go suck it.

I wouldn't bother with those lights. I was on the exact same boat as you a couple of weeks ago. Skmood1 actually pointed me in the right direction.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but you may want to look into COB LIGHTS. They are 1000 leagues better than the viparspectra and all those LEDS in the same tier. They use pretty old tech apparently.

I just started to learn ins and outs of LED, if I'm wrong here, please correct me
Lets take a look at a couple of the numbers Vipar provides (last picture on amazon). Looking at their spectrum sheet, right off the bat the light you selected will under perform where it matters, flowering; buds. It lacks a good deal of red spectrum light. However with that said, it'll be a decent light for veg, worth it? No, but decent. I won't say worth it, because now you want to look at efficiency and lumen per watt. Efficiency in terms of led is basically how much light is produced versus heat from your LED panel.
The Vipar has a pretty shitty efficiency, it loks like you'll be prducing 67% of heat vs 33% of usable light. With COBs, you can essentially choose your own, going all the way up to 70% light. With lower efficiency, you'll get more lumen per watt (more light, I guess?). The next step up are Quantum Boards, but those are always out of stock!

Just a heads up, COBs are generally more expensive outright, and there maybe a little DIY involved, but it totally worth it. I was running the 600w viparspectra PAR series for 2 weeks, and my seedlings grew about 3 inches. I moved over to a 2 cob array (less power than my vipar), and in 1 day I see 2 new growth leaves, both plants grew at least half an inch, I was blown out of the water.

P.S.- this one looks better: Mars Hydro 300w
https://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Spectrum-Certification-Hydroponic-Greenhouse/dp/B00XC3LBI2/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_86_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FHW46JTAZPEMSK6H1VS4&dpID=51clUyqI-5L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

Check out the spectrum chart! Good luck and have fun. I killed sooooo many seedlings, purchased sooooo many unnecessary things, but the people here helped me every step of the way. You're in proper hands.

I thought I'd share my experience for the community, and hopefully my experiences help or encourage others to give this a shot on their own. I had absolutely no experience growing anything when I started, so if I can do it, so can anyone else!

I've got an equipment list of the stuff I'm using since it took me a long time to figure out what to buy. This doesn't include the $1.50/week for RO water from the local grocery store, the electricity, or the other stuff I ended up buying afterward for my clones.

No grow tent or ventiliation is needed for my scenario since I have full access to a basement. It's perfect since there is a water heater and a boiler in the same room so the temp is always pretty constant, there is plenty of CO2 from the gas that the appliances burn, and the humidity is also pretty constant.

A few of the mistakes I made that I'd fix next time:

• Buying a heating mat for germination/clones. I only got 1 out of 5 seeds to germinate, and thankfully that one turned into a good plant. I think heat was where I went wrong since I also tried to do clones without a mat and none of them rooted. When using the mat I bought, I had much, much better success.
  
  
• After transplanting my germinated seed, I let that plant go too long in a small container and it got a little root bound. Should have transplanted sooner.
  
  
• I was in the veg stage longer than I think I needed to. Went on vacation in the middle and that screwed up my schedule a little bit, but I think I'd be better off with less veg time for the next plant
  
  
• Buy a better pH pen. I cheaped out on that and I've never gotten it calibrated correctly, so I've been using the dropper/eye test method with the General Hydro test kit that comes with the pH Up/Down. That method seems to work just fine, but it's kind of a hassle.
  
  The images have some details about my grow, but I'll be happy to answer any other questions folks might have.
  
  Item | Cost | Product Link
  ---|---|----
  Seeds (OG Kush Feminized, 20ct) | $80 | Marijuana Seeds NL
  Coco Coir | $17 | Kempf Coco
  300W LED Lighting | $80 | GalaxyHydro
  Plastic Pot | $0 | Craigslist - Free
  Light Timers | $12 | Light Timers
  pH Tester | $18 | pH Pen
  pH Up and Down | $16 | General Hydro
  Jeweler's Loupe | $6 | Magnify Me
  Nutes | $35 | Canna Coco 1 & 2
  Perlite | $13 | Black Gold
  CalMag | $17 | Botanicare Supplement
  TOTAL | $294
  
  
  Also, THANK YOU to everyone in this sub. There is a ton of info out there about growing, but this place is the best location I found for timely info related to my new hobby.
  

Two days ago, the Tangilope's leaves went a little limp. Upon inspection of the soil, it appeared to me it was due to the cup starting to fill with roots and quickly sucking the cup dry of most water. I do not believe it is over-watering, but I could be mistaken. Last night, I decided to move it to a 2gal smart pot filled with approx. 3/4 Roots Organics and 1/4 chucky perlite moistened for a very light and airy mix. I then used approx. 6oz of water to water mostly around the root ball (no run-off, I didn't want to drown it). It's still growing, but I'm hoping the leaves will bounce back to their perky selves soon. I plan on letting the soil dry out quite a bit before the next watering. And as soon as it bounces back and grows one more node, the topping and LST will begin.

The Vanilla Kush is getting big quick, and I'm liking how wide the leaves are looking already. I was hoping to get a more Indica pheno to balance the tangilope. I looked at the rootball last night, and I think it could go a bit longer without transplant. I watered it again this morning, so it will be ready for a transplant tomorrow night.

Things are looking pretty good so far, and I'm getting excited now that the plants are starting to move along. I can't wait to train my first couple plants. Topping, tying, and scrogging to come. Thanks for looking

INFO

Plants: (1) Feminized Barney's Farm Vanilla Kush & (1) Feminized DNA Genetics Tangilope.

Tent: 3'x3'x6' Apollo Tent

Light: iPower 600w closed hood running at 50% for seedlings and about 14" away from plant.

Fan: 440CFM exhaust fan

Carbon Scrubber: 6"x16" phresh filter

Soil: 1/3 roots organics & 2/3 pro-mix HP for seedling stage

Nutes: General Organics GO Box

Pots: RR > solo cup > 1 or 2gal smart pot > 5gal smart pot > 7 (maybe)

PH Kit: General Hydro

Seed Starter: Rapid Rooters

You can definitely make things work for 500$.

If you can't squeeze a COB (chip on board) led light suitable for a 2x2 in your budget, check out this 300w galaxyhydro (140 real watts). Normally you'd want the 600w model for a 2x2 grow space (270 real watts) but if you can afford the 600w model, then you can afford a simple DIY COB led set up instead using 2x Bridgelux Vero 29 gen 7 cobs at 2100-2800mah current for a total of 160-200w output of 50% efficient led lighting to go in it's place.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


That galaxyhydro 300w is hands down the best chinese blurple LED panel for flowering, as while you cant find the spectrum listen online, there is a video where a guy hits it with a spectrum meter and it is like 80%+ red wavelengths and maybe 15% blue and 5% other wavelengths, plus IR and UV. It REALLY shows in yields in the end. My marshydro cant compare.

The spectrum is higher in red light than any HPS and the plants grow night n day to hps as they remain very compact still with this led panel.

Another blow to the mighty HPS (ex) king.



The extremely heavy red spectrum, plus the IR and UV, is capable of hitting as high as 1.24 grams and likely higher as I just got 5.7oz from that galaxyhydro 300w which is a true 130w my second run with it (first run was close to 1g per watt). That picture i linked up there is the plant in question.

Most people are really lucky to hit 1 gram per watt from any LED panel out there. Considering i bough mine on ebay for just 60$ and can get 5-6 ounces under it pretty easily and I spent 120$ my marshydro that gives more like 0.8 grams per watt so I am happy as can be with those yields.

Maths: 8 sqft footprint @ 50w/sqft = 400w. That's actual. So. . .

• a 400w HID.
  
• around 400w actual of the chinese panels you are looking at. The "300w" model is 136w actual draw--the "300w" is a marketing thing and not to be trusted. Three of those would be great coverage of the 2x4 rectangle.
  
• COB or high-end LEDs would probably need 250w or so.
  
  You can go less. Especially in veg. But getting close to 400w will be your best bet for flower.
  
  edit - Your other questions:
  
  
• Ventilation depends on the light you choose. Whatever you choose, you will want a 4" inline fan as your exhaust up top. Probably don't need an intake fan--you can just use the passive flaps. If you go HID, there's a bit more involved (CoolTube style hood, separate ducting and a duct fan). Your room has AC, so temperature should be easy enough to dial in. Recommend a [digital temperature controller] (https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Itc-308-Temperature-Controller-Thermostat/dp/B01MDSWXY4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485814816&sr=8-3&keywords=inkbird+temperature+controller) to tell your fans when to kick on and off. Makes things very simple.
  
  
• I veg in my 2x4 (under a dimmable 400w HID). If it was my only tent, I'd probably run three plants. Veg for 6-ish weeks, put plants under a ScrOG net, flip to flower. Two would be great, too. Just a little more veg time to fill the tent.
  
  
• Power depends on how much energy costs where you live. The lights and fans will draw ~430w, 18 hours/day (12 in flower). You'd have to do the math with your prices. For me, that's about $15/mo. Plan on higher AC costs as well though. Most people exhaust outside of the room. All lights put out significant heat.
  
  Best advice/guess, based on your questions: Two "300w" Mars/Viperspectra/Etc panels and a 4" inline fan. For now. Get plants going, try and save up for a third light in 8 weeks or so.
  
  And look around at other panels. I'm not knowledgeable about what the best buy is right now. This Roleadro 200w actual cheap COB panel looks interesting. /r/SpaceBuckets likely has good advice.

I second StonerSn0rlax's view to start off with coco-coir or soil.

These are my suggestions - feel free to ask more questions if you need anything!

Read these guides (not by me) - I wish I had had something like this when I started: http://homegrow-pro.com/quantum-board-build-grow-tent/ And this one: http://homegrow-pro.com/the-3x3-grow-tent-setup/

The links and suggestions below are oriented for Canadians, so feel free to ask for alternatives.

