First Grow Ever - Homemade Box + CFLs

johnnybt

Active Member
This is my first attempt at growing. Still in the preparation stages, but here is what I've got:

2'x2'x4.5' Box

Homemade PVC light fixture, currently setup for 8 CFL bulbs

4" Fan to help airflow sitting on the floor of the box

Remote weather sensor - it will give me the hi and lo temps for each 24 cycle so I can see how hot and cool I get, although I think I messed up and got one without a humidity sensor

Exhaust is one 80mm PC Fan rated at 25CFM located towards the top of the box

Intake is currently one 90 degree 1" PVC elbow located at the bottom of the box

On order are the following lights:
8 - 42W 6500k for veg
8 - 42W 2700k for flower

I will be purchasing a Botanical Brothers bucket system from my local dispensary

The first go-round I am going to use one plant (probably a hybrid or indica) and was thinking I would do a SCROG grow to increase the yield.

Some of my questions:

Is 8 CFLs for one plant in this amount of space overkill? Will it cause heat problems? Do I need more?

Do I need to fashion together a reflector to put above the lights? Individual ones won't work I think b/c the bulbs will be so close together. I figured it'd be better to have more lights and forego reflectors, but I could make something to go over all the lights if it's necessary. Airflow should be better if I don't need it though.

Do I need to get a weather sensor that will measure humidity or will I be ok?

This growing bucket system is a hydro-ish system that also uses some soil. You water down a tube on the side instead of on the soil itself. I am going to mix half FoxFarm with half of the CocoLoco mix they provide. Should I get the FoxFarm nutes or do I need something different since this is not a pure soil medium system?

Do I need to get a ph measuring system for my water?

Is a SCROG grow a good idea with my setup?

Any other pieces of advice? I've spent a lot of time (and money!) on building this box, but have not researched the nute/watering side of things.

I will be updating this as I go. I plan on getting the bucket soon and waiting for the lights and then getting started.





 

johnnybt

Active Member
Thanks, it took longer than I thought and cost more than I was expecting, but I'm excited to see what it produces!!!
 
8 cfls would be fine if you can add more do so. i dont think you can really overkill with cfls.My veg box is a closet the size of that and i have a 250 in there.
 

BlazeN

Well-Known Member
Nice! i would have loved to know how you set up those lights, I'm gonna try that, I've been thinking of how to put the lights in my box. think u can list those supply's and costs? +rep
 

zomgpwned

Active Member
that's a badass box bro - good work. yeah i'd be interested in a list of supplies/costs too if you wouldnt mind.
 
Top