First Grow - CFL + Bagseed + Cabinet (previously rubbermaid)

[gingerbuddha]

Well guys, I'm about 26 days into my grow right now and it's now day two in the new cab so I figured I'd start a new journal, in the correct forum, so as to get a lil more exposure. I still need to do a few minor things to the cab, but overall I am so much more happy with it than i was with the rubbermaid. Follow up for some conversation, tips and tricks. I'll help out where I can but I plan on doing most of the learning . Have fun reading!

Cab: Pretty standard cabinet purchased at a major dept store. Specs are about 24"x12"x60" (grow area 24"x12"x27")

Outside


Inside


Wires exposed


Seeds: Random bag seeds, looks like indica

Lights: Currently running 2x23w daylight, 1x26w daylight, 2x30w soft white, 1 40 w daylight - will be buying more 40w bulbs as i get close to flowering (about a week or two).



Ventilation: Exhaust - 240 cfm "pc" fan (this thing is not meant for pc's... it's meant for tanks)




Inside


Outside


Intake - 4" passive intake, bottom right corner

Temps have been around 77-79 with lights on. Lights off unknown.

Soil/Pots: Fox Farms Ocean Forest
3.5 Gallon "Maxi" pots

Nutes: Currently just using pH balanced water. Plan on getting some FF big bloom or something similar once i start flowering. Trying to keep it simple for my first grow, and so far the plants look pretty healthy.

Day 26 Pics:

The Plants - all being lst'ed
Plant A (Currently 2.5" tall) -

Plant B (Currently 2" tall - fim'ed around day 20) -

Plant C (Currently 1.5" tall) -

 

[some0kid]

That's a pretty sick little cabinet whatcha pay for it? Girls look great so far well done. Gonna sub to this.

 

[gingerbuddha]

Thanks man. Hard to say as I bought bits and pieces here and there but if you don't include the cost of tools I've spent around 150-200 or so on everything in the box.

 

[gingerbuddha]

An attempt to show the nodes on plant b, the fim'ed one. It's becoming quite the little bush...

 

[BongHolyeo]

you should probably light proof that better with some light traps over the outside of the fans because you need 100% darkness during the night cycle. also you might want to clean up those wires because electrical fires are never fun.

 

[gingerbuddha]

working on both at the moment. thanks though.

still not in flowering so im not worried about the tiny bit of light that gets in there. Should be down to like 90% lightproof by tonight. Will post updated pics once complete. Carbon filter and all

 

[fenderburn84]

I am also growing with cfls and man just make sure you keep them lights close. I veged for like two months and my lights were like a foot away. Now that I'm about 2-3 weeks from harvest I wish I woulda kept them a lot closer. Your plants look good keep it up. Just remember if your nice to them they will be Soooo nice to you lol.

 

[gingerbuddha]

I am also growing with cfls and man just make sure you keep them lights close. I veged for like two months and my lights were like a foot away. Now that I'm about 2-3 weeks from harvest I wish I woulda kept them a lot closer. Your plants look good keep it up. Just remember if your nice to them they will be Soooo nice to you lol.

My lights have been from 1-6 inches away from the plants this entire grow. Did enough research prior to know that . The tallest plant might be 6" now but I keep training them back down . Plan on flowering in probably about 2 weeks for a total of around 6 weeks veg. We'll see though. I'd like to at least fill the pots with green before going into floweirng.

 

[Rj41]

Looks good. I like CFL's too. Where'd you get the 3-way light adapters? I can only find the double ones.

 

[gingerbuddha]

Just plug one double into another

 

[gingerbuddha]

you should probably light proof that better with some light traps over the outside of the fans because you need 100% darkness during the night cycle. also you might want to clean up those wires because electrical fires are never fun.

how do you suggest making light traps? Im not worried about the light bleeding out in between the doors - ill be lightproofing that with mylar but i need to light proof the intake/outtake (4" circle hole , 7" circle hole respectively)



And, the carbon filter. Think i'll be duct taping the edges to make a better seal.



-gb

 

[Rj41]

Just plug one double into another

OOOOH, I get it now! Use a double on the 1st socket, and a 2nd double on one side of the 1st double. Sweet. Thanks.

 

[gingerbuddha]

You got it. You can use 3 for a 4 bulb setup as well

 

[Bluntcuts]

Off Topic, but what are those power cords you are using for you lights called? (Black ones). I have been looking for awhile and dont know the name of them.

 

[gingerbuddha]

Off Topic, but what are those power cords you are using for you lights called? (Black ones). I have been looking for awhile and dont know the name of them.

I actually just used some clamp lights (the ones that came with reflectors and clamps) just took off the clamps and reflectors. I did have to cut splice the wire and twist it back together to fit through the small holes though. You can get a light cord set though, it's what i plan on using when i add some permanent light fixtures in the future. Here's some links to help you:

Clamp Light
Light Cord Set

 

[Bluntcuts]

thnks. +rep.

 

[arizoning]

back them lights back a bit for now till older

 

[gingerbuddha]

back them lights back a bit for now till older

Honestly might do that, temps were a bit high today and I dont wanna fry any leaves... did that early on in the grow in a diff cab. I have been training them down as soon as they get tall though. If i took up the ties they'd grow 6 or so inches over night(by grow i mean the stem would just become vertical instead of horizontal. I check multiple times a day and make adjustments to the lights, i made sure it was easy to do with this set up. Thanks for the concern +rep.

 

[arizoning]

Honestly might do that, temps were a bit high today and I dont wanna fry any leaves... did that early on in the grow in a diff cab. I have been training them down as soon as they get tall though. If i took up the ties they'd grow 6 or so inches over night(by grow i mean the stem would just become vertical instead of horizontal. I check multiple times a day and make adjustments to the lights, i made sure it was easy to do with this set up. Thanks for the concern +rep.

small plants like that dont need that much light

 

[gingerbuddha]

Plants just woke up. Will adjust soon.