Essentials

• Grow Tent: 3 ft x 3 ft x 6 ft is the size you'd probably want. This is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.ca/VIVOSUN-Hydroponic-Observation-Window-Growing/dp/B01DXYMKIO
  
• Light: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Kingbrite-240W-LM301H-with-CREE-660_62138608878.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.41413.39.e07058f6OqSWQf This light is a fantastic LED quantum board that is very easy to assemble - I got the 3000K one with the epistar, but this one has the better CREE version
  
• Fabric Pots: Head to Amazon and grab yourself a 5-pack of 7 gallon fabric pots https://www.amazon.ca/VIVOSUN-Gallons-Thickened-Nonwoven-Handles/dp/B00TF9E9PY/
  
• Also get yourself a saucer (you can get this at any garden store) and a pot elevator for each pot (pot elevator example: http://amazon.ca/Gro-Pro-725675-Level-Elevator/dp/B01J37FHF8/)
  
• Soil: Get yourself a bail of Pro Mix HP with mycorrhizae (it's cheap, reliable, and hard to overwater) from Canadian Tire, Rona, any store really and get also a bag of earthworm castings. Cover the bottom of your fabric pot with the castings (2-3 inches deep) https://www.homehardware.ca/en/20l-organic-worm-castings/p/5025712
  
• Nutrients: Gaia Green Dry Amendments (All Purpose and Power Bloom) Mix the All Purpose in with your Pro-Mix HP and then top dress your "soil" every month, changing it to Power Bloom during flowering https://www.canadiangardensupply.com/gaia-green-all-purpose-4-4-4.html https://www.canadiangardensupply.com/gaia-green-power-bloom-2-8-4-power-bloom-2-8-4-2kg.html
  
• Ventilation: Get the AC Infinity Cloudline T4 - it's absolutely worth it. Then purchase a 4-inch carbon filter and 4 inch tubing from Amazon (branding doesn't matter for these two things) https://www.amazon.ca/AC-Infinity-CLOUDLINE-T4-Ventilation/dp/B06ZXWN3BG https://www.amazon.ca/AC-Infinity-Dual-Layer-Aluminium-Ventilation/dp/B071LHCFZ8 https://www.amazon.ca/VIVOSUN-Australia-Charcoal-Pre-filter-Included/dp/B01DXYMBU6
  
• Timer: You can go cheap on this, but also consider a smart timer (like a Wemo) https://www.amazon.ca/Insight-Switch-Enabled-Compatible-Amazon/dp/B00EOEDJ9W
  
• Seeds: Jahseeds.ca - Canadian breeder, amazing beans, amazing price! Go with feminized seeds for your first round. https://jahseeds.ca/shop?olsPage=t%2Ffeminized-seeds
  
  
  Extra accessories
  
  
• 2 fire extinguishers (one for just outside tent, one for outside the room, where the tent is located)
  
• Pruning shears (seperate ones for trimming live plants and ones for harvesting) https://www.amazon.ca/Pruning-Gardening-Straight-Stainless-Precision/dp/B076HL5JJM
  a lighter (for sanitizing)
  
• a set of tweezers, for planting your sprouted seed
  
• some garden gloves
  
• rope ratchets for your lights
  
• zips ties for protecting things
  
• binder clips (for low stress training)
  
• plant ties (soft rubber and wire kind)
  
• watering can
  
• two pairs of measuring spoons for dry amendments
  
• a clip on fan and rotating fan (for air circulation over and under the canopy)
  
• markers and a pack of tag plant markers for identifying plants
  
• soil moisture https://www.amazon.ca/Soil-Moisture-Sensor-Meter-Hydrometer/dp/B014MJ8J2U
  
• paper towels (for germination)
  
• Bucket Head Wet Dry Vacuum Powerhead Lid for 19 Litre (5 Gal.) Multi-Use Buckets great for gathering up the excess water and tipped soil) https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bucket-head-wet-dry-vacuum-powerhead-lid-for-19-litre-5-gal-multi-use-buckets/1000666690
  
• 3 five gallon buckets (1 for the buckethead vacuum and 2 for extra water reservoirs) and two lids
  
• 3 surge protector power bars
  
• Various AC power extension cables
  
• 1 trellis net (for ScrOG training)
  
• USB microscrope (used to check the trichomes at harvest - if you want you can also get an adapter so it plugs directly into your smartphone, as opposed to plugging it into a computer) https://www.amazon.ca/Jiusion-Magnification-Endoscope-Microscope-Compatible/dp/B06WD843ZM
  
• 62% Boveda packs for curing
  
• Mason jars for curing and storage
  
• hanging rack for drying (you can substitute this for a hanger and some plant ties)
  
• Duct tape
  It's a little more expensive at the start, but this setup will pay for itself within two harvests.
  
  
  With this setup you can expect to yield between 8 to 10 oz every run (even with autos), once you grow accustomed to the cycle.

>decent results for $1000

>actually recommended 1500

LOL @ the current /r/microgrowery

I remember when this used to be pages of people growing with tube light T4s for seedlings and CFLs for cheap grows.

Either way you need a budget. Let's say $175 for fun.

Go to a hardware store and get the cheapest 10 pack of LED bulbs. Get a power strip and some adapters to build one of these with those LED bulbs. You can fit 8 bulbs on a good power strip, save 2 bulbs for replacements if you want. That's 80W of LED from the wall for like $15-$20.

Get a tent. Here's a 2x2x4 for $38.. A tent will be easier than building anything, especially for the price.

With that small of a tent, you won't need a 6" fan, but if you think you'll get a big tent some day you may want to consider one. Get a 4" inline fan. Here's one on Amazon for $45, that comes with a speed controller to turn down (make quieter).

If you can't have your whole house smelling, you need a quality carbon filter. Here's an ok filter for $36 that will match your fan. It should last you a grow or 2.

Lights - $20

Tent - $38

Fan - $45

Filter - $36

You're at $139..

For the last $36 you need to consider your plant's pot, soil, nutes, and other small misc like rope or clothespins for plant training. It's not much, but you're shooting for cheap as possible. You can see where adding funds really can help this way. Hope it's helpful!

You dont need ph test strips. Get this kit and itll have everything you need.
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Nv7SBbR3HZB9Z
I find the digital ph test pens are not very accurate and you have to calibrate them often.

I've only ever used smart pots and they work great. You'll want to work your way up in size though. Start with a red solo cup, then transfer to 1 gallon smart pot, then to 3 gallon, then to 5 gallon. Your roots and plant will grow much faster this way.

That 600watt led will be perfect.

That should be plenty of air flow with your exhaust fan choice.

You can try your own soil, but me personally I always start with fox farms happy frog in the solo cup and 1 gallon pot, then switch to fox farms ocean forest soil for the 3 and 5 gallon pots because ocean forest is hotter and young plants sometimes cant handle it. It's more expensive to grow this way but you know for sure exactly what's in your dirt.

You can use your tent to dry and cure. I hang branches of drying bud up near the ceiling of my tent with some twist ties and theres still plenty of room for growing plants down at the bottom.


I would recommend rapid rooters plugs for your seeds. They work really good, especially if you use them in conjunction with a germination station.

With a tent that small you'll want to do some training with your plants. I recommend following nebula haze's manifolding guide on growweedeasy.com
That technique will give you alot more yield in a small tent.


Only other thing I can recommend is to get on growweedeasy.com and read everything. And then read it again. And then go back for tips on stuff before you get ready to do it for the first time.

First grow.

This took 2-3 months. Seems like I ran into a number of first-timer pitfalls along the way. Good learning experience though.

Can't wait. So god damn tired of shady, undependable hook ups.


Edit 2:

Photos of my setup.

• http://i.imgur.com/fc8wn1B.jpg
  
• http://i.imgur.com/HmUWGgR.jpg
  
• http://i.imgur.com/nOcwlPm.png
  
  
  
  Edit 1:
  
  Some have asked about my setup. This is about everything. This is my first grow so take my suggestions with a cup of salt but this stuff has worked well for me.
  
  Tent:
  
  Zero complains. Very happy with this. It just fits perfectly into a closet (had to remove the hanger bar though).
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U6WCMY
  
  
  Air
  
  
  
  Carbon filter:
  
  The inside of my tent stinks. I smell absolutely nothing outside. Don't get caught. Get a good carbon filter. Maybe not this one, but something.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FVJK60
  
  
  Inline fan:
  
  I hand this outside the tent. No need to take up any space or add any heat inside the tent.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JQ14F8
  
  
  Variable xformer for fan control:
  
  This allows me to control the noise and airflow. Every other fan controller made the fan buzz. This thing is quality built. I keep it around 50v.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NGI8VS
  
  
  Circulation fans:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RTMD8C
  
  
  DWC
  
  
  
  
  Bucket top net pots:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049XIIGC
  
  
  Air pump:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JPEVMC
  
  
  Airline:
  
  The black just prevents light from getting into my res.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D4XTUU
  
  
  Air stones:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050HJ7Q6
  
  
  Check valves:
  
  You NEED these. Many airlines are thin enough that if the power goes out or a hose becomes disconnected, capillary action might permit water to back-flow into your electrical air pump and/or just flood your room. Don't take chances when a .50 cent valve will protect you. There are some horror stories in the aquarium hobby about this. Note, even if the air pump is higher than your res, capillary action can pull the water up through the air hose. This is the same principle that allows 100ft trees carry water from the roots to the canopy.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00977J508
  
  
  Lighting
  
  
  
  Lights:
  
  Word of warning. Start off a good distance between the lights and your canopy. These product more light than you think and I have burned and cooked plants from keeping these too close. They don't product a ton of heat or anything. I think it's just too much light if they aren't a good foot or so away from the canopy. I assumed I could practically lay LEDs on top of my canopy. Not so.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FGFLCXS
  
  
  Adjustable ropes for lights:
  
  Chains work, these are just faster/easier to adjust.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098R0600
  
  
  Tools
  
  
  
  Temp/humidity sensors:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BKDO8
  
  
  pH pen:
  
  I used to do chemical reagent tests (I have tons of aquariums so I had it laying around). Never again. A pen is fucking awesome for dialing in pH every morning. Get one!
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQISYQO
  
  
  Pruning snips:
  
  These are great. Sharp as fuck and solid.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SD76
  
  
  Training wire:
  
  What I use for my scrog screen and early training before the screen goes in. Also good for random shit that's temporary enough I don't want to waste a zip tie.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EXJ652
  
  
  Nutes/Water changes
  
  
  
  
  Pond pump:
  
  This is another must have! I've been using these for a while now to handle water changes in my aquariums. It's also awesome for mixing nutes before they go into your DWC. I drop one in a bucket without a hose attached and then just dump all my nutes and such in. The pump does all the mixing. Then I adjust the pH a little. Give the pump about 10-20 seconds to mix my pH up or down in and test again. I don't have to worry my pH adjustment isn't probably mixed yet. I makes the mixing process so easy and fast. I also use these to pump out my res once the scrog screen is in place.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006M6MSL0
  
  
  Root protectant:
  
  One of my early problems was with brown algae. This cleared it right up after a week.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IGFH3FG
  
  
  Syringes:
  
  No guess work. I know exactly how many ml I'm adding.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB3CV6
  
  
  Cal-mag:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J2CUPW
  
  pH control:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY
  
  
  Nutes:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COBT54
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CO7U02
  
  
  
  
  

I understand being overwhelmed at first here, but I couldn't imagine trying to figure it out from a different language, so props to you! You can definitely build your own setup, or you could purchase a grow tent. The sizes range anywhere from 4x4x7' (or 4 feet by 4 feet wide and 7 feet tall), smaller, bigger, there's something out there for everyone. Some common lighting sizes with MH/HID (metal-halide/high intensity discharge, just different styles for different stages) bulbs are 400W, 600W, 1000W or so I've seen on here. You could also go with LED lights, but I don't know much about those. It depends on how many plants you'd like to grow and the size of your space.

As far as fans, I would get more powerful inline fans like this or this to actually move the air around if you're planning a bigger grow. If you're not too worried about a carbon filter, which it never hurts to be, maybe you could try making a DIY one with some supplies from your store and a guide from this sub?

Hope this helped, best of luck and please update us! (ps your English is actually fine and easy to understand)

Imho they will be fine, I've finished plants with similar or colder weather and some overcast days but not constant maybe two and a half days per week, if yours are just cloudy then better. They may take a little longer to mature though. Yeah a 12/12 or similar to your sunset/rise time is ok too, I was just trying to make it clear with the question it wasn't mockery just letting you know haha.
Leds are often advertised with their equivalent wattage of those old bulbs, much like cfls, not what the bulb actually draws. Like this one is actually around 25w, this is about 130w, and this are about 255w. I would get this 600 last one over the other recommended viparspectra, more bang for your buck and less bulky.

Veg week 2 of clones obtained from my local medical collective. First nutrient feeding at half strength (3tsp/gallon of Fox Farm Big Bloom). LST started on all plants with the GDP starting 2 days later then the others. Did some minimal pruning after the LST settled to get things out of the dirt and clean out some leaves that weren't getting any light. Growth seemed to slow a bit for a few days, might have shocked them a bit from being rough with them, but they are doing great now. Thinking of extending my veg an extra week to compensate, will wait and see if that will even be necessary.

Noticed some small bite marks taken out of a leaf, so I decided not to take any chances and got some AzaMax and gave the girls a good shower at about 0.4% concentration. I will be following that up with a few more applications over the next couple weeks. I'm debating if I want to do a soil drench as well. I also got a gnat sticks that already caught one of the bastards.

Temps with lights on have remained stable around 79F and the RH about 40%. Lights off with fan at 20% temps get to 67F at the lowest and 50% RH at the highest. Also have some new goodies coming from Amazon in the next few days to improve my setup like an Oakton pH2 and rope hangers with metal internal gears instead of those cheapo plastic ones that came with my lights.

 

    Strains

Blue Dream - DJ Short x Santa Cruz Haze. 80% Sativa / 20% Indica. 7-8 week flower cycle

Boy Scout Cookies - Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mint x Pre-98 Bubba Kush. 60% Indica / 40% Sativa. 8 week flower cycle.

Darth Vader Haze - 4-way Black Haze Black Cross. 100% Sativa. 9-10 week flower cycle.

Grand Daddy Purple - Big Bud x Purple Urkle. Indicia Dominant. 8-9 week flower cycle.

 

 

Veg Week 1 Reddit Post - Album

For veg/clones you should be using 6500k lights or T5 lights, not 2700k. 2700k is for flowering.

That soil says "feeds up to 4 months". In general, you don't want soil with built-in fertilizer. Get the FF soil and some perlite. You're going to want 25-40% of the mix to be perlite.

Don't use Miracle Grow. Go with Fox Farms Trio or GH GO Box. If you really want to save money on nutes (you don't), grab some fish fertilizer ($8 at Home Depot) for veg and Morebloom ($6 at Home Depot) for flowering. If you go with the cheap nutrient options, it'll show, but it's better than nothing.


HID isn't complicated. You don't need to be smart to set it up. A system like this comes with everything you need. Any real light system (including LED) is going to require ventilation (inline fan and duct).

Good luck! Keep us updated.

just want to chime in here, I was in the same boat as you. Starting out as just an experiment seeing if I could actually sprout a seed, turned into a dedicated project :p But I can tell you I didn't have any idea with like lights, tents, air filters etc. So first thing I bought was this LED , but a better option would be this Viparspectra (the one I bought though has been just fine) and just hung it in my closet with the plant, and that's it. veg'ed it for 4 weeks just like that with the light on a timer and my closet door closed. (get a little desk fan to to move some air over the leaves) Then I figured I'd switch to flower, and was kinda on the edge about investing in a tent and carbon filter. but every thread I read about smell, veterans would always say "It's gonna smell a lot!" So I bit the bullet and got a 2x2x4 tent and this carbon filter and fan . You can probably use your DIY carbon filter just fine. Anyway, long story short, I started to flower and literally two days later I walk into my house after work and the smell just hits me. And this is just one plant. So definitely invest in that stuff. But as for the PC fan, unfortunately it's not going to have enough static pressure to force air through a carbon filter. You don't have to go with the one I got, like brotha said the duct boosters will work too. If you have any question let me know cause I relate very well to your situation, except I've now been halfway through the process lol. pm me if you want

I would go with a 4'x4' tent at the very least; the one you've linked is too small for a 1000W lamp. I'm doing 4x3x7 right now with 1000W and it's really not easy to keep it cool, I'll often hit 88-90F even with AC in the room. A little bit larger space and it would be much more comfortable.

What are your plans for a growing medium? This might be more important than anything else you're buying! There are also a million options between soil, coco, and the various hydro setups like DWC, ebb and flow, etc. I've had good results with coco coir. You might be best off starting with a decent soil like the Fox Farms lines - pH is much easier to manage in soil.

Speaking of, you also want a good pH meter, and pH up and down. Just get the General Hydroponics pH test kit - it's cheap and you'll have enough to fix pH for your entire grow. For a meter, I recommend this Oakton unit. You'll also want some pH calibration/storage fluid to maintain it properly.

if you want something simple and insanely well priced when compared to other nutrients then check out dyna-gro.

dynagro foliage pro + pro-tekt and you will be years above most other growers. just focus on your environment which IMHO is the most important thing.

what is good about dynagro is it has everything in it as a base nutrient. with most other products (botanicare, GH, and famously Adv Nutrients) the base leaves out C and MG and micro nutrients.

Protekt is a silica additive that makes the plants noticeably stronger and thicker healthier stems.

If you call dynagro's number you can get a starter kit with a PK booster (used around week 4 and 7 of flower).


If you only want to water once every few days I suggest a hempy bucket https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=98419

You can do a coco hempy bucket too and is very popular as well. if you decide to go that route make sure to grab some botanicare Calmag. So your list would be dynagro foliage pro/dynagro protekt/botanicare calmag.

You will 100% need to buy a PH meter and I strongly advise an EC/PPM meter. These are the ones I use

https://smile.amazon.com/Oakton-EcoTestr-Waterproof-Tester-Range/dp/B004G8PWAU/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1479005211&sr=8-13&keywords=ph+meter
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FPG89CE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In a hempy bucket and coco always PH to 5.5-6.2

If you were to put the plants in your pic in to a 3 gallon hempy bucket with vermiculite and perlite for the first 2-3 weeks you are going to want to water once every 2/3 days until a little bit of water flows out. Then when they get big once per day.

I would strongly, strongly suggest not using CFL's. It would be a better investment to get a 250-600w HPS. they are really cheap on amazon. If you go with 250w you dont want the plants to get bigger then a foot or so before you flip the schedule to 12 hours on and 12 hours off.

150W - LINK - Grow 1-4 small plants

600W - LINK - Grow 4-6 medium plants


Dont spend so much time on nutrients and what type of grow medium and focus mostly on keeping a good enviornment in terms of temp and humidity and fresh air. You also need to consider when you flower the room needs to be 100% dark. Even a tiny pinhole of light coming in can be very bad

Honestly, you need to get on a forum such as rollitup and start reading the stickies at the top of each section until you have a better understanding. Read, Read, Read and read some more. Are you doing this for fun? Dropping a seed in soil to see if it sprouts? Or are you serious and really wanna grow some bud. If its the second option than lets be logical. How much bud do you think you could get off a plant that's growing in a small cup? I know some people start their seedlings in solo cups but from the pics it looks like your trying to do the entire grow in the solo cup. Man, there are just way too many bases to cover here but please do not give up. Keep growing the plants you have while you do more research from an informational dense place such as what I mentioned above. Just to touch on some bases you gotta get those plants out of those solo cups and into larger containers. You need A Lot more light (cfl's by the pic) and get them within 3 inches of the light or they will keep stretching the way they are. I wouldn't even expect much off those plants either. Just apply everything you learned from this grow and from your research to your next and hopefully it will be more successful. Here is a good complete line of nutrients for someone starting out and it should give you an idea of what your plant needs to thrive. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004PS4B08/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1419201497&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX200_QL40 Nutrients really don't matter if your plant isn't in a big enough container and is not getting enough light so take care of those two things first.

First off, i'm simply recommending them, the stuff you got works but theyre a bit over priced so i'm going to recommend a few cheaper stuff.

You can get away with a 4'' fan/filter/duct with the grow space tent you provided. heres a recommended one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q2ER5C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Your tent and led is fine
Ph up and ph down is fine as well, i recommend getting a digital ph and ppm meter combo on amazon, doesnt matter if theyre cheap, they'll work.
As for your timer, i highly recommend this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042I5FF6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That timer will give you the ability to upgrade to two led if you want too in the future.
Don't forget hangers for the lights.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0098R0600/ref=twister_B00FL6MTJI?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
Everythign else seems fine.

I was planning on going with fox farm nutrients and I just ordered a ph tester last night. I tried googling it and found no luck, but how do I cheaply aerate the water?

I also looked up an inline fan, would you recommend a six inch in fan? I'm also unsure of the purpose and set up issues of an inline fan. Sorry for being so needy - I tend to get a bit overwhelmed with the details when I take a project like this up and unfortunately need a. It of hand holding. Thank you btw for your help.

Edit: this air filter I was looking at comes with an inline fan, but I think I'll need the 6 inch one since that's the size of my light exhaust.

Nice cheap light

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XC3LBI2/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1498932753&sr=8-20&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=RoleadRo&dpPl=1&dpID=51mUVXHUvzL&ref=plSrch

Seeds

https://www.seedsman.com/en/cannabis-seeds/flowering-type/autoflowering-feminised-cannabis-seeds?dir=asc&order=price

Grow tent

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NGZ216U/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498932973&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=grow+tent&dpPl=1&dpID=51K5M7TCfmL&ref=plSrch

Personally I like soil. Easier to diagnose and remedy in my opinion. Can't cheap out on the soil though. Fox farm gives good results and can be found at almost every nursery or online.

Heard decent things about this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010NQR5WQ/ref=cm_cr_srp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Inline fan

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XJYR2R7/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1498933348&sr=8-15&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=inline+fan+carbon+filter+combo&dpPl=1&dpID=41zr9rEHVKL&ref=plSrch

If you can squeeze any extra money out I'd put it into the lights.

Also check the side bar and all this stuff can be found in there. I just smoked so I'm feeling especially helpful lol.

Anyway remember it's a weed and will grow you just have to have the patience to let it. Also remember to have fun.

Good places to start.

http://www.growweedeasy.com/basics

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWaWOfju3y4PIoQtO4B6KWQIY6wng_UD

I see you have 4" ducting but trust me you're definitely going to want to have this, thankfully 6" ducting isn't to expensive. Also buy these, so much easier than duct tape and these for managing the ducting. This and this too for supporting the inline fan and filter, the inline fan at full power will vibrate very slightly and I feel that the bungee cords help minimize vibration. I usually use zip ties for managing cords but also as a precautionary measure, I have a few loosely secured zip ties on my inline fans just in case a bungee cord were to become unsecured which that has never happened thankfully but you can never be to safe.

Okay 4 plants with good genetics can yield just as much weed as 6 plants with lesser genetics.

So here is what I recommend.

Tent: 4x4 minimum with 5x5 preferred because it gives you room to walk in the tent which saves your back and also gives you room for extra equipment inside the tent, buy Vivosun they are good quality and have excellent zippers.


Seeds/breeders: Dinafem and Dutch Passion are excellent breeders you can buy both from Dinafem.

https://www.dinafem.org/en/

Grow Light: Depending on how large of a yield you want you have several options.

500 Watt Samsung LED.

https://meijiuled.en.alibaba.com/product/62001333924-807906070/Fomex_hlg_550v2_Samsung_lm301b_480w_288_full_spectrum_dimmer_function.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.41413.8.24d4185dhzMSXW

320 watt Samsung LED.

If you want more than 500 watts in a 4x4 or 5x5 you can buy more than one of these lights and hang them side by side.

https://meijiuled.en.alibaba.com/product/60803100408-807313817/2018_new_products_quantum_board_800_V2_samsung_lm301b_top_bin_full_spectrum_led_grow_light_with_320W_HLG_driver.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.41413.72.39352189gT0xyF

Ventilation:

Exhaust fan.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074XBXFPD?pf_rd_p=c2945051-950f-485c-b4df-15aac5223b10&pf_rd_r=MZ90W6M80NJB8KY91153

Carbon Filter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01731MLFK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ducting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791V19H7/?coliid=IOTPSB8SN2VX3&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Fertilizer/supplements:

https://www.advancednutrients.com/

Misc stuff:

Hygrometer.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDW58GS/?coliid=I3I7T3XZ9CIWY3&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Rope Hangers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BWQB49J/?coliid=I3UY93HADIWB52&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Jewelers Loupe.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077XWJGN4/?coliid=I2Z2SKYZ5WH6JZ&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Trimming Scissors.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114TK46/?coliid=I1DY00ZE56UXO4&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Felt Pots.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TF9E6XE/?coliid=I21TH7VWPFRA0E&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

TDS Meter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2O1Z5B/?coliid=I1SGIRSI7FWY4V&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

pH Meter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M87S9F4/?coliid=I2H2GCFLMBVHM4&colid=2JRQ421G587OR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Yeah - I have seen the pre built panels that feature COB (chip on board) LED's such as this one but I really do think if you are going to shell out money for a COB LED when you already have (2) Mars panels you spent money on then you might as well do it right and put your own together. As far as the actual COB's go, there are many to choose from. I would try watching some growmau5 videos on youtube if you want to learn more about COB's - he helps a lot.

The Cree CXB3590's are considered some of the best COB's out right now, they are pricey! Citizen's are popular, and Vero's too, but I went with Luminus CXM22's. If you go the route I did, make sure you get Gen 3 version, they compare in specs very well to any other COB's out there and they are affordable at 19$ per.

I think the 6 inch fan will be overkill since you already have low temps.

The light is a little small to flower with in that tent, but veg should be ok. I would get 2 for flower.

METER OR LIQUID. Ph strips suckk. I started giving my plants 8.2 PH water because the strip said it was 6.5ish.

I like soil, less finicky, but both work just fine.

I veg in a 2x2 tent and have 2 2x4 tents for flower. Seems to work pretty well, though I haven't gone through a whole cycle with this setup yet. I use a hlg 100 in the 2x2, and then hlg 100s and 1 hlg 300 in my flower tents (I also have a 150w hps and a "300w" viparspectra still hangin around too).

​

You could save a little money. You can get a 5 pack of 5 gallon pots for $11.99

https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-5-Pack-Thickened-Nonwoven-Handles/dp/B00TF9E6XE?ref=ast_p_ep&th=1

and saucers are like 50 cents at the hydro store... No reason to spend 8 dollars on one.

Don't forget a speed controller! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NGI8VS/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

this one's highly recommended and people say it helps reduce the humming on the inline fan compaerd to cheaper speed controllers.

I'm sure the apollo tents are fine, I've heard slightly better reviews for the vivosun tents. This one's about $12 more than yours i think. https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Horticulture-Hydroponic-Obeservation-Growing/dp/B01DXYMQ9M/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1478889774&sr=1-2&keywords=vivosun+48

The Mars 300 is chill for the price, you probably want to want to get a second one if you're going to have multiple plants in that tent. People say 1 mars 300 per plant should get you good results, almost pushing it with two full plants under a single mars 300.

Also if and when possible, try to invest in a good pH meter. everyone recommends bluelabs! https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-Ultimate-Solution-Measuring-Temperature/dp/B008R7OWJS/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1478889906&sr=1-3&keywords=bluelabs+ph+pen

I didn't PH at first and my plants were dying on me... turns out my tap PH was above 7.0 ph. the PH pen saved grow!

Don't use those sticks. They are slow acting ferts and will mess your plants up.

To PH balance your water you will need some PH Indicating solution, PH Up, and PH Down. You can get one of These which has everything you will need. You just take the little vial, fill it with the water you are planning to use, and drop about 5 drops of the indicator solution in. You shake it up and compare the color to the bottle. You adjust the PH by slowly adding a few drops of PH up or down depending upon the reading. You then mix it thoroughly through the water in the can and retest until you reach the desired PH.

The desired Ph is different depending upon growing in a hydro setup or soil. For hydro you want the PH to be around 5.5-6.0 with a slight emphasis on below 6. For soil you want your PH to be around 6.0 - 6.5.

I just use tap water. I haven't had any real issue with it. I usually try to be proactive and refill my watering can right after a watering. This way the water can sit for about 2 days and let the chlorine burn off. You can without a doubt use distilled water but unless you have a source really close to you this gets to be a real pain in the ass. In my opinion constantly getting distilled water ever 2-3 days would be time consuming considering that I haven't seen any issues with using my tap water.

As for ferts, pull out those sticks. You will only see issues with those. I am currently using the roots organic nutrient line. I use their Buddah Grow for veg and their Buddha Bloom in flower.

For feeding my nutrients I don't follow the nutrient schedule. I followed a schedule previous grows and it just ended up with nutrient burn. What I do is feed nutrients every other water. I have 2 plants in 5 gallon smart pots. I have a 2x3 gallon watering cans. I will put one tablespoon (a lot less than advised) in the bottom of each can, fill with water making sure to swish around to distribute the nutrients. Then I will PH balance the water (at least with the buddah grow it will naturally bring down PH so be aware). For reference I have been growing in roots organic. I planted seedlings into the 5 gallon smart pots from solo cups April 21st. I have only fed them that really diluted solution of buddah grow 3 times so far. I rarely now ever feed the plants with the recommended amounts on the bottle. I always start with 1/4 strength the first time and then 1/2 strength max. If I see deficiencies I will increase as needed.

I think an led would be perfect as they run cool but still have power and spectrum options, perfect for tight spaces. I am flowering with a viparspectra600 (actual 267w) led in a 2x3x5 cabinet and love it. https://imgur.com/a/YjnNO

Using every inch of your grow space wisely, and guiding the plants structure will help you maximize yield and plant health.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019ETLC7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lmYPAbA3BPVXP

haha I literally just bought this last night for my first grow. Iv'e seen a few people recommend it as a good cheaper light. but the advice I see the most is the more expensive lights are usuially better quality. another company that gets a lot of love is black dog so I expect their lights are good quality.

Edit: I found the thread that convinced me to get these lights. Here

Lol I'm like halfway through my first grow, got a 2x4x5 tent. I have one 300w roleadro led already, and the only issue I have with it is it can't cover my whole tent.

So I want to get another LED, and I was thinking since cobs are so much better i would try to find one for a good price. Like <$150 all said and done, and I don't have many tools...

I'm thinking the 400w roleadro cob will suit my needs perfectly.

It's <$150 (only $100), easy which is just a plus, and I already have a normal 300w roleadro led which I like.

Think I could build something better than the roleadro 400w cob for <$150 including everything I need, even tools?

Thanks for your feedback, and these are questions I should consider as I’m starting my grow.

I guess as I begin, I was hoping to find an ideal route that would allow me to adapt as I go. I have a decent amount of space for growing (an entire 10x10 room) and am willing to budget fairly for what’s needed. I just don’t want to overextend, as I will just grow for personal use (albeit, I do smoke quite a bit). I want to keep the plants “clean” and as healthy as possible, and hope to test out a few different strains. For lights - I’m willing to go as suggested, but initially considered LED (maybe something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019ETLC7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_0a0aAbD9B8DYH).

I’d love to connect and chat if you have more insight for a beginner grower. Thanks for your initial feedback!

Thanks! I thought the same thing when i saw those leaves develop!
The younger ones "wriggle" so much as they're growing in, it's awesome to look at.

I'm using 2 of these lights they were cheap but had pretty great reviews. so far so good.

Standard Fox Farm Nutes with Cal mag too.

Soil is just organic stuff from amazon

I went pretty cheap on the supplies, but so far so good.

edit: just adding quantity of lights.

Tent: TopoGrow 2-in-1 Indoor Grow Tent 108"X48"X80"

Lights: Three of these: MARS HYDRO 960w, apparently they just came out with a 2nd version of these at 900w, so here's that link

Soil:Fox Farm FX14054 Happy Frog Potting Soil

Pots:Fabric Pots
Humidifier:3.5G humidifier

Fan: basic large oscilating fan

Exhaust:AC Infinity CLOUDLINE T6
CO2 Bag: Exhale 365

Fertilizers: Technaflora Recipe for Success Starter Kit
Timers: Basic ones

Basil Seeds: because basil is fucking delicious

let me know if you all see anything extra i need or anything you think i could improve on!

Thanks again for the help!

I just switched to 12/12 from 24/0, started the flowering formula for the nutrients, and switched on the "bloom" light on the lights.

Hey dude - I'm in the middle of flower on my first grow and think I can help out a bit here.

Not sure if you're already on this site but growweedeasy.com is an incredible free resource

You could easily do one plant in a tent like this or go bigger and do a 48" x 24"

As for LED's in that range, most people seem to like either the mars hydro or viparspectra (I'm currently using an mh/HPS light)

Enjoy!

Looks like a pretty good start there.

Pots: If just doing one plant I used something like this that filled my case perfectly and just wrapped it in aluminum tape

Soil: Fox Farms Ocean Forest is recommended alot around here and you can buy small bags

Nutrients: There is a plethora of nutrients you can use from GO Box to Botanicare to General Hydroponics and many many many many more. With almost as many methods.

Edit: Also case wise that mid tower is going to be too small, you will definately want to go for a full tower. Something like this

EditEdit: Here is something to power your fans with no DIY

Or Splice this onto you fans

The iPower fans seem to be junk. Here's the one I bought: a 6" Hydrofarm, 400CFM (actually an ActiveAir brand fan). Much better than the 175 the ipower 6" was pushing.

It's loud at full blast, and probably more than you need. This is good though, because you can get a speed controller to turn it down. The fan gets much quieter even at 75%, and I run mine at less than 50% to cool my small cab w/aircooled 400w HPS. You can get this speed controller if you don't mind a slightly annoying electric hum from your fan (I have this and sleep in the room with it at night), or you could get the more expensive variac controller that eliminates this hum (and probably helps your fan last longer too).

The centrifugal inline fans are much more powerful than the axial booster fans, and will force air through a carbon filter easily, so get one that is sized correctly for the fan. (heres mine, sized for that hydrofarm/activeair fan)

I keep a steady 78º-79ºF in the cabinet (2.5'x1.5'x4' grow space) with 75º-77ºF ambient room temps, and the air exhausted right back into the room (central air keeping the room at 76ºF helps).

Well given the situation with my grow lights thanks to a huge debacle with Amazon I'll probably get a tent and use the DIY closet for seedlings. I ordered one of those 300W Roleardro lights under a buy one get one free sale and recieved only one instead of two. Amazon credited my account the cost of the light so I can order the second one and when I ordered it the promotion worked (which ends today). So when all is said and done I will have 3 300W Roleadro lights (900W)! For the price of $75 bucks. Get's no better than that. Amazon even told me when I purchase it how to make sure the buy one get one promo worked so Amazon came through on this one. It also means I will need a bigger space! lol

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PH1MQV8/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I wouldn't hit them with the AB until 2 weeks and even then I would start very low mix rate. I just popped 10 CaliConnect Blackwaters, fed at 2 weeks 450 PPM of HG COCO AB and had 3 take off, 3 burn, and 3 go decent. One was a tard, but anyways... Point is unless you know the strin you won't know how it can take it at such a young age.

Oakton pH Tester EcoTestr pH 2 $56.96

I had this one and it worked great, still have it, but if you're in this for the long haul and want to spend wisely I would save for this one...

Hanna Instruments HI 98129 pH/Conductivity/TDS and Temperature Tester

This will give you the PPM readings you need for learning your plants nutrient limits during the cycle. Although you will get an EC reading from the mix rates on your feed chart, and can mix accordingly, at this point you don't know the nurtrient content of your tap so whatever you add is on top of what's in the tap, and that can be dangerous in beginning development.

Although some recommend feeding in Hydro and Coco early in development, I don't feel it's necessary unless you're using Reverse Osmosis water, which is stripped of nearly all mineral content.

At early stage it's better to play safe if you don't know the strain because a burn at 2 weeks will slow you 1-2 weeks where as if you creep up nutrients later and find burn, the plant and root system will be large enough to counteract and limit the damage.

Edit: looking again at the pics i'm pretty certain they are suffering a bit of over-watering by the purple of the stems and yellowing of lower leaves. I'd hold off on watering for 3 days minimum, and not hit it again until you see a difference in the seedlings.

the ph pen i use is a bluelab although ive used an oakton both are good. You'll want calibration solution for it as well.

other gadgets? I like to use a paint stirrer on a portable drill to mix ferts. a couple of quality spray bottles and a pump sprayer is nice to have on hand.

Treat for common pests systemically don't wait for that oh shit moment. I treat all my young healthy plants (before they go into bud) with a combination of OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved products: Azamax (neem extract for mites),Serenade (powdery mildew and mold) and Monterey Garden Spray (leaf miners and budworms). I use each of these at least once each, often if you wait to treat until you notice problems, it's too late to get optimum results.

If you want to be as cheap as possible, you can get a duct fan - but they suck and are loud and they break.

cheap option:

• 4 inch duct fan
  
• 4 inch carbon filter
  
  good option:
  
  
• 4 inch inline fan
  
• 4 inch carbon filter
  
  options for lights:
  
  
• https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/hlg-100?variant=8108197478492
  
• https://www.rapidled.com/vero29-triple-cob-array-kit/
  
  i don't recommend it, but if you want cheaper lights:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/HydroplanetTM-Fixture-Complete-System-Hydroplanet/dp/B01KMW7RYM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536940051&sr=8-3&keywords=150+watt+hps
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Generation-Spectrum-Greenhouse-Hydroponics/dp/B01HI3AFYM/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1536940093&sr=1-4&keywords=roleadro
  
  my 2 cents, get the HLG 100 (or 135 for more yield) with a good 4 inch inline fan and a good 4 inch carbon filter
  
  if you can't afford it now, wait til you can. your first harvest will pay it all off and you'll save money and a whole lot of head ache in the long run.

My Setup:

• Lumin Tekco Indoor Grow Tent, 36"x36"x72"
  
  
• Apollo Horticulture 6" 440 CFM Inline Fan with 6" Carbon Filter
  
  
• 2 Roleadro 2nd Generation 600W LED Plant Grow Light's.
  
  
• FFOF soil now and open to different brand for the transplant from 1 gal pot to 5 gal smart pots this weekend.
  
  
• Nutes: Just started 1/4 strength FF Grow Big and FF Big Bloom last watering (I have FF tiger set aside for flower)
  
  
• Supplements: Cal/Mag and Silica. (first time also this week)
  
  
• Temps: 76H/68L
  
  
• Humidity: 38%H/25%L
  
  *pH: Water going is phd to 6.5, runoff fluctuating between 5.8-6.4 recent waterings.
  
  If I missed something let me know.
  
  New Pic!

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I will definitely get some cheaper ducting, skip the rapid rooters (will use paper towel method), and will also pick up some micro tip scissors for trimming. I will also get the Ph Up/Down kit and just use the testing kit they provide instead of a Ph pen. I didn't think I needed the light ratchets since the HLG board came with wires/clips but it looks like those aren't adjustable so I will need some ratchets. One quick follow up question.

-Do you have any suggestions for a different strain/source? I was looking for an Indica that would be easy/resilient for a first time grow and something that stays pretty short given my 5 foot tent height.

​

Thanks again.

​

Imo you'd be better off getting a cob setup with cbx 3590 or vero 29 cobs this site has some good options to choose from. If you want to try out something different with good coverage and efficiency check out qb boards. If you want something affordable, yet powerful go with a 600/1000 mh/hps light. If you just want a basic cheap led light marshydro 300w(132w actual) is a good start.

CMH: https://amzn.to/2TNnKrM all around great light, people really like them for their light spectrum and efficiency as and HID type of light.

HPS: https://amzn.to/2UUK0QM comes with MH and HPS bulbs, MH for veg, HPS for flower typically.

COB LEDs: https://www.sungrownled.com/product-page/s4-cob-led

Quantum Board LED: People really like HLG like here: https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/hlg-300-v2

If its pricey for your taste, Alibaba has some chinese companies that do great work: https://kingbriteled.en.alibaba.com/product/60810713298-806952836/300W_QB288_KingBrite_samsung_lm561c_led_quantum_board_3500K.html

You'll likely need to move more CFM than the fan you linked.

Just from a quick search of Amazon Canada, I'd go with THIS FAN, and THIS CONTROLLER.

I don't see any legit filters on Amazon Canada... or they are super-expensive. I definitely recommend getting a name-brand filter... that's not somewhere you want to cut costs (IMO). I'd try to find a hydro shop near you and see what they've got. Phresh and CAN are good ones... I know there are others.

You just need to make sure the filter is rated to handle at least as many CFM as the fan. The fan I linked is 400CFM... most (if not all) 6" filters will match up fine.

This one is pretty great:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XNYXQHE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510971757&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=usb+microscope&dpPl=1&dpID=41NWME3Ne%2BL&ref=plSrch

You plug it into a laptop. Has great range and takes great photos.

watts don't apply to LEDs in the same way as cfls or HPS/MH. and these are reflector series which are different than regular LEDS. companies have come out with newer reflector series recently.
for example with mars hydro
they have regular

and new reflector series

wattage is lower but they are more powerful or the same power while using less energy, check the ratings on both. they direct the light more intensely with the reflectors.

i have 2 viparspectra 450 watt reflector series and they work great for my 4x2x5 tent.
and 2 smaller lights are generally easier than one big one. more evenly distribute the light to your girls

DETAILS ON SET UP

Light: Roleadro 300W LED light

Fan and filter: ipower 4" inline fan with carbon filter (my roomates are worried about the smell

Tent: Millard 30" x 18" x 36" tent

Odds and ends: A digital timer to schedule lights

A fan speed controller

3-gallon smart pots

A humidity and temp sensor

Plus a small clip on fan.

GROW DETAILS

I have three different strains, Northern Lights, Pre-99 big bud, and pure power plant, and then an unknown seed(which I planted about two weeks ago as the previous unknown seed turned out male, see previous post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/microgrowery/comments/5qo1yo/early_sign_of_balls_details_in_comments/0. One in each 3-gallon smart pot. For the first two weeks of growing I had an 18/6 light schedule, and then switched to 12/12. (I'm essentially doing 12/12 from as early as the plant could respond to the change in light schedule). Over the past 15 days I watered twice with tiger bloom nutes.

I definitely made the mistake of not listening to your advice when I originally posted and am trying to grow 3 plants in a 1.5X2.5X3 foot tent...It is getting crowded, I should've listened and stuck with one, maybe two plants. Other than that I haven't had any problem that I have noticed other then a few spots of damage on leaves occasionally but no pests or wilting. I'm sure there are things I could've done better though. Thank you for all your help, I can't wait to get to harvest.

I would also get a 600 w led. This one on amazon is a really good deal. If you’re really hurting for cash get the 300 w version for about $80 I think.

Also, you could start in cheep 5 gallon buckets. Get good garden planter soil from Lowe’s or Home Depot. Put drain holes in buckets. You can also just use miracle grow as nutrient.

Read i love growing marijuana website too. You could get closer to 600 grams as a rookie with that light, and good soil.


VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019ETLC7M?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

This is basically what I picked up. Just a cheap Chinese-made digital microscope with decent reviews. It only came with software on a mini-disc thing and... well I don't have a cd-rom anyway (whatyearisit.jpg) but luckily it works mostly plug-and-play with the default 'camera' program on windows. It's hard to get a good placement with nothing moving, magnification set properly, etc. but I really wanted to be able to check my trichomes (and my hand lens really wasn't cutting it). Worth the $20 for sure!

Get a better light, dude. It's the one thing that directly correlates to yield. You got all this awesome stuff (tent, filter, plants with good genetics) but have a light meant for a closet bagseed grow. Go with something like this and you've got a much better shot at being successful.

Hello all,

Apologies for having to use a throwaway - a lot of my family and friends know my main account and the #1 rule I'm following as a first time grower is not to tell anyone (Medical legal in state, still would like to keep it under wraps as arrests have only increased since medical was enacted).

I received clones 1 week ago today which were transplanted from solo cups and they really haven't done much and this is what I have. I was told they spent a little too long in the solo cups but should be okay.

2 clones (Blue Headband).
48x24x60 Tent.
2 300w (145 actual) Galaxyhydro LED.
Organic soil (nothing mixed in).
10 gallon fabric pots.
Various other things like water ppm meter, water ph meter, soil ph and temp meter etc.

Currently using tap water at 96ppm sat out for at least 24 hours prior to watering.

Soil PH remains at 6.5-7.0 at all times, soil temp remains at 68F

Air temp I'm having a hard time regulating as my 24hr range is usually 64F (lower than room temp somehow) to 84F. I used to just have my carbon filter fanning the inside of the tent but I just today set up ducting to exhaust it out of the tent - and im going to put an intake fan on the bottom of the tent. Humidity range is also something like 22% - 78 % depending on if the tent is open or not.

From the great help I've found on this subreddit I believe I'm dealing with light burn, as I see in some reviews of my lights that they need to be hung farther away than normal. SO yesterday I moved them from 18in to top of plant to 24in to top of plant. I just wanted to ask if I'm on the right track before I do any further damage.

Also I've seen a lot about "just leave them alone" but as most first growers can attest to - that's difficult as I want to check on them every 5 minutes.

Thank you in advance. Any and all criticism welcome as it is all a learning process. This subreddit has an awesome community that I've been a long time lurker of while doing my research before my first grow. You guys rock!

Giantex Indoor Grow Tent Room Reflective Mylar Hydroponic Non Toxic Clone Hut 6 Size (32''X32''X63'') https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PXK7ICK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UhVuybY2C4CHS

Roleadro 2nd Generation 600W LED Plant Grow Light Upgraded Full Spectrum Indoor Growing Light with 120pcs 5W Chips https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IVQ96MW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_diVuybHJCV7XV

VIVOSUN 4 Inch 203 CFM Duct Inline Fan with Variable Speed Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CTM0H6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BiVuybSGHVZTE

Century 24 Hour Heavy Duty Plug-in Mechanical Timer Grounded https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVFF59S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nkVuybNGBW6PS

MacDoDo PH-02 Digital PH Meter Tester Best For Water Aquarium Pool Hot Tub Hydroponics Wine - Push Button Calibration Resolution 0.01 / High Accuracy +/- 0.05 - Large LCD Display - 100% Guaranteed https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JOHTMEO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MkVuybZ08V91M

VIVOSUN Pair of 1/8" Adjustable Grow Light Reflector Clip Hanger Rope Ratchet with Zinc Alloy Internal Gears 75lb Each https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P7TZNPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nlVuyb1Q8670K

This is my setup, my fan is coming in today and my seedlings sprouted this morning. I did quite a bit of research and The light is a little underpowered but I was on a pretty tight budget and can always add more light later.
I spent $40 on seeds and super soil mix from Mephisto genetics, going a more organic route and won't require nutes.
I also spent about $30 on peat moss, perlite, and compost. I already had some ducting and pots.

LOL new parents. If you can get the this it's the best guide ever. This will help you diagnose problems. The best thing I ever learned is to let them do their thing. Remember, they are weeds. They're pretty hearty and most problems come from trying to help them too much.

Well, why don't we email the publishers? Let's use one example like the publisher of Jorge Cerventes Marijuana Horticulture The Indoor Outdoor Medical's Bible. Did they approve of having their book up? I'd say by the copy right in the book that it's rather doubtful. Why would they sell it on Amazon if the material has been put in to the public domain? The fact that the mod who put that list up recommends that one logs out of their Google account speaks volumes about the legality of those books. Amazon has well over 100,000 free public domain books (pre 1923 publishing date). It's ironic that none of those books that appear in the sticky are also found in the public domain section of Amazon.

It is the responsibility of the mods to insure that the Reddit user agreement is followed and this includes links to pirated material. We both know who blocked it last time I brought up my concern in private a month ago and you and Codine need to step up to the plate in enforcing blatant violations of the Reddit user agreement if the other mod will not.

What I'd like to see is 5 active mods so there really is a fair consensus and no pirated material. If GreyTheory doesn't want to step up to the plate then remove him. Approaching 10,000 subscribers, I think this is a fair request.

I just got THIS USB Microscope from Amazon today. No complaints from me. I am not sure how accurate the color with this thing is but it seems to give me a clearer glimpse of the trichomes than those little 60x magnifiers that go for 10 dollars on amazon. It even has a button on the back that you press to snap pictures instread of having to click on a mouse or on the phone screen. Oh yeah, the coolest part about this microscope is that it can also plug in directly to an android phone/tablet and be used on the phone!

Anyway, this is my first grow and i would like to get a second opinion on my trichomes. It appears I have a lot of cloudy trichome heads and i THINK it may be time to harvest. Would appreciate you guys' inputs.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED ME GET THIS FAR!!!!

I found this, not Phresh, but it had good reviews compared to the Ventech I have seen recommended on here. I will def look into the Phresh though! Thanks! Edited to ask your opinion on the fan/filter combo or if you have experience with it at all. :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D7M6692/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Yeah, pretty much all my research makes it seem like CFL is a pretty worthless way to go for this endevour. I have been looking ath this or one of the other Mars hydro 300's that everybody seems to like so much.

I just want to be able to run it all the fuckin time, and be planting auto's like every 30 days.

I just got my power bill, and it wasnt bad at all, so maybe adding another 250w or so HID wont be too bad. Its only about a 3rd of what I'm running already.

I'd recommend getting the light fixture with an air cooled hood instead of the cheap reflector. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8VV2ZR/ref=psdc_14252961_t1_B00P8P51ZQ?th=1

The lamp comes with a bulb, they are cheap, but they do work. At some point you want to get better bulbs.

Looks like you'll need an inline fan for ventilation. https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-ACDF6-Active-Air-Inline/dp/B00KWYJQYA

The fan can be turned down using a speed controller https://www.amazon.com/ACTIVE-AIR-ACSC-Speed-Adjuster/dp/B007TFTITS/

Hey Guys.

As my first grow ever, I had 3 seedlings germinate after planting on April 5th into my AeroGarden 6. Here is a progress picture from about 3 days ago.

As you can see, my guy on the left is really taking off, but my other two have kind of stalled. Should I be worried about that?

I hear I can wait about another week until transplant. Would then be a good time to move them into 5 gallon pots? I am also laxing behind on my equipment. I’ve been scoping this tent and this light off of Amazon. Would you guys recommend? Any other recommendations for ventilation? Working a bit on a budget.

Also, I checked all 3 of them, and they have mainly just one long root as seen here. Should that be concerning?

Appreciate any info, and sorry for the noob questions. Happy growing!

More photos - https://imgur.com/a/WQMsnU7

Details:
F17, Day 49 from seedling. https://www.seedsman.com/en/dreamy-widow-feminised-seeds

2x2 tent organic grow (amended FFOF soil, watering with liquid seaweed and molasses, using compost tea every other feeding with compost earthworm castings, and flower and rose mix)

Light is a Roleadro 200w actual COB. Roleadro 800W COB Full Spectrum Grow Light LED Plant Lamp with ON/OFF Switch and Timer Function, 2nd Generation Plant Light for Flowering and Veg https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I4NY8KW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_45fACb894SBAE

AC Infinity T6 with Phresh carbon filter

I’m sure I made some newbie mistakes on my first grow. I’m pretty sure I had the light too close earlier on, which I just fixed by raising the light as high as I can in the tent.

I also screwed up by using a watering mix that fermented after I left it for a couple of days. I learned I can’t use leftovers. It started smelling like vinegar and I measured the pH at 4.5!! Yikes! I know...I felt like a bonehead.

I’ve been constantly battling with high temp and humidity. I feel I have a little better handle on that now with temps sticking around 80 with RH hanging in the 50s now that I introduced a dehumidifier. I measured the chassis of the LED with an IR meter, and it’s showing 95! Next grow I’m going with a better light where I can mount the driver outside the tent.

I’m learning a lot this time around, and I’m hoping to have it more dialed in next time.

With all that being said, how’s my girl looking?

The things that are bothering me are the burnt/yellowing leaf tips. I’ve always had a hard time nailing down if this is light burn or nute burn. Also, I’m seeing lower fan leaves starting to go completely yellow and look bad. I know this will happen in flower as the plant starts redirecting all its energy to the flowers, but is this happening too soon? Either way, I’m going to water tomorrow with straight RO water.

I’ve looked at the guides on determining the problem, but honestly, it’s hard for a newbie to tell. It’s kind of like having a innocent pain then looking at WebMd—next thing you know you start having anxiety because you think you’re dying. Same thing with this—I look at these charts and I start thinking my plant is in horrible shape and not going to make it. Lol.

Thanks and happy growing everyone!

Sure!
Also a put the wrong wattage on my lights above. Also had a buddy order it lmao. He hasn't been raided yet haha.

2x300w led- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HFZ3PC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CVjwyb4CPNXTK

2x2x4 tent was discontinued on amazon, but brand was Valuebox. Got it for dirt cheap like 40 bux

VenTech fan and filter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q2ER5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NYjwybWN2VC8K

3 gal smart pots - the 2x2 can fit four of these snugly

Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope with Flexible Arm Observation Stand for Windows, Mac, Linux (2MP, 250x Magnification) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XNYXQHE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oXpMAbACVS1BF


It doesnt zoom... At least how im using it but it does have a focus which is nice. Easy to use and take pics. I dont use the stand it comes with, just hand held

With a lab-style ph meter, like this one or this one. I use the oakton because it is temperature corrected, whereas other meters require you test a solution at a specific temperature for an accurate reading. You use them to test the runoff water when you water the plants. You measure the PH of the water you put into the pot, and see how much it changes when it comes out, which will give you an idea about the PH level of your soil. For instance, if I measured my water to be 7.0 going in, and found it to be 5.8 coming out, I would know my soil is at least 5.8 on the ph scale or lower. However, I find that just measuring the PH of what I put in, the runoff doesn't matter so much, if the soil is properly prepared. I would go on, but I'll stop myself here for the sake a brevity; there's plenty to learn if you seek the information.

Having said that, I will say there are some soil probe type meters that work well, but you have to calibrate it, and care for and store the electrode properly, which can get difficult because the electrodes are often very long and don't have a cap/case to hold storage solution. Though, it does require you mix water with your soil for the electrode to get a proper reading, so really testing the runoff is the same as (properly) using a soil probe, but the lab meters will be more accurate, easier to use, calibrate, store, and care for properly.


edit: oh yeah, PH indicator drops can also be used, but they are not nearly as accurate or reliable, and can sometimes be difficult to read since your runoff solution will not be perfectly clear.

Here ya go! 🤘🏻

• works great for the price! (Hardest Part is keeping it Steady 🤣🤣 )
  
  
  Jiusion 40 to 1000x Magnification Endoscope, 8 LED USB 2.0 Digital Microscope, Mini Camera with OTG Adapter and Metal Stand, Compatible with Mac Window 7 8 10 Android Linux https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WD843ZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iXqXCbZSFT3VH

If it could be used everyone here would use one and save that money. I don't like spending $25 on a fan speed controller either but it needs to be done. The $20 one sucks by the way, it makes your fan hum, get the active air brand it runs quieter or if you really want the quietest get a variac. But that's more money and you're looking to spend less lol. I can help you spend more but not less.

Bottled water varies greatly. True Spring water can be good - though I'm not sure what kind of Ph it will hold. Filtered water is essentially tap water just with the Chlorine evaporated and has a ton of "minerals" they use for it to taste right.

I recommend this for testing. It's simple and cheap. Keep in mind, these plants can do well in nature, sure. But they're not in nature now, getting pure rain water and the natural nutrients they need. We're trying to supplement the entire process in a controlled environment.

very good question. wish i could help with the DIY stuff. if you decide to just buy and LED, this is the one i got and it's performing excellently: https://www.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-Greenhouse-Indoor-Hydroponic-Lighting/dp/B00PH1MQV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469543728&sr=8-1&keywords=galaxy+hydro

Yes veg and flower, do you have limited space to grow? You might try one of these: https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Reflector-Spectrum-Indoor-Plants/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481235884&sr=8-3&keywords=LED+grow+lights

I use those in a little grow cabinet and they are great, super cheap and efficient. I did have an issue with one farting out on me after a year though.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I picked it cuz it has a lot of reviews saying it's lasted pretty long, plus being UL certified gives me peace of mind. Not really a 300W, but 130W of LED for $70 shipped is pretty good compared to what I find in my grow shops / Home Depot / Lowes

looks like this one https://www.amazon.com/Panel-Light-System-Spectrum-Replace/dp/B00RZ78ISM

1 bad review, one guy doesn't know that all lights have about half advertised wattage.

meh. it's a gamble on reliability. some people who know more about LEDs than i do, apparently, talk shit about these "blurple" lights, in favor of full-spectrum. basically the cree bulb with the highest model number is near the best you can get. i'm still digesting this stuff myself. efficiency, higher lumens per watt is what you get in the good ones.

I'm not an expert, but you're asking me, the lights i wish i got were two https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Greenhouse-Germinating-Flowering-Generation/dp/B01IVQ96WW key words being full spectrum cob. It comes with the Cree CXA3070 which is the chips hobbyists on /r/microgrowery used in their own builds a year ago. They've moved on to better cob chips, but a cutting edge light for 2015 can't be that bad.

I got one of these https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Plant-Light-Spectrum-Generation/dp/B01HI3AFYM along with a mars 600 and the roleadro isn't bad for a $70 light, it may not be worth the cob premium for all i know. Three of those may do you.

Thanks for reaching out. I saw some talk about COB LED. Any recommendations? I'm also not quite sure why they're said to be superior lights. Just spectrum? I saw this, but couldn't find any info on the actual wattage or people using it. https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-HYG05-2X200W-W-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Indoor/dp/B00U2DP48I

Re: Fresh air. I'm also planning on having a few clip on fans inside the tent with a duct fan https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q2ER5C/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

The door to the closet doesn't close fully, and its incredibly thin plywood. The room itself has a pedestal fan and a window open for temp control.

Your link to the ph tester is exactly what I use but for those on a budget the dropper method is easy and inexpensive. It requires a bit of visual coding to determine the ph but is better than nothing. At least get a baseline on the water you are using to rule out those issues. The drop/test tube is what I started with until I could afford a better meter. testing

Find out what he uses as his water source, if it's tap or he manually buys distilled/R/O water, consider getting him a 5 stage reverse osmosis filter, that one's $89 which is a very good deal imo.

As far as books go, this one from Greg Green is recommended by many, as well as this one by DJ Short, a decades long professional grower. Lastly is one of the most recommended books I see posted, by Jorge Cervantes.

Otherwise, I'd try to familiarize yourself with his setup, maybe take pictures if possible and I could try to suggest things you could buy as improvements :)

sorry i didnt know the answers to the questions. it looks like you have done some research and have a good shopping list. you might conciser adding this book to your shopping list. its a pretty great book that explains alot.

Yeah I would do that but the electric and power draw I am not able to meet. I like the led because it uses so little power. I wouldn't want to get more than like an ounce a month either way. VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower, Has Daisy Chain Function https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019ETLC7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_K4GhDb8SQX3K6


I was looking at that light do you think thatd be good?

If I was really trying to go for the bare-minimum cost setup I'd have it in a closet and here's what I'd do:

• Random large plastic container with drilled holes on the bottom as a pot (3-7 gallons). I would recommend fabric pots from your local Hydro store which cost around $6.
  
• Cheap soil and nutrients (look for Tomato nutrients) that you can buy at Home Depot/Ace Hardware/Your local Hydro store (FoxFarm Ocean Forest is GREAT and you get 12 gallons for $10).
  
• PH test strips, for around $5 online (very cost effective, giving your plants the right PH of water will help them a LOT)
  
  The hardest decision would probably be lighting... I'd advise you either go the CFL route (look it up on growweedeasy.com) or a cheap LED light from Amazon. You can get a 180W draw light from Amazon for $66, and it's decent, not the best, but you can surely go from seedling to harvest with them. MarsHydro is a well-known and relatively reliable brand: https://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Spectrum-Certification-Hydroponic-Greenhouse/dp/B00XC3LBI2/ref=sr_1_7?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1506140832&sr=1-7&keywords=led+grow+light
  
  The last thing you will really need is ventilation. To start you can just use some small-fan you may have laying around but later the odor will become an issue. You can make your own carbon filter for cheap, or you can buy one. I believe you can get a basic carbon filter/fan combo for around $50 online.
  

Definitely purchase http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marijuana-Horticulture-outdoor-Medical-Growers/dp/187882323X that book, i bought it and it covers everything, been my best mate ever since :). Although it is sometimes good to get reassurance from experienced growers.

Thanks, I was afraid to over water as I see so many people doing. Roughly how much water at a time would you suggest? 12oz? 24oz? 1 gallon?

​

What grow light do you have, link me. - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PH1MQV8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tent is 48"x24"x60"

How far away is your light from the canopy? - About 20" from top of plant.

What soil are you using and you feeding at all? - Fox Farms Ocean Forest, have Fox Farms trio nutes as well. I have only given the "Grow Big" twice(a week apart) and 1/3 of the recommended amount.

What is the relative humidity in your tent? - Between 35-50%

What is the PPM of the water you are using? - Not sure, tap water.

​

She has been looking great until today.

tent

light comes with hangers... looks complicated to order from alibaba but its not... and 1week delivery. you can also order from HLG in usa or canada but its more expensive. or you could go with a 400w hps from amazon with vented hood, or a 315 cmh.

fan amazing fan (have the 6'' model)

timer with battery built in

filter

temp and humidity

fan

10 of those will definetly do. I started with CFLs until i bought a 250W version and it fucking sucked balls. (was listed a grow CFL). the package shows 14W->65W so that bad boy will produce the equivalent of a 65W subjective "brightness" for human eyes. Definition of Lumen. The specification is kind of misunderstood since it tells you something about the brightness a human eye perseives. A plant has other needs.
nonetheless, with 10 of those you will grow weed, but if you pay more than 7$ a piece you should consider getting one of these for starters: 300W LED for beginners. they got a much better spectrum (not the best, but theyre cheap and easy to use)

I'd recommend coco for sure, I mix in hydroton and perlite and use the GO box nutes in 5 gal smart pots.

I've done the Lucas formula with maxibloom before and I wouldn't recommend it. Definitely treat yourself to a good line of nutes and you'll see the difference right away. I'm really liking the organic stuff so far, I don't have to pH and my plants have gone crazy after I started adding zyme alive (thanks /u/Biloba414)

I'm trying to see what the actually pull on this thing is.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IVQ96MW/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

It says 124 but I think that's talking about their 300w because my Vipar 300 draws actual like 130 or something according to the manual.

So if the 600 draws 240-260, that's not bad for the price. $137. And the roleadro has the white/yellow light so it would compliment one of the disco ball lights well.

I just can't find for sure what the actual on it is.

i doubt youll find much for high quality leds on amazon. 1000w hps/mh light would be the cheapest upfront cost but cost a lot with electricity. you can get those on amazon.

Good leds arent cheap but give better yields and lower energy costs. blurple leds(cheap purple led off amazon) work but arent any better than hps/mh.

a cheap 1000w HPS light will run about $200-$300.

if you wanna do 1000w of cheap leds its gonna be about $680 for 4x https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Reflector-Spectrum-Indoor-Plants/dp/B019ETLC7M/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1526005356&sr=1-1&keywords=600w+viparspectra

High quality leds would be like $800+ such as 2x https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/320w-xl-qb324-led-kit?variant=8092027715676

I used this and got fucking amazing results. 3 OZ from a room the same size. I was VERY impressed. I also used Flora ferts. I would highly recommend this light for your exact situation and at $160, you can't beat it.

I want to start by saying that you would get a lot more grams for not much more money if you saved up a little more and spent ~$80 on a 125 true watt panel like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-Indoor-Lights-Spectrum-Flower/dp/B00PH1MQV8/
but if your budget is fixed and 10g is your only goal, then you could add a 25 true watt panel like this and probably reach that goal:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01IVQ96KY/ref=psdc_14252951_t1_B072HNNSFZ

When I started I had nothing but disasters. Then I went to coco and general organics. Then I got some traction and started having success. Ive since moved on to more intensive stuff. I say Coco choir and get the general organics starter kit.

http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Box-Starter-Kit/dp/B004PS4B08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422591266&sr=8-1&keywords=general+organics

http://www.amazon.com/Kempf-Compressed-Growing-Potting-11-Pound/dp/B003MOD2HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422591247&sr=8-1&keywords=coco+coir

Just follow the instructions, its easy, its cheap, it works, and its pretty dang hard to kill your plants this way.

Edit: I did pull 1.25 pounds on 2 big plants in a scrog with a 600 watt HPS like this in about a 3.5x3.5 foot scrog. It was my second ever grow.

The 600W LED I have has 2 built-in fans on top which keep it plenty cool. I keep the intakes open at the bottom of the tent and at the top of the tent I use a fan to pull air in through the carbon filter and out the back of the tent via flexible duct. I use this combo from Amazon filter/fan combo. Some people like to add a fan controller if the fan speed is too high and creating too much negative pressure or the fan runs too loud and doesn't need to be that high.

Alright taking into consideration the 12 plant limit here, my previous setup was too big for so few plants. So with some downsizing hopefully saves even more!

Tent - GROWNEER 48"x36"x72" Lodge Propagation Tent

Lights - HLG65 lm301b and red 660nm hydroponic grow light 4000K x 2

Kingbrite 240W samsung lm301h 288v3 quantum board X1

Fan - AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S4, Quiet 4” Inline Duct Fan with Speed Controller

PH Meter - Wellcows Digital PH Meter

PPM Meter - HM Digital TDS-EZ Water Quality TDS Tester

Carbon Filter - VIVOSUN 4 Inch Air Carbon Filter

Ducting - VIVOSUN 2-PACK 4 Inch 8 Feet Non-Insulated Flex Air Aluminum Ducting

Nutrients - MEGA Crop (2500g)

Botanicare CAL-MAG Plus Plant Supplement 2-0-0 Formula, 1 Quart

PH Control - General Hydroponics pH Control Kit

Soil - PREMIER HORTICULTURE 20380RG PRO-Mix HP High Porosity Grower Mix

Pots - Gardzen 10-Pack 1 Gallon Grow Bags x 2

Cloning Machine - CLONE KING 25

Total - 880.62 (includes shipping)

So with this setup ill keep 1 or 2 mother plants and then run the rest in SoG in 1 gallon pots. Using the 2 4000k lights for the mother plant and the cloning station and the 240w for the SoG area of the tent. Its a small setup but I think it'll work. Any idea what kinds of yeilds this could achieve? Any further input would be greatly appreciated.

Hello there, I recently started growing and purchased all new items. The fan you chose simply won't work. You will be very disappointed in the performance. I was going to use that fan as an inflow booster with a pre-filter. I quickly returned it because it just did not move enough air. The fan could not create positive pressure in the tent. I then tried this fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M7S46YZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495901534&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=4+inch+inline+fan&dpPl=1&dpID=41G0I96VBVL&ref=plSrch

I ended up returning that one as well because it was advertised as 200cfm and it was not moving anywhere near the same air amount as the first fan I bought. I then broke down and bought the same fan I originally purchased as my outflow fan and filter. I bought just the fan for 56.00 as an inflow fan and put a pre-filter on it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D7M6692/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495901249&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=4+inch+inline+fan+carbon+filter+combo&dpPl=1&dpID=51REkA1uNbL&ref=plSrch

Thank you. Its this one https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Microscope-Flexible-Observation-Magnification/dp/B00XNYXQHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486744202&sr=8-1&keywords=plugable+usb+microscope

Pretty damn good for 35 bucks id say. The flex part is metal, and the suction cup is really sturdy. No need to hold it in your hand and try to be super steady, or take "bud samples". I just suction cup it to the wall next to the plant, push it up against a bud and then adjust the focus ring. It also has adjustable LED lights, and the software is excellent. Its probably made in China, but the software and tech support is all american, and very legit

Something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I4NY8KW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474584804&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=cob+grow+light&dpPl=1&dpID=51QlQ1zJjPL&ref=plSrch


? I'm going for yield, and I'm a beginner so if you think led, cobs or hps one or the other is better fell free to tell me. Any advice helps before I order everything

Since you don't have any experience with checking PH, organics might be your best bet. Something like this. But pretty much anything that has the word bloom on the label will be fine. I'd say stick to the lower end of the recommended dosage for the first feeding or two, then ramp it up. Feed every other watering.

You need to at least get some PH drops or a meter and something to make adjustments. If your PH isn't in the correct range, your plant can't take in the nutrients it needs.

Also looking at a Roleadro 300w (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HI3AFYM/?th=1). I guess my question also comes down to whether I need one or two of these. I heard the 50w/sq.ft measure, which 300watts ideally covers; but I've also heard that you should cover the ceiling of your tent to get the proper coverage, but these panels are pretty small compared to the tent (which is also pretty small).

I think it’s this one but I’m not 100%. There’s a few users in this sub that have posted some pretty amazing pictures using those and it isn’t expensive either

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06WD843ZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e3vFDbHQEP90Q

That and an old Win Laptop. Love the device!

​

Edit:



Jiusion 40 to 1000x Magnification Endoscope, 8 LED USB 2.0 Digital Microscope, Mini Camera with OTG Adapter and Metal Stand, Compatible with Mac Window 7 8 10 Android

Cool little space to work with!

So first I'd like to say that we worry about light leaks because simply put, it stresses the plant. How much is too much? We don't know but when we put a lot of energy into something, we want to get more out of it, otherwise what is the point? Stress can cause herming, which can decrease yield and quality. We don't want that shit. My last harvest hermed (probably heat or light related) and I got 3 1/2 oz from 1 plant. It was dank, but it had tons of seed and frankly it was annoying. So just keep that in mind when you're improving your grow.

Next... if you don't have one yet, get a PH kit like this. You could get a PH pen, but even the good ones can fail and need calibrating often. Nothing more annoying than finding out the pen you've been using for 2 weeks has mysteriously changed calibration and having to adjust your girls. The solution is reliable and works right every time.

Lastly, have fun and don't get too discouraged if you make some mistakes! Cannabis is pretty hearty and can take some abuse. Just make sure she has air, food, water and light then leave the plant alone. The more you mess with it, the more you're bound to mess it up.

Good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Organics-Go-Box/dp/B004PS4B08

Just get this. I had shit luck trying to get the GH nutes to not burn the shit out of my outdoor plants. After using the GO box last year, I wouldn't use anything else with outdoor soil.

If you insist on the GH, usually once per week (using the GH feeding schedule from a Google search) and at about quarter strength.

My humidity was around 40%, but it should've been higher, but was not because the majority of the mist gets sucked right out due to the fan being too powerful. After I got my fan and controller, I also took off the filter as there is no smell at the moment. Humidity is right around 55 rH lights on and 65-70 rH lights off. This is possible due to being able to set the fan very low. During flowering I'm going to put the filter back in and remove the humidifier altogether as I don't want to ruin my new filter again. Also, my ambient rH is around 30% which is fine for flowering. It will be higher than 30% inside the tent due to all the vegetation in there, so I might have to put in a dehumidifier.

I'm trying to follow a VPD chart (which you should also look into). Removing the humidifier can't come soon enough. Filling that stupid humidifier 2 to 3 times a day (one if them in the dark) is a pain in the ass.

The speed controllers that come with the fans are usually crappy and not good for the motor. They also won't let you adjust down past a certain threshold. I got a Variac 3 amp variable transformer. https://www.amazon.com/Electronix-Express-Variac-Variable-Transformer/dp/B006NGI8VS and a Vortex S600 fan (expensive option for a fan but any 6in inline fan will do.)

I hear ya on the paralysis. I was the same way. I bought what I thought was the perfect little set up, but ended up returning a bunch of things and buying more. You learn as you grow. Also, no problem with helping out. I'm somewhat of a noob still and love helping those who put in the time and research. :)

you would want something pulling about 300 watts

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Reflector-R900-Spectrum-Indoor/dp/B019ETLC7M?th=1

this one (if you want a blurple)(make sure you select the 600w version) is rated to pull 260w so it wouldnt be a bad decision and is rated for a 90x90

some people recommend to split your watts into two lights so you can manage them for better light coverage to the lower parts of your plants, so splitting this into two 300w from the same brand also wouldnt be a bad idea. but the single light is definitely okay for beginning

Ya i will get the exact information from my brother he knows exactly what the bulbs are and i'll list them asap.
I recently bought this book http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Horticulture-Outdoor-Medical-Growers/dp/187882323X
It is packed with so much knowledge! Jorge Cervantes is like a legend lol. I've been reading about growing for a few days.. there is so much stuff to learn if you wanna grow a perfect plant.

I have the grow box myself and it's done very well in my opinion. It gives the schedule all the way through the veg and flower. You can adjust the dosages to your liking as you begin to notice the habits of the plants you're growing. For instance I just set mine to flower and I'm feeding twice a week instead of once right now; white widow seems to love it.

I would also suggest getting a ph kit. You should be able to see one on the frequently purchased together listing thing on this Amazon page. Just a PH up and down bottle with small test kit dropper thing.

General Hydroponics General Organics Go Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PS4B08/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ADdbvb050FMDY

I'd suspect your light is the leading cause of slow growth, barring ph issues. From what I can tell of the leaves, it looks pretty healthy! Light leaks don't bother the plant as much during vegetative state, you mostly have to watch for those in flowering. You could always grab an additional light online to bolster your plant.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Generation-Spectrum-Greenhouse-Hydroponics/dp/B01HI3AFYM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1542517552&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=roleadro%2Bled%2Bgrow%2Blight&dpPl=1&dpID=41T44TtuwqL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

Might be a good addition. Get the second Gen full spectrum yellow colored 600w (it's not a true 600w, but it's better than some of the other blurples and it's light penetration is solid)

Yes I actually just ordered the fan and filter so I actually dont have it running yet but this fan will be cooling my hood. Im planning on setting it up like this. Ill have the filter hung up in the corner top of my tent, then Ill attach the fan to it, then the hood, then have ducting taking the exhaust outside of my tent. This fan has a low and high speed., 239/333 cfm I believe. You can also get one of these that can help you control your speed as well. Im planning on getting a 4in filter (thats all i need, its cheaper and lighter too) and getting a 4 to 6 in duct converter (just a few buck at home depot)

http://www.amazon.com/Variac-Variable-Transformer-300va-Output/dp/B006NGI8VS

Would you recommend getting 2? I found a discount online to get that light for $40, I could get 2 or 3 if you think that's what I would need. And I would really like to stay away from HPS due to increased electricity costs

Edit: Would I be better off getting two of the blurple panels or one of these 400w Roleandro COB lights?

https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Spectrum-Light-Innovated-Generation/dp/B01I4NY8KW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498713419&sr=8-1&keywords=roleadro+cob

That is my exact setup for my veg tent, other than I use a 400w MH. It was my first tent, but I wanted a continuous cycle, so I got a bigger tent for flowering.

The actual draw on that 700w model is 334w so that would probably be the one to go with, and probably won't need any supplemental lighting.

After buying the fan speed controller, while it does work, I found out that apparently it isn't the right kind for the type of motor the fans use. This is a little more expensive, but is supposed to be better on your fan motors.

Do you recommend more than the suggested fan in the build? ( http://www.amazon.com/Hydroponics-Inline-Scrubber-Carbon-Filter/dp/B004Q2ER5C/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1349241681&sr=1-1&keywords=4%22+inline+fan+combo )

How many plants are you growing/how many mature plants can fit?

Hello, nice to see another female around here. :)

I say go for it, you can always upgrade along the way. Being illegal, you need a sealed environment with a filter and fan. May I recommend a small setup?

$60 - 2x2 tent (I have this, high quality)

$34 - carbon filter (I also have this, works great, no smell outside the tent)

$18 - 100 cfm fan, works for this size tent and filter

$180 - decent Amazon light that will get good results in a 2x2 (if you don't want to DIY)

$12.50 - Fox Farms soil

It's under one of these: http://amzn.com/B00XC3LBI2

I had it about 12" above, had put it a little closer, but then moved it back up after a day or so (when I started trying to save it). If it's light bleaching, would increasing the distance from the light save it or would it be too late for a seedling this small?

The scope I used has a 250x magnification and I could see the russets and eggs easily. I don't recall seeing poop, but I don't think I was looking. Yes, you can see dead russets -- they look just like live ones but don't move.

Under my handheld 30x scope the mites looked like little worms and I could not see eggs. I think I mentioned that I used this scope -- it looks like there are some cheaper ones available now.

Edit: Here's my post from 5months ago when I had russets. At the bottom are pics and videos that I took with the usb scope. I can't remember if I had it at 250x or not with these close ups. Here is a pic of russets and eggs. You can see that the eggs are spherical and shiny. Not to be confused with sessile glands seen here and here.

I have the 300w from this brand: https://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Indoor-Growing/dp/B00XC3LBI2


I have definitely added the thermometer to my shopping list, thanks for your input, its greatly appreciated!

Probably your nutrients are pulling down your pH causing a nutrient lock out. Read this article on GWE explaining pH. At a minimum you need one of these pH kits. It would be better if you also got one of these pH meters. Good luck!

I used this book ten years ago when I first started. Not sure how up to date it is today but it taught me everything I needed to know and more! It's a good price and well worth the money.

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible https://www.amazon.com/dp/187882323X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cQxuybJT8A5BT

iPower 600 Watt HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System Kits Air Cooled Reflector Hood Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GYRZV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_VMnElrNdwb561
2x BESTVA 1000W LED Grow Light Full... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01871AHTC?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I could honestly use 1 more 600 hps light to get the most out of my area. I can dedicate an entire room, so I have veggie companions.

As for the trichs, you'll want to measure calyxes on your mature buds (the one you pic'd).
You already have a good amount of amber, so if the rest are milky you'd want to harvest.

I have this one and it is great. I'm using it to grow 2 plants and they seem to love it. Here's a chart for the distance.